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SALT LAKE CITY — Here are the bills Utah lawmakers are currently looking at, including a bill to protect children from parents suspected of killing their spouse, a bill to restrict Utah voter information and a bill that would give tax incentives for the downtown convention hotel.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, also discussed his upcoming bills on anti-government spying and helping people out of poverty and Common Core opponents threatened lawmakers at a rally to take action or be voted out in November.
Bill passes to protect kids of parents suspected of killing spouse
The Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that aims to protect children when one of their parents is suspected of killing the other.
SB173 would make it possible for concerned parties or the state to petition that children be placed in protective custody if their custodial parent is a suspect in a murder.
The bill expands the definition of abuse to include a parent who caused the death of the other parent, is identified as primary suspect by law enforcement, or is being prosecuted or is convicted, said Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, the bill's sponsor.
Proposed measure aims to counter Count My Vote initiative
A proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting infringement on a political party's right to nominate candidates for public office could be on the November election ballot.
Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, is sponsoring the measure to counter the Count My Vote initiative to replace Utah's unique caucus and convention system with direct primaries, which might also be on the ballot this fall.
Also, the Senate scheduled a floor debate on SB54 — legislation that would allow parties to avoid direct primaries — for 11 a.m. Thursday.
Bill unanimously passes to restrict access to Utah voter info
The Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday to restrict access and use of Utah voter registration information.
Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, began pushing SB36 after personal voter information was bought from the lieutenant governor's office for $1,050 and posted at the website utvoters.com.
House committee recommends bill giving tax incentives for convention hotel
After 90 minutes of discussion, a House committee voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend a bill creating tax incentives for private development of a convention hotel.
State lawmakers narrowly defeated similar legislation in 2013.
A tax rebate incentive for development of a proposed convention facility would be allowed by a similar proposal, HB356, sponsored by Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville.
Committee advances bill to create concurrent enrollment program at Snow College
High school students around the state will have the option of earning an associate degree from Snow College through concurrent enrollment if a bill advanced by a House committee Wednesday becomes law.
SB38, sponsored by Sen. Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe, has been approved by the Senate and, following Wednesday's committee hearing, will go before the Utah House for final passage.
The bill would establish the Snow College Concurrent Enrollment Program and provide a track for high school students seeking an associate degree through interactive video conferencing and advisory support.
Sen. Lee tells Utah lawmakers about sponsored bill to spot gov't spying
Sen. Mike Lee told state lawmakers Wednesday that he's running several bills to keep the government from spying on Americans and to lift people out of poverty.
Underscoring the first-term Republican's remarks to the Utah House and Senate was his core belief that states should be empowered as the primary sources of law.
“Little by little we can get there. Little by little we can get to a point where the federal government doesn’t control every aspect of our lives, but I need your help to do it,” he said.
Common Core opponents urge lawmakers to take action or be voted out
In a case of political déjà vu, opponents of the Common Core State Standards gathered Tuesday at the Utah Capitol to urge the action of state lawmakers.
The rally came seven months after a similar event last year, with many of the same accusations repeated against what is seen by opponents as a federal intrusion into the Beehive State's management of public education.
But this year's buzzing came with a particularly sharp sting. With most of the Utah Legislature up for election this year, rally attendees made it clear they are more than willing to clean house at the polls come November.
Contributing: Dennis Romboy, Madeleine Brown, Benjamin Wood
