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Curt Bramble

2021 Legislative Update, Week 3

By Legislative Update One Comment

We have now concluded week three of the legislative session. Week three included additional time for floor debate each day, requests for appropriations presentations each morning and standing committee meetings each afternoon. We have passed 50 bills so far, and we still have hundreds more to consider. As always, you can tune in for any of our committee meetings or floor debate on le.utah.gov.

My Bills

S.B. 25 Corporate Tax Amendments -Over the last year we have made many efforts to get economic support to businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. This bill provides more targeted relief to businesses that were negatively impacted by COVID-19 by allowing them to carry back, for up to three years, a Utah net loss realized during 2020. The idea is if a business was profitable in the three years leading up to 2020, but then suffered a loss in 2020, that is very likely due to the economic hardship brought about by the pandemic. This bill passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House.

SB27Physician Assistant Act Amendments– This bill came about due to an unfortunate circumstance this past year. The supervising physician for a physician assistant (PA) in rural Utah passed away, preventing the PA from being able to see and treat patients he had been treating for years due to the lack of supervising physician. Especially in the midst of a pandemic, we need to make sure that Utahns have access to healthcare. This bill amends the scope of physician assistants’ practice to make it easier for them to see patients and makes changes to requirements for newly graduated physician assistants. This bill made it through committee and will be heard on the Senate floor very soon.

SB28Physician Assistant Mental Health Practice– This bill will help address a psychiatric health care shortage in Utah by allowing a physician assistant who specializes in psychiatric mental health to engage in the practice of mental health therapy. The bill made it through committee on a unanimous vote and will be heard on the Senate floor very soon.

Week 3 Highlights

Driver License Changes 

This week we considered legislation that would make changes to the driver license requirements for new drivers. H.B. 18 Driver Education Amendments, would extend the term of a learner permit from one year to 18 months, meaning the permit would not expire until the 18-month mark. This change would not prevent youth from getting their license upon turning 16. In addition, this bill would remove the required 6 observation hours for 15-17 year olds as they have already been observing driving their entire lives. This bill passed with unanimous support in the Senate.

To listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor, click here.

Utah State Flag

Some people believe Utah’s current flag falls short when it comes to representing the state in a simple and purposeful way. S.B. 48State Flag Task Force creates a State Flag Taskforce to assess whether a new state flag should be created. Additionally, it allows for the creation and use of a 125th Anniversary commemorative flag to help as we celebrate 125 years of statehood. The commemorative flag included in this bill was actually designed by a few constituents in my district.  An iconic state flag can be a great rallying point and marketing tool. S.B. 48 passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House.

To listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor, click here.

Holocaust Education

Many of us learned about the Holocaust during our K-12 years; however, over time it seems this important, historic lesson is being increasing left out of our children’s education. S.C.R. 1 Concurrent Resolution on Holocaust Education, highlights the importance of Holocaust and genocide education for students, schools and communities and encourage the State Board of Education and local education agencies to provide Holocaust and genocide education.  This bill passed with unanimous support in the Senate and will now be considered by the House.

You can watch the bill presentation on the Senate floor, here.

Deceased Voters

Although Utah works hard to have accurate and secure elections, ballots occasionally are mailed to deceased voters. H.B. 12 Deceased Voter Amendments, creates a more uniform process to rectify this issue. When a Utahn passes away, the bill requires that the death certificate be sent from the state registrar to the Lieutenant Governor’s office within five business days of the certificate’s registration. The certificate will then be sent to the County Clerk’s office where the deceased name will be removed from the voter rolls. Before each election cycle, the Lieutenant Governor’s office will also cross-check each name against United States Social Security Administration data. H.B. 12 passed the Senate and House and will be sent to the governor.

To listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor, click here.

Law Enforcement Weapons Amendments 

Equipping our law enforcement officers with the latest resources to address incidents is critical to protecting the public. S.B. 68 Law Enforcement Weapons Amendments, would create a fund that will allow law enforcement agencies to purchase technology that assists in investigating officer involved critical incidents where shots were fired. This tamper-proof technology will allow firearms to record the number of shots fired and when they were fired. This simple modification will improve the effectiveness of police investigations where firearms were used. This bill passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. Listen to the bill’s presentation on the Senate floor here.

Recognizing COVID-19 Efforts

The last year has been hard on everyone as we’ve learned to live life during a pandemic. Many have been sick or lost loved ones. Thousands lost jobs and some lost businesses. Students, teachers and families had to adapt to a new style of teaching. During this challenging time, many individuals in our state and local health departments worked tirelessly to produce, publish and promote accurate information to help us navigate this pandemic. This week, the Senate passed H.C.R. 6 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing COVID-19 Efforts, to recognize and express our appreciation for these individuals. You can watch the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.

What do you think?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the Utah State Senate. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts on the issues we are considering this session!

Thank you,
Curt Bramble
Senate District 16

2021 Legislative Session, Week 2

By Legislative Update No Comments

We are already two weeks into the 2021 General Legislative Session and we’ve passed a total of 19 bills with many more to come over the next five weeks.

One comment I hear from constituents on occasion is that we pass too many laws during the session. While there may be some truth to that, it is worth clarifying that not every bill we pass creates a brand-new law. While some bills do create new laws or programs, many of the bills we pass each session make small fixes to existing law or seek to make government run more efficiently. On some occasions, the bills we pass repeal old law. Over the last few years, the Legislature has worked to remove burdensome regulations that do not improve the lives of Utahns or make us any safer.

