Senator Patricia Jones | State Senate District 4

Stronger Schools

Our kids are our most vital asset. That is why I have a 100% voting record for public education.

Senate District 4 is home to the second largest population of senior citizens in the state of Utah, following the St. George area. While serving in the Legislature, I have sponsored and passed landmark legislation that protects vulnerable adults from financial exploitation, abuse and neglect. I also sponsored legislation which created the Utah commission on aging, which has been instrumental in bringing to the table the advocates for our senior...

Utah Business

I have run and owned a small business for more than 30 years. I have had to balance a business checkbook. I know what it’s like to make payroll every month. I understand the complexities of making crucial business decisions. As a member of the Board of Governors of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, I rub shoulders every day with key business leaders in Utah, and small business owners in Utah who are working hard to keep their...

Utah lawmakers give preliminary approval to underage tanning ban

Posted by Senator Pat Jones on Feb 3, 2012 in 2012 Legislation | 0 comments

From the Salt Lake Tribune
by Kristen Stewart

Swayed by evidence of the harms of indoor tanning and moving testimony from melanoma survivors, a Senate committee on Thursday endorsed a ban on underage tanning.

Sponsoring Sen. Pat Jones, D-Holladay, initially proposed prohibiting all minors from using commercial tanning beds, but retailored the ban to apply to those age 13 and under. Youths between the ages of 14 and 18 could tan, but only when accompanied by a parent.

The measure passed the Senate Health and Human Services Comittee 4-1, despite the reservations of regulation-averse Republicans.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Bill to restrict tanning bed usage passes Senate Committee

Posted by Senator Pat Jones on Feb 2, 2012 in 2012 Legislation | 0 comments

SALT LAKE CITY – A bill that would prohibit anyone under the age of 13 from using tanning bed passed out out of the Senate Health and Human Services committee today. The bill would also require anyone from the age of 14-18 who uses a tanning bed to have a parent accompany to them to the tanning facility.

“This legislation is designed to reduce deaths from melanoma. Utah ranks #1 in deaths from melanoma… we have the highest in the nation for melanoma cases. We know that 23% of Utah females, grades 10 through 12, our teenagers, are tanning at least once a year. About 5% of them are tanning more than 40 times a year,” said Senator Pat Jones–D, Holladay, the bill’s sponsor.

Senator Jones went on to explain that indoor tanning beds work by shining ultraviolet, UV radiation on to the skin. UV radiation damages our DNA, and that is what causes skin to go darker.

“This is more dangerous than the midday sun. It’s more intense and a larger scope and percentage of the skin is exposed to the radiation,” she said.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency Institute for Research on Cancer has classified tanning beds as human carcinogens. They have recommended that no one under the age of 18 years of age use a tanning bed.

The bill now goes to the Senate floor for debate.

Legislative Session 2012

Posted by Senator Pat Jones on Jan 16, 2012 in Newsletter | 0 comments

January 16, 2012

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

As you may know, Utah recently went through a redistricting process where boundaries were re-drawn for our State School Board, State House and Senate, and Congressional Districts. Because of a population reduction in Salt Lake County, two Utah Senate districts were combined into one district. As a result of this action, Senate District 4, represented by me, was combined with Senate District 7, represented by Senator Ross Romero, to make a new Senate District 4.

Earlier this year Senator Romero declared his intention to run for Salt Lake County Mayor and submitted a letter to the Lieutenant Governor stating that he would not seek re-election in the new Senate District 4. As a result of his decision, I will represent the families who reside in the new Senate District 4 beginning January 1, 2013. If you currently live in Senate District 7, you will continue to be represented by Senator Romero until the end of 2012.

Throughout the coming year I’d like to get to know the residents of the new Senate District 4. It’s importnat to me to learn about the issues which are most important to you. I’d also like to keep you informed about what is happening on Capitol Hill, about the bills I’m sponsoring, and how I’m voting on legislation that impacts all of us in Utah.

I’d like to invite you to an annual Legislative Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, January 17 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm in the Churchill Junior High School auditorium – 3450 E. Oakview Drive (4280 South). The meeting will be hosted by five legislators: Senator Pat Jones and Representatives Carol Spackman Moss, Brian King, Lynn Hemingway, and Patrice Arent. Our moderator will be KSL’s Doug Wright. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

The 2012 Legislative Session begins on January 23, 2012. If there are any issues that is important to you, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to call me with your concerns. My contact information is listed below.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you in the Utah Senate.

Best regards,

Pat

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Contact Information for Legislative Session 2012

Senator Patricia Jones – Senate District 4
Home 801-278-7667
Work 801-322-5722
pjones@utahsenate.org

Senator Ross Romero – Senate District 7
Home 801-364-2451
Cell 801-652-4687
rromero@utahsenate.org

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