Money abounds, but lawmakers feeling squeezed

Treatment for first-time drug offenders and harsher punishment for repeat violent offenders are just two bills expected to get attention among lawmakers. The Drug Offender Reform Act asks for $6.3 million to start a drug treatment program, which will allow judges to divert non-violent drug offenders to outpatient treatment in lieu of prison. A second bill proposes to hit three-time violent offenders with first-degree felony charges and would expand an existing list of violent crimes that qualify for the enhanced penalty.

Other bills would allow judges to better enforce victim restitution and also allow judges to freeze the assets of people charged with financial fraud.

Children justice centers are asking for $200,000 in additional funding to expand services for abused children.

Although none of this year's bills show to be terribly controversial, lawmakers say funding will be the big issue.

Transportation

Lawmakers are calling transportation one of the most important issues that will be debated this session, with nearly $5.5 billion in improvements needed over the next 10 years.

Members of the Transportation Task Force have met with local officials and transportation planners over the past two years to develop a $4.5 billion funding package that will be debated this session.

The catch: Lawmakers say they can't fund everything, but transportation planners and business officials are crying for the whole package — and more.

It's perhaps the most aggressive push they've made for money since creation of the Centennial Highway Fund.

Other sticky issues include a proposal to shift control of state roads to local governments. Local leaders oppose the measure, because funds would not be transferred with the responsibility.

Minority issues

Lawmakers will be asked to create a new category of relationship: "mutual dependence."

Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, said SB89 would make a way for two adults who can't legally marry obtain certain rights and responsibilities regarding property ownership and health-related matters. Same-sex couples would qualify, as would a person caring for an elderly parent or roommates of the same sex.

Bell said his new contract is different from civil unions rejected by voters when they approved Amendment 3 in November because it's not limited to same-sex couples.

The state constitutional amendment, which took effect this month, bans same-sex marriage and other "domestic partnerships."