My Bills

SB60, Accident Reports Amendments– This bill protects citizens’ information from unwanted eyes. It prevents independent private investigators and private attorneys from accessing police accident reports without having a client who is directly involved in the accident report. This is just another step in helping keep private information private and protecting people from bad actors. This bill passed through the Senate with unanimous support and will now be considered in the House.

SB42Tax Commission Administrative Garnishment Process– This bill ensures that court fees do not become another form of taxation. In some instances, court fees are much higher than the cost of the service. This is unacceptable. This bill takes steps to prevent this from continuing in the future. The bill passed through the Senate last week and passed in committee in the House this week with unanimous support.

Week 2 Highlights

Budget

This week we passed our base budget bills. These bills traditionally use the previous year’s ongoing appropriations as a starting point. This was the first year we included $95 million in new money for education growth and inflation in the base budgets, making it the first year we have included these items in our base budgets. In addition, we also included an increase in per-pupil spending to restore last year’s 6 percent WPU increase. Overall, our base budgets we passed this week they also include over half a billion dollars in new state spending for high priority items such as education, Medicaid and COVID-19 response.

Mental Health Services

As a Legislature we have passed a number of major bills over the last few years to improve our mental health treatment services in our state. We even began the nationwide push for a mental health crisis hotline. This session, more is being done to put trained professionals in positions to help people in crisis. This week we passed S.B. 53 Behavioral Emergency Services Amendments, which makes additional mental health crisis training available for emergency services professionals. Agencies throughout Utah can create teams of appropriately trained professionals to respond specifically to mental health emergencies. These professionals will be licensed to triage people and get them the resources they need. We also passed S.B. 47 Mental Health Crisis, Intervention Council which creates a council of stakeholders from various agencies to design the statewide training offered to these emergency services professionals.

Additionally, S.B. 41 Mental Health Access Amendments, requires health benefit plans to cover telehealth services for mental health treatment if the plan also covers in-person treatment of the same mental health conditions. All three bills passed in the Senate and are now in the House for consideration.

To view the bill presentations on the Senate floor, click here: S.B. 41S.B. 47 and S.B. 53.

Price Controls

The Price Controls During Emergencies Act was created in 2005, but not ever used until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. S.B. 86 Amendments to the Price Controls During Emergencies Act, makes necessary changes to the act to ensure consumers are not price gouged and protects Utahns from false claims during an emergency. S.B. 86 targets four changes to the act, including checkpoints before an investigation, transparency in changes to the cost of items, privacy protection for those accused until after adjudication and higher evidentiary standards. This bill passed in Senate Business and Labor committee and will be debated on the Senate floor in the coming week.

Vehicle Safety and Emission Test 

A number of years ago the Legislature removed the safety inspections requirement for registering automobiles in the state. While, there is not a prevailing desire in the Legislature to reinstate the safety inspection, one Senate committee this week did vote to support S.B. 93 Emissions Test Amendments, which sets a requirement for emissions inspectors to inform car owners if their car lights and lamps are functioning; however, no mandatory repair or official enforcement will be put in place. This bill aims to increase safety measures to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries caused on Utah roads. This bill passed in committee and is currently on the second reading calendar.

Criminal Penalties

This week we considered a couple of bills pertaining to criminal penalties. The first bill was created at the recommendation of the Utah Sentencing Commission, from a situation in which a 14-year-old girl was charged under the adult justice system rather than the juvenile system which resulted in a 10-year sentence to the state prison and registration on the sex offender registry. S.B. 50 Juvenile Offender Penalty Amendments, ensures that the appropriate level of punishment is administered based on the age of the offender at the time of the crime. It will not change the punishment for sexual infractions, for youth or adults. This closes a loophole where previously the punishment was based on the time of reporting rather than the time of the crime.

The second bill  S.B. 64 Domestic Violence Amendments, proposes to enhance domestic violence a third-degree felony if it is a third-time offense in a 10-year window.

Both of these bills passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House.

To view the bill presentations on the Senate floor, click here: S.B. 50 and S.B. 64.

Stay Involved!

There are a number of ways to stay engaged in the legislative process this session. For starters, you can always reach out to me with your thoughts and input.

Additionally, you can also attend committee meetings and Senate floor time in-person. Seating is more limited this year to allow for physical distancing. Masks are required.

Finally, you can participate in committee meetings online or watch House and Senate floor time on le.utah.gov.

What do you think?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the Utah State Senate. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts on the issues we are considering this session!

Thank you,
Curt Bramble
Senate District 16

2021 Legislative Session, Week 1

By Legislative Update No Comments

We returned to the Capitol on Tuesday, January 19th to convene the 2021 General Legislative Session. The legislative session runs for 45 consecutive days, excluding holidays, which totals seven weeks. Over the course of the session we will consider hundreds of bills. I will send a weekly email update to keep you informed with the highlights from each week.

Public Access during the 2021 General Session

Due to public safety and COVID-19 concerns, adjustments have been implemented to ensure public participation options are available during the legislative session. Committee meetings now have audio and video, making it easier to view presentations and know who is speaking.  Here’s how you can be involved during the session.

  • You can virtually attend committee meetings and provide public input. Learn how here.
  • Beginning next week, you can also attend committee meetings in-person at the Capitol.
  • The Utah Senate holds daily press availability where the media can ask Senate leadership and bill sponsors questions. This takes place every weekday during the legislative session. You can watch media availability on the Senate’s Facebook, here.

