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SALT LAKE CITY -- Tax credit for low-wage employees
A bill to establish a state-level earned income tax credit advanced to a final reading in the Utah Senate by one vote Thursday.
SB211, sponsored by Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake, would create a Utah tax credit for certain people who work and have low wages. The federal government extends such a credit, which reduces the earners' tax burden. Some people also receive refunds.
McAdams acknowledged that the tax credit would cost the state about $20 million, money the state does not have this year. Still, he wants to launch a conversation regarding the benefit of the credit, which enables poor, working people to retain more of the income they have earned.
School district bullying, suicide and drug abuse meetings
A bill before the Utah Legislature would give parents the chance to attend an annual meeting about mental health, bullying, drug abuse, Internet safety, pornography addiction and other issues facing young people. HB420 would require local school districts to hold a seminar on those topics at least once a year. The State Board of Education would provide the curriculum.
The House approved the bill 40-30 after lengthy debate. It now moves to the Senate. Legislative fiscal analysts estimate it would cost school districts $200 to $5,000 to assemble materials for the seminars.
Adding more Spice ingredients to list of controlled substances
The Utah Senate gave preliminary approval Thursday to a bill that adds more chemical ingredients of Spice to the state's definition of controlled substances.
It passed on second reading in the Senate this morning. H B245, sponsored by Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville, moved to a final reading in the House.
The Senate will also consider a bill to change the regulation of "tobacco" shops that sell other "specialty" items. H B95, sponsored by Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, sets up a specialty license for "retail tobacco specialty businesses," a designation requested by cities so they better regulate these shops through zoning. The bill includes criminal background checks for owners.
House and Senate leaders say they're close to piecing together the state budget.
Republican caucuses in both bodies approved a chunk of the $12.9 million spending plan Thursday, including slightly more than Gov. Gary Herbert recommended for public education. The GOP controls both the House and Senate.
But leaders met late Thursday to negotiate a dozen or so items on which they disagree. Those include state building maintenance, the Rainy Day fund, county jail contracting and reimbursement, autism insurance coverage and the Department of People with Disabilities waiting list for services.
Lawmakers said they are not considering tax increases or additional bonding.
The Executive Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet Friday to finalize the budget.
Negotiations over the budget are ongoing, Senate President Michael Waddoups said Thursday afternoon.
Starting at 7 a.m. Thursday, legislative leaders met to go through the priority lists submitted by each appropriations subcommittee to attempt to fund the most pressing items on their lists.
Zapping software could be criminalized
The Utah Legislature has passed a bill that criminalizes the use or sale of "zapping" software that hides sales in electronic cash registers, thereby reducing sales tax remitted to the state.
Under H B96, violators could be charged with a third-degree felony for a first offense and fined up to twice the amount of taxes due the state. Second offenses could be charged as second-degree felonies.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Millcreek, is intended to halt the practice, which defrauds taxpayers of taxes owed the state.
Test out option of high school financial literacy class
High school students could test out of required financial literacy classes under a bill the House passed Thursday.
Originally, HB156 called for the elimination of the class but was amended in committee to allow students to meet the graduation requirement by passing a test.
Contributing: Dennis Romboy, Marjorie Cortez
