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Show ‘TheBallFakeTribune Al4 Thursday, January 31, 2002 LEGISLATURE 2002 Legislative Report at: www.sitrib.com Law Would Change Rules on Immunization Waivers | BY GREG BURTON THE KE TRIBUNE Since 1999, when Utah ranked deadlast in the nation for thepercentage of infant immunizations, the state has made significant strides, according to Utah Children’s Kids Count Project. In twoyears, the rate of Utah children under 2 who were immunized climbedfrom 64 percent to 82 percent. reasons must obtain a_ waiver form from a health office, where information about the benefits of child immunization are outlined. A health official must cosign the waiver. Under Lockhart’s House Bill 243, which passed the House Wed- eliminates. bothersome intrusions nesday on vote of 46-25, parents by the government. In the face of those gains, Rep. could avoid a trip to the health of- BeckyLockhart, R-Provo, wants to remove a requirement that parents, fice altogether. Instead, they could simply pick up a form at any seeking an immunization waiver for their schoolchildren first meet with a health official. change threatens to reverse the Currently, Utah parents who opt out of the programfor “personal” immunization gains madeforits children, to exempt their children, Lockhart said. easy way out,”said bility,” she said. But “the health department has found nodata that changing this waiver would reduce the number of people getting immunized.” Under currentlaw, exemptions are typically granted ifa parentisa of that particular child or family . . . but it does impact the health of all children.” Supporters counterthat the bill “bona fide member of a specified, recognized religious organization “Weoughtto return to the point whose teachings are contrary to immunizations.” Students also are where a parent has more say over their children than we [lawmakers] do,” said Rep. Mike Thompson, R-Orem. There is no proof that altering the waiverprovisionswill increase the numberof parents who choose Utah has Lawmakers exempted if the school receives a certificate from a physicianstating that an immunization would endangerthe student’s life or health. gburton@sltrib.com | During debate on the Senate floor Tuesday, Sen.Bill Wright, R-Elberta, lobbied lawmakers to pass his Senate Bill 61, which he explained would transfer oversight of uranium tailings recovery to the Departmentof Environmental Quality. The bill passed unanimously without debate. ti Turnsout, Wright explained the wrong bill. SB61 actually prevents government entities from disclosingthe location of explosives. SB96 deals with uranium. His Democratic colleagues privately told Wright aboutthe mix-up, and chuckling,he explained the problem publicly to his fellow senators “Don’t laugh,” hetold the guffawing crowd. “You voted forit.” SB61 passed, 21-6 with two absentsenators. College Officials Again Bemoan Budget Cuts SHOW AND TELL a las Pore Over | individuals for one reason or an- | other do not want to take responsi- HILL | “You're always going to have Rep. David _Litvack, D-Salt Lake City. “This doesn't impact the health school. Critics contend the proposed HEARD ON THE “This will become an excuse, an DHS Budget THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Advocatesfor elderly, mentallyill push case Onebyone, presidents of Utah’s colleges and universities on Wedne iy made their case for higher education funding in a dismal BY ASHLEY E. BROUGHTON increases and oversubscribed courses mean students won't graduate whenthey should. Also, they say, increased health costs THE SAL! budget year that also has seen swelling college enrollments. j Don’t cap enrollments, they said. Tuition LAKE TRIBUNE Advocates for Utah's elderly and mentally ill residents delivered impassioned withoutfaculty pay hikes is a net pay cut for people who already have taken on heavier pleas for funding Wednesday as lawmak- workloads. In their testimony before the Higher Edu- ers turned their attention to the 2003 Department of HumanServices budget. A one-time infusion of $125,000 into the cation Appropriations Subcommittee, they were preaching to the choir. state Divisionof Aging and Adult Services’ “If we were sitting on money, this committee would give it to you,” said Sen. Lyle 2002 budget earlier this month avoided cuts in services like Meals on Wheels,officials said. Shauna O'Neil, Salt Lake County director of aging services, asked the Health and HumanServices Appropri- ations Subcommittee to make that money ongoing. If it doesn’t, she said, funding will dry Hillyard, R-Logan. “The dilemma wehave is, Leah Hogsten/TheSalt Lake Tribune Sixth-grader Logan Laws from Burton Elementary Schoolin Kaysville showspicturesof the school's Sept. 11 memorial project to the Utah Senate on Wednesday. Sen. President Al Mansell, R-Sandy,is at right. The students made U.S. and Olympic flags using origami. up in June and programsacrossthestate will have to eliminate some homedelivered meals, or cancel delivery altogether in some areas. Rich County,for example, will have to close both its senior centers