My Bills

S.B. 31, Condominium and Community Association Regulation Amendments â€“ Currently, HOAs can prohibit an individual from installing security cameras at their residence. S.B. 31 prohibits an HOA from disallowing owners to install security cameras on their own units or lots. This bill passed in the Senate with unanimous support and will now be considered in the House.

S.B. 32Employee Status Amendments-This bill clarifies that remote-service workers, like Uber and Lyft Drivers or online English tutors or translators, are contractors and not employees. Specifically, these remote service workers are contractors if:

  1. The work is primarily performed remotely with duties performed on a per-job or per-transaction basis.
  2. Particularly if there are no specified hours or required locations and the market does not restrict another occupation.
  3. These remote-service contractors are responsible for providing all of their own necessary tools and materials to complete the project.

S.B. 87Professional Licensing Amendments– The need for this bill came to my attention due to individuals who want to make a little extra money by doing high schoolers hair for prom. This bill creates an exemption from licensure for individuals who only dry, style, curl, shampoo, condition or hot irons hair. Individuals who choose to offer these services without a license will need to display a prominent sign in their place of practice stating that they are unlicensed. This bill passed on second reading in the Senate. I am still actively engaging stakeholders from the cosmetology field as I work to find a balanced, acceptable approach.

Budget

As a Legislature, our Constitutional responsibility is to pass a balanced budget before the close of the General Legislative Session. It is a responsibility we take seriously. As such, we spend the first few weeks of the session meeting in appropriations subcommittees to consider how we allocate money in each area, such as public education, social services and transportation.

Eight appropriations subcommittees prepare base budgets for their assigned subject area over the first couple of weeks of the session. These subcommittee base budgets are passed in the early weeks of the session, which allows the state to continue functioning at a basic level. This prevents the state government from shutting down. Then, typically during the final week of the session, we pass what is known as the “Bill of Bills,” which is the comprehensive budget bill that includes additional appropriations not included in the base budgets. You can learn more about the state’s budget here.

$43 Million Tax Cut Proposed

The first bill debated in the Senate on the first day of the session was S.B. 11Retirement Income Tax Requirements, which seeks to remove the tax on Military Retirement Income and reduces the tax on Social Security Income. This bill would create a $43 million tax cut. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. You can watch the floor debate here.

In the News: Deseret News | Press Release

In-person Instruction

One bill that received considerable debate this week was S.B. 107In-person Instruction Prioritization. This bill gives parents the option of taking their students out of online-only schools and moving them to another school that offers in-person instruction. Funding would then follow the student to the new school. The bill does not force any student to return to in-person learning, it simply gives parents options if their students are struggling under the online format. As of this week, this bill would only apply to the Salt Lake School District as all other school districts offer in-person learning options. The bill passed its second reading in the Senate and is currently circled on third as the sponsors continues to work with stakeholders, including the Salt Lake School District on the bill.

Listen to the debate on the Senate floor here.

College for Veterans

For years, senior citizens in Utah have been able to audit courses offered at state institutions of higher education. This means that seniors can attend and participate in classes for a small fee. They don’t have to take tests, write papers, or do any homework, and they won’t receive any college credit. S.B. 45Higher Education Classes for Veterans, gives Utah veterans the same opportunity. The bill passed unanimously on its second reading in the Senate.
Listen to the bill presentation on the Senate floor here.

Accepting Federal Funds

The latest federal relief package passed by Congress included funding for states. This week we passed H.J.R. 4House Joint Resolution Approving Acceptance of Federal Funds, which is the formal step we must take in order to accept and receive the federal funds intended for our state. Once we accept and receive the funds, we are then able to appropriate the funds for their intended purposes. You can listen to the floor presentation here.

What do you think?
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the Utah State Senate. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts on the issues we are considering this session!

Thank you,
Curt Bramble
Senate District 16

COVID Update – May 18

By COVID No Comments

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you all have had a good week and have enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. On May 15th the Utah Department of Health reported 163, 218 administered tests, 6,913 positive cases, 566 total hospitalizations, and 77 fatalities.

This week, Governor Herbert announced that all areas of Utah, except for Grand, Summit, and Wasatch counties, Salt Lake City and West Valley City, will transition from the moderate (orange) risk to the low (yellow) risk phase of the Utah Leads Together plan on Saturday, May 16. This is an exciting step forward!

This low-risk phase will:

  • No longer asks individuals to leave home infrequently.
  • Raise size limits for private social interactions from 20 to 50 people.
  • Allow team sports as long as there is frequent symptom checking and spectators are socially distant.
  • Relax some swimming pool guidelines.

While most of the state will be considered a part of the low risk or (yellow) phase, high-risk individuals need to continue to take added precautions because they are more likely to suffer severe illness from COVID-19. Vulnerable populations still need to follow the high risk (red) phase protocols.

Instructions and guidelines for individuals and businesses moving into the low-risk (yellow) phase of the Utah Leads Together plan can be found here. Instructions and guidelines for those still in the moderate risk (orange) phase can be found here. Information on the color-coded risk phases can be found here.

The Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission discussed the data driving recommendations to protect Utah’s vulnerable populations and allow the state to carefully transition to lower risk statuses. You can watch the press conference here.

