Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here are some issues of interest discussed this week with a question at the end:
Canine Caused Injury
There isn’t a clear procedure or law clarifying liability when a dog that is wandering is injured or killed when encountering another dog in an enclosed or fenced area on private property. H.B. 213 Canine Injury Amendments, clarifies liability that the dog owner that attacks is not liable for any injury or death of a wandering dog on enclosed property. This bill passed in the Senate with an amendment that clarified the immunity only applies in situations where the attacking dog is inside an enclosed or fenced area. I voted in support. You can watch the floor presentation here.
Mental Health Day for Students
This week, the Senate heard H.B. 81 Mental Health Days for Students, which adds mental health as a valid excuse for a school absence. Other states that implemented this attendance policy have seen a decrease in youth suicide rates. H.B. 81 passed in the Senate and was sent to the governor for consideration. I voted in support.
Honoring the Life of William E. Christoffersen
William E. Christofferson, a Cache Valley Native and local hero, was honored in the Legislature this week. William Christofferson served in World War II and dedicated his life to helping veterans. He advocated for veterans across Utah and helped create the first veterans nursing home in Salt Lake City. Read the full resolution here.
To all our Veterans who put their lives on the line of defense, we thank you wholeheartedly.
Utah Film Economic Incentives
Did you know Footloose, The Sandlot and The Lone Ranger were filmed right here in Utah? Such films have led to other production opportunities to showcase Utah’s desert beauty and high alpine mountains. The film industry has generated more than 7,600 jobs and $147 million in salaries in our state in 2019. We are considering S.B. 167 Utah Film Economic Incentives, which would provide tax credit certificates for productions, films and series when they film in Utah. This bill would strengthen rural communities by investing in local jobs, stimulating the economy and increasing Utah’s profile as a filming destination. S.B. 167 passed in the Senate on its second reading. I voted in support. To listen to the bill presentation, click here.
Sex Offender Revisions
S.B. 165 Offender Registry Revisions, permits an individual who has served their full sentence on the Sex Offender Registry to apply for removal. This bill aims to prevent instances where individuals are kept on the registry past their original sentencing time due to reporting errors. S.B. 165 passed in the Senate on its second reading. I voted in support. To listen to the bill presentation, click here.
Confinement of Egg-laying Hens
S.B. 147 Confinement of Egg-laying Hens, prohibits farm owners from confining egg-laying hens in enclosures that are not considered cage-free housings and sets January 1, 2025, as the self-imposed date to achieve cage-free hen environments in Utah. If we had not passed this legislation the industry would have been extorted by animal rights organizations and forced this issue to a ballot initiative. I frustratingly voted in support. SB147 passed in the Senate and will now be considered in the House. To listen to the bill presentation, click here.
I would like your input:
This coming Tuesday, February 24, I will be hearing HB 302 in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee of which I am a member.
This bill, if passed as written, would prohibit a student of the male sex from participating in an athletic activity designated for female students.
I support this bill. I believe that the gender on the birth certificate of the individual is the gender that should be recognized.
I would like your opinion.
Would you support this legislation or oppose?
Please respond if you are so inclined.
Thank you!
Senator Keith Grover
Utah Senate District 15
I would oppose HB 302. I find it too simple. I don’t see that it allows for any exceptions. While I feel that sex change or reassignment is usually inadvisable or even impossible. But I also believe that there are a few cases where the sex assigned on the birth certificate is in error or is in inadequate because of genetic anomalies. These cases ought be allowed for.
I 100% support legislation that would prohibit a student of the male sex from participating in an athletic activity designated for female students.
Thank you for supporting that bill!
I would also like to suggest that our state legislature follow South Dakota’s lead in passing legislation to protect the citizens of our state from overreaching federal government dictates that weaken the Constitution.
By all means support this legislation. Thank you.
Dear State Senator Grover,
Thank you for the e-mail message you sent to me on August 4 entitled “Mask of No Mask.” It presented valuable information, but it does not clearly indicate whether you encourage Utah citizens eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations to do so. Why did you neglect to encourage your constituents who have not received COVID-19 vaccinations to become vaccinated?
In the message, you stated that your first priority is to “to support policies that protect our students’ lives and their educational development. Their greatest chance at success is having in-person learning options with as few disruptions as possible.” The likelihood of disruptions occurring in a school that does not require its students to wear masks may be higher than in a school that requires its students to wear masks. Certainly disruption happens whenever teachers, staff, and students become infected with COVID-19 or are in quarantine because they were exposed to persons who were infected. I think that wearing masks inside a school building causes almost no disruption at all.
You also wrote that we are returning to normalcy. At this point, COVID-19 infections are rapidly increasing in our community and our ICUs are filling up. While this trend continues, how can we return to normalcy?
Your response is welcome.
Sincerely,
Wayne Wilcox
wcwilcox0929@gmail.com