The Legislature’s summertime fun is breaking up, and it’s time for lawmakers to get back to the grimy business of legislating. Come enjoy the spectacle of interim committees: Whether it’s to consider fast-tracking the death penalty, an update on ethics reform or a debate on how the state can react to the coming national health-care bill, there’s an interim committee for every citizen’s taste. Committees can be followed live at www.le.state.ut.us.

Utah Constitutional Revision Commission
Thursday, Aug. 13
Last session saw a failed effort to streamline the process for death penalty amendments in Utah’s correctional system. The challenge was pushed hardest by Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, who argued that excessive post-conviction appeals have essentially eliminated the death penalty in Utah. Come for the discussion on this bill, which undoubtedly will be making a comeback in the 2010 session. Utah State Capitol, Room 415, Aug. 13, 9 a.m. 801-538-1032

Ethics Interim Committee
Wednesday, Aug. 19
Ethics reform? Bribery scandals? That was so last year … right? Wrong. Ethics will come up again next session, so don’t let your lawmaker forget it. Come check out this meeting, where reports will be given by U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who will be enlightening the committee on the federal House ethics process, a discussion on the state bar’s ethics process, as well as a review of a recent Nevada Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of independent ethics commissions. Utah State Capitol, Room 450, Aug. 19, 9 a.m. 801-538-1032

Health and Human Services Interim Committee
Wednesday, Aug. 19
The committee will be holding a largely informal discussion to see if the state can and should do anything to react to the coming national healthcare bill that President Obama has promised will pass before the year’s end. The committee will be a good primer for the uninitiated, as it will review some of the proposals being batted around by Congress. Utah State Capitol, Room 250, Aug. 19, 9 a.m. 801-538-1032