Highlights from the Commission’s press conference include:

  • 99 percent of Utahns testing positive for COVID-19 are recovering.
  • 92 percent of individuals are able to recover at home. 
  • 94 percent of fatalities have been either over 65, have had high-risk pre-existing health conditions, or both as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The PPE Push Pack program, which provided small businesses with a week supply of PPE, has concluded. The state supplied 3,514 PPE push packs to small businesses throughout Utah. The final 874 push packs are currently out for delivery/pickup. The national guard provided 120 individuals to help assemble and distribute the packs. You can read more about the PPE Push Pack program here

As our state carefully transitions from the orange phase to the yellow phase, we must all remain committed to protecting high-risk individuals. Utah is using data to drive decisions that aim to protect the health and livelihood of all Utahns. I look forward to this new phase of the Utah Leads Together plan and believe we can overcome this virus as we continue to work together and utilize data.

In the News

Arches and Canyonlands National Parks will Begin to Increase Recreational Access

Beginning May 13, Dinosaur National Monument will Reopen

Utah Ranks #1 in Paycheck Protection Loan Amounts

Utah State Legislature Will Look at Dozens of Potential Bills Reacting to COVID-19

COVID Update – May 8

By COVID No Comments

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We’ve now been in the orange or “moderate risk” phase of the Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan for a week, and we’ve seen many businesses begin to reopen while following essential health precautions. Gov. Herbert issued an executive order clarifying guidelines in the moderate and low-risk phases of the Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan. You can view the updated phased guidelines here and the governor’s clarifications here.

On May 8th, the Utah Department of Health reported 138,688 tests administered, 5,919 positive cases, 488 total hospitalizations, and 61 fatalities. We have reduced the transmission rate in Utah for COVID-19 to 1:1.

The state’s robust testing has received accolades across the United States. According to a Harvard Global Health Institute analysis, Utah is one of only nine states with the testing capacity needed to safely reopen. Our state fatality rate is just under one percent, which is one of the lowest in the nation. This is encouraging news, but we must all continue to do our part to maintain the progress we’ve made so we can continue moving forward together. 

For the small business owners in my district, the state launched the “PPE Push Pack” program to support small businesses in the “moderate risk” phase of the Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan. The program provides a free week’s supply of PPE to help small businesses get back to work. You can find more information on this program here and apply for the PPE Push Pack program here.

While this pandemic has brought numerous struggles for each of us, I am proud to be a Utahn. I have watched our community work through this pandemic the Utah way through collaboration, hard work, innovation and compassion. I am truly touched by the many Utahns constantly looking for ways to serve others — from sewing millions of masks for “Project Protect” to donating supplies and money for student lunches. Within the last week, we have celebrated both Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurse Appreciation Week. I can think of no two groups more deserving of our appreciation at this time! Our educators have worked hard to adapt to remote learning and connect with their students and have done a tremendous job. I know many teachers and administrators have demonstrated great innovation and love for our students by finding special ways to recognize our graduating seniors. Thank you, educators, for all of your outstanding work! Our nursing staff has been on the front line for many weeks now working hard while somehow still maintaining a “can do” attitude. It is a tremendous sacrifice for them to leave their families each day and go to work to help fight this virus, but they continue to show up, work hard and provide caring, essential service. Thank you, nurses, for all of your work!

In the News:

Harvard Study says Utah One of Nine States Ready to Safely Reopen

$20 Million Available for Utah Ranchers and Farmers Hit by Coronavirus

Some National Parks in Utah Opening for Day Use

Churches Can Open Under New Utah Guidelines but Must Still Observe Social Distancing

What Governor Herbert’s New Guidance Means for Gatherings, Recreation, Gyms, Sports and Services

Week 7 – 2020 Legislative Session

By Legislative Update No Comments

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We concluded our business this past week and it certainly felt like the time flew by. During the 2020 General Legislative Session we passed around 500 bills. Many of these were clean up bills, meaning minor words or definitions were changed.

I will send out a session recap highlighting many of the top issues we worked on this session next week, but for this week, here are the highlights from week 7:

Budget
We passed our “bill of bills”, our big budget bill, on the last night of the session as per usual. I’m happy to report that this year we are appropriating $255 million for K-12 education enrollment growth and a 6% WPU funding increase. Education is a top priority for us and so this was an easy decision to make. 
We are a state that takes pride in preparedness and so we have also allocated $26 million in one-time funding and $132 million in ongoing funds to our rainy-days funds. 
This budget puts $17.9 million ongoing and $5.9 million one-time monies for mental health services for crisis situations.  We are also putting $7.3 million one-time in for air quality programs.

Coronavirus Update 
The Legislature has allocated over $20 million to bolster state and local efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Funding includes targeted programs to protect Utah’s seniors, who are particularly susceptible to the virus. 
 
Funding includes:

  • $16 million was allocated to the Division of Finance for coronavirus response
  • $4 million can be drawn from the Disaster Recovery Restriction Account
  • $2 million for local health departments to create intensive response programs for seniors
  • $250,000 to Meals on Wheels, a program targeted to assist senior citizens
  • $250,000 to the Food Box Program, which provides 10 days’ worth of boxed meals to seniors
  • $250,000 in new home medical testing services to help minimize the spread of the illness
  • $250,000 in home supportive services programs for vulnerable populations

 
Additionally, Utah will have access to over $6 million from the federal government.

Education Funding Proposal 
If SJR 9 passes on the voter ballot this November, then we have H.B. 357Public Education Funding Stabilization which would ensure we are protecting, growing and stabilizing education funding. H.B. 357 moves the Minimum School Program funding (which includes WPU) to a constitutionally protected account for K-12 education. This will also automatically adjust education funding for enrollment growth and inflation. In addition, this establishes a reserve to meet educational funding commitments during economic downturns. This bill passed both chambers and will be sent to the governor for his consideration.
 


