[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6350844,"mediaKeyId","2231377-eb540ecdbfbecd2ff0197cfea84ac8fa","parentId",2231377,"title","Committee advances bill requiring pregnancy screening in jails, adds county reporting and advisory-board seats","audioSeconds",464,"startMs",1623000,"endMs",2087000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2231377-eb540ecdbfbecd2ff0197cfea84ac8fa&start=1623&end=2087","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2231377-eb540ecdbfbecd2ff0197cfea84ac8fa/thumbnail_1623000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6350844/Utah/Committee-advances-bill-requiring-pregnancy-screening-in-jails-adds-county-reporting-and-advisory-board-seats","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6350844-74b48b580b5f7ed6d283f3db2097affa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775052568&Signature=VDup1A535FNwN06HEAIZvpi3tYNEKvtc30flzOgyoOeKSJcodZ954ulBXNNL6GWdl6obRjobmq0DNBSISmqLyKChCST10IIB-maLYmb-CrI8ljxhDV-mdWD2F7SPspPSf3hM5pWEd2ithNORKUiV0DSUrlpBuCG-MtMOFtdWJdoPeBkNfoVqou9IMwDT~s6GvgbIfbTJn6~NPup25xWRIiiwiMLgS6XjVWfooUeZ~ey8~wNES2IyCl~McJ9Vm1fUspjM-m5Z02dyvJnxw-LdAEbCEjqWT4L5suLwjJaGlLhMyWDJXqoN65YbD3Y6bsdYpR3s9784K1nCLz2Nq3fe7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-02-05T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Perucci presented HB326 (second substitute) as a follow-up to work by the Correctional Postnatal and Early Childhood Advisory Board. He said the substitute incorporates stakeholder feedback and adds two members to the advisory board: a prosecutor and a defense representative.

The sponsor told the committee the second substitute requires county jails to offer pregnancy tests to people who will be detained longer than 72 hours, mirroring Department of Corrections practice. The stated purpose is clinical and safety-related: identifying pregnancies quickly can reduce exposure to potentially harmful procedures or equipment and improve access to prenatal care.

The bill also requires county jails to report to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) the number of known pregnant inmates in custody and the number of inmates who are parents to a minor child. Representative Perucci said that data does not currently exist and would inform policy and diversion planning.

The substitute extends the board’s repeal date to 2027 and narrows some earlier proposals after stakeholder concerns. Representative Perucci said he removed language tied to sentencing requirements after conversations with stakeholders and added seats to ensure balance on the advisory board.

Representative Hollins moved to adopt the second substitute and an amendment requested by sheriffs to address operational concerns. The committee adopted the substitute, approved the amendment, and then voted to pass HB326 (second substitute as amended) with a favorable recommendation.

The record shows no public testimony in the hearing and the sponsor said he would welcome further work on diversion recommendations from the advisory board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Health and Human Services Committee - February 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee passed HB326 (second substitute as amended), which would require jails to offer pregnancy tests to detainees held more than 72 hours, add local reporting of pregnant inmates and inmate-parents to CCJJ, and extend the advisory board overseeing correctional postnatal policy to 2027.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6350849,"Utah committee backs bill to reserve portion of federal survivor benefits for children in state custody",167,1789000,1622000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2231377-eb540ecdbfbecd2ff0197cfea84ac8fa&start=1789&end=1622","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2231377-eb540ecdbfbecd2ff0197cfea84ac8fa/thumbnail_1789000.jpg","/articles/6350849/Utah/Utah-committee-backs-bill-to-reserve-portion-of-federal-survivor-benefits-for-children-in-state-custody","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6350849-f5810b3dd3428d2d5158622260aefff3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775052568&Signature=JY3DmYJf-O~fbssSwQgidDXIrfava09TppVhfP~RCUnAWc3waNqZYlMXrvDzkBsKcW02eyQ6yWwaqUsyeLU9~qGMSAXHAqtSGOSQ7oy1TSO6Blj0ixRgyJ9kgP7jdnMH3bPsiy~qHP7z6jmwNXifJVzmVoikrBL9H5CcpHeD-8GXgwb8ClK9Cm3D62xzwuaFXGvLxDYeNelQYkx9qQYSO-tMCxWbN-HDsTKaMvEoBFi8ZV1u-9YY92JhxcHJcim4ml6YLrLy49hpxWNsccK2Rx0Tj0BJfcxufZ3ZAg3UiipVY~GfSh5cUG6OcovbA4QegpGeivJJENj5otcPE3oXUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Fiafia, sponsor of HB302, told the House Health and Human Services Committee the bill aims to ensure “federal benefits intended for children in state custody are identified, protected, and used for their direct benefit rather than being absorbed into the system.”

