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Show E> A8 Ghe Salt Lake Tribune sere UTAH _Frida LEGISLATURE2002. ‘Online Legislative Report at: www.sitrib.com Bill Seeks to Close Loophole on Gifts for Lawmakers Last year, lobby THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Senate is wants makers proposing toughening and ¢ government officials more than $191,000 in lawsthatcurrently allow lobbyists to give pricey gifts to lawmakers without the public’s knowledge. House $50, the pricelimit ongifts that don't have to be reported to the lieutenant governor's office. The bill also would require that lobbyist disclosure forms be posted onthe Internet within seven days of LakeCity, said he being received atthe office. swallow the pill this session. A year after quashing any debate on a measure to give women prescription equity, Utah senators released Thursday two so- Last year bill that would have closed the loopholewas killed in the Senate after being approved on the House floor. ‘That effort’s sponsor, West Val- Ralph called “pill bills” for debate. The competing bills differ on whether prescription coverage for female contraceptives should be mandated or just recommended. The issue was given the gc-ahead to ap- ley City Republican Rep. Ron Big- S elow,said that lawmakers should do away with any image of impro- priety. When asked if anything has changed this that might smooth the bill’s passage,hesaid, “There’s one ning lawmakers from accepting gifts worth more than$5. Last year, despite a frantic petition effort to get thebill before a committee for debate, nothing happened with the proposal, he said. andthis year I think w Poulton said he has not seen lawmakers abuse the gift laws but One wayor another, Utah lawmakers will their proposals would make the matter moot. ton’s interest in the issue. Becker will again be runninghisbill ban- he said. ON THE HILL The Democrats are not taking on the issueofgift “bundling” because Minority Leader Becker, disclosure forms. Poultonsaid he is confident that there is support to approve the law. “Always in the past I've checked aroundand found a gen that said we shouldn't m thecost of a gift worth more than make being bought. Meanwhile, free meals, Utah Jazz tickets id other gifts, dingto the Leader Steve t jaday, is sponsoring a bill to do away with the loophole that has allowedlobbyists to split to sure the public knows the legislators’ votes are not ists gave state law A Republicanleader in the Utah February 1, 2002 pear before the Senate Health and Environment Committee after House Rules Committee Chairman Michael Waddoups, R- Taylorsville, agreed to link the fates of the twobills and send both on for debate . personin the Senateleadershipthat supportsit and that’s a big plus.” “Tt’s sink or swim now,” said Waddoups. BillTargets VOTER’S AID Activists for Animal Aid Commercial terrorism measure clears House, headsto the Senate BY GREG BURTON ‘THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Theyrefuse to enhance penalties forattacking a referee or stiffen sanctionsfor crimes against gays orblacks, but Utah House members endorsed a bill Thursdaythat would makeit felonyterroristic act to walk onto a ranch or mink farm Leah Hogsten/TheSalt Lake Tribune Ronald Mecham,right, vice president of the Utah Council of the Blind, tries out a voting device called Election Systems software Thursdayatthe Capitol. Testing of the device highlighted debate on HouseBill 284, which would ensure that every eg place in Utah is accessible to the disabled. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Richard saad R-Bountiful. Republicans Tout Need for Voting Reforms with the intentto interfere. While Rep. Gerry Adair’s commercial terrorism law is crafted to strike back at animal-rights protesters, the Roy Republican casts a wide netover acts of vandalism andburglary toward any Utah business. House Bill 100 is virtually identical to a Utah law that a federal judge recently ruled was an unconstitutional limit on free speech. To avoid another courtroom showdown, Adair says he removeda liberty-stripping provision from theoriginal bill thatcivil rights attorney Brian Barnard successfully argued could criminalize everything from vegans chanting outside a meat packingplant to membersof the NAACPrallying on Proposals to help Utah avoid wanted to make this a proactive process, minimizepotential problems and keep Utah from sufferinga similar fate.” Florida’s fate, lawmakers say HouseBill 258, sponsored by Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Prove quires presentation BYNATHAN THOMPSON ‘THE SALTLAKETRIBUNE ofa picture identificationat polling places. “It's a philosophical shift in the way we Republican legislators touted a bevy of bills on Thursday that they say will fix the state’s election system to help prevent problems such as those exposed by the 2000 presidential vote in Florida. Anumber ofbills have been proposed by lawmakers for the 2002 Legislature dealing with voting reforms, including ones requiring would-be votersto present identification at the polling place andfor independenttesting of ballot equipment. “Based onthelessonslearned in Florida,” said Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, “we view voting,” Lockhart said at a news conference of Republican legislators. But herbill has raised concerns among local officials who administer the state’s elections. Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen said the requirement will cost county clerks time and money, could create long lines and doesnot addressissues of absentee ballots and notification of the require- mentto the public. “We already have laws stating that judgescan ask for ID if they don’t know a voter,” she said. Amongthe otherelectionbills: HB 33 requiresthat voting equipment be certified and tested by an independent inspector. HB 32 provides overseas or military voters the opportunity to send ballots with any postmarked dateas long as they arrive by theelection date. HB 115clarifies the definition of a polling place to include county clerk's of- fices, which would extend to those offices the prohibition on campaigning within 150 feet. The bill also expands state participation in the Defense Department's online voting system. Senate Bill 36, passed by the House Thursday, allows citizens to vote with a provisional ballot in certain cases if they cannot prove they are properly registered. Main Street. House members passed thebill to the Senate on a 50-17 vote. Therevised bill “does not affect anybody’sfree speech,” Adair said. “But their free speech ends at the beginning of mynose, at your nose andat your private property and my private property.” Barnard is skeptical that the changes go far enough. “The judge declared the whole statute to be unconstitutional because it was so vague,” the Salt Lake City attorney said. “He did notsay if you do this and that it suddenly be- comes constitutional.” Before introducing HB100, Adair discussed the proposed revisions with state attorneys, and Attorney General Mark Shurtleff says the newbill passes constitutional muster. “It does,” Shurtleff said. “Butit is inconsistent”for those House members who opposed changing Utah's hate crime law to turn around andback Adair’sbill. Sen.Alicia Suazo, D-Salt LakeCity,is attemptingto usher a hate crimes bill, first conceived by her late husband, Sen. Pete Suazo, through the Senate. Panel OKs Legal Action Against DCFS Caseworkers BY ASHLEY E.BROUGHTON ‘THESALT LAKETRIBUNE A bill that would allow Division of Child and Family Services caseworkers to be sued for lying sailed through the Senate Human Services committee on suits. bill after hearing several witnesses testify against it. The bill last week — a vote that made herthe target of a nasty flyer passed out Wednesday in Andersonsaid he has neverencountered such a case in his seven months as director, although families who are angry measure now goes to the full her Sandy neighborhood. at the division frequently claim Senate. “Trisha families, members in voting against the The panel voted 3-1 for the Rep. Trisha Beck, D-Sandy, told lawmakers shebelieves the Thursday, despite numerous objections. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West bill unfairly singles out caseworkers. Beck, a member of the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel, said she was told a Jordan, would allow caseworkers wholie in court or adminis- employees would be drafted, but trative hearings to be sued. It also would make them responsible for any legal costs or pen- similar bill addressingall state she has not seen it. Thursday wasthe last day to opena bill file. alties resulting from those phone local & toll-free joined 15 House ports child who A vocal Box Eldercitizens group has taken an importantstepin removing from consideration two controversial Bear River dam sites. A bill modifyingstate irrigation code, sponsored by Sen. Mike Wad: doups, R-Taylorsville, cleared