Bills of interest before the state legislature

Don't blink or you'll miss it! Utah's legislative session is one of the shortest in the nation. Despite this, there are a variety of bills and resolutions slated for the 2009 General Session. Here are a few that have peaked my interest. (Let me be clear, I don't purport to be an expert on any of these.)

H.B.26 Child and Vulnerable Adult Endangerment Provisions

This bill amends Utah Criminal Code relating to endangerment of a child or a vulnerable adult. It provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally causes or permits a child or a vulnerable adult to be exposed to, inhale, ingest, or have contact with a controlled substance, chemical substance, or drug paraphernalia face stiffer penalties.

H.B. 29 Sex Offenders' Contact with Children

This bill modifies the Code of Criminal Procedure and requires a registered sex offender whose offense was against a child younger than 14 to obtain permission from a child's parent or guardian to allow a child younger than age 14 to accompany the offender.

H.B. 42 Adoption Revisions

This bill amends multiple provisions of the Utah Adoption Act:

• reduces the age of an "adult adoptee" from 21 to 18
• increases maximums paid for counseling of a parent who is placing a child for adoption
• modifies provisions relating to who has the right to consent to an adoption and the dissolution of parental rights
• provides that a court may not refuse to allow/accept a mother's consent to adoption on the grounds that an unmarried biological father filed an action to establish parentage
• reduces from 21 to 18 the age: of an adult adoptee who may participate in the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry.

H.B. 64 Deterring Illegal Immigration

This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety to administer and coordinate the operation of a multi-agency strike force to combat violent and other major crimes associated with illegal immigration and human trafficking.

H.B. 97 Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

This bill modifies the Criminal Code regarding sexual offenses against minors. It amends the offense of sexual exploitation of a minor to include the act of viewing child pornography.

H.B. 101 Assertive Community Mental Health Treatment Pilot Program

This bill establishes a pilot program within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Act for the provision of assertive community treatment services to people with a severe mental disorder, who are not receiving or are transitioning out of other mental health services, and to their families.

H.B. 218 Family Employment Program Amendments

This bill modifies provisions of the Utah Workforce Services Code allowing that the Department of Workforce Services shall make a rule for the amount of cash assistance a participant is eligible to receive under the Family Employment Program.

H.B. 222 Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act

This bill amends Utah Criminal Code relating to abortion. It requires that at least 24 hours before a physician performs an abortion (of a fetus of at least 20 weeks gestational age), the woman be informed of any anesthetic/analgesic that would eliminate or alleviate pain to the unborn child along with any associated medical risks. The Department of Health would also be required to produce a brochure including information, from both sides of the issue.

H.C.R. 2 Healthy Family Partnership Concurrent Resolution

This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges that age appropriate materials on family violence prevention be available in Utah's public schools and that state government continue community partnerships to help youth prevent family and dating violence.
S.C.R. 1 Concurrent Resolution Requesting a Federal Waiver to Establish an Employer-Sponsored Work Program

This concurrent resolution of the Legislature urges the United States Congress to grant the state of Utah waivers to establish an employer-sponsored work program and other strategies to address illegal immigration in the state as well as withhold federal FICA and Medicare revenue and apply it toward the costs of the program.