Senator recalls bills she sponsored to add language
Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights, recalled her small school district bill and another measure that addressed forms of municipal government so she could insert coordinating clauses. The Senate agreed to recall the bills so the language could be added.
SB30, which allows for the creation of new school districts, was merely awaiting the governor's signature to be signed into law. But now with an added amendment, it must be heard again in the House and Senate before midnight today.
SB41, on the other hand, was not so far along. The bill was still awaiting final House approval Tuesday.
Walker said she wanted to add clauses to both bills that outline they will be further studied by a task force in the interim session. As language reads now, the school district bill calls for studies in the interim by the Political Subdivisions Committee, while the bill on government forms was to be studied by a task force.
"Because we had to fund them both, we decided the smart thing to do was combine them," Walker said, especially since they both deal with local government.
Throughout bill discussions in committee and in floor debates, Walker has emphasized her commitment to study both the school district and municipal government issues during the interim. But recalling a bill is a rare move, especially one that has passed both bodies.
The school district bill has been a controversial issue and votes have reflected the east-versus-west chasm. The bill would allow the east side of Salt Lake County to split from the west and potentially create two new school districts.
Rep. Steven Mascaro, R-West Jordan, voted against the bill in the House because west-siders would not vote on the issue and would incur high property tax increases. He was glad to hear of the task force study but is not sure that all issues will be resolved.
"My concern is that while it's being studied, nothing is implemented and passed until those studies are completed," he said.
Mascaro pushed the idea of moving back the election date to 2008. That amendment failed. The bill allows cities that finish a feasibility study on a district to put the issue before voters this November.
"I tried to feverishly move the date back because we were waiting for a report from the interim committee," he said. "If the result is the task force comes back with concerns but (the east side) can still move ahead with the separation, we still have a problem for us on the west side of the valley."
E-mail: astowell@desnews.com
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