Winter votes no on narrowly passed private school bill

The 65th Wyoming Legislature has come to a close with an additional day and a rather long night for legislators, finishing up at 2 a.m. on Feb. 28.

SF0049 is on its way to the governor’s desk. Relating to private school structures, the bill would exempt private schools from zoning conditions in both towns and counties.

A controversial bill, it narrowly passed the house, 33-26 and then cleared the senate on a 25-3 vote.

“I voted against this bill,” Representative John Winter said, “because of the local control issue.”

Winter did vote for SF0111. Which allows for the extension of Hathaway scholarships for students seeking academic programs and degrees at community colleges.

The Wyoming Works program was another aye vote for Winter. It establishes a program at community colleges that allows students to receive funding or grants for work related programs such as acquiring their CDL, welding and other workforce training programs.

This would not be available to students on the Hathaway scholarship and most would not require a high school diploma or GED to qualify for.

In trying to get certain cases moved through the judicial system a little quicker, SF0104 would set up a Wyoming Chancery Court that would push disputes involving commercial entities, businesses, trusts and the like through the courts within 150 days of filing.

Suits would have to amount to more than $50,000 to be placed in Chancery Court and would cover issues such as fraud, breach of contract, corporate restructuring and descriminatory practices. Although the bill passed on third reading, Winter voted against it.

Another bill that passed on its third reading was SF0040, relating to the operation of a motorboat while intoxicated.

As the law currently stands, a DUI on the water is not issued unless the blood alcohol level is .10, while the blood alcohol content for a DUI in a motor vehicle on the road is .08.

This bill will make the blood alcohol content for both watercraft and motor vehicles .08. Winter voted against this bill as well.

Attempts were made to contact Senator Wyatt Agar for his final comments on this year's Legislative session but he was unavailable.