Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Dahir Abukar, a refugee from Somalia, talks about his problems getting a Utah driver's license during a break from ESL class at the LDS Humanitarian Center Wednesday, July 14, 2010. Abukar has tried to pass the Utah driver's license three times but has failed each time.

Despite growing tension around immigration in Utah, bipartisan support appears to be in the works for helping refugees obtain driver licenses more easily.

Utah’s driver-license law requires a knowledge of “simple English used in highway traffic and directional signs.” But critics say taking the test requires more than basic reading skills, leaving many refugees, some of whom may not be able to read or write in their own language, years away from getting behind the wheel. That limits their job prospects and can make something as simple as grocery shopping for a large family an impossible task.

“The question is how do we address the specific, unique circumstance of refugees without creating broader unintended negative consequences in other areas?” said Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, who sponsored the bill that created driving privilege cards for undocumented immigrants.

The state eliminated an illustrated version of the driver license test last year, after uncertainties lingered about whether the test measured what refugees actually knew. That was a dramatic shift for refugees who had often relied on the picture test when their English was not sufficient.

Refugees are legal immigrants brought to the United States by the government after enduring persecution in their home countries. Many have lived for decades in refugee camps and may have lost family members to war and genocide. Once they arrive in the U.S., they receive short-term financial support from the federal government, leaving some teetering on homelessness.

“Most of us could never fully understand or know the unspeakable tragedies that refugees have endured,” said Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City. “They don’t come to this state or to this country necessarily by choice. They come out of survival.”

Lawmakers are studying the issue to determine how other states approach the problem and whether the law needs to be changed. Utah, unlike some other Intermountain West states, does not allow interpreters for test takers. Several states with large numbers of refugees, such as California and Minnesota, offer the test in a variety of languages spoken by the newcomers.

Some refugees in Utah are now traveling to Arizona and Colorado to get driver licenses, because the rules are more flexible there. Both Bramble and Litvack predict more lawmakers from both parties will support changing how refugees are tested.

“Since they’re in the United States legally, do we want to remove the barriers to employment or their own economic independence?” Bramble asked. “I believe it’s a problem that can be solved, and I think it’s a problem that should be solved.”

Without a driver license, refugees’ job options can dwindle. Many industrial and manual jobs are far away from refugees’ homes and are not easily accessible by public transportation. Some jobs require a license for employment.

“No one is saying that an understanding of basic English is not important,” said Litvack, who is the House minority leader. “I think we’re looking at a potential resolution that allows for access to driver’s licenses while they’re gaining a better handle of the English language.”

English teachers are critical of the current test.

“I felt like the test tests a lot more than driving knowledge,” said Jennifer Christenson, an English-as-a-second-language teacher. “It tests your reading level — at a much higher level than basic.”

On Wednesday, Dahir Abukar, a father of seven, planned on taking the driver’s test for the fourth time.

“I want to drive to help my family,” the Somali refugee said while taking a break from his English class at the LDS Church’s Humanitarian Center.

Abukar’s wife and children often go to the grocery store by bus, but it is difficult to bring home enough food for the family’s long-term needs. Items like milk and potatoes make the bags too heavy to carry.

After living in Utah for more than a year and a half, Abukar, 50, used a computer for the first time this spring. The computerized driver license testing system is another major hurdle for refugees who are inexperienced with technology.

In recent months, a group of English-as-a-second-language teachers and other volunteers have begun to meet to develop and share curriculum to help refugees prepare for the test.

“We would love to change the test, but right now that doesn’t seem like anything in our reach,” said Beth Garstka, volunteer coordinator at the English Skills Learning Center in Salt Lake City.

Deo Sharma, a Bhutanese refugee, has been driving for more than two decades. He’s had licenses in Bhutan, Nepal and a learner permit from Florida. He has driven on the winding roads of the Himalayas and in the chaos of Katmandu. Despite his strong English skills, it took him three times in Utah before he could pass the driver license test.

“It was confusing questions,” Sharma recalled. “The Driver License Division should find out whether someone can drive or not.”

jlyon@sltrib.com

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/49928991-76/refugees-english-test-driver.html.csp

July 1, 2010

For more information, contact Ric Cantrell, Chief Deputy of the Utah Senate
Office: 801-538-1407Cell: 801-647-8944

LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION SELECTED

SALT LAKE CITY – Today, legislative leaders announced appointments to the Ethics Commission, created this year in a package of reform bills. The new five member commission will consist of a retired Supreme Court Justice, former Appeals Court Judge, former District Court judge and two distinguished former legislators.

