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Show The Salt Lake Tribune, Wednesday, January 22, 1986 Panel OKs Bill to Lift Age Limit on Job Discrimination Law By Douglas L. Parker Tribune Political Editor A shaky 2 to 1 legislative committee vote Tuesday advanced a bill to bar job discrimination on the basis of old age described by its sponsor as the single most important issue to seniors. State law now makes it a discriminatory practice for employers to refuse to hire, promote or retire em- ployees because of religion, race, sex, handicap or age if the individual is between 40 to 70 years old. The latter age limit was put into the law at the last legislative session. A bill, cleared by the Senate Social Services Committee for full Senate debate, would remove the age limit cap, a move drawing resistance from a variety of employer or There were only three of five committee members voting on the issue, and the deciding vote to advance the bill was by Sen. Brent C. Overson, Jordan, but for only parliamentary reasons. He said he intends to vote against the measure inevitably, but cast a favorable vote only to move the issue to the entire Senate. upset provisions of pension and plans, they said. It's just one more thing in the way of trying to prove our innocence in hiring and retirement practices, added James Olsen, representing the retail grocers organization. Sen. Darrell G. Renstrom, favoring the bill, dismissed the contentions. Most of those speaking against it represent large firms which have shown they can usually take care of themselves, he said. ganizations and endorsement from senior citizens in committee testimo- profit-shar- ing ny. Forced retirements or policies against the hiring of the still productive elderly is the most pernicious system of discrimination backed up by state law, said the sponsor, Sen. Lake City Terry Williams, Employer lobbyists, including representatives of the Utah Manufacturers Association, the Utah Mining A- ssociation, Utah Retail Grocers Association and Utah Power and Light Co., argued against removing the age cap in the law. open-ende- A committee opponent, Sen. LeRay said he feared fiAllister, nancial implications from removing the cap. There are problems of the elderly continuing to work when they obstruct younger people who need the opportunity, he limit was put into to jibe with federal strictures, and there is concern another amendment could The state law at the last session Coincidentally, former Democratstate Sen. Frances Farley, who d sponsored in 1979 the original provisions for the elderly, plus the handicap, appeared before the committee. If the Legislature chooses a mandatory age of 70, then would some of the legislators who are beyond that age consider it, she said. And what about the man with the most impor ic said. tant job in the country an apparent reference to President Reagan." Earl Cox, acting direc-i- r of the Utah Coalition of Senior Citizens, said he was a victim of age discrimination both in job termination and then looking for another job. "It is devastating, and those affected will tell you they feel useless. Such discrimination only sends retired persons to the rocking chair and to die a lot sooner than they would if they were productive," he said. Justin Stewart, president of the the Utah Seniors Political Action Committee, noted the age discrimination provisions is a shield for those who have no pensions or who cannot choose when to retire. "They need the work. They need to eat, he added. He pointed to an April, 1985, Utah Poll carried by The Suit Luke Tribune where 76 percent of respondents said older, productive workers shouldn't be forced to retire to make room for younger workers. He noted it was younger respondents who were most adamant in their opinions against retirement. Sen. Williams said opponents claims that removal of the age cap would upset provisions of pension since the plans are exaggerated leage limit has only been 1. He last since July effective gally amended the bill to include exceptions to the discrimination ban where affected by adjob performance is to clarify intent that and age vancing on age mandatory retirement based is illegal regardless of participation in a pension plan. Governor Walking a Tightrope Issue On Education-Reductio- n world champion Utahn named 1985 is He bareback world the cowboy. National was Finals Rothe and champion deo bareback champion in 1984. He also honors in 1980. won Lewis Feild, who was honored with a joint resolution Tuesday for his rodeo achievewith ments, receives congratulations Nelson. from Rep. Ray wife, Veronica, The Peoa, Summit County, man is first all-arou- rookie-of-the-ye- ar Interstate Banking Bill Becomes Law Continued From l and ensuring stability and protection in the financial market." The new law allows, for the first time, a financial institution from any state in the nation to negotiate a takeover of a falling financial institution in Utah. Before Tuesday, only banks within the recognized Western region could negotiate takeovers or mergers, and even that regional concept is only a few years old. The bill was so rapidly moved through the legislative process beinstitution plans cause an to negotiate this week for a possible A-- Legislator In The Spotlight takeover of an unnamed Utah financial institution reported to be in financial