Watching

This bill provides budget increases and decreases for the compensation of state and higher education employees not including school district personnel; provides for a 3% cost of living allowance for state and higher education employees not including school district personnel; provides for an additional 2% cost of living allowance for state employees not including school district personnel contingent upon changes in health benefit plans; adjusts funding for changes in health plans offered to state employees not including school district personnel contingent upon such changes; provides funding for a 9.9% increase in the premiums charged for higher education employee health benefits; provides funding for an increase in the cost of retirement for certain employees; adjusts funding for changes in the cost of Workers' Compensation; provides funding for a 3% contract increase for certain contract service providers.

UAGE Position Notes:
Passed March 3, 2008

Watching

This bill increases the penalty for committing a second or subsequent assault against a peace officer from a class A misdemeanor to a third degree felony and provides that the section amended in this bill does not affect the exercise of constitutional rights including the right of free speech and the right of assemly.

UAGE Position Notes:
Bill Enrolled 2/29 Governor signed 3/17

Watching

This bill requires the Utah State Retirement Board to ensure that the monies of the Retirement Investment Fund are not invested in any business operations with a publicly traded foreign company that has certain business opeations with the country of Iran and requires the Board to divest of any investments in those companies providing that divestment is not at a loss.

UAGE Position Notes:
Returned to Rules Committee 2/28

Opposing

This bill repeals the existing Privatization Policy Board and enacts the Government Competition and Privatization Act, including creating the State Government Competition and Privatization Commission and the requirement that local governments create a local government competition and privatization commission.

UAGE Position Notes:
Returned to Rules Committee 2/28

Supporting

This bill requires a person who is selecting a retirement allowance option under the Public Employees Contributory or Non Contributory Retirement Act to obtain written consent for the selected option from the person's spouse, as applicable and allows a retiree to make a second election of the six retirement options if made within a six month window.

UAGE Position Notes:
Returned to Rules Committee 2/28

Watching

This bill amends the six month post retirement wait period for reemployment with the same agency, to 60 days for licensed educators that retire and are reemployed from the same school district.

UAGE Position Notes:
Returned to Rules Committee 2/28

Supporting

This bill increases the minimum wage to at least $7.25 per hour with an annual inflation adjustment.

UAGE Position Notes:
Returned to Rules Committee 2/28

Watching

This bill establishes a state ethics commission and provides that the commission is not subject to the Open and Public Meetings Act, requires that records provided to the commission be classified as protected, provides that the commission shall hear certain ethics complaints filed against the governor, lt. governor, state attorney general, state treasurer, state auditor and members of the Legislature and provides for membership and staff for the commission.

UAGE Position Notes:
Didn't come out of House Rules Committee

Watching

This bill amends the Health Code, the Insurance Code and the Governor's Office of Economic Development to implement a strategic plan for health system reform.

UAGE Position Notes:
Passed House 2/8. Substituted in Senate 3/4. Passed Senate 3/3. Governor signed 3/17.

Supporting

This bill increases the retirement allowance by 2% of members of the Public Employees' Contributory and Noncontributory Systems with service prior to July 1, 1975.

UAGE Position Notes:
Returned to Rules Committee 2/28

Opposing

This bill defines certain terms; allows certain elected state officials and certain appointed executives and senior staff to elect to have the members' defined benefit balance transferred from the defined benefit system or plan to a defined contribution plan; allows certain employees to be excluded, upon written request, from future coverage under the Public Employees' Contributory Retirement System and the Public Employees' Noncontributory Retirement System, including employees of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, employees of the governor's offices, and employees of the state treasurer and state auditor; allows new public safety service employees who are eligible for the Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement System to elect instead to become a member of the Public Employees' Noncontributory Retirement System and receive the difference in cost in their salary;

UAGE Position Notes:
UAGE opposes this bill because it introduces an inferior form of public employee retirement plan than what you deserve or can currently attain under the existing 20 or 30 year career plans. UAGE vividly recalls the first debates on defined contribution plans where all public employees were included in the same large proposal. That measure failed, so now the attempt seems to be the same way you eat an elephant. One office, one program at a time. Supporters contend this is all about your choice. This is actually all about cost savings and deferring those savings into projects not related to your retirement funds. This bill passed the House 2/21, was Substituted in the Senate to eliminate the 30 year Public Safety Retirement plan choice and passed that body 3/3. It passed on 3/3 and the Governor signed on 3/17.

Watching

This bill clarifies that a sheriff in a county employing more than 100 full-time uniformed peace officers may appoint more than one chief deputy or undersheriff, even if the county has chosen to use the County Personnel Management Act provisions as a single merit system for all county employees.

UAGE Position Notes:
This bill has been merged with SB0078, County Personnel Management Act. It passed both Houses and was Enrolled on 2/25.

Watching

This bill requires the Public Employees' Benefit and Insurance Program (PEHP) to provide the Legislature with its recommended benefit adjustments for state employees; and requires that PEHP determine benefits and rates based on the total estimated costs and the employee premium shares established by the Legislature.

