Utah Legislature Considering Bills that May Affect Employers and Employees.

As discussed in an earlier post, the Utah legislature begins its general session on January 26th. In addition to the proposed legislation that may affect employers discussed in that earlier blog entry, legislators have proposed additional bills since that time. The following is a listing of additional proposed legislation that may affect employers and employees in Utah:

House Legislation:

House Bill 86, Division of Real Estate Related Amendments, will affect real estate brokers who employ or contract with real estate agents. It will also affect appraisors who employ or contract with other appraisors. Among other things, it modifies education and reporting requirements for real estate brokers and sales agents, requires criminal background checks for real estate appraisal trainees and modifies license and certificate renewal requirements for appraisors.

House Bill 91, Individual Development Account Amendments, proposes to add additional benefits for workers looking for work. It provides for an individual development account for individuals with disabilities to accumulate funds to allow them to buy technology, make modifications to cars, and improve their homes to allow them to participate in work-related activities.

House Bill 96, State Retirement System Participation for Charter Schools, allows Charter schools to elect to allow their employees to participate in the state retirement system despite an ealier election not to participate.

House Bill 99, Professional Licensure Exemptions, will affect architectural and engineering firms. It proposes to remove the licensing exemptions that currently exist for architects to practice engineering or structural engineering, and for professional engineers to practice architecture.

House Bill 103, Revolving Door Limitations for Public Officials to Become Lobbyists, would affect any employer who intends to employ a lobbyist. The bill would prevent any former elected official or appointed government officer from acting as a lobbyist for one year after leaving office.

House Bill 218, Family Employment Program Amendments, requires the Department of Workforce Services (Unemployment) to make a rule for the amount of cash assistance a participant is eligible to receive under the Family Employment Program.

House Bill 230, Credit Required in Teacher Transfers, would require local school boards to consider when negotiating a contract of employment with a teacher the total teaching experience that the teacher has in Utah public schools and the teacher’s documented teaching experience outside of Utah.

Senate Legislation:

Senate Bill 89, Public Safety Death Benefit Modifications, will affect Public Safety retirees. It proposes to raise the cap on death benefits in both the Public Safety Contributory Retirement System and the Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement System from 65% to 75%.