54-10a-202.  Committee of Consumer Services.

(1) 

Terms Used In Utah Code 54-10a-202

  • Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
(a)  There is created within the office a committee known as the “Committee of Consumer Services.”

(b)  A member of the committee shall maintain the member’s principal residence within Utah.

(2) 

(a)  The governor shall appoint five members to the committee subject to Subsection (3).

(b)  Except as required by Subsection (2)(c), as terms of current committee members expire, the governor shall appoint a new member or reappointed member to a four-year term.

(c)  Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (2)(b), the governor shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of committee members are staggered so that approximately half of the committee is appointed every two years.

(d)  When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the governor shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term.

(3)  Members of the committee shall represent the following consumer interests:

(a)  one member shall be an individual with experience and understanding of issues affecting low-income residents;

(b)  one member shall be a retired person;

(c)  one member shall be an individual with experience and understanding of issues affecting small commercial consumers;

(d)  one member shall be a farmer or rancher who uses electric power to pump water in the member’s farming or ranching operation; and

(e)  one member shall be a residential consumer.

(4) 

(a)  No more than three members of the committee may be from the same political party.

(b)  Subject to Subsection (3), for a member of the committee appointed on or after May 12, 2009, the governor shall appoint, to the extent possible, an individual with expertise or experience in:

(i)  public utility matters related to consumers;

(ii)  economics;

(iii)  accounting;

(iv)  financing;

(v)  engineering; or

(vi)  public utilities law.

(5)  The governor shall designate one member as chair of the committee.

(6)  A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member’s service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:

(a)  Section 63A-3-106;

(b)  Section 63A-3-107; and

(c)  rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.

(7) 

(a)  The committee may hold monthly meetings.

(b)  The committee may hold other meetings, at the times and places the chair and a majority of the committee determine.

(8) 

(a)  Three members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee.

(b)  A majority of members voting when a quorum is present constitutes an action of the committee.

Amended by Chapter 154, 2020 General Session