and stop delivering meals for a month. And the numberofseniors on waiting lists for services —already morethan 1,100 —will continue to grow,she said. “We don't do anything fancy or high tech,” O'Neil said. “We deliver them a meal. Wegive thema bath. We take them to the doctor.” But that assistance enables many of Utah’s elderly to stay in their homes, where they are happier and services are cheaper, she said. While taxpayers pay about$3,000 a month fora personto be ina nursing home, it costs $3,020 a year to as- sist a personin his or her own home. “You're reducing services to individuals,” Bill Cox, a Rich County commission- Target: Teacher Unions BY HEATHER MAY ‘THE SALT LAKETRIBUNE Teacher unions are in lawmakers’ session. sights again this Last year, they took away the Utah Education Association’s ability to collect political donations via state paycheck deductions. This year, some lawmak- ers want to limit union members’ ability to do union asked for additional funding for regional payroll. handedout bythe Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities. It asks lawmakers to restore $300,000 which was appropriated during the 2001 sisession for children’s mental health but w ubsequently cut. The subcommittee postponed voting on the budgetfor the Dep: ‘tment of Health to see if more funding becomesavailable. poe numbers | & toll-free business while on the public Currently, school boards pay a portion of union leaders’ sala- ries and benefits even when those teachers aren’t in the classroom. They also pay for substitutesto allowother teachers to attend union functions. According toarecentaudit, 16 of the state's $210,000 a 40 districts spent year subsidizing unionactivities. Districtofficials defended the expensein the Decemberaudit, study the issuefor two years, If membersof the Housepass the resolution, the Utah Tax Review tems and community recreation centers owned by counties,cities or towns,as well as those givento hospitals and nursing homes ownedby nonprofit entities, The commission would report its findings to the Legislature by November 2003. If the exemptions result in anunfair disadvantagetoprivate groups offering the sameservices, the Legislature could decideto levy taxes. The money, according to the new resolution, could fund public education or higher education. — Heather May V But Sen. Bill Wright, superintendents and principals to meet witheach other while on theclock. Sen. Ron Allen, D-Stansbury Park, was less measured in his characterizationofthebill. “It's a terrible idea, it’s unconstitutional. He’s looking for ways to punishteachers,” said Allen, whosits on the Senate Education Committee.“It interferes with their ability to associate with each other.” Wright has softened his stance against union leave to R- Elberta,isn’t so sure. He’s sponsoringa bill that would limit the number of paid association leave days school boards could grant. Heis still determining the numberof days and the type of activity that would be allowed. Leavegranted to union mem- bers to mentor other teachers might be OK, he said, while leave to participate in contract negotiation committeesis not. “We've paid for a qualified Analysts also suggest increasing nonresi- dent and graduate studenttuition, andfee increases for students who take too long to graduateor need to take remedial classes to bring them upto college-level competency. Another suggestionis to cap enrollments,a step college officials say would only contrib- ute to state revenues’ downwardspiral. “To cap enrollments andlimit access to higher education is really damaging to our state,” said Utah Valley State College president Kerry Romesburg. Hiking tuition means students won't be able to pay for a full course load, which means they will take longer to graduate, said Paul Thompson, Weber State University president. TODAY’S some extent: Heoriginally proposed prohibitingit altogether. teacherin the classes. Does that benefit students if qualified teachers are gone and substi- punish educators. “It’s a better tutes are there instead?” Wright said, noting he’s heard that some andget them in the classroom.” And hedenieshe’s trying to AGENDA wayto utilize [limited] dollars students can spend half their school yearwith a substitute. UEA President Phyllis So- The UEAis moreamenable to a bill by Rep. Sheryl Allen, RBountiful, on association leave. It requires school boards to rensen called Wright's bill “vindictive.” She said the target is adopt a policy that ensures any her association, but the bill would also limit the ability of paid leave directly benefits students. Dinsmore said thefacility wanted to keep pace with the science and technology of zoos. — Lori Buttars Anaudit lookinginto thefinances of Utah's Hogle Zoo isn't expected until next month,butzoo officials say it does not change theneedsofthe animals wholive there. Zoo Director Craig Dinsmore appeared Wednesdaybefore the House Ei ic Devel and Human Resources Appropriations Subcommittee seeking to renew an annual House OKs boaterlicense, accountability measure Boaters would need to be licensed the sameas