Day 124 – Continuing a trend of the past few weeks, both chambers adjourned early this week. After calendaring only two bills, the House adjourned for the week on Monday, with the Senate following suit on Tuesday after calendaring four bills. This is primarily the result of stalled budget negotiations which seem to have made little progress over the past month.
Late last week, the Governor signed a bill placing additional checks and balances on the Executive’s emergency powers. Introduced by state Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita (LD-23) who is currently running for Secretary of State, the bill places a 120-day stopgap measure on any future Governor’s declaration to allow for the Legislature to determine whether or not to extend a declared emergency every 30 days. This is also meant to limit the Executive’s broad powers to impose restrictions on individuals and businesses during a declared state of emergency.
HB2123: ADULT WORKFORCE DIPLOMA PROGRAM, from state Rep. Steve Kaiser (LD-15) is still waiting to be assigned to Committee of the Whole, however we are hearing that activity in the Senate could pick up next week. In speaking with Senate majority staff this week, we have been told that there is a chance that Kaiser’s bill will finally be placed on the calendar. Senate staff also reconfirmed that there has not been any concern raised related to the bill. As for Rep. Michelle Udall‘s (LD-25) HB2024: ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; FACILITIES; OPERATORS; LICENSURE, the bill that establishes regulation and licensure requirements for alkaline hydrolysis facilities and operators, the bill is still awaiting assignment in Senate Rules.
AFCCA Bill Monitoring
HB2024: ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; FACILITIES; OPERATORS; LICENSURE
Summary: The powers and duties of the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers are expanded to include licensing and regulation of “alkaline hydrolysis facilities” and “alkaline hydrolysis operators” (both defined). Fees for an alkaline hydrolysis facility license or interim permit and for an alkaline hydrolysis operator license are in an amount to be determined by the Board. A person is prohibited from advertising or operating an alkaline hydrolysis facility without first obtaining an alkaline hydrolysis facility license issued by the board. Requirements for licensure for alkaline hydrolysis facilities and operators are specified. Licenses are nontransferable. Also, it is a class 2 (mid-level) misdemeanor for a person licensed by the Board to place human remains of one person, whether inside or outside of a container, in a location that is on top of human remains of another person.
AFCCA Position: No position
Status:
- Passed Senate Commerce Committee by a 6-1-2 vote on 3/23/2022
- Amended, then passed House floor by a 51-8-1 vote on 2/23/2022
- Approved by House Rules Committee on 2/21/2022
- Amended, then passed in House Health and Human Services Committee by a 9-0 vote on 1/31/2022
- Introduced on 1/12/2022
HB2123: ADULT WORKFORCE DIPLOMA PROGRAM
Summary: Establishes the Adult Workforce Diploma Program within the State Board of Education (SBE) to assist a person who is at least 21 years of age in earning a high school diploma and preparing for employment. By August 15 of each year, SBE is required to issue a request for qualifications for eligible program providers to participate in the Program. Establishes a list of requirements for program providers. By October 15 of each year, SBE is required to approve all qualified program providers, and approved providers must begin enrolling students by November 15 of each year. By July 1, 2024, SBE is required to adopt performance expectations to evaluate providers and a performance funding model. Establishes a payment model for FY2022-23. Appropriates $6 million from the general fund in each of FY2022-23 and FY2023-24 to the Program Fund.
AFCCA Position: No position
Status:
- Approved by Senate Rules Committee on 4/19/2022
- Amended, then passed in Senate Appropriations Committee on 4/4/2022
- Passed in Senate Education Committee on 3/8/2022
- Amended in COW, then passed House floor by a 44-15-1 vote on 2/23/2022
- Passed House Rules Committee on 2/22/2022
- Withdrawn from House Appropriations Committee on 2/14/2022
- Amended, then passed in House Education Committee on 2/9/2022
- Introduced on 1/24/2022