Start Smart Utah Breakfast Program

We want to see every student succeed. Though, we know that some Utah students face significant barriers, including not getting enough to eat daily. To help address this need, we passed H.B. 222Start Smart Utah Breakfast Program. It creates a program to expand school breakfast access in public schools. While this bill initially failed in committee, it was reconsidered a week later with a new substitute and then passed out of the Senate committee unanimously with a favorable recommendation. This bill passed through the Legislature and will be sent to the governor for his consideration.
 
Bail and Pretrial Release Amendments
 
H.B. 206Bail and Pretrial Release Amendments, permits judges to allow some individuals accused of crimes—such as first-time nonviolent crime offenders—to await trial at home. Around 65 percent of people currently incarcerated in Utah are awaiting trial. This burdens our prison system and costs, taxpayers, a great deal of money. It also costs many individuals accused of crimes undue trauma. Most people incarcerated while awaiting trial have not committed violent crimes and are not considered flight risks: they simply cannot afford bail. Prior to incarceration, many have jobs, stable housing and families. As a result of pretrial incarceration, many lose jobs. In many cases, accused individuals spend more time in prison awaiting trial than they spend paying for their crimes after trial. Pretrial incarceration is also associated with higher rates of recidivism. This bill passed the Legislature and will be sent to the governor for his consideration.
 
Gambling Machines and Sweepstakes 
 
Oftentimes, fringe gambling allows individuals to insert cash into a slot machine-like device where they push a button in hopes of winning cash prizes. Fringe gambling devices have cropped up in convenience stores, gas stations, beauty salons, vape shops and even laundromats. Under the Utah Constitution, gambling is prohibited under “any pretense.” S.B. 214Gambling Machine and Sweepstakes Amendments, addresses loopholes in the law leading to unregulated gambling in some Utah communities. This bill modifies definitions to clarify which types of machines are legal and prohibits the operation of fringe gaming devices. In addition, it enhances criminal penalties for individuals who own or operate fringe gambling devices, not consumers who play them. This bill passed in both the Senate and House and will go to the governor for his consideration.
 
You can watch the floor presentation here

Paid Leave

The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) provides employees 12 weeks of protected unpaid leave following childbirth. State employees currently use their paid sick leave and annual leave to offset unpaid maternity leave. Not having access to paid parental leave disproportionately affects females and younger employees. It creates instability in the workplace and makes the Utah State Government less competitive in attracting qualified employees.

S.B. 207Paid Parental Leave Amendments, provides three weeks of postpartum recovery for mothers employed by the state of Utah. This important change will make the state a more competitive employer. Providing paid parental leave leads to greater recruitment and workforce retention rates. It also helps decrease the likelihood that families will need government assistance within the first year following childbirth. This bill passed in both the Senate and House and will go to the governor for his consideration. 

Watch the bill’s presentation on the Senate floor here.

What do you think?
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the Utah State Senate. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts on the issues we are considering this session!
 
 
Thank you,
Curt Bramble
Senate District 16

Week 6 – 2020 Legislative Session

By Legislative Update No Comments

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We will end the 2020 Legislative Session this Thursday. We have passed around 200 bills so far and we still have many more to consider before the end. The most important bill we will consider next week will be our “bill of bills”, the completed budget bill.

Budget

While we do not have the final budget prepared yet, our Executive Appropriations Chairs have assured us that we will be increasing education funding again this year. Utah legislators consistently prioritize education funding and have increased it from $2.8 billion to $3.8 billion in the past five years alone. We are expecting to see a 5 percent increase to the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) and over $500 million in new money to education.

Education Funding Proposal

Utah is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, with a population expected to double in the next 40 years. The Legislature is taking important steps to protect education funding as Utah’s population grows and the economy fluctuates. S.J.R. 9Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution – Use of Tax Revenue would allow the use of income tax revenue to support services for children and individuals with disabilities, including social services that supplement educational needs and support students’ physical and mental health. This proposal is subject to voter approval and will take effect if Utahns approve it during the November 2020 general election. This bill generated a lot of debate in the Senate and ultimately passed. This bill will now be considered in the House.
 


Distracted Driver Amendments

Distracted driving causes thousands of accidents in Utah each year – an estimated 25 percent of all Utah accidents. Hand-held cell phone use while driving has been illegal in Utah since 2007. Since it is not a primary offense, enforcing this law has been difficult. For example, law enforcement cannot pull drivers over for texting while driving on the freeway. As the law currently stands, hand-held cell phone use while driving is only punishable when coupled with another primary traffic violation. H.B. 101Distracted Driver Amendments, would make holding a cellphone while driving a primary offense. Drivers would still be permitted to communicate on their phones in a hands-free manner, using means such as blue tooth, cell phone mounting devices or simply resting their phone in a secure spot. Drivers would be allowed to briefly tap or swipe their phones to answer calls or use cell phone assistants like Siri or Ok Google. Exceptions would be allowed during emergencies.  As someone who has lost a friend who was hit by a distracted driver, I was a supporter of this bill.

Twenty-two other states have passed similar laws, and are seeing declines in motor vehicle accidents. This bill generated considerable debate on the Senate floor, but ultimately passed on the 2nd reading.
You can listen to the floor debate here.

