SALT LAKE CITY — Lawmakers in Utah passed several bills this week including a bill to clarify consent in rape cases and a bill on filtering the Internet in schools.

Gov. Gary Herbert cut back the length of his Healthy Utah proposal. Lawmakers also discussed the law application of police body-cam video and the how to balance religious rights and nondiscrimination legislation this year.

School Internet filtering bill gets thumbs up from House

A bill that seeks to provide protection for Utah students by boosting Internet filtering on school technology devices was approved by the House on Thursday.

Lawmakers say the bill has support from numerous constituents, many of whom are parents whose children have been exposed to pornographic material on school devices. While all schools have implemented Internet filtering in some form, HB213 requires school community councils to ensure that devices have adequate filtering while on and off campus.

Guv cuts back Healthy Utah proposal but House still undecided on Medicaid expansion

Gov. Gary Herbert has taken tax increases for his Healthy Utah alternative to Medicaid expansion off the table and cut the number of years he wants to try the program from three to two, but House Republicans still may not be sold.

The changes to the GOP governor's plan for using the federal funds available for Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act were announced Thursday by Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox.

Cox said they "are a direct result of conversations we’ve had with multiple House members. We’re trying to respond to their concerns about long-term sustainability, really, the unknown about what happens."

Lawmakers looking at how open records law applies to police body-cam video

Lawmakers, law enforcement and media outlets are trying to figure out how the state's open records law applies to police body camera video.

The Government Records Access and Management Act currently defines electronic records. But Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said there's substantial and material differences between emails, text messages, and even police dash-cam video, and an officer's body-cam.

Body-cam footage is considered a public record, but the question is under what circumstances should it be classified as a private or protected record.

"That's what we're trying to wrestle with, but to do so in a way that gives some framework so that it also enhances openness and transparency," Bramble said.

Merging religious rights, nondiscrimination would be 'miraculous,' state senator says

A state senator trying to balance religious rights and nondiscrimination legislation says it could take some supernatural intervention.

Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said it's "very, very difficult" to make sure everyone is treated fairly and respected.

"Quite honestly, if we find a way to merge these things together, it will be a little bit miraculous," he said Thursday.

Adams said he's working with Sens. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, and Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, and Rep. Brad Dee, R-Ogden, on a bill but couldn't say when it would be ready. But he said he's optimistic "that somehow we'll move forward with something."

Urquhart and Dabakis have already filed anti-discrimination bills.

Bill acknowledging stay-at-home parents in alimony decision advances

Over the objections of family law attorneys, a legislative committee voted Friday to send to the Utah House a bill that asks courts to take into consideration whether a spouse was a stay-at-home parent when determining alimony.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 6-4 to give HB244 a favorable recommendation.

While opponents argued that courts have sufficient latitude to consider all relevant information in awarding alimony, Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, said the legislation gives commissioners and judges an additional consideration.

Senate passes bill clarifying definition of consent in rape cases

Utah law requires sexual assault victims to prove that they did not consent to the act even if they were unconscious.

But a bill the Legislature unanimously approved changes that.

HB74, sponsored by Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, removes that requirement, meaning sex with an unconscious person is automatically assumed to be without consent.

Utah students could face additional math requirements to be college-ready

Utah students may have to fulfill additional math requirements to be considered college- and career-ready.

Lawmakers hope a new initiative will boost concurrent enrollment rates and reduce the number of students having to take remedial math coursework once they enter college.

SB196, which unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee on Friday, designates several pathways that students can take to demonstrate quantitative literacy while in high school.

Students who plan to attend college will have to show math competency at a college-entry level through an assessment, such as an advanced placement test, an international baccalaureate exam, a college placement exam or the ACT.

Contributing: Morgan Jacobsen, Lisa Riley Roche, Dennis Romboy, Marjorie Cortez

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