Ethnic tracking sought
Office wants data on businesses owned by women, minorities
Absent was the highly volatile hate crimes bill that has repeatedly failed because opponents have criticized its so-called "protected categories."
The ethnic office unveiled its top four legislative issues at a news conference Thursday.
Director Luz Robles said she knows that stepping up penalties for crimes based on bias or prejudice is an issue that the ethnic community feels "very strongly" about.
"If it comes up we will be tracking it," she said.
Longtime sponsor Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, is looking to present a new version of the bill this year, without the protected categories that have stalled it in the past.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has discussed the new approach with Litvack, said Mike Mower, the governor's deputy chief of staff and spokesman.
"We haven't seen the final legislation, but we viewed (Litvack's) initial concept favorably," Mower said.
Forrest Crawford of Utahns Together Against Hate said hate crimes may be missing from the priorities list simply because the ethnic affairs directors hadn't yet been formally briefed on the new bill. Such a meeting is planned this month, he said.
"We are here to educate on issues that impact the ethnic communities of Utah," Robles said.
Huntsman supports the proposal to collect data on businesses by sex, race and ethnicity, Mower said. The governor also supports codifying and funding the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System, another bill the ethnic office has labeled a priority, Mower said.
The ethnic office will also be monitoring bills to repeal driving privilege cards and in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. Huntsman supports the existing system in both cases, Mower said.
Robles said data on women- and minority-owned businesses are a needed "economic development tool" that Utah lacks.
"We need this data to make good public policy and better decisions," Robles said.
No legislation to collect data on business ownership by sex, race and ethnicity has yet been drafted, though Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, is working on it.
So is Rep. Mark Wheatley, D-Murray, who sponsored similar legislation last session. The two lawmakers said they haven't collaborated.
Robles said most states already track the information. Federal law requires reporting to be optional, so Robles said her office is researching how to collect the data in a way that creates the largest sample size.
You can be the first to comment on this story.