The bill responds to an accounting problem the sponsor described: when a parent dies, federal survivor benefits such as Social Security survivor payments, railroad retirement survivor benefits or veterans benefits can flow to the state and be used to offset the cost of care for all children in custody rather than being preserved for the child who was the intended recipient. Representative Fiafia said Utah took about $2.2 million last year from 464 children in custody (an average of about $5,000 per child) and $21 million since 2015.

HB302 (second substitute) requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to determine eligibility for such benefits within 60 days of a child entering custody and to place identified funds into protected accounts such as ABLE accounts or other trust options the bill allows. The bill sets a default split of up to 50% that may be used for the child’s current essential needs while the remainder must be preserved for the child at exit from custody. It also mandates annual financial statements for transparency and financial-literacy training for youth who will receive funds upon leaving custody.

Ashley Iono, support coordinator with Brighter Futures Foster Care Agency, described a client who receives SSI and “has maybe $50 left for the month” after room and board and other expenses, and said HB302 would “help her to have a successful life outside of foster care.”

DHHS legislative affairs director Paul Rafe said the department supports the concept but raised implementation concerns. Rafe said the department needs more time to set up accounts and administrative processes and suggested a later implementation date (he referenced July 1, 2026, as preferable). He told the committee the attorney general’s office and the department lack the present capacity to create and manage the accounts at the bill’s original effective date and estimated setup costs of about $2,000 per account plus ongoing administrative expense. DHHS also flagged Medicaid “spend down” and eligibility complexities for some youth if cash or account balances exceed program limits.

Committee members questioned account types and access. Representative Acton asked whether funds would be delivered as a lump sum at age 18 or kept in trust; Representative Fiafia and DHHS staff explained that the bill recommends ABLE accounts to protect eligibility for means-tested benefits (the bill text also allows special-needs accounts and 529s in certain circumstances). DHHS deputy director David Littfack said the department is already using some ABLE accounts and internal trust accounts but that different account types may be required depending on the youth’s disability and program eligibility.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on why the bill allows the state to retain up to 50% of benefits. Representative Fiafia said the original draft sought 100% protection but he negotiated a 50% split with DHHS to avoid immediate budget shortfalls that could reduce services to other children in custody; he said a future follow-up bill could pursue additional changes.

After discussion, Representative Monson moved to adopt the second substitute and the committee approved the substitute. Representative Fitzsimona then moved that the committee pass HB302 (second substitute) with a favorable recommendation; the motion carried on a voice vote.

The bill directs DHHS to apply for any needed Medicaid waiver related to account treatment and to provide annual accounting for funds placed in the accounts. The committee record shows continued DHHS-sponsor work to clarify waiver language and operational details.

