Utah House passes overhaul to shift disability services toward community care

The Utah House on the floor Tuesday approved House Bill 313, a package of changes intended to move the state's system for people with disabilities away from large institutions and toward home- and community-based services.

Representative Mel Brown, sponsor of H.B. 313, told colleagues the bill comes from a 35-member task force that met through the summer and recommends policy and statutory changes including updated terminology, renaming the Utah State Training School in American Fork as the Utah State Developmental Center, and a target reduction in the American Fork facility's population from about 440 to 285 by 1996. "The bill identifies a new direction for this delivery system," Brown said.

The measure updates statutory language to use "disabled" and "persons with disabilities" rather than "handicapped," creates a coordinating council to address gaps and agency handoffs, and includes provisions to support family-based services and respite so caregivers can keep people at home when possible. Representative Franson, who served on the task force, said members and stakeholder groups broadly back the bill and urged passage.

Brown acknowledged the changes will require funding and said the bill itself carried no fiscal note; he said the division will request necessary funds through the appropriations process and, if funds are unavailable, implementation could be delayed a year. Supporters emphasized the shift in policy priorities and the goal of reducing institutionalization where community services can be provided.

The House opened and closed the vote after floor discussion. Voting was recorded as 68 in favor, 0 opposed. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.

Next steps: the measure moves to the Senate and the division responsible for services is expected to request appropriations to carry out the transition plan described in the bill.