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SALT LAKE CITY — A commission moves forward with turning the prison site in Draper to a technology hub, a Utah representative tries for a third time to pass "death with dignity" legislation, and lawmakers look at better preparation for Utah's teachers. Here's a roundup of what's happening in the legislature.

Another step forward in development of prison site at Point of the Mountain

The Point of the Mountain Development Commission on Wednesday approved a nationwide search for consultants to come up with a plan for transforming the current site of the Utah State Prison into a technology hub.

The commission expects to spend $500,000 on the first phase of planning for the 700 acres located at the Point of the Mountain in Draper, the center of Utah's "Silicon Slopes" technology corridor along I-15.

Utah Legislature continues to weigh end-of-life concerns

Utah lawmakers continued to grapple with the ethical and legal implications of end-of-life care, the so-called "death with dignity" legislation that has been debated for years and Wednesday was heard again before a packed interim committee meeting on Capitol Hill.

This will mark the third year in a row that Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake, has tried to pass legislation that would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives with drugs prescribed by a physician.

Patient Carrie Snyder, left, touches patient Janet LeMaire after LeMaire speaks in favor of end-of-life legislation at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. At right is Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake City. (Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News)

Keeping teachers in the classroom may bring a 'K-20 conversation'

In the midst of an intensifying teacher shortage, Utah lawmakers and education leaders are looking for ways to improve collaboration between K-12 and higher education when it comes to preparing new teachers.

Part of it means giving prospective educators a path to licensure that's friendly to unique circumstances, such as career changes, school needs and other factors. But it also means strengthening traditional routes that involve educator training in college and licensure after graduation.

Cost of death penalty giving rise to competing bills

A Utah lawmaker still intends to run a bill next year to condense Utah's death penalty appeals process, even though state law enforcement officials Wednesday told legislators it's already as tight as possible.

The legislation, planned by Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, would compete with a bill calling for repeal of the death penalty — a proposal that passed in the Senate earlier this year but didn't make it to the House floor before the end of the session.