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Thursday, March 11, 2010

Last Day of 2010 Session part-2

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Sine Die

Sine Die - ADVERB: abbr. s.d. Without a day specified for a future meeting; indefinitely: The Senate adjourned sine die.

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Final Day of the Legislative Session

Today will move fast. Twitter is probably the best way to track it.

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Hesterman Report - Final Look on 2010 Session

As the 2010 Legislative session comes to a close I wanted to share with you some of the sound bytes from the session that stood out to me. In the final Hesterman Report you'll hear about the budget, State's Rights, and Ethics. Listen here. (MP3)

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Last Day of 2010 Session part-1

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Media Briefing: March 11

Today's media briefing included President Waddoups and Senator Jenkins recapping some of the accomplishments of the Senate during this session. Also, Senator Stephenson spoke on SB 2. Watch the full briefing here. Listen to it here. (MP3)

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Senator Stowell on Streambed Access

By Dennis E. Stowell
Senator, District 28

It is important that we bring the escalating confrontations between property owners and recreationists to a close. SB 141 affirms the right for a person to float or fish, while floating in public waters over private property. It also is designed to confirm the constitutional protection for private property owners.

Recreationists should know that they can still gain access to areas of rivers on private property through a program run by the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) called the “Walk-in Access” program.

This is how the Walk-in Access program works: The DWR can lease a tract of private land for hunting, trapping and/or fishing privileges for the use of public recreation. Those who travel on foot, hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers can enter and use the land without obtaining special permission or paying a separate fee. This partnership between the state and private landowners helps maintain important wildlife habitat on private lands and improves public access for wildlife-related recreation on private property.

Fishers should also know that there is still access available on streams that flow through private lands without walk-in access. Where access has historically existed, anglers will be able to walk within three feet of the water on either bank, and are also able to port around obstacles.

This bill is not meant to create dissonance between recreationists and private land owners. This bill is about ensuring that private property owners are receiving the constitutional protection for private properties. Thus making certain private property is not taken or damaged for public use without just compensation. Anglers are still welcome to enjoy the rivers and streams in the state of Utah but are expected to respect the rights that belong to those that own the property on which they use.

To further help open private areas we have passed SB 281 – Public access to Stream Beds, Utah Waterways Task force. This task force will be made up of 12 legislators that will study, during the 2010 interim session, areas of the state which have conflicts between fishermen and landowners. The task force will hold public hearings to allow the landowners and fishermen testify about the conflicts in these areas. This process will help the legislature better understand how the problem may be solved. The task force will also address funding issues in regards to expanding the DWR Walk-in Access program, funding to permanently purchase access rights from landowners, and establishment of cooperative fishing management units (CFMU’S).

Public Hearings for areas being studied will be announced on the Senate Site as they are scheduled. Please be involved.

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Extra blessings for the final day of session

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Staff Highlights: Secretary of the Senate

By Krystle Whitney
Intern in Exile

As the final member of The Circle, Secretary of the Senate Annette Moore was pretty tough to track down for an interview. With illness, session duties and my being stationed in Exile, I count it close to a miracle that we were able to meet up.

Having a long history with the Utah State, Annette is a key player and source of stability. She supervises session staff, certifies the transfer of bills from Senate to the House of Representatives and enforces Parliamentary Procedure (having read and learned the 100 page manual). With this being her 19th Session, she said she is always learning new things about the Legislative process.

"In 19 years I have not missed one day of Session...if you’re sick you just come to work," she said. "But, there’s been a virus going around and I was one of the unfortunate ones and I was just really impressed by the way the staff...just stepped up. I was impressed by the team effort."

To hear more about Annette’s Senate Highlights or her favorite “funny moment” during her 19-years of working for the Legislature, listen to her interview above.

Click HERE for the podcast.

