Special Session
A special legislative session starts this Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. and ends when the legislature determines it is done with business. (Last year, in a veto override session, the Senate did its business, adjourned and went home, before the House had the chance to act on some other items representatives wanted considered. The House could have voted to override the issues, but the bills would have gone over to an empty Senate chamber. The Senate’s point was valid; the votes weren’t there; so, why bother? But there were a few House members a bit out of sorts.)
There is an interesting dynamic that comes into play in a special session. The governor issues the call and places items on the call; the legislature can’t add to the list. However, the governor can’t control how the legislature conducts its business during the session. Therefore, if the governor decided to force the legislature into session to deal with something it didn’t want to deal with, the legislature could meet, go through the formalities of opening the session and, then, promptly adjourn. So there is some give-and-take about what goes on a call. Governor Huntsman has been wonderful in working with the legislature in deciding which items to place on the call. Though I think there are too many items on the call, I know good and well why the so many issues are on the call; legislators successfully lobbied to get them there.
I will briefly describe the issues to be considered in the upcoming special session of the legislature.
No Child Left Behind – The bill prioritizes State education requirements ahead of federal requirements (essential replacing NCLB with the State’s U-PASS system, which we think deal more effectively with students as individuals, not groups). I’ll vote for it.
Veteran’s Nursing Home – In order to gain $8.5 million in federal funds for the building of the Ogden nursing home, the State needs to pass a $4.5 million dollar bond. I’ll vote for it.
Drug Offender Reform Act – The bill would authorize a $1.4 million pilot program intended to decrease prison recidivism through drug treatment. I’ll vote for it.
Health Care Provider Amendments – This bill clarifies when providers in HMOs and PPOs can bring an action for payment and addresses panel composition and payment.
Transportation Funding Bill – This would create and fund the Transportation Investment Fund (TIF). I’ll vote for it.
Convention Facilities – During the General Session, we passed a bill to allow Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County to tap increased hotel taxes to pay for the $82 million expansion of the Salt Place and South Towne Expo center. Salt Lake City officials are looking for the State to contribute $4 million to the project. Undecided.
Executive Compensation – This bill would give certain members of the executive branch a 4.5% pay raise. Undecided.
Municipal Boundary Adjustments – The bill would allow municipalities with common boundaries to make adjustments to the boundary by using the County Board of Adjustments as a third-party arbitrator. Undecided, but leaning toward voting for it.
Legislative Task Forces – The bill would adjust the percentage of Republicans and Democrats on task forces to more accurately reflect the actual membership ratio in the House. I'll vote for this bill.
Jail Expansion – This resolution would support expansion of jails in Beaver, Millard and Sanpete counties. I’ll vote for this bill.
Tourism – This bill corrects 3 words that did not correspond in the bills passed by the House and Senate. I'll vote for this bill.
Nonprofit Legal Assistance – This bill legislatively authorizes expenditure of funds already appropriated for nonprofit legal help. I'll vote for this bill.
Voting Machines – This bill requires paper records for voting machines (after passage, an incorrect copy of the bill was forwarded to Governor). I'll vote for this bill.
Fire Districts – This bill would modify notice and hearing requirements for property tax increases relating to interlocal cooperation entities. I'll vote for this bill.
Special Service Districts – This bill would increase the amount of property tax fire, ambulance, and emergency service districts could charge in counties of first and second class. Undecided.
There is an interesting dynamic that comes into play in a special session. The governor issues the call and places items on the call; the legislature can’t add to the list. However, the governor can’t control how the legislature conducts its business during the session. Therefore, if the governor decided to force the legislature into session to deal with something it didn’t want to deal with, the legislature could meet, go through the formalities of opening the session and, then, promptly adjourn. So there is some give-and-take about what goes on a call. Governor Huntsman has been wonderful in working with the legislature in deciding which items to place on the call. Though I think there are too many items on the call, I know good and well why the so many issues are on the call; legislators successfully lobbied to get them there.
I will briefly describe the issues to be considered in the upcoming special session of the legislature.
No Child Left Behind – The bill prioritizes State education requirements ahead of federal requirements (essential replacing NCLB with the State’s U-PASS system, which we think deal more effectively with students as individuals, not groups). I’ll vote for it.
Veteran’s Nursing Home – In order to gain $8.5 million in federal funds for the building of the Ogden nursing home, the State needs to pass a $4.5 million dollar bond. I’ll vote for it.
Drug Offender Reform Act – The bill would authorize a $1.4 million pilot program intended to decrease prison recidivism through drug treatment. I’ll vote for it.
Health Care Provider Amendments – This bill clarifies when providers in HMOs and PPOs can bring an action for payment and addresses panel composition and payment.
Transportation Funding Bill – This would create and fund the Transportation Investment Fund (TIF). I’ll vote for it.
Convention Facilities – During the General Session, we passed a bill to allow Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County to tap increased hotel taxes to pay for the $82 million expansion of the Salt Place and South Towne Expo center. Salt Lake City officials are looking for the State to contribute $4 million to the project. Undecided.
Executive Compensation – This bill would give certain members of the executive branch a 4.5% pay raise. Undecided.
Municipal Boundary Adjustments – The bill would allow municipalities with common boundaries to make adjustments to the boundary by using the County Board of Adjustments as a third-party arbitrator. Undecided, but leaning toward voting for it.
Legislative Task Forces – The bill would adjust the percentage of Republicans and Democrats on task forces to more accurately reflect the actual membership ratio in the House. I'll vote for this bill.
Jail Expansion – This resolution would support expansion of jails in Beaver, Millard and Sanpete counties. I’ll vote for this bill.
Tourism – This bill corrects 3 words that did not correspond in the bills passed by the House and Senate. I'll vote for this bill.
Nonprofit Legal Assistance – This bill legislatively authorizes expenditure of funds already appropriated for nonprofit legal help. I'll vote for this bill.
Voting Machines – This bill requires paper records for voting machines (after passage, an incorrect copy of the bill was forwarded to Governor). I'll vote for this bill.
Fire Districts – This bill would modify notice and hearing requirements for property tax increases relating to interlocal cooperation entities. I'll vote for this bill.
Special Service Districts – This bill would increase the amount of property tax fire, ambulance, and emergency service districts could charge in counties of first and second class. Undecided.
posted by steve u. at 4/17/2005
Subscribe
0 Comments:
<< Home