Legislative issues raise social justice concerns

The 2014 Utah Legislature convened on Monday, Jan. 27. Because this is an election year (all of the House members and half of the Senate face reelection campaigns), there should be some last-minute surprises and controversial maneuvers before the session closes on March 14.

For the Diocese of Salt Lake City, the Legislature has produced several issues of interest. As stewards of creation, we will be tracking a host of air and water quality bills, particularly a bill to allow the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to adopt more stringent air pollution emissions standards than those set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The change is needed for the Division of Air Quality to more appropriately address Utah’s obvious air pollution issues.

State regulation of polluting industries alone, however, won’t clean up our bad air. Thus, we will also be watching proposals to increase mass transit and provide incentives for individuals to get out of their highly polluting cars and into buses and trains and drive cleaner fuel cars.

As a matter of human life and dignity, we will also track two human trafficking bills, a bill allowing school personnel to discuss a student’s suicidal thoughts with the student, an anti-discrimination bill and a proposed amendment to existing law that would encourage people to report drug or alcohol overdoses before the problems become fatal.

The diocese has been actively involved in the prison relocation discussion and will continue to advocate for reforms to our criminal justice system as part of the overall effort to determine future prison needs. Currently, there are two legislative efforts related to reducing prison recidivism, and the potential for one or two more.

Expect additional issues to arise as the Legislature debates whatever Gov. Gary Herbert’s decision will be regarding expansion of Medicaid in the state, concerns related to gun violence, and the rights of religious organizations to maintain their religious beliefs. We also will monitor developments around a bill that would require voters to provide proof of citizenship to a county clerk or the Division of Motor Vehicles before he or she may vote.

Please look for updates on our diocesan advocacy efforts in the Intermountain Catholic and on the diocesan Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Diocese-of-Salt-Lake-City/143374795738458?ref=hl