http://news.utah.gov/news/feeds/legislative.rdfAggregated Utah Legislative Branch Newsen-usNews.Utah.Gov AggregatorMon, 12 May 2008 06:59:15 GMT-06:00http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#12006-01-12T22:28:03+00:00<p>WHO:<br /> John L. Valentine, President of the Utah Senate, and Legislative Colleagues</p> <p>WHAT:<br /> Brief daily media availability</p> <p>WHEN:<br /> Each day of the 2006 Legislative Session, immediately following Morning Floor Time (typically 11:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)</p> <p>WHERE:<br /> Senate President's Office, Utah State Capitol Campus, West Building, Room W115</p> http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#22005-12-09T21:57:24+00:00<p>Lyle Hillyard, Senate Chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today on behalf of the Utah Senate Majority:</p> <p>"We are impressed and grateful for the current success of Utah's economy. A number of factors, including prudent state fiscal policies have resulted in a budget surplus - for which we are very thankful. It appears we will have more funds this year than anyone anticipated. </p> <p>"We look forward to the implementation of tax reform, including significant tax cuts, without harming infrastructure, schools, or other state priorities.</p> <p>"We also anticipate being able to spend more on the WPU and public education salaries. </p> <p>"At the same time, we recommend a cautious, deliberative approach. We understand the dynamics of boom and bust cycles. We've been through this before. We are acutely aware that much of the state's new money has come from fairly volatile sources, such as severance tax, corporate finance tax, and capital gains tax. </p> <p>"We applaud the hard work of Governor Huntsman and his staff, particularly their emphasis on education, transportation and economic development. We appreciate his effort to take care of state employees while holding down the state FTE count. </p> <p>"William Sloan Coffin said, 'It is one thing to say with the prophet Amos, 'Let justice roll down like mighty waters, and quite another to work out the irrigation system.'</p> <p>"Starting next Wednesday, the Utah Legislature will be working out the irrigation system. We'll take a hard look at the numbers and craft a tax cut and budget plan that will serve the state well. </p> <p>"We encourage citizens to be fully informed, and actively engaged in the policy-making process."</p> http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#32005-12-09T16:39:15+00:00<p>SALT LAKE CITY - Speaker of the House Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, is pleased to announce that Sandy Tenney has accepted the appointment to serve as Chief Clerk of the House. </p> <p>"I am thrilled that Sandy has agreed to take on this new responsibility and challenge. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge about the legislative process and a warm, wonderful, easy-going personality. She is a pleasure to work with and will make the up-coming session a success," says Speaker Curtis.</p> <p>Tenney, currently the House Services Manager, has a long history of service in the legislature. She began her career as the Office Manager for the Legislative Printing Office some 20 years ago, before transferring to the Utah State Senate, where she became the Senate Services Manger. While working for the Senate, Tenney served as the Senate Reading and Amending Clerk during the legislative session, in addition to her year-round duties. She is a member of the American Society of Legislative Clerks &amp; Secretaries (ASLCS), and currently serves on several standing committees and has served as chair and vice chair of many committees as well.</p> <p>As Chief Clerk of the House, Tenney will oversee a number of duties including, but not limited to, advising the Speaker on parliamentary procedure, constitutional requirements, House Rules, and Joint Rules; preparing the House Journal; acting as custodian of all official documents, and supervising the House session staff.</p> <p>Originally from Hartsville, South Carolina, Tenney came to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where she earned a B.A. in English. She and her husband Dennis are residents of Sandy and are active in their church and community. They have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. </p> http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#42005-10-20T06:00:00+00:00The hearing to consider new trustees to oversee the United Effort Plan Trust has been rescheduled. Judge Denise Lindberg has moved the hearing from October 25 to November 7 to allow more time to consider all of the materials submitted about the proposed trustees.<p/> A judge removed the former trustees for failing to protest the trust against pending lawsuits and putting homes and property in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona at risk. The Utah Attorney General's Office has not proposed or endorsed any individual as a trustee.