E-Cigarettes in Schools 

The coordinated effort to reduce the use of e-cigarettes among our youth is greater than ever. H.B.58Electronic Cigarettes in Schools Amendments, establishes rules regarding vaping on school property. For example, local education agencies would be required to adopt policies for confiscating and destroying e-cigarette and vaping products when students are found in possession of e-cigarettes and vaping products in school. The harmful effects of vaping would be added to the health curriculum. Students who report feeling socially isolated in school are three times as likely to have vaped in the last thirty days. With this in mind, H.B. 58 will incorporate programs addressing the social and emotional reasons youth turn to vaping and other addictive substances.

This bill passed in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and will now be considered by the full Senate.  
You can listen to the committee presentation here.

Medical Billing 

Balance billing, also known as surprise billing, is a major cause for concern in our state and throughout the nation. A major hindrance in addressing this issue is the lack of data about exactly what is happening in our state with our patients. S.B. 155Medical Billing Amendments, requires that all data on balance billing be collected by the same entity through one year and recorded to help everyone see exactly where problems are arising. The hope is that this data collection will bring insurers and providers together and result in better self-regulating. This bill requires a report to the Legislature after one year of data collection. Stakeholders worked together on this bill and are in agreement. This bill passed in the Senate and is now up for consideration in the House.
You can listen to the floor discussion here
      

     
Insulin Access Amendments

Utahns with diabetes are facing barriers to accessing insulin. Over 200,000 Utahns have diabetes, and about 50,000 depend on insulin. Insulin is expensive, costing upwards of $2,000 per month. Many patients struggle to afford it; others needing insulin are turned away at pharmacies when their prescriptions have expired. Roughly one in four insulin-dependent individuals are being forced to ration their insulin – using less than they are prescribed. This has led to exacerbated health problems and some fatalities.  H.B. 207, , Insulin Access Amendments, presents a series of solutions to address the state’s insulin crisis. It provides for dispensing changes, bulk-purchasing and low-cost plans. This bill passed in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is currently on the 2nd reading calendar.
 You can listen to the committee presentation here.
 
Coronavirus
 
With the coronavirus (COVID-19) continually making headlines, many Utah citizens are asking about our state preparations. The short answer: Utah is ready. Utah and its citizens are uniquely prepared to handle this situation. We have a culture of collaboration, preparedness and caring for neighbors.
 
Even though this is a worrisome public health situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) believes the immediate coronavirus health risk to the general public is low. There is a lot of misinformation about COVID-19. Accurate information, facts and prevention tips about COVID-19 can be found online at coronavirus.utah.gov as well as on social media  @UtahCoronavirus. Utah citizens can trust these sources, which are being continually updated.
To help reduce the spread of all sickness, we can each take preventive steps, including 

  • Covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue and then throwing the tissue in the trash
  • Proper handwashing – 30 seconds with warm soapy water – taking care to include both thumbs
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
  • Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
  • Supporting our personal immune systems through adequate rest and good nutrition
  • Staying at home if sick.

These practices will not only help prevent the spread of the coronavirus but will also help protect against seasonal flu viruses. 

What do you think?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the Utah State Senate. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts on the issues we are considering this session!
 
Thank you,
Curt Bramble
Senate District 16

2020 Week 4 update – Legislative Session

By Legislative Update No Comments

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This session is flying by! We have already completed week 4 of the legislative session which means we are more than halfway through the entire session. We have passed a total of 88 bills so far and still have hundreds more to consider. Here are some of the highlights from week 4:

Budget Update
This week we received an updated state revenue forecast. Thanks to hard-working citizens throughout the state, Utah’s economy continues to expand, and the most recent forecast indicates higher revenue numbers than previous forecasts.

The ongoing General Fund forecast indicates an available $92 million. Previously, we were on track for a $51 million deficit for our one-time General Fund needs, but recent collection numbers increased by $38 million, leaving us with a $12 million deficit for one-time General Fund needs. 

As we have seen for several years now, Education Fund revenues outpace General Fund revenues. One-time funds in the Education Fund are estimated at $323 million, with $518 million in ongoing education funds. 

These are great numbers, but they do highlight a structural imbalance in our State budget. The ongoing Education Fund is five and a half times that of the ongoing General Fund. Budget requests seeking money from the General Fund are quadruple available revenue, and that is not even considering bills with fiscal notes, cost of living expenses, and big budget items like Medicaid. We are not in a crisis state at this point, but the structural issues with our budget are notable even in a good year.
You can learn more about the budget here.

Passing School Buses
Current Utah law states a driver cannot pass a school bus when it is stopped and its stop-sign-arm is extended. Last year, the transportation department of the State Office of Education conducted an informal study. On a single school day, all school bus drivers were asked to write down how many times drivers failed to stop for their school buses. On that single day, bus drivers documented over 900 violations of this law.

H.B. 84, Traffic Code Amendments increases penalties for motorists who pass a stopped school bus. As frustrating as it may be for drivers to wait a few extra seconds, it is vital to ensure the safety of Utah’s school children as they enter and exit school buses. This bill passed in the Senate this week and returned to the House for concurrence.
You can listen to the bill presentation on the House floor here.

