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House approves interim-study resolution on earthquake risks to public school buildings
Summary
The Utah House approved House Joint Resolution 20 calling for an interim study of seismic safety in public school buildings after lawmakers cited district studies estimating thousands of students could be at risk in a major quake; the resolution moves to the Senate for further action.
The Utah House on the floor Tuesday approved House Joint Resolution 20, asking for an interim study to assess seismic hazards in public school buildings and coordination of existing surveys.
Representative Rickson DeBachtell, sponsor of the resolution, told colleagues the San Francisco earthquake and recent geological warnings make the issue immediate. "We have 4 earthquake bills this session," DeBachtell said, noting the goal of keeping pressure on the issue and coordinating multiple studies. He said the resolution would ask for a study to "see just how safe the children are." (Representative Rickson DeBachtell)
Representative Brooks, speaking as a cosponsor, emphasized district findings about building vulnerability. He cited a Salt Lake City School District study that he said showed "3,900 students in the third story of high risk school structures" on a typical day and gave casualty estimates if a strong quake struck, warning, "If that big earthquake comes, as it certainly may, we will have thousands of our children killed." (Representative Brooks)
Benjamin Fuller, addressing the House in support, said the concentration of children in schools makes the measure urgent: "I believe this is the most significant of the bill[s] ... with the concentration of our young people in the school, there's no place where this need to observe the needs in case of earthquake needs to be more observed." (Benjamin Fuller)
DeBachtell and other backers said the resolution is intended to coordinate existing work — Salt Lake City had already done an extensive survey — and to keep momentum for action. DeBachtell pointed members to a related bill (filed as a separate measure) that would establish a longer-term funding mechanism for retrofits over time.
The House voted to send HJR 20 forward; the chair announced the vote tally as the resolution receiving 54 affirmative votes and no negative votes. The resolution will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
Next steps: HJR 20 as a study directive will await the Senate's action and any interim committee assignment the Legislature chooses for the study.