trouble. Ms. Giani said last week that state officials hoped to have the law in place for that purpose by no later than this Friday. Now, according to the new law, states outside the Western region may only negotiate for the takeover or merger of failing banks. But a provision supported by the Utah Bankers Association will open up all Utah financial institutions to nationwide competition on Dec. 31, 1987. We didnt think it was fair to healthy institutions to allow that kind of access for failing institutions The bill, sponsored by Sen. Brent Overson, Jordan, is now ready for a final vote in the Senate and, if successful, will be sent on to the House for its approval. Rep. Ervin M. Skousen, Lake, says the "most measure he's sponsoring in the 1986 session is a bill requiring grandparents of a child borne by their children to bear welfare coats for the baby. This should encourage families to communicate with each other, when parents have a financial obligation for their childrens action," he said It should cut down on teen-ag- e pregnan- cies, too, if parents talk with their kids about parental responsibilities." Rep. Skousen, 70, in his third term in the Utah House of Representatives, is semiretired" from a drapery business that he is turning over to his son. When he and my friends are overloaded, I still help out," he said. Rep. Skousen is chairman of the House Social Services Stand lng Committee, and also is sponsoring a bill to establish a slate trust fund for child-abuse t It originally gave the parent veto power over the teacher, besides just the notification requirement. But several senators said they felt that was taking away one of the tools a teacher has to keep order in the classroom. So the bill was amended to simply require the teacher to tell the parent the child will be late. The measure will affect only children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Sen. Overson said he was prompted to introduce the legislation because his sixth-grad- e daughter was nearly abducted by a man one day when she was kept late after school. He also noted there is currently discrimination applied to children who walk to school, because children who take the bus are not kept after school. "I question whether we should be involved in this issue at all," said Sen. Dale Stratford, in opposing to the bill. "This should be a local school-boarissue, not something that is taken up by the Utah Legislature, he said. Also Tuesday, the Senate gave pre liminary approval to a measure that doubles the jail time for a drunk driver on the first offense and quintuples the time of confinement for a second DUI offense. That bill, too, is now e vote by the ready for a Senate. d final-passag- 9th Doy SENATE Continued From l ley City, amended the bill to destroy rather than to auction off to the highest bidder any confiscated, unlabeled products The money would have gone to Utah's public schools. "I think this the auction for schools) is a statement that this isn't bad stuff," Rep. Garbett stressed. I think we should just destroy the A-- stuff" Rep Ken Heaton, disagreed T don't see the difference in taking a load off the shelves and then bringing another labeled load in I think the state should use the auction revenue " House Minority I eader Mike Dmi-IncI) Price, only wished that Utah's lawmakers wait for the federal legislation to pass. Rep. Holt, however, noted that manufacturers can fix the labels to packages and containers the same time they attach Utahs tobacco tax stamp. In presenting his bill to abolish clove cigarettes, Rep. Kaye Brownsaid the items contain ing, up to 70 percent tobacco, but also up the same to 30 percent cloves cloves your wife uses in the kitchen." He said studies indicate dove ciga- rettes contain twice the amount of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide than conventional cigarettes, plus "25 compounds that have not been tested for impacts on the body " The question isnt whether we'll increase taxes in the future because I think we likely will, Gov. Bangerter responded to a participants inquiry. The question is how much load we can carry. I think the public will approve some tax increase, but not to the degree that would address the whole need from the public education perspective. In his legislative address last week, the governor pointed out that Utah not only likes children, but lots of children. "I understand some people were offended by that comment, but it is still a demonstrated fact," he said. The governor's proposed budget for the next fiscal year proposes no major tax increases, although it contemplates using about $20 million offlood control surplus. He acknowl- Bills Passed (Flnlmson) Unify candidates filing deadlines. By Senate 25-SB40 (Carling) Reauthorize certain state agencies' existence. By Senate 21-SB46 (Flnllnson) Amend state election laws to expand voting districts and to simplify voter registration processes. By Senate 23-SB95 (Flnllnson) Provide for retirement benefits to surviving spouse of state system member who has 25 years of service. By Senate 25-- Bills Introduced (Stratford) Abolish the Provo-Jorda- n River State Pork way Advisory Council; create the Rlverwoy Enhancement Advisory Council and appropriate J1.000 for the SB143 program. (Bunnell) Require the reporting of certain soles before the exemption for them Is allowed. SB145 (Bangerter) Provide criteria for determining Independent contractor status for payment of unemployment compensation. SB 146 (Bunnell) Provide for the ad valorem property taxation of municipally owned utilities which are located outside the geographical boundaries of the city. SB147 (Flnllnson) Allow citizens the power to seek an Initiative or referendum on zoning SB144 (Flnllnson) Act relating to racke- teering Influences and criminal enterprises. SB 149 (Sandberg) Permit dental hygienists to odmlnlster local onesthesla. SB 50 (Borton) Provide a tax credit of up to J400 per dependent for educational expenses Incurred In grades kindergarten through 12. SB151 (Peterson) Establish appeal proce- dures for taxing districts which contest collection, assessment and distribution costs charged by the county. SB 152 (Sowards) Provide vehicle operator education operator age. for and minimum SB 153 (Cornaby) Give counties the authority to establish lees of county officers differing from state law. SB154 (Renstrom) Create a Statuary Hall Commission to recommend a Utuhn for Stat- uary Hall. HOUSE Bills Possed HB11 (Holt) Require health warning label on smokeless tobacco products. By House 65 0. HB13 (Walker) Create a budget reserve account for any revenue surplus. By House 61-- HB43 (White) Add part time members to the Board ol Pardons By House 67 0 HB87 (U. Knowlton) Repeal continuing education requirements tor physicians under stale licensing act By House . edged that postpones, and likely boosts the chances of a tax increase being necessary the following year to support budget growth. Legislators will find it difficult to cut next year's recommended budget because it represents only a 1.9 percent increase overall from the previous year, which is under the inflationary growth of about 3.5 percent and just about matches last years lation growth of 1.7 percent. popu- The proposed budget is actually less in real dollars than the existing one, and that tells you how tight the circumstances are, Gov. Bangerter said. Among legislative matters the league discussed are the need for preelection campaign financial disclosure by legislators as well political action committee registration, for a greater increase in public assistance grants to match inflation, for continued expansion of the career ladder pay system for educators, for a new intermediate court of appeals, and for a hazardous substance inventory act to keep track of harmful materials handled in the state. But Faces More Challenges Proposed King Bill Kept Alive by Senate Vote Continued From A-- l America ought to be," said Sen. Williams, who added Dr. King has left a positive legacy for later generations. This is the kind of issue that brings out the worst in us and it brings out the best in us, he said in reference to the considerable opposition his bill has sparked in the Legislature. But Sen. William Barton, Valley City, said Utahns would feel more comfortable with the new state holiday if it was called Civil Rights Day, honoring the entire movement, (Sykes) Clarify and amend proceof Occupational and By House 66-0- . HB104 (Bradford) Allow cases of Interpleader In small claims court. By House 58-HB155 (Holllngshaus) Prohibit Interference with hunting By House HB167 (DeMann) Provide a five-da- y resident fishing license. By House 61-HB103 SB32 SB148 Bill Moves From the House to the Senate Smokeless-Tobacc- o "I can get support and resistance he for eliminating any program, added. Prospective school enrollment, some 13,000 new pupils a year for the next few years, just outstrips the tax resources available, he pointed out. LEGISLATIVE A IC3OT aiOl tyiTRl ordinances. I t Another provision of the new law requires all thrift institutions, that deal mostly in industrial loans, be federally insured. Currently, most thrifts are not part of the Federal Deposit Insurance Ccrp., which insures deposits in banks. Sen. Omar Bunnell, said he had never seen a bill so quickly transformed into law in his 21 years in the Legislature. And Sen. Ivan Matheson, City, said he may regret later voting for a bill he had not even had a chance to read. Senate Says Teachers Must Call Home Before Keeping Students The Utah Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would require teachers to notify parents before keeping a child after school for disciplinary or scholastic reasons, but not before watering it down from its original form. Rep. Ervin M. Skousen said Lawrence W. Alder, executive vice president of the Utah Bankers Association. only, By Douglas L. Parker Tribune Political Editor Trimming public education programs to meet the tax load citizens can carry is a sticky issue that generally has one ducking for cover, Gov. Norm Bangerter told the League of Women Voters Tuesday. Yet the public must be drawn into this discussion or government will be around in the near future asking for a bigger check to pay for all the kids in the Utah school system, the governor said. He spoke at the annual "League Day at the Legislature conducted in the State Office Building auditorium, where discussions are held on priority legislation promoted by the organization, such as this years recommended enactment of registration and financial reports by political action committees. Gov. Bangerter gave an example of the tightrope walked, often misunderstood, in dealing with education alternatives. On