Legislation Utah

A legislative committee in Salt Lake City, despite shouts from abortion rights supporters, endorsed and sent to the state Senate a measure that would make Utah the first state this year to outlaw most elective abortions. The Legislature is likely to approve the bill and send it to Gov. Norman H. Bangerter. Bangerter has threatened to veto any bill he considers unconstitutional.

The people of Utah were concerned. Smut had inundated the state and deposited an unseemly grime, like a bathtub ring. The filth was everywhere: on the Internet, in schools, even on supermarket shelves. Heeding their outcry, the state Legislature last spring created a new post--the nation's first porn czar. Pesky details such as allocating funding for the position and actually describing the duties of the job would come later.

Utah's governor signed the nation's strictest state anti-abortion legislation into law Friday, and abortion rights advocates immediately promised a retaliatory tourism boycott campaign, including an effort to derail the state's bid to host the 1998 Winter Olympics. "This legislation is a mainstream attempt to protect the sanctity of life without trampling upon the legitimate liberty interests of women," Gov. Norman H. Bangerter said at the signing ceremony.

The Utah House on Friday approved legislation that would limit sex education to the teaching of abstinence before marriage and fidelity afterward. The measure, approved 40 to 27, bans any discussion of birth control in public schools. The House also passed an amendment that would require students to be taught that "any sexual relations outside of marriage constitutes criminal conduct." The bill now goes to the Senate.

The state Legislature voted to ban gay student clubs in high schools to prevent homosexuals from "recruiting" others into "a lifestyle that can kill them." The bill cleared the Senate, 21 to 7, and the House, 47 to 21. It is the only one of its kind in the nation to pass, said Jensie Anderson of the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Republican Gov. Mike Leavitt is expected to sign it.

The Utah Senate on Wednesday passed a tough anti-abortion bill that Gov. Normman H. Bangerter promised to sign despite a legal fight promised by abortion rights advocates. The Senate voted 23 to 5 in favor of the bill, which would ban most abortions in Utah. The legislation goes to the House Health Committee today and to the full House probably by Friday. House passage is expected. Seventy percent of Utah residents and 90% of the 104 state lawmakers belong to the Mormon Church.

The Utah House on Friday approved legislation that would limit sex education to the teaching of abstinence before marriage and fidelity afterward. The measure, approved 40 to 27, bans any discussion of birth control in public schools. The House also passed an amendment that would require students to be taught that "any sexual relations outside of marriage constitutes criminal conduct." The bill now goes to the Senate.

Days after the Salt Lake City school board disbanded all school-sponsored clubs rather than let a gay group meet, three teachers announced the formation of a gay and straight teachers' alliance. The announcement fueled the brewing controversy over homosexuality in Utah's conservative public school system. Already, the Legislature is poised to pass a law that could be used to fire homosexual teachers.

Devout, conservative and heavily Republican, Utah lawmakers figured to be out front in the anti-abortion stampede that many activists not long ago were predicting might sweep through state legislatures this year. But by the time lawmakers recessed a few days ago, Republican Gov. Norman H. Bangerter, a staunch abortion foe himself, had talked them out of taking up a bill to outlaw most abortions. The reason: money.

The people of Utah were concerned. Smut had inundated the state and deposited an unseemly grime, like a bathtub ring. The filth was everywhere: on the Internet, in schools, even on supermarket shelves. Heeding their outcry, the state Legislature last spring created a new post--the nation's first porn czar. Pesky details such as allocating funding for the position and actually describing the duties of the job would come later.

The state Legislature voted to ban gay student clubs in high schools to prevent homosexuals from "recruiting" others into "a lifestyle that can kill them." The bill cleared the Senate, 21 to 7, and the House, 47 to 21. It is the only one of its kind in the nation to pass, said Jensie Anderson of the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Republican Gov. Mike Leavitt is expected to sign it.

Days after the Salt Lake City school board disbanded all school-sponsored clubs rather than let a gay group meet, three teachers announced the formation of a gay and straight teachers' alliance. The announcement fueled the brewing controversy over homosexuality in Utah's conservative public school system. Already, the Legislature is poised to pass a law that could be used to fire homosexual teachers.

Utah's governor signed the nation's strictest state anti-abortion legislation into law Friday, and abortion rights advocates immediately promised a retaliatory tourism boycott campaign, including an effort to derail the state's bid to host the 1998 Winter Olympics. "This legislation is a mainstream attempt to protect the sanctity of life without trampling upon the legitimate liberty interests of women," Gov. Norman H. Bangerter said at the signing ceremony.

The Utah Senate on Wednesday passed a tough anti-abortion bill that Gov. Normman H. Bangerter promised to sign despite a legal fight promised by abortion rights advocates. The Senate voted 23 to 5 in favor of the bill, which would ban most abortions in Utah. The legislation goes to the House Health Committee today and to the full House probably by Friday. House passage is expected. Seventy percent of Utah residents and 90% of the 104 state lawmakers belong to the Mormon Church.

A legislative committee in Salt Lake City, despite shouts from abortion rights supporters, endorsed and sent to the state Senate a measure that would make Utah the first state this year to outlaw most elective abortions. The Legislature is likely to approve the bill and send it to Gov. Norman H. Bangerter. Bangerter has threatened to veto any bill he considers unconstitutional.

Devout, conservative and heavily Republican, Utah lawmakers figured to be out front in the anti-abortion stampede that many activists not long ago were predicting might sweep through state legislatures this year. But by the time lawmakers recessed a few days ago, Republican Gov. Norman H. Bangerter, a staunch abortion foe himself, had talked them out of taking up a bill to outlaw most abortions. The reason: money.

Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. signed a measure in Salt Lake City defying the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind Act despite a warning from the government that it could cost $76 million in federal aid. The bill represents the strongest stand against the federal law among 15 states considering legislation against No Child Left Behind this year. Utah is an overwhelmingly Republican state that strongly supported President Bush.

Anticipating the bitter battle to come, governors from five Western states will meet in Salt Lake City on Friday to devise strategies to convince Washington to give them more control over federal land within their own boundaries. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who will host fellow governors from Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming, says Western states need unity in their stance against federal control of millions of acres of land. He says burdensome regulations restrict energy development and limit recreational access in states where the federal government owns a majority of the land.