UAGE Position Notes:
This bill passed both Houses and was Enrolled on 2/25.

Watching

This bill modifies the Utah State Personnel Management Act to exempt employees of the State Board of Education from overtime, classified service and career service provisions administered by the Department of Human Resource Management and requires the State Board of Education to adopt human resource policies and procedures for its employees.

UAGE Position Notes:
This bill did not get out of the Rules Committee.

Supporting

This bill requires a person filing a declaration of candidacy for county sheriff to submit a certificate issued by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Division that the candidate has successfully met the standards and training requirements established for peace officers and requires an elected county sheriff at the time of taking office to be certified as a correctional officer and requires a county sheriff to remain certified as a law enforcement officer and correctional officer during the sheriff's term of office.

UAGE Position Notes:
Passed the House on 2/28. Passed the Senate on 3/03.

Supporting

This bill provides that a member in the Public Employees' Contributory Retirement System and the Public Employees' Noncontributory Retirement System: may retire with 25 years of service credit instead of 30 years; and receives 2.5% per year of service instead of 2% per year of service, or instead of 1.25% for certain years of service in the contributory system; provides that a member in the Public Safety Contributory Retirement System, the Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement System, and the Firefighters' Retirement System: who enters employment on or after July 1, 2008 may retire with 25 years of service credit instead of 20 years; receives 2.5% of salary per year of service instead of 2.5% per year of service for the first 20 years and then 2% for any additional years; and receives an increase in the maximum allowance to 75% of a retiree's final average salary instead of 70%; amends provisions for the cut off of monthly disability benefits to conform with the new retirement eligibility provisions

UAGE Position Notes:
HB0328 was assigned to the House Retirement and Other Independent Entities Standing Committee on February 07. The House Committee has HELD the bill, possibly discussing it during the Interim. Enacting Clause struck 3/5.

Watching

This bill provides certain definitions clarifies that a public association's membership may include governmental entities;

UAGE Position Notes:
HB357 will be heard in the House Government Operations Committee on February 12th. At the meeting the Utah Association of Counties (UAC) declared this bill protects them as a public association from GRAMA. The bill passed out of the committee with a favorable recommendation. It passed the House 2/19 and is in the Senate Rules Committee. Enacting Clause struck 3/05.

Watching

This bill creates a program allowing a private entity to submit proposals to provide certain products or services to the Department of Technology Services or the Board of Education.

UAGE Position Notes:
Passed 3/05.

Opposing

This bill requires that only an employee can submit a written request to an employer to have payroll deductions made to pay union dues; provides for the prompt commencement and ceasing of deductions upon request; prohibits an employee who requests to have payroll deductions made to pay union dues from being required to continue the payments for any set period or total amount; provides that a labor organization is not liable to an employee for terminating those services or benefits that are only available to members of the labor organization if the employee requests that the employer cease making deductions for union dues benefitting the labor organization

UAGE Position Notes:
The Enacting Clause struck 3/05.

Watching

This bill requires that a health reimbursement arrangement benefit is the health benefit offered to new governors and legislators after July 1, 2008; allows existing legislators and the current governor to have the option to chose a health reimbursement arrangement benefit; requires the Public Employees Health Program to offer a federally qualified health reimbursement arrangement benefit for governors and legislators; provides that contributions to the health reimbursement arrangement benefit shall be made by the state;

UAGE Position Notes:
The Enacting Clause struck 3/05.

Watching

This bill raises the cap on the death benefits of retired members of the public safety contributory and non contributory retirement systems from 65% to 75% for the surviving spouse.

UAGE Position Notes:
UAGE supports this bill. The Enacting Clause was struck 3/05/08.

Watching

This bill modifies the Utah State Retirement and Insurance Benfit Act by allowing participating employers to provide an enhanced maximum annual cost of living adjustment of 4% instead of 2.5% for certain public safety retirees.

UAGE Position Notes:
UAGE supports this bill. Governor signed the bill 3/17/08.

Watching

This bill provides for muncipalities operating under the former council-manager form of government to operate in the future under the five-member council form of government and provides for managers appointed under a former council-manager form of government before the effective date of this bill to be paid severance payment upon dismissal of the manager.

UAGE Position Notes:
Governor signed the bill 3/13/08.

Watching

This bill defines benefits that are subject to a domestic relations order to include a death benefit provided under a group insurance policy in order to allow the group insurance policy to be split along with other retirement benefits as part of a domestic relations order issued by a court for the division of assets.

UAGE Position Notes:
SB0024 Passed the Senate on January 28 and passed the House on February 07, has been enrolled and now goes to the Governor for his signature. The Governor signed the bill 3/17/08.

Watching

This bill defines terms; requires a county or city of the first or second class to create an inventory of activities; and requires reporting and disclosure of the inventory

UAGE Position Notes:

Opposing

This bill defines terms; requires a county, city, or local district to account for a competitive activity in a separate fund or in a program budget; requires annual reviews to determine whether an activity is a competitive activity; and allows for the withholding of state funds for violations.

