Criminal justice appropriations subcommittee approves chair's priority list, moves fentanyl, extradition and indigent defense measures

The Utah Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on an unspecified February meeting day approved the chairs' reallocation and priority lists and passed multiple motions affecting funding and reporting for criminal justice programs statewide.

Committee members voted to accept the chair's reallocation proposal and priority list after staff presented how limited general-fund dollars, alternative funding sources and reductions identified by the chairs produced the final package. Gary Sivas of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's office told members, "So, so it's voting day. So we have a packet for you to kinda summarize some of the things that we've been talking about." The committee then moved through a sequence of special motions and cleanup changes to the list.

Why it matters: the committee's actions set which corrections, courts and public-safety priorities will be packaged for the full appropriations process and identify several technical and reporting conditions for programs that touch counties, the courts, Department of Corrections facilities and indigent defense providers.

Most significant outcomes

- The committee approved the chairs' reallocation proposal and chair priority list as amended, consolidating internal agency reallocation items and the prioritized RFAs (requests for appropriations) into a single, ranked package that staff will present to executive appropriations.

- The panel modified an item to add fentanyl interdiction funding and adjust amounts on item 11 (as moved by Chair Gwynn). That amendment was adopted by roll call and passed with a recorded final tally of 10-1 across House and Senate members on the committee.

- Members voted to move the fentanyl interdiction personnel and equipment request higher on the priority list (item 38 moved to item 33) by a separate motion; that action passed with one recorded no vote.

- The committee approved intent language and reporting requirements for several programs: extradition reporting, judicial assistant training, Indigent Defense Commission (IDC) eligibility standards (amended to add attorney standards), and a requirement that the Department of Corrections and the Captain My Story program report recidivism and in-prison disciplinary data for program participants.

What the committee discussed and why

Staff framed the meeting around limited new general-fund capacity this year and the strategy of keeping reallocated dollars within the originating agencies when feasible. Sivas highlighted alternative funding sources that removed several items from general-fund competition, including an opioid settlement account that would fund certain rural opioid grants and related items.

Committee members and chairs repeatedly emphasized prioritizing agency operations and core functions before RFAs. Chairs described a mix of technical corrections, intent language requests to allow non-lapsing balances, and material but non-general-fund requests (for example, video redaction support and other items funded from alternative sources).

Several agency-focused priorities came up during discussion:

- Attorney General priorities: chairs discussed a flexible package to restore attorney capacity related to appeals and solicitor-general-level staffing. Staff noted the chairs' intent to fund some AG casework functions while preserving flexibility for the AG's office.

- Corrections and public safety: the committee examined a corrections request initially near $13 million that chairs trimmed to a smaller, focused equipment/training component (firearms, vests, ammunition) while leaving facilities maintenance and utility needs to a different funding vehicle. The committee also discussed a specific extradition funding item to avoid a county-level imbalance in extradition requests and to require better reporting on who uses extradition funds and for what types of cases.

Formal actions and votes (at a glance)

- Approval of meeting minutes (multiple dates): Motion moved by Representative Acton; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Judicial assistant training (special motion, item 1): Motion moved by a committee member per the agenda; outcome: passed (voice vote recorded as aye, no recorded opposition).

- Indigent Defense Commission eligibility standards (item 2): Motion moved and amended on the floor to include proposed attorney standards (communication with clients, meeting preparation and other performance expectations). Motion passed (amended) by voice vote; committee also adopted additional language directing the IDC to report proposed standards to the Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee during the 2025 interim (Chair Ballard's language). IDC Executive Director Matt Peraza told the committee, "we are excited to have this as an interim item. I think it will really turbocharge our efforts to, to promulgate standards for for the practice throughout the state." The reporting-language amendment passed unanimously.

- Extradition process intent language (item 3): Motion to approve extradition-reporting intent language; outcome: passed (voice vote). The motion was characterized by members as intended to gather county-level data on utilization and case types.

- Captain My Story reporting (special motion): Motion directing the Department of Corrections and Captain My Story to report recidivism rates and rates of in-prison disciplinary actions for program participants; moved with Senator Owens' assistance; outcome: passed (voice vote).

- Chair list cleanup and funding adjustments (Chair Gwynn motions): The committee approved multiple numeric and descriptive amendments to the chair's list, including increasing the one-time amount on item 11 and adding a fentanyl interdiction component (ongoing) that the chairs expect to pay in part from litigation-related funds. That amendment was adopted via roll-call and recorded at a final tally of 10-1 across the committee.

- Move fentanyl interdiction RFA (item 38) to higher priority position (becomes item 33): Motion by Representative Acton; outcome: approved with one recorded no vote (Representative Miller cast the no vote); final recorded count reported as 9-1 in committee roll-call discussion for that motion.

- Add HB 87 (drug trafficking amendments) fiscal item to the priority list (to be placed at item 33 above the fentanyl RFA): Motion by Representative Acton; outcome: passed unanimously. The fiscal note for HB 87 was described on the record as approximately $155,000 ongoing.