Personalized License Plates

Amid a controversial license plate debate in Utah that made national headlines, S.B. 97Personalized License Plates Amendments gives Utah’s Motor Vehicle Division added clarification and authority regarding what is admissible on personalized Utah license plates. For example, it allows the Motor Vehicle Division to refuse to issue license plates with combinations of letters and numbers disparaging an ethnic group. The bill allows combinations of letters or numbers referring to an official state symbol. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that specialty license plates constitute government speech because they are state issued. This bill includes an amendment to recognize and consider Utah’s non-discrimination law. The Motor Vehicle Division brought forth concerns about offensive and otherwise problematic personalized license plates during Rules Committee review with suggested language and other recommendations. This bill will give the Motor Vehicle Division broader authority to approve or deny personalized license plate requests. This bill passed in the Senate and will be considered in the House.
You can listen to the floor presentation here.

Higher Education Amendments

Last year we made changes to the Regent’s scholarship to address diminishing funds for qualifying students. These changes included removing private institutions from acceptable schools for the scholarship. I heard from several constituents concerned about this chance.  After much work and negotiation, SB117Higher Education Financial Aid Amendments, would allow the Regents’ scholarships to be used at any Northwestern accredited non-profit institution located within Utah. This expands the scholarship eligibility from only state schools to include Western Governor’s University, Westminster College, Brigham Young University, and LDS Business College. There are cost control protections in place. The Regent scholarship money would be used as last dollars in – meaning other qualifying scholarships would apply before the Regent scholarship, the funds are limited to cover only tuition and fees, and no recipient attending a private institution can receive an award larger than the average award going to students attending public universities. This bill passed unanimously on second reading in the Senate this week.

You can listen to the floor presentation, here.

What do you think?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the Utah State Senate. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts on the issues we are considering this session!

Thank you,
Curt Bramble
Senate District 16

Curt@cbramble.com
801-361-5802

2020 Legislative Session – Week 3 update

By Legislative Update One Comment

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We have completed week 3 of the legislative session and it is hard to believe that we will hit our halfway mark on Wednesday! With only 57 bills passed at this point, we still have hundreds of bills we need to consider before we conclude the session. Here are some of the highlights from week 3:

Fallen Soldiers
During each Legislative Session, the Utah Senate honors families of Utah’s fallen service members on the Senate floor. It is deeply sobering to see so many people walking onto the Senate floor to represent family members who have passed away during the past year. We paid tribute to those left behind – parents, spouses, siblings, children and friends. 

Senate Art Contest
 
This week on the Senate floor, we recognized winners of our 6th Annual Senate Art Contest. There was no theme this year, which led to a wonderful variety of subject matter. The contest received over 250 submissions from 9th–12th graders throughout the state. Twenty students won $500-$5,000 scholarships. I am proud to announce that Eleanor Smith from Timpview High School was awarded a $500 scholarship for her piece, “Northern Harrier”. Winning entries are currently on display on the third-floor exhibit at the Capitol building. Congratulations, Eleanor, on your accomplishment!

My Bills

This week my bill  S.B. 67 Disposition of Fetal Remains seeks to give women the right to choose the final disposition of fetal remains following an abortion or miscarriage and requires the hospital or clinic to handle those remains in a respectful manner. There is a misconception circulating that this bill would require women to bury or cremate the aborted or lost child. This bill simply gives women the option to bury, to cremate or to make no decision on the final disposition of the fetal remains. Nothing is required of parents wanting healthcare facilities to handle the final disposal. This is an important bill because there is nothing in current Utah law protecting a woman’s right to make this decision in any clinic or hospital. This bill passed in the Senate this week and will now be considered in the House.


Budget

We continued to hear Requests for Appropriations (RFA) presentations in our appropriations subcommittee meetings each morning this week. 
In recent years we have implemented increasingly strict RFA submissions standards, requiring more detailed budget information, performance measures and prior state funding history. By requiring this additional information, we’re working to eliminate excess spending and unnecessary budget requests. 

After submitting all required documentation, legislators and groups sponsoring requests address assigned subcommittees to explain their budget requests and answer questions. After subcommittees carefully review all presentations, they submit priority lists to the Executive Appropriations Committee for final review and consideration before inclusion in the final budget bill.


Higher Education Governance

In an effort to better meet higher-education needs of both students and employers throughout Utah, S.B. 111 Higher Education Amendments proposes to create a unified system of higher education, bringing Utah’s eight public two- and four-year colleges and universities (USHE)  and Utah’s eight technical colleges (UTech) under the same umbrella. This bill aims to help Utah students in a variety of ways including allowing school credits to transfer seamlessly between all 16 state colleges and universities. This will protect students’ investments of time and money.

Merging the two systems will reduce overlap and duplication, provide better coordination, promote comprehensive strategic planning, and make administrative efforts more efficient. Stakeholders from both USHE and UTech were actively involved in the drafting of this legislation and shared their support publicly during the committee hearing. This bill passed out of the Senate Education Standing Committee unanimously with a favorable recommendation.

You can listen to the committee presentation here

Electric Driver License Amendments 
 
Nowadays we can use our phones for nearly everything—paying for groceries, electronic plane tickets, depositing checks, etc. Last year, as you may recall, the legislature passed a bill to request research on the ins and outs of issuing electronic driver licenses. This year we will consider, S.B. 110Electronic Driver License Amendments which would require the Driver License Division to create a pilot program to initiate the process of issuing electronic driver license, and to later create a permanent process for obtaining an electronic driver license.  

