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Show may not be com- 1, call the House at defintion do not include radioactive wastes, which are trea ted undera differentset of laws.) BY BRENT ISRAELSEN @ at 538-1035. THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES For Laidlaw. which operates the only hazardouslandfill in the state. the law means the company coul id get substantially more business. For example. Nu- Alegislative committee Thursday approveda bill that could give Utah's lone hazardous-waste landfill an eco- Revenue and Taxation 8 a.m.; Room 414 wast e nomic boost cor Steel in Box Elder County annually sends about 18.0 00 tonsoftreatable hazardous wasteto facilities in Canceled SenateBill 195 also could save hazardous-waste-producing industries in Utah some money Human Services 8 a.m.; Room 416 — Child Support Thebill, sponsored by Sen. John Holmgren, R-Bear River, would cut inhalf thestate fee charged pertonfor certain typesof wastes. It also would help reverse a downturn that the Utah If Utah’ cor whic! hazardous--waste-disposal industry has suffered since 1992, when a Utah Supreme Court decision forced the stateto increase its fee on wastes generated in Utah Jaw — Facilities for Disabled 82 — Children’s Justice Center B196 — Trust for Develop. Disabled SB198 — Children’s Museumof Utah yecial-Districts Annexation HumanServices 4 a.m. Room 416 Duringthe pastfive years. U.S. industries have dramati- per ton for hazardous wastes that can last year fell into that category. (Hazardous wastes by took nearly 80,000 tons of waste in 1992. At that time, the state’s fee for waste produced in state was $10 per Laidlaw’slandfill used to be owned by USPCI, which loss of business was not dueentirely to the higher fee. eally reduced the amount of wastes they produce. he said. While SB195 would give a break to Laidlaw’s business, anotherbill, Senate Bill 229, would increase the state fee attached to low-level radioactive waste, which is landfilled by Envirocare of Utah, also located in re- mote Tooele County $B229, which passed the same committee last week, would increase the state fee for low-level wastes from $2.50 to $3.25 per ton. Sen. Howard Nielson, R-Orem. had sought to increase that fee to $50, but Envirocare argued such an increase would significantly harm its volume of business. House Measure State and Local 4 p.m. Room 403 $B173 — County Atty. Responsibilities SB209 — State Pay Plan Revision Measure Seeks To Lean on Allows Counties New Sales Tax HB230 —O. Walker Housing Trust Fund 2ndSubHB219 — Powers of Mayors Revenue and Taxation 4 p.m. Room 414 Phony Liens BY DAN HARRIE THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE SJR10 — Centrally Assessed Telecom. SB67 Income-Tax Exemption Inc. HB206 — Property Taxes Utah’s 29 counties appear poised toreceive a financial boost they have long coyeted from the state: authority for a new Misdemeanor Would Change To Third-Degree Felony House members Thursday approved 70-1 a bill giving counties authorityto imposea 0.25 percent sales tax ontheir residents at the discretion of county commissions. But those same commissions would be required to reduce property taxes by an equal, offsetting amount to take advantage of the newtax The trade-off required in Senate Bill figured his best bet was to borrowagainst sales tax. HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEES Law Enforcementand Crim.Justice 8 a.m,; Room 225 HB329 — Harmful Material to a Minor 8 — Dept. of Corrections Rec HB368 — Private Invest. Reg. Act H — Civil-Relief Act Judiciary 8 a.m. Room 223 THESALT LAKE TRIBUNE John L. Valentine needed a loan and his Orem home — until. that is, he discovered a stranger had placed a lien worth hundreds of thousands of dollars against his property. 26, which already has won approval of senators, would be “dollar for dollar,” said sponsoring Rep. Tom Hatch, R-Panguitch Court Amendments Court Recodification Lynn R. Johnson The Salt LakeTri MAKING ANIMPRESSION So if the new taxing authorityprovides —¢Child-anne Guidelines Legislative Printing Office Director Mark Shaw works ata state-ofthe-art Xerox digital printer — capable of printing 135 sheets per minute. During the legislative session, the printing office consumes a whopping 4 million sheets of paper for legislative bills alone. no extra revenue to counties, why are HB4065 — Marriage-Law Amendments SB54 — Drug-Dealer’s Liability SB155 — Court Reporter they so eager togetit? they expect that their take tax will grow much faster than §.R., Agriculture and Environment revenues derived 8 a.m.; Room 303 from property tax which is strictly