Rep. Craig Frank, R-Pleasant Grove, is pushing for a privatization council that would determine whether government is unfairly competing with commercial enterprises.
The proposal - spelled out in HB75 and HB76 - also calls for the creation of a sharper-toothed commission that could recommend to the Legislature or the governor the shedding of certain government functions to private entrepreneurs.
The House Government Operations Committee delayed action on the two bills Monday.
The measure worries Salt Lake County's recreation managers, who say the board could threaten their publicly funded portfolio of 12 recreation centers, 17 aquatic facilities, six golf courses and three ice rinks.
"It is a quality-of-life issue for the county," said Bruce Henderson, director of parks and recreation.
"There would be a lot of kids that would be wandering the streets if they didn't have these facilities to go to."
While Frank targeted no specific program Monday, he said government must examine its place in the private sector.
"Our state is growing rapidly," he said. "Government is growing rapidly as well. It would behoove us to create an inventory that allows us to step back and determine what is government's responsibility and what is the private sector's."
jstettler@sltrib.com
HB75, HB76
Bills aim to get government out of private business; proposal also calls for the creation of a commission that could recommend shedding of certain government functions to private entrepreneurs.
