Tag Archives: Utah

Yesterday’s Utah Legislative Report Summary
Articles in published in today’s Utah newspapers about the Yesterday’s Utah Legislature news:

Salt Lake Tribune
Legislature Short Takes
TODAY’S AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
Crosswalk safeguards stall
Measure to grant Council its own attorney advances
House rethinks, decides crime should be a felony
Panel OKs bill to hinder over-the-counter cold medicine purchases
House OKs limits on records access
Buttars is ill; bills ‘still alive’: Hospitalized: The senator tells colleagues his controversial legislation is his legacy
House to consider parental rights bil: Measure would limit gays’ ability to define families

Deseret News
Child advocates see poverty rise: Group is tracking nearly 30 bills that directly impact children
Tourism, tax funding in spotlight again
War on meth heats up: Sale of decongestant may be restricted
Bills to regulate adult internet sites introduced
Unanimous support for exempting dinner theaters from tax
House caucus says schools should get school surplus: Also, group is against borrowing any money for budget next year
Senate panel approves measure on rental fees
Update on child support is moving to full Senate
House OKs unanimously anti-gang, murder bills
House backs pay increase of $17,895 for Herbert
House votes to increase animal torture to a felony
Seniors want state park access back
Measure to reinforce the rights of biological, adoptive parents advances
Buttars replaced on Senate Judiciary Committee
Bill to authorize voluntary contribution for protecting access to public land passes to House floor
Measures on curbing illegals fail

I was encouraged when I saw in this morning’s news that the bill banning gay clubs was pulled from the senate. I thought “at last they’ve come to their senses!” “Hallelujah!” from Handel’s “Messiah” began playing through my mind.
(Historical side note: Handel wrote “Messiah” because it was his job to compose music for the King. “Messiah” was written purely for entertainment purposes and not necessarily solely religious. Entertainment of the day often revolved around religious text, as dictated by the King. I recognize “Messiah” as a piece of musical brilliance….)

Then I read that the reason it was pulled was because there was no quorum.

(Music comes to screeching halt)

The bill’s sponsor, Chris Buttars, is ill and unable to attend. Other senators were not present, either, preventing a quorum.

Then I saw that the all-male senate committee voted not to require Utah insurance companies to extend contraceptive coverage to women. This was done by not even allowing it to get to the floor for disucssion. This is very frustrating to activists who support women’s reproductive rights (including me).

We need more women in the Utah Senate (This is a call to you women: RUN FOR OFFICE!)

The Senate has voted on making seatbelt violations a primary offense. Now there’s a good useage of time (and dollars) spent on issues.

A House committee passed a proposal to support a bill that would require citizens to post a $100,000 bond to sue the government. This would put roadblocks on anyone wanting to take the government to court for violating laws. Or if you are a group of science teacheres or the state Board of Ed wanting to challenge the evolution bill in court, you’d have to get this bond. I scratch my head……just who is the government accountable to?

And then I became even more discouraged over the state of our state: The evolution, or “origin of life”, bill has passed the House Committee by one vote.

If teachers teach origins of life, they would have a curriculum available from the State Office of Education.
But Education Office attorney Carol Lear fears the bill opens the door to religious discussion in science classes. “Proponents of the bill want to make sure there’s an opportunity for intelligent design or creationism . . . to have some moment in the classroom. I think (this bill) certainly allows for that. One of the questions is, does it require it,” said Lear, director of school law and legislation for the State Office of Education.
“This discussion has been so involved with people’s religious points of view . . . (that) it becomes a discussion about legislation with a religious viewpoint,” she said. “The court in reviewing that gets to look at the whole discussion, even how people perceive the discussion, and you can’t just say . . . King’s X, this isn’t about religion.”

If this bill passes, I guarantee you there are going to be some very, very unhappy science teachers out there (I work with one of them).

Yesterday’s Utah Legislative Report Summary
Articles in published in today’s Utah newspapers about the Yesterday’s Utah Legislature news:

Salt Lake Tribune
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Legislature Briefs
A day on the Hill
Bill banning gay clubs from Utah high schools pulled from a Senate committee
Minority, women business bill OK’d Tracking: Measure may keep Utah from losing millions of dollars in federal contracts
Bill that would outlaw smoking in clubs advances
Women’s ‘pill bill’ dies again
Contraception: Planned Parenthood director tells lawmakers to provide ‘health care that eliminates the need for abortion’
Media: Contact law is overkill HB258: The BlackBerry bill is ending up limiting all types of public access
Evolution bill survives by a vote: Critic asks why lawmakers are telling teachers how to teach
Budget battle brews on Hill: Despite a huge surplus, look for a war of wills over how much to spend

Deseret News
Origin of life bill survives
Noncompete clauses for MDs may see limits
Cannon wants state control of tuition costs: Issue of in-state fees and immigrants on his agenda
Stance on contraceptives frustrates activist: She says lawmakers sending mixed messages this session
Property-tax shift clears House panel
System would track minority businesses
House panel backs a smoking ban: Measure targeting bars, private clubs passes in 6-1 vote
Panel passes 5-day week for building inspectors
Senate panel approves street-racing measure
Measure would halt city, county cell-phone bans
Panel OKs bill on bonds for those seeking N-stays
Bill advances on skipping graduation requirements
Senate OKs measure tightening seat-belt law
Senate committee OKs bill on contact lenses

Yesterday’s Utah Legislative Report Summary
Articles in published in today’s Utah newspapers about the Yesterday’s Utah Legislature news:

Salt Lake Tribune
Legislature: Short takes
Senate OKs an increase in damages
Sticklers for Parental Consent
State workers’ raises in doubtLawmakers cite fight over retirees’ benefits
Voting only for citizen: Illegal immigrants: Senate panel advances fraud-prevention plan

Deseret News
Approve kindergarten option (Editorial)
Utahns’ tax cut may grow
Legislators looking to cut hunting age: They want kids to drop video games and spend time exploring nature
Resolution condemns land-use, zoning bill: Provo City Council expects other cities to oppose SB170
Younger drivers may be on road soon
Tied House vote kills business tax-cut plan: Failure seen as a rejection of Utah task force efforts
Registering to vote could require ID: Legislation would ensure only citizens cast ballots
“in loco parentis” bill placed on later agenda for comment
Tighter seat belt law moves on for final approval
Senate gives its preliminary OK to watered-down bill on ’17th’
House doesn’t support a raise of the animal-torture penalty
Measure allowing golf carts pushes through House panel
Bill that would further protect abuse victims in custody issues passes House committee
Measure to fund prevention, education about underage drinking clears committee
Fund-raising efforts to help Southern Utah flood victims reported to lawmakers
Committee praises state health director, recommends pay raise