limited by so-called tion laws. HB404 — Environme HCR8 Dev. of Was are looking at the capacity to growand share in theprosperity the state ] A if has enjoyedin recentyears,” Hatchsaid facility Open Space State government relies on sales taxe: to payfor virtually all ofits noneducation bandoned Mines Rien Rest Stop of American West nse Plate Display HB 114 — Transportation ( orridor Vehicle Registration ductionsso people nues The downsideis that the salestax is far home? income-tax de- who havechildren pay Dozens of title liens known as was founded. We fund our education through many different sources, but the A: FromRep. Michael Styler, R-Delta. “One of the things we decided long ago was we would try toprovide a so-called ‘Free Education’ to anyoneandthat's a way to structure it. Families that reap most the rewards for raising lots of children also raise the new taxpayers. So I would say that our public benefits from educating those children becausethey become members of society that return more benefits later on as they hecome i Ro om 303 Unfini ness tions. ee Critics Claim Bill Is a Ploy to Boost US WESTProfits 4 p.m HB2, t00mnee » Lesser Offenses HB230 — ss of Consortium otification es of Gov. Entities Law Enforcement and Crim.Justice i Room a d-Firearm Permit — DeputySheriffs 6¢! Quoteof the Day e locked the combatants in this room andthey fought it out. What started out with a lot of shouting turned intoalove-fest.”? policy decision we madeas our country BY JUDY FAHYS THE SALT| The phone companynow says the competitivefield is chang- ing fast with federal and state deregulation. so it needs more limetofigureout its own expensesandseeif state regulators will allow the company to pass along those unexpected Critics told the senators that US WEST’s request for more time wouldallow only for price increases that customers and Thursday. They hopeto persuade lawmakerstoreject Senate Bill 13, a bill being promoted bythestate's dominant phone competitors will haveto pay. Under SB13, US WEST could seek increases for four different types of costs, worth more than $100 million, and pass those increases on to ratepayers and the new companies that are company, US WEST Communications Co tors put off a decision on the bill for the second timein a underscoring the complexity of a measure that will set tes for most Utahns for years. They admitted they ving a hard timegrasping the arguments on either side. beginningto usethepublictelephone network now controlled by US WEST rates even though many of its costs of doing busi- hess are going down, as they are throughout the telecommunications industry, the critics said “That doesn’t help. US WEST hadmade its The company, whichse ‘This bill puts an upward pressure on prices,” case for the bill at a Tuesday hearing said Ric Il of the state Division of Public Utilities. “This bill les a perception that we areprotecting a monopoly Representing the public-interest group United We Stand Americaof Utah, Claire Geddes told the senators passage of the bout 95 percent of Utah phone lines, said it needs another year to adjust to the marketplac with its potential, unlimited profits — from its current status as a monopolythat has a guaranteed customer base and double- SEN. GEORGE MANTES, D-Tooele with anti-government individuals out to punish employers, businesses and electe officials charged with collecting ta enforcing local laws. Workman said professional “hit men place liens on valuable property upfor sale. When it is discoveredthat the landis fae ly encumbered and the deal falls ough, the seam artist sweeps in with aneibee buyer offering less for the land and promptly removes the lien In other cases, the lien holder work alone and wants only to extort mo: from the property owner. Faced with the prospect of going to court and losing the buyer or paying the lien, property own TS often opt for thelatter. she said A 1983 court order prohibits counties from recording phony liens. but too often clerks don't havetimetoscreen the docu properly, been said Workman, who has on a two-year crusade to toughen lien laws. We process 4.000 documents between 3 and 5 p.m..” shesaid Filing phony liens is a misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine. If House Bill 96 passes, the crime would becomeathird degree felony and force the defendant to pay all legal costs associated with remov ame time, thebill would notallow regulators to cut lot of people have cometo meandsaidthis is a bad bill andalot of people have come to meand said it was a goodbill said Sen. Steve Poulton, a Holladay Republican and chairman te panel. adults and pay taxes