Notes: the committee’s actions were recorded as voice votes; the committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.","The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance HB302 (second substitute), which would require Utah to identify federal survivor benefits that belong to children in state custody, place the funds into protected accounts, and preserve at least half for the child when they exit custody.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6350841,"Committee approves HB199 to expand overdose response, mobile treatment and update nuisance laws; debate over syringe-exchange location limits",3186,2134000,5320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2231377-eb540ecdbfbecd2ff0197cfea84ac8fa&start=2134&end=5320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2231377-eb540ecdbfbecd2ff0197cfea84ac8fa/thumbnail_2134000.jpg","/articles/6350841/Utah/Committee-approves-HB199-to-expand-overdose-response-mobile-treatment-and-update-nuisance-laws-debate-over-syringe-exchange-location-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6350841-27a0f44255e1aabc9e7c4e72a95bca48/orig.mp4?Expires=1775052568&Signature=OATNpLKJeWmrV7XavsmAifyGChkt1soLC~v3q7H3aAiELabswk7tuTDdUvUjS-kvunmL5tzDzSScLdBEiCDEfu9IvIQphGZ26qqhtG1brD6ROvz1meE8DdHL2~j856CAGsjylRe86O~wkGJHIc~89f4tSikwGHfBzSPQl2rsRsmdS1E-KqnVwNnc9yRp-rvXIzVmZSHwO3B1JbaJz0A9SKOP9wyAxYAXjzUxpxTdk44FaMb73wASATzUpxdcXIejjt~JhasBq~7137SgCMrbD0R3hTpoCl1LlbtWIHkHOMDiOA3HLg-bCeOBk~fHL4BUTh93NAFGaOxiopaHXrTfRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Clancy, sponsor of HB199, opened debate with Utah Department of Health fatality data and described the opioid crisis as “a crisis” for homeless Utahns. He said the bill seeks to pair harm-reduction services with clearer pathways to treatment, require better data collection, authorize mobile medication-assisted-treatment (MAT) clinics, tighten nuisance-property tools for local governments, and prohibit supervised consumption sites.

The bill’s public-health provisions include a requirement that first responders be able to provide immediate referrals and warm handoffs to local behavioral-health and substance-use providers after overdose reversals, and that counties and local substance-use authorities provide a directory of on-demand services to be made available to those rescued from overdoses. Representative Clancy told the committee that peer-reviewed research indicates naloxone saves lives but is limited without follow-up treatment; HB199 would fund and require more immediate linkages to care.

The bill would explicitly allow licensed opioid-treatment programs to operate mobile MAT clinics under federal Drug Enforcement Administration guidance (Representative Clancy noted past DEA limits on mobile methadone), saying mobile units could reach rural communities and unsheltered populations.

HB199 also revises nuisance statutes to give local judges more tools when a property is a locus for repeated violent crime, drug distribution or prostitution. The sponsor said nuisance laws in many communities are outdated and do not address modern drug-related hazards such as fentanyl-laced supplies and place-based crime concentrations.

On harm-reduction restrictions, HB199’s first substitute includes limits on where mobile syringe-exchange outreach vehicles may operate (for example, restricting proximity to parks, schools and other “drug-free zones”). That part of the bill drew pushback from harm-reduction providers and some public-health witnesses. Mindy Vincent, founder and executive director of the Utah Harm Reduction Coalition, said her organization is the state’s largest syringe-exchange provider and warned that restricting outreach locations would reduce access, increase syringe litter and could raise rates of infectious disease and overdose: “We don't go to parks where children play,” she said, and urged that location limits be left to administrative rules rather than statute.

Mackenzie Bray of the Salt Lake Harm Reduction Project said mobile outreach provides HIV and hepatitis C testing, naloxone distribution and housing referrals to people who have mobility or safety limitations; she argued location restrictions would “harm the public's health.” Several first responders told the committee they support stronger overdose-response options. Salt Lake City Fire Chief Carl Lieb said his department deploys social workers with on-scene intervention and urged more tools to link people to services. Provo firefighter-paramedic Gage Echols described repeated overdose calls in motels and other properties and supported nuisance-law updates.

