City and counties may have to inventory potential private sector conflicts

A proposal to require Utah's biggest cities and counties to inventory services they provide that may have private-sector competitors touched off over an hour of debate on the floor of the Senate Monday afternoon.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, is the sponsor of SB45 and responded to multiple inquiries about the cost, intent and long-term consequences for his bill, which simply asks for line-item lists of services provided by municipalities that correlate to services that may be provided by a private business.

Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, defended Stephenson's bill noting that it is simply a method to create an awareness and openness to recognize these areas.

Stephenson cited some examples of possible public services that compete with private business, which included swimming pools, reception centers and fitness centers.

Several questions from the Senate floor addressed how the information would be used.

Stephenson said that his bill creates a mandate to gather the information, but does not utilize it in any fashion other than creating a "consciousness among policy-makers and the public" that these areas exist.

SB45 was passed to a third reading by the Senate.