themselves. “comme every wee The problem is generally associa fixed until competition began gradually throughout Utah. TRIB Phonerate could only go upif lawmakerspass a bill being paste y Ut b's dominant phone company at'sthe view of exttice wha appeared before the Senate ssain ss, Labor and Economic Development Committee on of the 1 had no idea something like that could happen,” said Valentine, nowa Re. publican state representative who voted with other House members to support legislation that would make it a felony to file bogus liens In fact, it happens all the time, said Salt Lake County Recorder Nancy Workman thing as a purely fair tax. Thereis just no C. Morrison, Salt Lake City property taxes to finance their opera- The man had no claim to the lawyer's house; the phony lien was his way of retaliating against Valentine for representing the bank that foreclosed on his home It took a year in court and $14,000 in legal fees to clear Valentine’s title. law liens” are attempted a fair share of incometax, compared to factis onceyour children areupand gone those who don’t have any children at you continue to pay. There is no such my. Until now, counties have been forced state law to rely almost entirely on Acricultuce and Environment a services and programs. During goodeco. less stable a revenue source than property taxes in a flat or downturning econo- Transportation 4 Pi at Room 405 ‘arrier Pilot Program Legislator k S Q)- why notrestr ucture nomic times, such as the state enjoyed for the past eight yearsor so, the sales tax is a rapidly expanding source of reve- 8 a.m.; Room 405 Comm. plummeted. Peterson acknowledged. however. that the that mean more waste would cometo Utah? betreated in a waythat renders them nonhazardous. About 80 percent of the 21,000 tons Laidlaw accepted After the state increased the fee. Laidlaw’s business waste alone would double the business Laidhasprojected for 1997, Petersonsaid ys Peterson, noting that 80 percent of Laidlaw’s busi iness is from in state sources. ‘We're not going to be bringing morewaste into the state. [Laidlaw] would be managing more of the waste that is alreadybeing produced here,” he said. $28 per ton to ton while waste from otherstates washit with a state fee of $35 per ton. The Utah Supreme Court ordered the state to make the fees equal. saying the disparityviolated interstate commerce laws. So the state changed the fee for both in state and out-of-state fees to $28 per ton. prompting many Utah businesses, such as Nucor, to seek cheaper resting sites for their wastes. Thoughthefiscal analyst has predicted thestate will lose as much as $250,000 from the implementation of SB195. , Peterson said it actuallywill increase the volume of w aste disposed of in Utah, therebyresulting in no net 1 ven a possiblegain. hazardous-waste-fee law to reduce the state fee from — WorkforceServices — Gang Prev. and Intervention — Offender Expenses $B190 — Vol. Release Cleanup Program HB93 — Children’s Art Facility Exp SB117 Ni ucor’s in line with what other states are doing.” said Lowell Peterson, spokesman for Laidlaw Environmental, which ownsa hazardous-waste landfill at Grassy Mountain in Tooele County, about 80 miles west of Salt Lake Ci ity $B195, which the Health and Environment Committee passed unanimously Thursday. would amendthe state — Political Subdivisions rate is lowered. chances are good that Nu- in Holmgren’s district, would do business with Laidlaw’s Tooele facility, said Peterson. We'rejust trying to bring Utah’s fee schedule more State and Local 8:30 a.m.; Room 403 202 — Proc. Code Design Build County Officers Official Bond I Idaho, which chargesjust $5.50 a ton for such wastes. MAmryofficial says Tooele incinerator will Keep buming B-3 bill would be poor publicpolicy and anti-consumer digit profits capped by the state Public Service Commission We arenot hereto protect a monopoly,” shesaid. hereto protect the ratepa ate, Under a deal struck in 1995. US WEST would have its rates Rome, Workman's head record. er, acknowledges the new law would do little to discouragediligent tax protesters and anti-government types whoclaim no allegiance to local laws. But it could deter angry residents fromretaliating against their enemies. We actually have people comein and ask us how todo this,” We are said Rome. “Now wecan tell them that if the lien isn't real. they could go tojail TEHOUSE BRIEFS A NOD TO DRAM-SHOP BILL It appears as if Utah taverns andpri vate clubs soon will have to boost their liability-insurance coverage. The House on Wednesday approved 54-11 an amendment to thestate's so- called dram-shop law, which increases