- Automatic license plate reader (ALPR) real-time crime technology funding: Chair Gwynn moved that the $1,000,000 ongoing ALPR item be funded from alternative sources (including insurance premium revenue growth) rather than the general fund; outcome: passed unanimously.

- Combined motions covering federal funds, fees, transfers/technical corrections, intent language, non-state funds and the reallocation list (items 1—6 on staff packet cover): Motion by Senator Harper to approve those motions together; outcome: passed unanimously.

- Approval of the chair's priority list as amended: Motion to approve the full chair's list with amendments; outcome: passed unanimously.

What was direction vs. decisions

- Decisions (formal actions): The committee approved the chair's reallocation and priority lists as amended and adopted multiple specific funding or reporting motions (listed above). Those formal approvals will move the items into the next stages of the appropriations process.

- Direction/assignments: The Indigent Defense Commission was directed to produce proposed attorney-standards language and report to the committee during the 2025 interim. The Department of Corrections and Captain My Story were directed to provide recidivism and disciplinary reporting. The extradition intent language requires counties and agencies to provide clearer reporting on extradition use.

Details and clarifications captured from the meeting record

- A transfer/technical correction: CCJJ requested a $249,000 transfer to formally move the USave program budget into the Department of Health and Human Services; the committee considered that transfer in the reallocation/technical corrections packet.

- Opioid settlement account: staff identified a $5,000,000 one-time allocation in an opioid settlement account for rural opioid grants in CCJJ; because it is an alternative funding source, those items were placed on a separate list rather than the general-fund priority list.

- Corrections request: the department had requested roughly $12.9 million (described as 'about $13 million') for operations, fleet, energy and equipment; chairs split that between a smaller prioritized equipment/training component and a separate, unresolved facilities/maintenance category.

- ALPR item: the ALPR real-time crime technology request was described on the record as $1,000,000 ongoing; the chairs moved to fund it from alternative sources rather than the general fund.

Who spoke (selected)

- Chair Ballard: Chair, Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (government). Chair Ballard led the meeting, called votes and proposed the added IDC reporting language on attorney standards.

- Chair Gwynn: Committee co-chair/chair (government). Moved key amendments to item 11 and other chair list cleanups.

- Gary Sivas: Legislative Fiscal Analyst, LFA (staff, government). Presented the packet and the reallocation/priority rationale and explained funding sources.

- Nate Osborne: Staff member (government). Assisted with packet distribution and posting.

- Representative Acton: Representative, member of the committee (government). Moved approval of minutes and other motions.

- Representative Quinns: Representative, member of the committee (government). Made a motion on judicial assistant training (as recorded on the floor).

- Representative Miller: Representative, member of the committee (government). Asked whether IDC could comply with reporting tasks; cast a recorded no on at least one procedural motion.

- Matt Peraza: Executive Director, Indigent Defense Commission (IDC) (agency). Confirmed IDC can pursue interim standards work: "we are excited to have this as an interim item. I think it will really turbocharge our efforts to, to promulgate standards for for the practice throughout the state."

- Senator Owens, Senator Harper, Senator Ipsen, Senator Fillmore, Senator Pitcher: Senators on the committee who participated in roll calls and votes (government).

Authorities and cited items

- SB 109 (referenced as a court/judicial item on the priority list) {type: "bill", name: "SB 109", referenced_by: ["priority list discussion"]}

- HB 87 (drug trafficking amendments) {type: "bill", name: "HB 87", referenced_by: ["priority list addition"]}

- Indigent Defense Commission standards/reporting {type: "policy", name: "Indigent Defense Commission proposed eligibility and attorney standards", referenced_by: ["item 2 discussion","reporting-language motion"]}

- Captain My Story (program) {type: "other", name: "Captain My Story recidivism and disciplinary reporting", referenced_by: ["special motion"]}

- Opioid settlement account (funding source) {type: "other", name: "opioid settlement account", referenced_by: ["reallocation list discussion"]}

Actions (structured)