a television call-i- n show, a caller suggested to the governor that kindergarten should be eliminated and the state wouldnt miss anything. The very next caller got on the line and said it is reprehensible that a public official would recommend not Gov. Banhaving kindergarten, gerter recalled. I didnt, but I had talked about the subject, and that was enough for this caller. His role as governor is to draw public attention, and in some form set an agenda that others can deal with, he explained. Another example of education trimming might be cutting back drivers education responsibility of schools, the governor said, describing how a son earned his drivers license through that route with an $85 fee so he could drive to his old high school his last year in attendance while living across town at the governors residence. I dont know if the private cost is more beneficial, and I dont know if maybe a less costly pilot television training program could be instituted. B it I do know we have to do that kind of thinking, Gov. Bangerter said. dures of the Division Professional Licensing. Resolutions Passed that Utahns oppose Illegal drug abuse and declare third week of January as Red Ribbon Week and the year 1986 as Drug Buster Year. By House 65-0- . 5JR10 (Money) Honor Lewis Feild, 1985 World Champion Cowboy. By By House 67-Senate 25-HCR3 (Merrill) Resolve Bills Introduced HB222 (Browning) Amend the provision for the use of deadly force by peace officers, to comply with a United States Supreme Court Ruling. HB223 (Browning) Provide for accelerated searches for vehicle titles and on additional fee for that service. HB224 (Moss) Declare the third Monday In January as a legal holiday known as Utah Peoples' Day In place of personal preference day. HB225 (Knowlton) Provide for transitory personal property to be assessed on the basis of the time the property remains within the state. HB226 (Whorton) For fox abatement purposes, Increase the total yearly Income amount In determining Indlgents and allow only one cloimont per household. HB227 (Pace) Plaintiffs may be requlr ed to post o surety bond In civil actions ogalnst public ogencles. HB228 (Pace) Require that reterendums on lows, ordinance or resolutions adopted by municipalities by Initiated before they take effect. HB229 (Yardley) Provide four-yea- r terms lor each county commissioner. HB230 (Rees) Give counties the authority to establish number and terms tor county planning commission members. HB231 (Hunter) Permit practitioners licensed In other states to write prescriptions; remove requirement that practitioner's registry number be shown on the prescription container. HB232 spending (Skousen) Priorities on legislative HB233 (Merrill) Extend the sales tax and the transient room tax to Include campground (acuities owned by the state. HB734 (Dahl) Health car e facilities need licensing only It they serve tour or mote patients Resolutions Introduced HJR75 (Dahl) Tax and expenditure limitation amendment rather than Martin Luther King Jr. Day, honoring the man. The proposed amendment brought an emotional plea for its support from Sen. LeRay McAllister, who said civil rights does not see a color. To attach a persons name to this is to narrow what we would like to do in honoring civil rights for everybody. The proposed amendment brought sharp responses from several senators, including Sen. Karl Swan, who said he would be embarrassed to meet with legislators from other states if Utah turned out to be the only state having a Civil Rights Day instead of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Individuals are often recognized to honor a cause, said Sen. Swan. "I certainly wouldnt want to take Christ out of Christmas. The amendment to change the name went down to defeat on a 2 tie vote. But several senators indicated they had not given up the idea of changing the holidays name and the amendment proposal may come up again. Four bills dealing with the new holiday have been introduced in the House, the latest one filed Tuesday by whose Rep. James Moss, proposal would call the holiday Utah Peoples Day, instead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Another House bill, sponsored by Kip Kobeu Sykes, Lake, passed a House committee Tuesday and should be considered soon by the full body. That bill would trade the King holiday for the current Lincolns Day, and make George Washington's birthday President's Day honoring both chief executives. Sen. Williams bill differs from that measure in that his version would reholiplace the day now given to state employees. A House version sponsored by Rep. Frances Merrill, Lake, would simply direct the governor to delete an existing holiday if the King holiday is added, and a fourth House measure, sponsored by the Democratic leadership, is virtually identical to Sen. Williams' bill. It was introduced in the event Sen. Williams proposal fails in the Senate. The senators played with several amendments aimed at replacing the Lincoln holiday with the King day, and some changes did pass, prompt--in- g Sen. Dale Stratford, to declare, the making of this law is beginning to resemble the making of sausage " 12-1- e personal-preferenc- lt But the Senate eventually returned the bill to its original form before, narrowly advancing it to the final consideration vote, which could come-aearly as Wednesday. j s |