The hearing also included testimony from Devin Kurtz of the Cicero Institute, who warned of some studies that find needle-exchange programs correlate with increased neighborhood crime and no consistent reductions in overall overdose mortality. Local government representatives, including Molly Wheeler from the Utah League of Cities and Towns and Catherine Rhodes for the Utah Association of Counties, said they appreciated sponsor changes on nuisance statutes and looked forward to working on implementation details. Salt Lake City fire officials urged passage of the bill’s first-responder and diversion elements.

Representative Clancy said he favors the location and public-safety provisions because of community impacts he described from some concentrated problem properties, and said the bill will create state-level data collection so Utah can analyze outcomes. After public comment, the committee adopted the first substitute and voted unanimously to pass HB199 (first substitute) with a favorable recommendation.

The transcript records continuing disagreement about the location limits for syringe-exchange outreach; proponents urged administrative flexibility and data-driven evaluation, while backers of statutory limits said local communities need clearer protections and nuisance remedies. The bill also directs DHHS and local substance-use authorities to create an updatable, usable directory of treatment resources; sponsors said QR-code–based delivery is one implementation option requested by counties.","The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance HB199 (first substitute), a broad package of opioid-response measures including expanded overdose-response linkages, authorization for mobile medication-assisted-treatment clinics, updated nuisance-property tools, and new data and reporting requirements for harm-reduction programs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6350837,"Committee advances HB282 extending primary-care grant committee and CHIP advisory council sunsets",210,5345000,5555000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2231377-eb540ecdbfbecd2ff0197cfea84ac8fa&start=5345&end=5555","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2231377-eb540ecdbfbecd2ff0197cfea84ac8fa/thumbnail_5345000.jpg","/articles/6350837/Utah/Committee-advances-HB282-extending-primary-care-grant-committee-and-CHIP-advisory-council-sunsets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6350837-937229c2afafa914d0658a3a1a535ac3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775052568&Signature=E0dvx-l0MGyJih~UISwCc4xoZbwGm4SiYndQabTQ-vB9B8pfEztPFt4BXLb6~4-Y7Kyos2OkxOmcP72aPY3UwDFjynF1wjtyHAZ1wJ-fgoYNLwAFQiK5tsZ9OGxhYErg6K6KfnJt76Bng-M2jYtTiMDqcRITq4vIDRcnVPBBuJebxR64Pk3TLFNd1gYYIT58JmjfRAto6W46pAyhJsU1yeAEBepmDzCHbOgtiZE88mrsalP2C5PdmV6enE2~XZeouEx9GycwO7fug4SyCEeD9W8Vebjw42rEdtrK3suvPb-Jp8E6FxgGuA8cOJPtquoaHe-WcIQcIGavc0gpLaY~8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Barlow presented HB282 as a Health and Human Services amendments bill arising from two interim sunset reviews. The bill extends the primary care grant committee’s repeal date by 10 years, moving its sunset to July 1, 2035, and removes the sunset for the Utah Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Advisory Council so the council continues without repeal.

Representative Barlow told the committee the primary-care grant program provides funding for primary care, mental-health and dental services to low-income individuals, and that CHIP has had high parent satisfaction and strong access metrics: 9 in 10 parents reporting satisfaction and 96 percent obtaining appointments for checkups and vaccinations as soon as they wanted.

No public testimony was offered on HB282 at the hearing. The committee adopted the motion to recommend favorably and moved the bill to the consent calendar for the full House.

Representative Lisonbee moved to place the bill on the consent calendar; the motion passed.","HB282 was advanced with a favorable recommendation; the bill extends the sunset date for the primary care grant committee to 2035 and removes the sunset for the Utah CHIP Advisory Council, keeping ongoing oversight of children’s health programs in place.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill requiring pregnancy screening in jails, adds county reporting and advisory-board seats

Utah committee backs bill to reserve portion of federal survivor benefits for children in state custody

Committee approves HB199 to expand overdose response, mobile treatment and update nuisance laws; debate over syringe-exchange location limits

Committee advances HB282 extending primary-care grant committee and CHIP advisory council sunsets