<p/> What: United Effort Plan Trust Hearing<p/> When: 2:00 p.m., November 7, 2005<p/> Where: Judge Denise Lindberg's courtroom, Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State, Salt Lake City, Utah<p/>http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#52005-10-20T06:00:00+00:00What should a police officer do if he sees a violent fight in a home between adults and a juvenile? Some Brigham City police officers faced that situation and entered the home and stopped the fight. But the Utah courts ruled the officers violated the constitutional rights of the people involved in the fight.</p> The Utah Attorney General's Office is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the ruling and provide better guidance on when an officer can enter a home to intervene. The Utah Criminal Appeals Division filed a "Petition for Certiorari" in the United States Supreme Court this week seeking review of the Utah Supreme Court's decision in Brigham City vs. Stuart.</p> "We are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to let police officers fulfill their oath to serve and protect. This ruling is important to victims of domestic violence and anyone else who may be harmed inside a home," says Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.</p> According to the petition, Brigham City police officers were called to a disturbance at 3:00 a.m. on July 23, 2000. The police officers heard a commotion inside the home and looked into the window and saw four adults trying to restrain a juvenile against a refrigerator. The juvenile was able to get one hand free and punch one of the adults in the face, drawing blood. The officers entered the kitchen and stopped the fight. The adults were arrested and charged with intoxication, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and disorderly conduct. </p> The trial court suppressed the evidence and dismissed the charges, ruling the defendants' constitutional rights were violated because the police entered the home without a warrant. In a 2-1 decision, the Utah Court of Appeals affirmed, holding that the circumstances did not justify entrance into the home. In a 3-2 decision, the Utah Supreme Court also ruled that although the officers were witnessing an assault in progress, they were not justified in entering. However, the dissenting justices wrote that this ruling "consigns law enforcement to the porch steps until it is too late to prevent the very injury the...officers are entitled to prevent."</p> The Attorney General's Office has not filed a petition on a criminal appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court since 1991. In the petition, Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Gray asks the U.S. Supreme Court to define a standard for police officers to offer emergency aid. He writes, "A principled, uniform national standard is needed. The conflict among the courts is deep, intractable and ripe for resolution."</p> The petition can be seen at <a href="http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/HPI/BrighamCityv.Stuart,Pet.forWritofCert.pdf">http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/HPI/BrighamCityv.Stuart,Pet.forWritofCert.pdf</a><p/>http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#62005-10-12T06:00:00+00:00The Utah Tax Reform Task Force is considering major revisions to the tax code. Significant reform proposals include property tax reductions, reallocation of sales tax revenues, corporate tax adjustments, and lowering the state income tax rate along with elimination of certain exemptions and deductions. All Utah citizens will be impacted. The Task Force is holding six public hearings in October and encourages all Utahns to attend, ask questions, and give thoughtful feedback on the various proposals. <p/> Summary information on all task force proposals will be available at each of the public hearings. <p/> The hearing schedule is as follows: <p/> SALT LAKE CITY<br/> October 19, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.<br/> Utah State Capitol, West Building<p/> VERNAL<br/> October 25, 2005 at 12:00 p.m.<br/> Western Park, 300 East 200 South<p/> PRICE<br/> October 25, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.<br/> County Commission Chambers, 120 East Main<p/> PROVO<br/> Oct 26, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.<br/> Dixon Middle School, 750 West 200 North<p/> CEDAR CITY<br/> Oct 27, 2005 at 12:00 p.m.<br/> Cedar City Chambers (Old Post Office), 10 North Main<p/> ST GEORGE<br/> October 27, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.<br/> Washington County Commission Chambers, 197 East Tabernacle Street<p/> CONTACTS<p/> Senator Curt Bramble<br/> Senate Chair of the Tax Reform Task Force<br/> (801) 376-8297<br/> cbramble@utahsenate.org <p/> Representative Wayne Harper <br/> House Chair of the Tax Reform Task Force<br/> (801) 566-5466<br/> wharper@utah.gov <p/> Phil Dean and Bryant Howe, of Legislative Research and General Counsel, are also available to answer questions: (801) 538-1032.<p/> NOTE<p/> Agendas, minutes, and audio recordings of Tax Reform Task Force meetings are available at http://le.utah.gov/asp/interim/Commit.asp?Year=2005&Com=TSKTRT .