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Last Day of the Session Workout

The Final 24 Hours
KCPW: Senate Votes to Keep Pay the Same
Daily Herald: Lawmakers vote to keep last year's pay cut
ABC4: Utah legislators decide not to take pay hike
KSL: Winners and losers of the 2010 Legislative Session
SLTrib: Senate backs new campaign finance reporting rules
SLTrib: Regents could get more rural
DNews: Public education budget bill comes down to last day
SLTrib: Will charter schools sink education funds deal?
DNews: Districts to help fund charter schools?
ABC4: Lawmakers make 10 million dollar cut to public education
DNews: Senate Oks bill limiting scholarships
KCPW: Teachers Will Still Get Paid Association Leave
SLTrib: Anti-gang measure heads to guv's desk
DNews: Gang prevention bill passes
SLTrib: Legislature approves holiday for Browning
KCPW: Watered-Down Prosthetic Parity Bill Clears Senate
SLTrib: Senate paves way for road upgrades in Salt Lake County
DNews: Rally at Capitol urges lawmakers to address climate change
Fox 13: Utah House resources Rep and former SLC Mayor debate climate change
Standard Ex: Antelope Island hunting part of budget legislation
Out of Context: Political Cornflakes
Sausage Grinder: Morning of the Last Day

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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

24

Day 45. The final day of session. The Senate will work on House Bills. The House will work on Senate Bills. We'll concur (or not) with House amendments to Senate Bills. The House will concur (or not) with Senate amendments to House Bills.

Watch for conference committees throughout the day. (A conference committee is the small negotiating team that will resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.) In a bygone era you could find them by listening for the shouting. These last few years - not so much.

Leadership of both bodies will trade priority lists. Senate Leadership will prioritize senate bills for the House to consider. House Leadership will prioritize house bills for the Senate to consider.

Bills are debated and acted on faster than normal. You’ll see hopes rise and fall as the clock hurtles toward midnight.

We might end early this year. We'll see. The state constitution indicates the last possible moment we can vote a bill up or down is the stroke of midnight.

Follow along on the Twitter Site.

Or watch or listen live via our official site. We'll be here all day, if you need us.

It's been a tough but productive session.

Thanks for paying attention.

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The Phantom Student Phase Out

Senator Howard Stephenson explains the Phantom Student Phaseout and fair funding of public schools in SB2.

Share the Youtube version of the Video by visiting here.

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Senate Floor Action: How to track your bills

We've been documenting senate floor action (here, here and here).

As the final End of Session Crescendo arrives, here are a few pointers on gathering all that vital information for yourself.

Visit the Audio & Video Archives

1. Visit the Legislative web site.

2. On the far right side, you’ll see the “Quick Links” section. Listed under this section is "Floor Debates." Click on the Senate tab.

3. On this page, fill in the desired Legislative Session year and date.

4. Once you have chosen a specific day, all floor action of that day should show up with options to view each action (or bill debate) either visually or with audio.

Bill Search and Bill Status Page

1. On the right upper corner of the Legislative site, you’ll find the “Quick Bill Search” section. Type in your bill number, name of the sponsor or the subject of the bill into the search box. Easy as pie.

2. Click on your bill.

3. Now you're at the Bill's info page. You'll be able to . . .
Upload and read the actual bill in PDF or HTML format.

Track bill status to see where the bill has been or where it is headed and track the tallied votes it has received.

Listen to debates on the bill, either while it was in committee or on the Senate floor.

Have updates bill sent to your email address.

Etcetera. Check it out. Here's an example.

More Tracking Tools

On the left side of the Legislative site, mouse over Bills and check out the options.

The Reading Calendar

"What bill are they on now?" Also easy as pie to find out. Go to the Reading Calendar. Put a check in the House or Senate "Display Board" box. Now you know. You can see the vote count here too.

On the left side you can also check boxes to view a live video feed, list of bills to be discussed next and indications as to which bills are circled, and links to the text of all the bills on the calendars.

Leave a comment if you have any questions.

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March 10, 2010

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Staff Highlights: The Circle

(click picture for sound)

By Krystle Whitney
The Intern in Exile

The Circle (which actually isn't a circle at all but a elongated semi-circle) refers to those sitting in front of the Senate dais right below the Senate President. The three individuals who make up The Circle are known (amongst the Senate staff) as holding the most prestigious clerical positions. It consists of the Secretary of the Senate, Reading Mending Clerk and the Docket Clerk.

Because of illness, availability and the diversity of each of their positions, I’ve decided to interview the two clerks and the Secretary of the Senate separately. Leslie McLean (Reading Mending Clerk) and Paula Tew (Docket Clerk) amend bills, receive communications from the House, manage Senate services, aid the Third House and bring a comedic side to the Senate floor, to name just a few of their responsibilities.

I personally have to admit that interviewing these ladies had to be one of my highlights of this Session. Listen to their interview and see why.

Click HERE for the podcast.