drivers and be subject to the samepenalties for cruising under theinfluenceofalcohol undera nieasure approved by the House. House Bill 4, sponsored by Rep. Lo- subsidy from the Legislature, In recentyears, the zoo hasre- Commission wouldstudy the exemptions givento electrical power sys- request. That’s too steep, say college officials and the State Board of Regents. The regents have pledged to raise tuition by only 3 percent next year. Analysts say that would raise only $17 @ Senate Revenueand Taxation, 8 a.m., Room 131, state Capitol: $B0084 Real Estate Appraiser Amendments; SB0031 Individual Income Tax — Bracket Adjustments. @ Fora list oflegislative hearings,see the Utah Legislature Web page at www.sltrib.com. e-mail the Tribune Bill updates at www.sitrib.com. Tax exemptionresolution Hogle Zoo official asks maybestudied for 2 years panelfor annual subsidy constituti before voters, senators decided Wednesdayto saying the leave benefits chilmn. SHORTSESSIONS House: 538-1029, 800-662-3367 Senate: 538-1035, 866-842-9341 Governor: 538-1000, 800-705-2464 A resolution by Sen. Michael G. Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, to remove the tax-exemptstatus of government entities engagingin business that competes with private companies has been temporarily derailed. Insteadofputting the potential higher education budgets forfiscal year 2003. State fiscal analysts advocate a 16 percent tuition increase as a wayto pay for the Utah System of Higher Education’s $50 million million. Wrightproposeslimit on paid association leave days er, told committee members. “Not someone’s job — someone’slife.” Meanwhile, mental health advocates mental health centers and children’s mental health. “The community mentalhealth centers havereached their capacity to serve children and their families,” read a flyer wedon’t have any.” Worse, when new revenueestimates are posted next month,there might be even less money, Hillyard said, further pinching costs and animal care, Talk of movingthe zooto a new location, which surfaced duringlast year's session, has created some “challenges”forzoo officials, Dinsmore noted. Sen. Carlene M. Walker, R.Cottonwood Heights, pressed Dinsmore onthe zoo’s intentionsat its presentsite, given that money had already been spent on a welcomeplaza, and if it was directors’intention to compete with zoos such as those at San Diego and the Bronx Zoo. raine Pace, R-Logan, would regulate theactivities of most ofmedium andlarge motorboats. Before Utah issued a boating permit, boaters would haveto pass a written exam. A similar measure died in the Senate last session after barely passing in the House. Thebill was again met with skepticism but passed 40-33 on Tuesdayafter lawmakers amended it so it would only applyto boats that travel more than 20 miles per hour. Under the measure,ifa motor boater was convicted of reckless or impaired driving enough times, the State could revoke their boating as well as their driverlicense. Greg Burton ly U ceived about$1.7 millionin state funding. Dinsmorepointed out that all state funds go toward operating reporter: : dharrie@ sitrib.com reporter: gburton @sitrib.com editor: tharvey@sitrib.com Measurecalls for shuffling ofstate court justices District Juvenile Court has experienced a 30 percent increase in child Several state courts will be shuffling judge positions if the state Legislature endorsesa proposal toreallocatejudicial positions, A bill sponsored by Sen.Bill Hickman,R-St. George,shifts two judgeships outofthe 3rd District court in Salt Lake County. The first would go to the 3rd District Juvenile Court, the secondtothe 5th District Court in southern Utah. This legislation, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on with an examination ofjudicial workload by the state court administration. Often, such evaluations highlight the need for new judges to handle an increasing workload. Butfor the first time in about10 years, said Richard Schwermer,assistant state court administrator, the state may want to take the opportunity to redistribute the positions, Justice courts in West Valley City and Salt Lake City have taken many traffic and misdemeanorcases off the shoulders of the 3rd District, Other courts need those extra judges’ hours, Schwermer said adding the ed Bill for birth certificates forstillborn babies passes welfare cases. . ~~ Wynne Parry The Utah Legislature has approved changing state law to allow for birth certificates for stillborn babies. t The House unanimously approved the bill Wednesday morning. The Senate also unanimously signed off onthe change last week. Tt now goes to the governorto sign into law. ‘Thebill was a result of campaigning by Ginny Shutt of West Valley City, whodelivered a stillborn baby girl in 1999, Shutt has onlya death certificate for the baby she named Allison — no birth certificate. “She's not accounted for,” Shutt said, id, Stansbury Park Democratic Sen, Ron Allen’sbill will change state law to allow issuance ofa “certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth”for babiesofat least 20 weeks gestation, —The Associated Press |