the amount of damages drunken-driving must be moved because of highwayrebuilding. government agencies involved must work with sign companies to find another site, and, if all else fails, compene companies for any losses. The Senate passed the bill 27-1 on Wednesday and oyigoes to the House p Associated Press letters from wome n sive marriages and I don't thinkth: y together s Suazo said measure 4a dvanced, 18-10, and likely will come up for final passage in the Senate today ictims can recover fromestablishments The at serveinebriated customers. Current ly, the law caps liability at $100,000 per personinjuredor killed and $300,000 per crash. Senate Bill 1 which already has sed the Senate. raises that cap to $500,000 and $1 million, respectively — Dan Harrie BILLBOARDBILL PASSES The Utah Senatehas passeda bill that would require government agencies to work with sign companies as billboards are moved during highway construction It was estimatedthat it couldcost local governments up to $100,000 per sign to move ‘The bill, sponsored by Sen, Al Mansell R-Midvale, would set standards for main taining the landscape surrounding bill boards. Thebhilalso ensuresthat if a billboard who described abu simply wantedout law we canforce peopletostay tog ether wiabi ‘t want to DEBATE OVER DIVORCE 4 bill to makeit harder toget a divorce drew heated debate in the Utah Senate. Associated Press Senators Thursday approved a quar- tions that it could force some cour!*s to stay in harmful relationships. ded to a 20-cent hike, the Senate fought Like the House, which last week nod- back attempts to earmark the new reve- nue for certain programs. The lawmakers divorces for couples with children. Irrec Kaysville, the bill would revoke no-fault estimate oncilable differences still would be grounds for divorce — but only if both nuesfor the state. We need to send a strong message. said Sen, Scott Howell, adding thetax in We live in a society where we have taken fault out of many things,” said. Taylor “We have no-fault insurance and no-fault divorce, and with that ‘no-fault label we have discouraged responsibil ity But several Democratic senators voiced concern, Sen, Pete Suazo, R-Salt Lake, for instance, said he has received ate. GOP Sens. Alarik Myrinof Altamont and Howard Stephenson of Draper op posed theincrease. SENATORS WAN T 25¢ SMOKE HIKE ter-per-pack cigarette-tax hike. spouses agree pack Thebill awaits final passagein the — Judy Fahys which advanced the measureover objec Sponsored by Sen. Craig Taylor, R- vince manysmokers to quit and persuade other people not to take up the habit If the 25-cent increase ispas: ed, Utah's cigarette tax would be cents per generate roughly $20 million a year in new reve- crease would dotoolittle to stop smok ing. GOP Sen. Robert Montgomery, a re tired heart surgeon from North Ogden insisted earmarking would make House lawmakers spike the bill while the higher tax rate already poseone obstacle to its final passage. He argued the 25-cent hike would help con LIMITING RENTAL INSPECTIONS A bill that would restrict the inspec tionscities require for rental units got a rockyridein the Utah Senate, which first killed the bill, resurrected and finally passed it The measure, sponsored by Sen. David Buhler, R-Salt Lake, wouldlimit the in spectionsto once every threeyears unless thecity has reasonable cause to believe there's a problem with an apartment and another inspection is needed It also would exempt inspections for single units and duplexes. Originally Buhler wanted to exclude complexes of four apartments or less. The amendedbill passed the body, 20-9 on Wednesday MORALITY BILLS PUT ON HOLD Threebills dealing with illegal sexual activity havebeen killed so the Utah Sentencing Commission can study them this summer, Rep. David Ure, R-Kamas, Rep. Lowell Nelson, R-Highland, andSen. C; raig Tay lor, R-Kaysville, will hold their bills so the commission can study consensual in tercourse and sodomy, defined as anal and oral sex Under current law 14-year-olds can con ent to sodomy but adolescents must be 16 to consent to sexual intercourse House Bill 256, sponsored by Lowell. wouldraise the agefor consensual inter. course to 18. Consensual sodomy with an underage person is aclass B misdemean or whileintercourse is a third-degree fel ony Ure's HouseBill 134 would the punishment between sodomy equalize and in tercourse, making sodomy a felony. As with the intercourse law, if the sodomy victim” is 16 andtheother partner older than 19, the crime is a class B is no mis demeanor Taylor’s bill also discusses Sex between minors The Associated Prest b— Heather May |
