A unanimous Utah Senate Wednesday sent legislation to the House meant to curb alcohol sales to underage drinkers. SB58 would carve out more than $2 million of the state's beer tax revenue to provide training for grocery and convenience store clerks.

Lawmakers quoted statistics that show 20 percent of Utah high school seniors report binge drinking every month. Other studies show that 40 percent of teens who start drinking at age 15 will become alcoholic.

Sponsoring Sen. Peter Knudson, R-Brigham City, said the state needs to do more to limit teens' access to alcohol. "These young people drink for one purpose: to become high. Little do they know this could have lifelong consequences, not only for them personally, but for others," he said.

- Rebecca Walsh

DNA database to expand

Genetic material from those convicted of a class A misdemeanor would be the latest added to the state's DNA database, under a bill that passed the House on Monday. Rep. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said the move to add the DNA of those convicted of a misdemeanor would help police track criminals. Currently, all felonies must undergo a mouth swab for a DNA sample. - Matt Canham

Bill would allow treatment at school

Diabetic students who suffer low-blood-sugar emergencies at Utah schools don't get timely treatment sometimes, a situation that could lead to irreparable damage, or even death. That's because Utah's current drug laws don't permit school personnel to administer glucagon, a substance declared by health professionals to be safe even for non-diabetics. It appears that the situation is about to change.

A bill to allow voluntarily trained school personnel to administer glucagon shots passed the House Wednesday. SB8, sponsored by Salt Lake City Democrat Sen. Patrice Arent, passed in the Senate earlier, and needs only the signature of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to become law.

- Celia R. Baker

A House panel Wednesday unanimously passed HB255, which seeks to clarify murky territory regarding how often lawmakers must file a disclosure form for conflict of interest.

Rep. Ross I. Romero, D-Salt Lake City, introduced the legislation because of the current lack of clarity. Romero said many representatives file the disclosure automatically every year while others thought it was every two years.

If a disclosure has been filed, representatives are able to vote on bills without verbally declaring a conflict of interest prior to a floor vote.

State lawmakers are required to vote on every bill when they are in the House or Senate chambers, regardless of conflicts of interest.

"When I came up to the Legislature I thought it was a little unique that we would vote on bills if we have a conflict," Romero said. "I thought it might be more appropriate to not be voting if we had a conflict."

It is a Class B misdemeanor if a representative fails to file a disclosure.

Susan Winlow