Today, Gov. Olene S. Walker signed and made effective four bills passed by the Utah State Legislature in the Special Session held Wednesday, Sept. 15.  The bills signed into law are as follows:

• H.B. 4001 Supplemental Appropriations Act III * Range Creek
  
• S.B. 4001 Trust Business Amendments
  
• S.B. 4002 Individual Income Tax * Treatment of Certain  Military Income
  
• S.B. 4003 Supplemental Appropriations Act II Amendments
  
• Redirection of Certain Federal Funds to Inmate Housing

5:30:13 PM    

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's waterfowl hunters are reminded that they must register in the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) before hunting this year. Utah hunters can register on the Internet at www.uthip.com/ or by calling 1-877-UTAH-744 (1-877-8824-744).

Utah's 2004–2005 waterfowl season begins Oct. 2, and hunters are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Hunters who don't register risk a fine of up to $299.

"Compliance checks during the 2003 waterfowl season indicated a 94.3 percent compliance rate. Most of those who didn't register indicated that they didn't know they needed a HIP number," said Tom Aldrich, waterfowl coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "The second most common excuse was, 'I forgot.'

"Neither reason will get you out of a ticket this year," Aldrich said. "HIP has been required for six years, and hunters should know by now that they need to register."

Aldrich says registration in the program is easy and takes about five minutes to complete. Hunters planning on registering over the phone should do it well before opening day, however. Dove hunters who tried to register the day before this year's dove opener often had to call for hours before reaching an open line.

How to register

Hunters need their 2004 small game or combination license to register. When registering, you'll be asked to provide your 2004 hunting license number and license type, name, address, date of birth and the approximate number of doves, ducks and geese you harvested in 2003. You'll then be given a HIP registration number that you must write in the space provided on your 2004 license.

Lifetime license holders are provided a sticker to attach to the back of their license card for entry of the current season's HIP number.

All migratory game bird hunters, throughout the United States, are required to register in the HIP each year. Hunters who registered during the 2003–2004 hunting season are reminded that they must register again if they want to hunt migratory game birds this year.

If contacted by a wildlife law enforcement officer in the field, migratory game bird hunters must prove that they've registered in the HIP by presenting their hunting license with their HIP number written on it.

The purpose of the HIP is to improve management of the nation's migratory game bird populations by collecting better information on hunter participation and harvest. The Division of Wildlife Resources is cooperating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in administering the program in Utah. Utah became involved in the HIP in 1998.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

5:27:04 PM    

Today, Gov. Olene Walker signed an Executive Order creating the Utah Quarter Dollar Commemorative Coin Commission. The commission is tasked with developing a process to allow any Utahn to submit a narrative recommendation for design of the Utah commemorative quarter.

"We welcome all Utahns to be part of the quarter design process by submitting recommendations they feel will best represent our great state and its citizens," said Walker. "While the quarter won’t be released for a couple of years, this process and the final design will become an important part of Utah’s history."

The commission consists of three members: Frank McEntire, director of the Utah Arts Council; Patti Harrington, superintendent of public instruction of the Utah State Office of Education; and Phil Notarianni, director of the Utah State Historical Society.

"The commission is extremely competent and enthusiastic about its involvement and is pleased to play a small part in this significant design selection process," said McEntire, who chairs the commission.

The commission also launched a new Web site, http://arts.utah.gov/quarter.html, containing information regarding design guidelines, submission requirements, the selection process and school curriculums. Citizens may also call (801) 236-7547 or e-mail quarter@utah.gov.

The public can submit recommendations until March 1, 2005, when the commission will choose no less than five ideas to present to the governor. The governor will then select five ideas to present to the U.S. Mint.

Utah’s commemorative quarter is due for release in late 2007.

5:23:29 PM