UAGE Position Notes:
The Governor signed the bill 3/13/08.

Watching

This bill provides for a Performance evaluation and retention process for all justice court judges; amends the jurisdiction of the District CouRT; provides that all justice court judges be judicial officers, paid by the state; creates an allocation process for providing judicial resources to existing justice courts; provides for compensation for justice court judges; creates judicial selection committees in each judicial district; and creates a restricted account to pay salaries, benefits, and non-education expenses.

UAGE Position Notes:
The Governor signed the bill 3/14/08.

Opposing

This bil adds an exception to tenured positions included within the career service system for persons appointed by an elected county officer or administer .S division functions in furtherance of the performance of the elected officer's professional duties; clarifies that a person currently serving in a nonexempt position does not lose that status because of the enactment of the provision adding an exception; requires elected county officers to work with the office of personnel management to develop incentives to encourage certain nonexempt employees to convert voluntarily to exempt status; and makes technical changes.

UAGE Position Notes:
UAGE has always been opposed to any erosion of the merit system including exempting Division Directors from it's protections. SB78 passed the Senate, was merged with HB 235 which gives county sheriffs the opportunity to appoint more than one chief deputy and is now waiting committee assignment in the House. The bill will allow elected officials to appoint staff to exempt positions well below that of a Division Director. UAGE lobbied the Salt Lake County Council as one of the largest local governments affected by the bill (the District Attorney's office in Salt Lake County proposed the measure) to either oppose the bill or make certain the harm did not go below Division Director. On Tuesday, February 12, the County Council voted to keep the exempt status at the Division Director level. UAGE will continue monitoring the measure through the process. The governor signed the bill 3/13/08.

Watching

This bill modifies the Utah State Retirement and Insurance Benefit Act by authorizing an additional retirement benefit for certain retirees who were left out of the formula to calculate 2% for all years of service.

UAGE Position Notes:
UAGE supports this bill. The Enacting Clause was struck 3/05/08.

Supporting

This bill repeals the requirement that the Department of Corrections maintain an administrative hearing officer to conduct hearings related to offenders in the custody of the department and administrative matters and issues involving staff and repealing the duties and powers of the hearing officer.

UAGE Position Notes:
SB0119 passed the Senate on January 29 and the House on February 06. It will be enrolled and sent to the Governor for his signature. The Governor signed the bill on 3/18/08.

Watching

This bill allows the executive director of the Department of Corrections to authorize the use of a state vehicle for commute and official purposes by a department employee who 1) supervises probationers or parolees or 2) is charged with investigating criminal activity of probationers or parolees.

UAGE Position Notes:
The Governor signed the bill on 3/18/08.

Watching

This bill requires a person elected to fill consolidated offices to meeet the professional licensing, certification or training requirements of each of the colsolidated offices and eliminates an exception to the requirement that each county surveyor be a licensed professional land surveyor.

UAGE Position Notes:
The Enacting Clause was struck on 3/05/08.

Watching

This bill permits the automatic withholding of wages as a contribution to a retirement plan if certain conditions are met; and makes technical and conforming changes.

UAGE Position Notes:
UAGE has requested additional information from Legislative Research. The Governor signed the bill on 3/17/08.

Watching

This bill adds Family Day as a state holiday, designates the Friday following Thanksgiving Day as Family Day and repeals the Personal Preference Day that is scheduled according to Department of Human Resource Management rule.

UAGE Position Notes:
This bill had the enacting clause struck Feberuary 6th which kills the measure.

Watching

This bill makes the office of County Surveyor appointed rather than elected.

UAGE Position Notes:
All local level government offices are elected for a good reason - to allow YOU to determine the qualifications and integrety of each official - at the ballot box. Until and or unless local government offices are analyzed and found to qualify for appointment status, UAGE believes they should be left as is. The Enacting Clause was struck on 3/05/08.

Opposing

This bill requires county sheriffs to provide law enforcement service as provided in an interlocal agreement; requires county sheriffs to provide law enforcement service to an unincorporated area of the county to the extent that another entity established to provide extended police protection does not; and authorizes first class counties to enter into an interlocal agreement to provide law enforcement service.

UAGE Position Notes:
This bill is actually a bill to reduce the powers of the county sheriff, allows the county council, not the sheriff, to enter into interlocal agreements and possibly creates a Unified Police Department (UPD). According to Salt Lake County Councilman Mark Crockett it would allow that body to fire the Sheriff. The Governor signed the bill on 3/14/08.

Watching

This bill amends the Counties title to incorporate record classification provisions into the Government Records Access and Management Act; permits a governmental entity to classify a record of formal charges or disciplinary actions against a peace officer as a private record, unless the peace officer consents, in writing, to make the record public

UAGE Position Notes:
The Enacting Clause was sstruck on 3/05/08.