As of the close of business last Friday, the Utah Legislature has passed 83 bills so far this year. This week's topic charges us with the task of identifying the three best and three worst bills passed so far. My favorite bill thus far is HB 205, sponsored by Rep. Ron Bigelow. HB 205 provides a criminal penalty for certain activities done with the intent to disrupt a funeral or memorial service. Although I was initially concerned about free speech violations, the language of the bill is carefully drafted to avoid constitutional implications. This bill became necessary due to the unfortunate and despicable practice of anti-war protestations at funerals of our fallen soldiers.

House bill 205 provides class B misdemeanor penalties for any person who attempts to disrupt a memorial service. Protesters will be subject to citations if they knowingly block or impede entry to or from the memorial service, block or impede a funeral procession, engage in disruptive activities within 200 feet of a memorial service, or engage in unreasonable noise.

House Bill 71 (sponsored by Salt Lake Democrat Christine A. Johnson) is probably the simplest legislation ever passed. It simply modifies the state election law to require that the word "party" be included at the end of the name of each political party listed in the straight-party selection area of ballots. This bill became necessary after last year's elections when thousands of voters unwittingly cast a straight-party ballot in favor of "Personal Choice" candidates--all the while believing they were choosing an option that would allow them to make their own "personal choices".

Lastly, I like Senator Carlene Walker's attempts to protect people from identity theft. Senate Bill 89 prohibits the display of Social Security numbers on death certificates. In addition, she has sponsored a resolution (SCR 1) urging the U.S. Congress to pass identity theft and fraud legislation related to the intentional misuse of Social Security numbers.

Having briefly reviewed all 83 bills passed so far, I am unable to identify any bills that I would absolutely classify in the "worst" category. Although some may argue that the soccer stadium funding and/or the vouchers bills are bad public policy, I think that there are good arguments in favor of both. Those two bills have generated the most controversy thus far, but I am not convinced the criticism is justified.

I will not hesitate to criticize the House Health and Human Services Committee's failure to advance House Bill 348 (sponsored by Democrat Karen Morgan), which would have established a program to educate citizens about the risks and prevention of cervical cancer, and to provide immunizations for cervical cancer. In this year of budget surpluses, I believe this bill deserved to be advanced for full debate in the house, instead of being quashed in committee.