SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s “part-time” legislators are anything but part time.

“It’s insane,” laughed Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse. “Every day is different. For example today I got here just before 7 a.m. to meet with groups I’m running legislation for. Then there is joint leadership for two hours followed by two more hours on the floor.”

Rep. Roger Barrus said his days start off much the same as Killpack’s. “All but Monday, my day starts normally before 7 a.m. with some type of meeting,” he said. “I belong to several different caucuses, and I have to meet with them. Then we have committee meetings at 8 a.m. Everyone is usually assigned to two standing committees and two appropriation committees. I not only have to attend the ones I’m in, but if I happen to have bills in another meeting as well, I’m scooting off to the other committee, too.”

Legislators receive $130 a day during the session, and recently announced a pay cut for next session. But the pay is relatively small compared to the extensive hours they actually put in — not only during the session, but throughout the year.

“They call us part-time legislators, but on average I put in over 20 hours a week above and beyond my full-time job,” said Killpack, speaking of the months when the Legislature is not in session. “There are two days out of the month (during the interim) when I’m meeting with leadership, and I was on the health care task force in addition. I also spent a lot of time meeting with Hill Air Force Base, ATK, MIDA and others on economic development.”

Barrus also served on the health care task force during the interim as well as chair of the House Natural Re-sources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee. And somewhere in between all of that they have to fit in time for a personal life.

“We have a surprising number of 7 a.m. meetings,” said Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful. “I try to get in some exercise, and I have elder care responsibilities so it is hard. Fortunately I don’t still have children at home. But I did get to spend an evening at the Discovery Gateway with my grandchildren. It was a wonderful time to reconnect.”

Killpack says he barely gets time to hustle home at night and give his kids a kiss on the head before he has to prepare for the next round. “It takes an extremely patient and understanding family because they suffer the brunt of my limited time,” he said. “During the interim I try to keep time open (for them).”

Allen said even when the day ends, she still goes home and spends time looking over legislative bills and reading emails. “I know a bill is important when I receive so many e-mails,” she said. “I’m trying to meet the needs of my constituents. I spent part of the day (Feb. 25) listening to a lot of Davis County residents at the clean air rally. I was really impressed with the numbers of people, including children. One child said he couldn’t have recess if the air wasn’t clean. Recess is important.”

Barrus said he gets up at 5:30 a.m. to start reading all of his e-mails, and although he’s actually retired it doesn’t feel like it. “The Legislature takes up about 40 percent of my annual calendar,” he said. “I was appointed to a national committee as well.” During the session Barrus said he doesn’t usually go to the many events offered in the evening, but on Wednesday nights he always takes time for Scout groups if they ask to have a tour. “I don’t ever turn them away.”

Despite the long, sometimes hard hours and frequent criticism these legislators keep showing up each day to do it all again. They are trying to serve the people of Utah, but even so they’re still just people.

“My days are very busy,” said Allen. “But the other night with my grandchildren was a true joy and blessing.”