150th Anniversary of Women’s Voting in Utah

This week we celebrated the 150th anniversary of women’s suffrage in Utah. On February 12, 1870, a law was signed allowing all women over 21 to vote in Utah Territory. The territorial legislature had voted unanimously in its favor, making Utah the second state to pass such a law. Two days later, on February 14, Seraph Young cast the first female vote in the country under equal suffrage laws. The 19th Amendment allowing women to vote throughout the United States wouldn’t be passed until 1920 — 50 years later.

To honor the 150th anniversary, on February 12, the Utah Legislature unanimously passed H.J.R. 12, celebrating trailblazing women of Utah and our state’s role in the women’s suffrage movement. Members of the Legislature wore yellow roses to commemorate the day.


What do you think?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the Utah State Senate. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts on the issues we are considering this session!
 
Thank you,
Curt Bramble
Senate District 16
 
Curt@cbramble.com
801-361-5802

2020 Legislative Session Week 2

By Legislative Update No Comments

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you all stayed safe on the roads this last week with all of the snow. While many schools and government entities closed last Monday, we still held our normal meetings in the legislature. After two weeks, we have passed 30 bills. During week 3, we will more than double the amount of time we spend on the Senate floor, which will mean the passage and failure of more bills.

Here are a few highlights from Week 2:

My Bills
This week my bill, S.B. 23 Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Amendments, unanimously passed in a Senate committee hearing. This bill removes burdensome regulations on Utah businesses and makes it easier to get a license in Utah if you already have a license in another state. Government should not be a barrier to free enterprise. This is an important bill for empowering businesses and Utahns.

Budget
This week we reviewed and passed nine base budget bills representing different appropriations subcommittees. These bills are based on each subcommittee’s budget from the previous year. Passing these bills during the second week of the session eliminates the possibility of a government shutdown. During the last week of the session, we will pass the “bill of bills,” which includes a complete budget for the year, including new funding for programs and other line items.
Here is a list of each of the base budget bills passed this week:
H.B. 1 Public Education Base Budget Amendments
H.B. 5 Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality Base Budget
H.B. 6 Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Base Budget
H.B. 7 Social Services Base Budget Amendments
S.B. 1 Higher Education Base Budget
S.B. 4 Business, Economic Development and Labor Base Budget
S.B. 5 Retirement and Independent Entities Base Budget
S.B. 6 Infrastructure and General Government Base Budget
S.B. 7 National Guard, Veterans’ Affairs and Legislature Base Budget

Statewide Rail Plan
As the population of our state continues to grow, wise infrastructure planning becomes increasingly important. S.B. 92 Statewide Comprehensive Rail Plan, requires the Utah Department of Transportation to conduct a study and create comprehensive plans for expanded use of fixed rail for freight, commuting and long-distance travel. The study will include enhanced freight service along the Wasatch front, specifically with the Utah Inland Port in mind.
Upgrading FrontRunner by “doubletracking” will allow trains to run faster and more frequently. The goal is to help rail travel compete with freeway travel in terms of convenience and speed. The viability of high-speed rail will also be considered in the long-term, connecting our metropolitan areas with each other and those of additional Western states.
This bill passed in the Senate committee with a favorable recommendation.
You can listen to the committee presentation here.

Bigamy Laws
Utah has some of the harshest bigamy laws in the United States. Our strict penalties for practicing plural marriage have resulted in unintended consequences, with some practitioners of polygamy not seeking legal help in cases of abuse. Our polygamy laws have not successfully prevented the practice of polygamy, but they have enabled abusers to oppress victims in a shadow society. S.B. 102 Marriage and Bigamy Amendments, seeks to remove the fear of government persecution for those practicing polygamy by reducing the crime of bigamy from a third-degree felony to an infraction. The law will not condone polygamy or make it legal in Utah. The hope is that by reducing the severity of the crime, other crimes will be more freely reported, and polygamous communities will become more integrated in society, seeing greater benefits in legal representation, healthcare and public education.

Energy Storage Grant
New energy storage technology shows promise in our ongoing efforts to improve Utah’s air quality. S.B. 78 Energy Storage Innovation, Research, and Grant Program Act, will establish a grant program to advance solar and wind powered energy systems and store the excess energy generated. This one-time appropriation of $5 million will fund an initial market in Utah. It will help increase demand and drive down price and will require no ongoing state investments. Energy storage will afford Utahns added security by providing power during natural disasters or power outages.
The bill passed in the Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Committee and will soon be debated on the Senate floor.
You can listen to the committee presentation here.
In the News: Deseret News

Recall U.S. Senators
You may have heard in the news that a representative in the state Legislature has a bill file open to create a process in Utah for impeaching a U.S. senator. I want to take a minute to clear the air on this issue by sharing the history behind this topic.
Alexander Hamilton wrote that a recall provision was included in a draft of the original United States Constitution but was unanimously withdrawn during the Constitutional Convention. Afterward, three states attempted to include a recall provision but were unsuccessful during the ratification process. There was then an unsuccessful attempt to include a recall provision as part of the 17th Amendment. More recently, New Jersey attempted to include a recall provision; but when it was challenged in the Supreme Court of New Jersey declared it unconstitutional.
Based on the history of state efforts to enact U.S. senator recall provisions, it seems unlikely that Utah would be successful in the long run in this endeavor.

Seen on the Hill
I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with 5th graders from Sunset View Elementary during the first week of session. During week 2, students with Outreach!, an organization of teenagers combatting smoking and vaping in youth, shared their great work with me.  I love meeting with my constituents at the Capitol!

What do you think?
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the Utah State Senate. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts on the issues we are considering this session!

Thank you,
Curt Bramble
Senate District 16