Ethics battle boils

In a heated exchange Monday on Capitol Hill, some legislators argued with the Utahns for Ethical Government (UEG) members over SJR3. The UEG backers handed out a comparison between their initiative for an independent ethics commission in opposition to SJR3 which is backed by the legislators.

Kim Burningham, UEG chairman, said it doesn’t meet the high standards his initiative calls for. Lawmakers defended SJR3, stating the commission it would form provides for ethics complaints in a fair manner.

Expungement revisions

Rep. Julie Fisher, R-Fruit Heights, is sponsoring HB21 that would revise the expungement process.

Fisher said the way the current statute reads can be confusing. A petitioner will still have to qualify and victims would be notified.

Affirmative action

HJR24, sponsored by Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, may get another chance this session. Last Friday, a substitute resolution was submitted that calls for public hearings through the summer. The resolution had met with some resistance and had been circled in the House. Oda hopes the revisions will propel HJR24 before the session ends.

Dignity for military

The Utah Funeral Directors Association has expressed support for HB208. Scott Russon, president of the association, said the bill would add an extra measure to maintain dignity and order when dealing with a military death.

HB208 would provide for a first priority person who could be contacted for disposition of the military service member’s remains after death.