Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill requiring overdose-recognition training for alcohol-licensed staff
Summary
The committee recommended passage of House Bill 361, which adds a brief overdose-recognition module to existing alcohol-server training; sponsor and supporters cited rising opioid and fentanyl deaths.
The Senate Judiciary committee favorably recommended third-substitute House Bill 361, a measure that would add short overdose-recognition training to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS) server-training program.
Representative Thompson, sponsor of HB 361, said the change is small but timely amid rising opioid fatalities. “As this is an already ongoing training … making a requirement to add a short few minutes of training on recognizing a drug overdose is something that is expedient and and wise for us to do,” Thompson said, citing public-health data discussed with the committee.
Thompson said Utah recorded 606 drug-overdose deaths in 2023, a 14.3% increase over the prior year, and that 774,000 fentanyl pills were seized in 2024. She told the committee the Department of Health and Human Services agreed to prepare the module and integrate it into the DABS training.
Senator Baldry moved to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation, and the committee adopted the motion by recorded voice vote; the chair announced the motion passed unanimously, 4 to 0.
Supporters told the committee the training is already mandatory for licensees and adding a short module on recognizing and responding to overdoses is intended to reduce preventable deaths at licensed premises. The committee sent the third substitute to the Senate floor with a favorable recommendation.