the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee on ‘Thursday andis headed to the House. It calls for the Honeyville and the Barrens to be removed from the WaterandIrrigation Codeas potential reservoirsites for storing Bear River water, Box Elder rs and citizens feared the loss ofhistoric farmland and negative impacts on the surrounding communities ifthe sites were developed. Larry D., Anderson, director of the welfare workers commit perjury.” fraud and Richard Anderson, director of the Division of Child and Family Services, argued against the bill, saying that their caseworkerlied. TODAY’S Even if a caseworker pre- vailed in a lawsuit, he or she could end up paying thousands of dollars in legal costs if not represented by the state AttorSen. Terry Spencer, R- Layton, said the bill needed some work, although he voted criminal prosecution. Theyalso hurt the workers whoare doing a good job here,”he said. can be fired or disciplined. But in favorof it. “I don’t want to SHORTSESSIONS state's Water ResourcesOffice, said Honeyville was the mostcosteffective site for a Bear River dam, but the agency would lookat other op- tions. The wateris needed to feed fu- ture growth along the Wasatch Front, backers say. Scott Hansen, a Box Elder county commissioner,said the state's Bear Riverstudies were flawed and ignored significant geological problems, Glen Warchol Bill would give state nuclear regulatory power A bill preparing the wayforstate ition ofuranium recovery and related operations,includingtailings sites and nuclear waste disposal, cleared the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Com- AGENDA ney General's Office. caseworkers who lie already can face perjury charges and House:538-1029, 800-662-3367 Senate: 538-1035, 866-842-9341 Governor: 538-1000, 800-705-2464 Bear River dam proposal clears House committee S. Beck attacks Utah : says, “[and] sup- Under Senate Bill 64, stiffer penalties would apply to prejudicial crimes. Supporting Adair’s bill while opposing Suazo’sis illogical, said House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake City. “In this bill we are enhancing the penalty for a particular crime —a distinction we make here that we seem unwilling to makeelsewhere,”he said.. g>urton@sltrib.com —— @ Higher Education Joint Appropriations Subcommittee, 2 p.m., Room 223, state Capitol: Discussion of Engineering Initiative; continued discussion of funding needs in higher education @ Fora list oflegislative hearings, see the Utah Legislature Webpage at www.sitrib.com. e-mail the Tribune editor: tharvey@ sitrib.com mittee on Thursday andis headed for debate before the entire House, ‘Thebill, sponsored by Sen.Bill proval by a House committee. Rep. Bradley Winn,R-Pleasant Grove,told the House Law Enforce- groundworkfor the state to takeover tee on Wednesdaythatlarge families Wright, R-Elberta, would lay the regulation from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. i aeee wouldincrease the size of state’s Radiation Control Board and provide money for the adEatpenne enantce waste disposal fees, Glen Warchol Opponents: Seat belt bil] ae burdenslarge families Utah's large families would be burdened by passage ofa bill that requires all passengers in vel on state roads wear seatbelts, say nents of the measure that won ap- reporter: dharrie@sitrib.com or gburton@sitrib.com mentand Criminal Justice Commit- whenit comes to safety, but pee have made adjustments,” said calf. - Nathan Thompson could not afford to comply with the proposal. Under currentlaw, seat . Legacy Highway costs belts are not required ofall passen- to be scrutinized in audit —_gers when their number exceeds available seatbelts. aoe . . Other lawmakers, however, were The Legacy Highway’sswelling quick to ask whythe costof a larger vehicle is more important than risking the life a child. “T would rather decide which child budget and legal woes will get a close look from state auditors, as requested by Rep. Scott Daniels, D-Salt Lake City. child to bury,” said Rep, Paul Ray,R- —_get information from the Utah De- to leave home than decide which Daniels, who has tried for a year to Clinton. Physician Tom Metcalf told the partmentofTransportation on the highway,said Thursday he welcomed Committee that when laws were erin ariacoe small children, lawmakers met the same argument. “Cost has always been an issue the audit subcommittee's decision. Auditor General Wayne Walsh said the audit should take a couple of months to complete. —TheAssociated Press |