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Approve minutes from multiple meetings as listed in the packet","mover":"Representative Acton","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":null,"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Approved unanimously per chair's announcement."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"special-1"},"motion":"Approve judicial assistant training (special motion item 1)","mover":"Representative Quinns","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":null,"outcome":"approved","notes":"Adopted by voice vote."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"item-2"},"motion":"Approve Indigent Defense Commission eligibility standards; substitute motion to add standards for indigent attorneys including timeliness of communication, meeting with clients and case preparation","mover":"Chair Gwynn (moved to include additional attorney standards on record)","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":null,"outcome":"approved","notes":"Committee also directed IDC to report proposed standards during the 2025 interim."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"item-3"},"motion":"Approve extradition process intent language (require county-level reporting and usage data)","mover":"Representative (floor motion recorded)","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":null,"outcome":"approved","notes":"Adopted to improve tracking of extradition usage and costs."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"special-4"},"motion":"Legislature intends that Department of Corrections and Captain My Story report recidivism rates and in-prison disciplinary rates for participants","mover":"Senator Owens (assisted on floor)","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":null,"outcome":"approved","notes":"Intent language to support program evaluation."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"chair-cleanup-11"},"motion":"Amend item 11: change amounts and add fentanyl interdiction component (one-time and ongoing amounts as stated on record)","mover":"Chair Gwynn","second":null,"vote_record":{"notes":"Roll call conducted; details enumerated on the record"},"tally":{"yes":10,"no":1,"abstain":0},"legal_threshold":{"met":true,"notes":"Recorded roll-call vote; passed in both House and Senate committee delegations."},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Chair moved to use litigation-related funds as available for fentanyl interdiction."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"move-38-to-33"},"motion":"Move item 38 (fentanyl interdiction personnel/equipment) to item 33 (higher priority)","mover":"Representative Acton","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":{"yes":9,"no":1},"legal_threshold":{"met":true},"outcome":"approved","notes":"One recorded no vote (Representative Miller)."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"add-hb87"},"motion":"Add HB 87 (drug trafficking amendments) fiscal item to priority list at item 33","mover":"Representative Acton","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":null,"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Passed unanimously; fiscal note described ~ $155,000 ongoing."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"alpr-funding"},"motion":"Fund ALPR real-time crime technology ongoing $1,000,000 from alternative sources (including insurance premium revenue growth) rather than general fund","mover":"Chair Gwynn","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":null,"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Committee approved using alternative funding sources for ALPR item."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"combined-1-6"},"motion":"Approve motions on federal funds, fees, transfers/technical corrections, intent language, non-state funds and the reallocation list (items 1—6 on staff packet)","mover":"Senator Harper","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":null,"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Adopted as a grouped procedural motion."}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Approve chair's priority list as amended","mover":"Chair (floor)","second":null,"vote_record":null,"tally":null,"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Approved unanimously."}

Discussion vs decision notes

- Discussion: chairs and staff debated which items should be funded from the general fund and which could be shifted to alternative sources (opioid settlement funds, litigation funds, insurance premium revenue growth). Committee members pushed for data collection and standards (ex: extradition reporting, IDC attorney standards, Captain My Story recidivism).

- Direction: IDC was directed to draft and report attorney-standards proposals during the 2025 interim; DOC and Captain My Story were directed to provide outcome/discipline reporting; counties will provide extradition-use data as required by intent language.

Clarifying details

- USave program transfer: $249,000 (move from CCJJ to DHHS).

- Opioid settlement account: $5,000,000 one-time identified for rural opioid grants (CCJJ).

- Corrections request: cited on record as roughly $12,900,000 (described by staff as about $13,000,000) before chairs prioritized a smaller equipment/training component.

- ALPR request: $1,000,000 ongoing (moved to alternative funding sources by committee).

- Item 11 amendment: record shows numeric change and addition of a fentanyl interdiction ongoing component (amended amounts recorded on the meeting record; committee referenced use of fentanyl litigation funds where possible).

Proper names identified

[{"name":"Indigent Defense Commission","type":"agency"},{"name":"Captain My Story","type":"program"},{"name":"Department of Corrections","type":"agency"},{"name":"Legislative Fiscal Analyst (LFA)","type":"agency"},{"name":"CCJJ","type":"agency"},{"name":"DHHS","type":"agency"},{"name":"SB 109","type":"bill"},{"name":"HB 87","type":"bill"},{"name":"Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR)","type":"other"},{"name":"opioid settlement account","type":"other"}]

Community relevance

- Geographies: statewide impact across Utah counties, courts and correctional facilities.

- Impact groups: incarcerated individuals and program participants, indigent defendants, counties (extradition requests), courts and defense attorneys, public-safety agencies.

Meeting context

- Engagement level: multiple motions, roll-call votes and several substantive amendments; committee spent substantial time reconciling reallocation and priority lists and taking special motions.

- Implementation risk: some items depend on litigation proceeds or other alternative funding sources and on future appropriations or further vetting at the full appropriations level.

Searchable tags:["Utah","criminal justice","budget","fentanyl","indigent defense","extradition","ALPR","Captain My Story","opioid settlement"]

Provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"transcript_block_0","local_start":148,"local_end":221,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, Mr. Chair. Gary Sivas with the LFA. Yeah. I think it's on now.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"transcript_block_1","local_start":322,"local_end":346,"evidence_excerpt":"It's not a huge amount. It's $249,000 it's just to move the USave program currently within CCJ JJ to be housed, where it is currently in DHHS.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}

Ending

The committee completed its work on the reallocation and priority lists and adopted multiple reporting and funding-directed motions. The items approved and the data the committee required (ex: IDC standards, extradition use and Captain My Story outcomes) will inform the full appropriations deliberations and further policymaking in the interim and next appropriations steps.