The following have accepted the invitation to serve on the new commission:

* Michael Wilkins, recently retired Justice of the Utah Supreme Court and former judge on the Utah Court of Appeals.

* Russell Bench, retired judge who served on the Utah Court of Appeals and on the Judicial Conduct Commission.

* Jon Memmott, recently retired from the bench in Utah*s 2nd District Court, who previously served as Governor Bangerter*s legal counsel and as director of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

* Gayle McKeachnie, a rancher, practicing attorney, former legislator, and former Lieutenant Governor of the State of Utah.

* Joanne Milner, former legislator and community advocate, currently serving as the Education Partnership Coordinator for the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office.

This new commission is tasked to investigate allegations of ethical breaches within the state legislature, patterned after the work of Judicial Conduct Commission.  Any allegation they find to be supported by a preponderance of evidence will be made public and forwarded to the House or Senate Legislative Ethics Committee for a public hearing.

Legislative leaders have high hopes for the commission.

"This is the genesis of a more open approach to ethics hearings.  The commissioners carry a broad spectrum of expertise in law, judicial investigations, and the legislative process that provides the insight they will need." said Michael Waddoups, President of the Utah Senate."Each one of them has a reputation for honesty and fairness.  Our goal is to ensure the light of open government continues to shine on the  state of Utah."

Speaker of the House, Dave Clark said, "The Utah State Legislature has spent incredible time and energy scrutinizing the rules by which we govern ourselves.  We are in the process of quietly transforming the very culture in which we work. This commission is a key element of that larger effort."

Patricia Jones, Senate Minority Leader said, "This new commission will pioneer the processes and precedents of legislative ethics investigation work.  Ideally, they will have very little to do.  If issues arise, however, this is a competent, fair-minded team who will do the job right."

House Minority Leader David Litvack added, "We believe our actions are responsive to the will of the people we represent.  We want to provide greater accountability for our behavior, better transparency in our work, and a state government that inspires citizens instead of disappointing them."

The Ethics Commission was created by resolution as a legislative rule. In November, voters will decide if this commission will be permanently enshrined and protected in the Utah State Constitution.

If auditors find evidence of problems, a full-blown audit could be ordered.
By Cathy McKitrick
The Salt Lake Tribune

Legislative leaders voted unanimously Tuesday to have the auditor general scrutinize Utah Transit Authority’s 19-member Board of Trustees for conflicts of interest involving land deals and transit-oriented developments.

The audit request came from Rep. Janice Fisher, D-West Valley City, who said she had ample evidence to support the need for further investigation and oversight of the largely tax-funded agency.

“There are mountains of information to be given to the auditor general to investigate conflicts of interest at UTA,” Fisher told the four-member Legislative Audit subcommittee, the top leaders of the House and Senate.

Last week, Auditor General John Schaff wrote a letter clearing the agency on previous criticisms of UTA’s lack of board independence and rigorous oversight — key findings in a 2008 legislative audit.

“I’m asking you to take the next step and deal with conflicts of interest,” Fisher said.

House Speaker David Clark, R-Santa Clara, expressed keen interest in Fisher’s documents and supported the auditor general’s reviewing the material and making recommendations for any further action.

Schaff said his inquiry would look at the “strength of the evidence.”

“We’d go back to the sources,” Schaff said, “and look for material that we could document and bring back to the committee as a recommendation.”

UTA General Counsel Bruce Jones said the agency would welcome such scrutiny as a chance to clear its name.

“We are audited on a constant basis. It’s easy to cast aspersions,” Jones said. “If we’re given the opportunity to respond, we believe we can bring a conclusion to false allegations.”

In the past, the agency’s policy required that board members disclose any conflicts and abstain from voting on any related decisions.

However, lawmakers tightened that policy this year with SB272, which requires any member who is either a partner, developer or owner of a UTA-related transit-oriented development to resign from the board.

Current UTA conflict of interest forms, obtained by The Tribune through a government records request, indicate only one board member reporting a land-related conflict.

Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, signed that he owned property adjacent to the 900 South light-rail station in Salt Lake City.
Board member Terry Diehl was involved in some controversy when he disclosed in 2008 that he served as a consultant to Whitewater VII Holdings, LLC.

In that role, Diehl helped broker an agreement with Draper City for a mixed-use development of unlimited height and density near a contentious commuter-rail site that has since been halted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In late 2009, Diehl signed the development agreement with Draper, identifying himself as the manager of WW Draper LLC, the sole member of Whitewater VII.

Whitewater VII was dissolved earlier this year, according to state corporation records.

And in a UTA disclosure form signed this March, Diehl reported no conflicts of interest.

“I can’t comment on Mr. Diehl’s business dealings,” said UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter. “As far as UTA is concerned, Mr. Diehl and all board members have followed the established process.”

Diehl could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

You may also read the House Democrats legislative wrapup by clicking here.

Although most of our respondents came from districts represented by Democrats, we received responses from 69 of the 75 house districts in Utah. These results are invaluable to us and help us to serve all of Utah better.

Here's how the districts were represented:  Districts highlighted in yellow are represented by a Democrat. 

"Across the nation veterans are returning home from their tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.   Some incurred a disability while they were serving their country and were honorably discharged," Representative Cosgrove told Representatives last week.   "For our veterans, there are sacrifices that come with serving in the military, and returning to normal jobs requires some transition time.  Recreation therapy helps them with this transition," he said.

The bill now moves to the Governor for signature.

SALT LAKE CITY — There's growing support among state lawmakers to spend $2 million on the Utah State Hospital.

The hospital has a wing for mentally ill children, and it's not in the best shape.

"I, frankly, was appalled," one lawmaker said. "If you were down there to see it, you would be ashamed."

One after another, lawmakers made a pitch Wednesday to get $2 million to design a new pediatric wing, but Rep. Jen Seeling, D-Salt Lake City, put it more bluntly.

"It is a pig hole," Seeling said.

She called it a value statement about how the state treats vulnerable and sick children.

"[We're] warehousing them in a deplorable pit of disgust," Seeling said.

The amendment passed and was sent to the Senate.

E-mail: athomas@ksl.com

H.B. 72 S1 Passes House

Representative Wiley's Utah School Seismic Hazard Inventory passed the House last Friday with 50 yes votes and 18 no votes after a motion to reconsider. The bill had failed the previous vote last Wednesday.

The bill would enact the School Seismic Safety Act which requires a school district or charter school to conduct a seismic evaluation of each facility used by the school district or charter school using specified standards. The bill creates and specifies the duties of the Public School Seismic Safety Committee and directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules to provide certain immunity from suit relating to a seismic safety evaluation. The bill would repeal the School Seismic Safety Act in ten years, on July 1, 2020.

The bill will now move on to the Senate.

H.B. 62 Passes House

Representative Fisher’s Penalties for Violent Crime in Presence of a Child passed the House this morning with 55 yes votes and 14 no votes. The bill provides a class B misdemeanor penalty for a person who, while in the presence of a child younger than 14, commits or attempts to commit criminal homicide against a third party, intentionally causes or attempts to cause serious bodily injury to a third party, or uses a dangerous weapon or other means or force likely to produce death or serious bodily injury against a third party.

The bill will now move on to the Senate.
]]> http://www.utahhousedemocrats.org/index.php/2010/03/08/h-b-62-passes-house/feed/ 0 http://www.utahhousedemocrats.org/index.php/2010/03/08/h-r-4-passes-house/ http://www.utahhousedemocrats.org/index.php/2010/03/08/h-r-4-passes-house/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:40:02 +0000 Utah House Democrats http://www.utahhousedemocrats.org/?p=1654 H.R. 4 Passes House Representative Seelig’s Resolution Urging Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty unanimously passed the House this morning. The resolution strongly urges the President of the United States to submit the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to the United States Senate, and strongly urges the United States Senate to promptly give its [...]]]>

H.R. 4 Passes House

Representative Seelig’s Resolution Urging Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty unanimously passed the House this morning. The resolution strongly urges the President of the United States to submit the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to the United States Senate, and strongly urges the United States Senate to promptly give its advice and consent for ratification of the Treaty.

The bill is not a joint resolution, so it has passed its final vote, and will now be sent for enrolling.