<p/> http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#72005-09-19T06:00:00+00:00SALT LAKE CITY - Legislators will enter classrooms throughout the nation with the following message: Your ideas count! Schools are inviting legislators to teach students the value of public service and being involved in the political process. Competing pressures, debate, negotiation, and compromise--the very fabric of representative democracy--are brought to life when students interact with legislators in mock sessions, simulated hearings, bill drafting, and meaningful discussions. <p/> Representative Margaret Dayton said, "Students have always learned about the legislature. This teaches what it's like to BE a legislator." She credits the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) with increasing awareness of the program and developing classroom materials that teach students about representative democracy.<p/> America's Legislators Back to School Program is now a year-round event allowing schools more flexibility and opportunity to schedule time with a legislator. <p/> Utah is ranked in the top three states nationwide in legislator participation.<p/>http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#82005-09-16T06:00:00+00:00SALT LAKE CITY- Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, will pack up his backpack and sharpen his pencils Monday, September 19, 2005 as he leads the Utah House of Representatives back to school as part of the annual National Legislators Back to School Program.<p/> Hailed as the largest civics lesson in history, the Back to School Program has been expanded from a one-week event to a year-long hands-on learning experience for America's youth. Students will study the passion and pressure of politics. It links leader to students by putting legislators right in the classroom, teaching you what it's like to be in their shoes- the long hours, the debates, the negotiation, and the compromises.<p/> Speaker Curtis, like other legislators across the nation, will be meeting with students personally to answer questions, share ideas, listen to concerns, and impart an understanding of the legislative process necessary for developing effective public policy. He will first be at Park Lane Elementary in Sandy from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Brighton High School from 10:00 am to 10:30 am, and Peruvian Park Elementary from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Monday, September 19, 2005.<p/> More information about the National Legislator's Back to School Program can be access on the internet at www.le.state.ut.us/lrgc/backtoschool.htm or by contacting the Utah State Coordinator Shelley Day at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel by calling (801) 538-1032.<p/>http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#92005-08-24T14:16:56+00:00The NCSL Online Democracy Award recognizes a state legislative Web site that stands out for making democracy user-friendly. The Utah Legislature Web site, the first Web site to receive this award, was selected for outstanding achievement in the use of design, content, and technology to bring democracy closer to the citizens of Utah. Of specific note is its use of RSS feeds and audio/video streaming of legislative activity. The design is simple and effective in user navigation. NCSL recognizes the Utah Legislature Web site as an example for other legislatures to follow in using Web technology to deliver public information to their constituents. Accepting the award at the 2005 NCSL Annual Meeting & Exhibition on behalf of the Utah Legislature were Mike Christensen, director, and Mark Allred, IT manager, both of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.<p/>http://news.utah.gov/news/articles.html?feedId=Legislative Branch#102005-08-01T14:46:52+00:00The Utah State Legislature will hit the road August 1st and 2nd for an intensive site visit to Box Elder, Cache and Rich Counties. Their two-day agenda includes a variety of tours and public meetings across Northern Utah.<p/> "This is a valuable educational opportunity for state officials to recognize and experience issues unique to Northern Utah and more generally to rural areas in the state," said Julie Hollist, member of the legislative visit planning committee. "We've tried to create itineraries that give them the option of a wide variety of stops, issues and discussion."<p/> Peter Knudson, State Senator from Brigham City and Utah's Senate Majority Leader said, "There is public policy and there is ground truth. Trips like this help bridge the gap." <p/> Tours of the area will emphasize five major categories: transportation, agriculture, economic development, public education and higher education. Legislators will travel by bus across the three counties to study issues pertaining to agriculture, natural resources, road systems, dams, recreational and cultural areas, factories, Utah State University buildings and programs, and many others.<p/> The final event of the visit will be a Legislative Town Meeting, Tuesday evening at the Ellen Eccles Theatre, in Logan. The agenda will follow a Question & Answer format and the public is encouraged to attend. Details are as follows:<p/> Town Meeting<br/> Tuesday, August 2nd, 2005<br/> 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.<br/> Ellen Eccles Theatre<br/> 43 South Main in Logan, Utah <p/> The public may contact the Cache Valley Tourist Council at 435-752-2161, ext. 1, for more information.<p/>Legislative Branch