Dear Neighbors,
The Legislature has just wrapped up week 2 of our annual session. Week 2 has been focused on budgets. We are required by legislative rule to vote on base budgets in the second week. These base budgets are the building blocks of the final budget. Additional funds can be added later in the session, but these bills will provide the vast majority of funding for everything from public education to corrections. The amount of information that must be digested and then acted upon in a very short turn in order to build the budget is immense. As a freshman, I am learning there is no slacking off during the session or you will quickly fall behind on the issues up for a vote!
State Budget
This year the base budget bills included an across the board 7% cut to all programs due to a $313 million revenue shortfall. When the final revenue estimates from the Tax Commission are released in late February we might add back some of the cut items for critical programs. This also doesn’t preclude backfilling with Rainy Day Funds or other revenue enhancements later in the session.
My First Bill
I’m also pleased to announce that my first bill, HB 52 Limitation of Actions-Criminal Offenses, passed through the House and is now being considered by the Senate. The bill lengthens times limits for which a person charged with murder or aggravated murder might also be charged with predicated offenses (other related crimes) in conjunction with the crime. For instance, there have been cases where a criminal has held up a convenience store, tied up the patrons and then killed the clerk before escaping with the cash. Police then apprehend the suspect several years later. At the time of the arrest the statute of limitations might have expired on the theft and assault charges, while the murder limitation would not having expired. Under current law the criminal could only be charged with the murder but not the theft or assault charges. My bill will allow those other charges (predicating offenses) be included along with the murder or aggravated murder charge.
Though things move quickly on the Hill, I welcome any questions or comments from you, especially during the legislative session. I can be reached by email at bradwilson@utah.gov or by phone at the Capitol (801) 538-1029. The Legislative Home Page, www.le.utah.gov, features links to proposed bills, live audio and visual feeds of legislative debate and committee meetings and contact information for all members of the Legislature. Check it out during the session to see what I’m up to at the Capitol. Stay tuned for more updates as the Legislature moves into Week 3.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your representative.
Sincerely,
Representative Brad Wilson
