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Show June 15 03.qxd 12/7/2021 Volume VIII Issue V 4:08 PM Page 3 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 3 June 15, 2003 House of Representatives May Interim Summary — First Special Session — Lawmakers met in a short special session during May’s Interim to make a technical correction to the 2003 State General Obligation Bond Act. Such a bond act requires three components: a list of the capital projects to be funded, the maximum amount of the bonds, and the latest maturity of the bonds. However, bill drafters only included the projects and the amount, but not the maturity date. The bill to correct this oversight, H.B. 1001, revised the master bond act by establishing a 15-year maturity on all bonds, unless otherwise specified. Committees Business & Labor The committee received information from staff, the public, and Department of Commerce representatives regarding construction contracting issues, including alternatives to the Residence Lien Recovery Fund in their May meeting. The Department indicated that it plans to report findings from a study of the viability of the Fund to the committee this fall. As anticipated, committee members also embarked on a study of disclosure requirements of financial responsibility by commercial pest control businesses. Government Operations This committee heard a presentation on potential legislation from the Salt Lake County Recorder that would make it a crime for a company to buy government information on citizens and use it to try to market their product. Committee members expressed concern at how such legislation might conflict with the need for open government. In addition, legal counsel told the committee that regulations included in the draft legislation could interfere with commercial speech and present constitutional issues. After conducting a sunset review of the Resource Development Coordinating Committee (RDCC), the committee directed staff to draft legislation extending the sunset date by one year. Additionally, the committee directed the RDCC to report in more detail to justify its continuation after the oneyear extension. (This is a committee within the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget that assists the state planning coordi- nator in reviewing and coordinating technical and policy actions that may affect the physical resources of the state.) Education Under Senate Bill 154, the Education Interim Committee, along with a consultant, are required to generate a definition of the essential components of public education. May’s meeting started with initial discussions about the process and perimeters of developing such an important definition. One specific perimeter members will likely use will center on the advice of legal counsel not to be too exclusive, as it may tie the Legislature to specific programs. The State Office of Education represented that important “character and values” education is already included in Utah’s schools through the professionalism of the teachers. Educators teach what and who they are, threading values throughout the curriculum. Some committee members, however, believe that more emphasis needs to be placed on these fundamental social values. One member suggested that the citizenship requirement that exists in some school districts should be standardized and broadened to include core values and then implemented across the state. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction requested the committee look at repealing four mandates on schools ranging from class-size reduction funding to a Mandarin Chinese language program. Notwithstanding these requests, the superintendent recognized that much progress has been made by the Legislature to reduce the complexity of the school code and to shift control back to local school districts. Finally, as Utah moves to comply with “No Child Left Behind,” the State Office of Education is reclassifying literacy as its top priority. Efforts are under way to integrate writing skills into every subject in order to increase the literacy of Utah students. Health & Human Services The interim committee reviewed the use and projected income of tobacco settlement agreement monies. Most of the money Utah has received to date has been allocated to worthy agencies, all of which must report the programs and activities funded with the money. Recipients of the money include the University of Utah Health Sciences (Huntsman Cancer Institute), Drug Court, the State Correction’s Drug Board, and the Department of Health. The latter’s tobacco funding is used in core public health programs, including immunizations and cancer prevention. Current projections show some strain in the restricted tobacco fund to fully fund all programs in 2005, but the problem lessens in 2008 when Utah is scheduled to receive the first of ten “strategic payments” into the fund. The interim committee also heard from various interested parties about Utah’s health care system. The groups, ranging from the Utah Nurses Association to the Utah Health Insurance Association, told the committee that more funding is required for additional nursing faculty and that Utah needs to be more committed to a competitive, less-regulated insurance marketplace. Judiciary Most of May’s meeting was spent discussing potential legislation dealing with marriage preparation courses. According to advocates and the sponsor of the yet-to-bedrafted legislation, Utah is the leader in premarital and marital research via Brigham Young and Utah State Universities and is in the natural position to continue that leadership role through legislation of a voluntary premarital education course. Committee members questioned the success of such a program, considering its voluntary nature and the lack of data from the few other states that have recently implemented such legislation. Experts indicated to the committee, however, that while legislation is fairly new, there is ample research to indicate the successfulness of such programs in promoting strong marriages. Some committee members suggested that the sponsor of the legislation incorporate some of the principals of the proposed “covenant marriage” bill from the 2003 General Session. The sponsor indicated she is willing to consider many ideas in drafting this legislation and anticipates bringing a draft to the committee in October or November. Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice This committee focused its work on two prison issues during its May meeting. First, the committee learned how educating inmates greatly increases rehabilitation efforts and reduces recidivism, both of which ultimately save the state money. Second, the Director of Institutional Operations for the state gave an extensive briefing to the committee about drug use in prison. 85% of the male prison population and 90% of the female population come to prison with documented substance abuse problems. While drugs and drug abuse are present within the prison system, Utah is well below the national average, with only 1% of its population testing positive for illegal drug use. 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