Rocky's legislative agenda and how it fared

Rocky's agenda

1. Alcohol amendments — Anderson sought legislation to do away with the state's 600-foot rule, which bans private clubs from opening within 600 feet of a school, library or church. The law hampers the city's ability to relocate a charter school (the Salt Lake Arts Academy) downtown where many private clubs are located. Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake City, agreed to run a bill that would get rid of the rule but later pulled it.

2. PhotoCop — The mayor wanted legislation giving cities the ability to install photo radar to catch red-light runners and speeders. Anderson said the legislation would slow drivers and save lives. Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake City, ran the bill, but it died in committee.

3. Bicycle safety — A bill requiring automobile drivers to give bicyclists a 3-foot berth passed but not until after being gutted by Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo. Anderson, a longtime proponent of alternative-vehicle travel, like bicycles, had pushed for the legislation, which was again sponsored by McGee. Bramble offered a substitute bill that gave drivers the right to pass close to bicyclists as long as they weren't driving in a reckless manner.

4. No smoking — The effort to ban smoking in private clubs, which Anderson backed, passed the Senate by one vote but didn't pass the House.

5. Gun violence — Anderson wants sweeping gun law reform. His ideas included: legislation requiring gun owners to keep their weapons under lock and key, tougher juvenile gun laws, a statewide ban on assault weapons and legislation requiring better tracking of gun violence stats. No gun law reform bills were introduced.

6. Living wage — The mayor had wanted new legislation giving cities the authority to require city contractors to pay their employees a living wage. Instead, the Legislature passed a law stating that cities can't even consider contractor wages when awarding bids.

7. Sex education — The state's "abstinence-based" sex education programs aren't working, Anderson maintains. He wanted legislation reversing the state's abstinence leanings in favor of more safe sex education. No such legislation was introduced.

8. Health care — A legislative interim study looking at ways to provide health care for all Utahns never materialized. Anderson wanted the study to examine a way to provide universal health care in the state.

9. Adoption — Utah law forbids adoption by unmarried couples and Anderson had wanted legislation to make such adoptions legal. The issue largely focused on adoption by gay couples. No bill was ever considered to change the current law.