Utah State Legislature Highlights for January 21st-January 25th

The Legislature began the 2008 session with a huge snowstorm blanketing the newly renovated Capitol. Despite the inclement weather, the Representatives were here eagerly awaiting the beginning of the session. Another highlight of the week was hearing from Governor Huntsman for the annual State of the State address. The Legislators were happy to hear that his priorities for the year were similar to their own, including a continued focus on education funding and health system reform, in addition to caring for Utah's veterans. Other bills that moved forward this week are included below.

 H.B. 1, the Minimum School Program Base Budget, passed the House 71-0 on Thursday, January 24th. Sponsored by Representative Bradley G. Last (R) of St. George, H.B. 1 provided $2.3 billion for public education, including allocating money to provide teachers statewide with a raise in salary. H.B. 1 shows the continued dedication that legislators have to funding public education.

 H.B. 68, Educator Relicensure Initiative, passed the House with a vote of 68-0, on Wednesday, January 23rd. It allows a previously licensed teacher whose license has expired to renew their license in a more streamlined manner. Approximately 28,000 teachers with licenses live in Utah but do not have up-to-date credentials. By allowing these teachers access to an easier method of re-licensure it is hoped that more teachers will be available to lessen the teacher shortage in Utah. According to the sponsor of the bill, Representative Rhonda Rudd Menlove (R) of Garland, H.B. 68 will help decrease the teacher shortage by streamlining the process to regain a license.

 H.B. 129, passed unanimously in the House on Thursday, January 24th, will improve the State’s ability to care for its veterans. Sponsored by Representative Dee (R) of Ogden, H.B. 129 appropriated $19.7 million to build a veterans' nursing home in Ogden, Utah. Currently there is only one such facility in Utah, with a waiting list of one hundred. Veterans looking on from the House gallery (including Utah's only living Congressional Medal of Honor receipient, George E. Wahlen) applauded the effort, and were in turn honored by the representatives.

 H.B. 256, Utah's version of Jessica's Law, passed the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee 9-0 on January 23rd and moved to the House with a favorable recommendation. If passed, it will increase the minimum term of imprisonment for rape of a child, object rape of a child, or sodomy on a child, to 25 years and which may be for life.

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