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House approves bill letting local health entities use state motor-pool vehicles
Summary
Lawmakers amended and passed HB 111 to allow certain local authorities — including local substance-abuse authorities — to use the state motor pool; supporters said bulk purchasing saves money for small health districts, while critics warned the state would front costs and raised oversight concerns.
The House on Feb. 5 approved House Bill 111, expanding use of the state motor pool to certain local governmental entities, including language added on the floor to include "local substance abuse authorities." The bill passed the House with 39 yes votes and 30 no votes.
Sponsor Representative Price said the change responds to a Utah Attorney General opinion that the Central Services Division is authorized to lease vehicles only to state agencies unless the Legislature reauthorizes additional users. Price told the chamber the amendment to add local substance-abuse authorities was inadvertently omitted from the title and was corrected on the floor. He said several local health districts contract for three to nine vehicles and that, in five districts, the state pool saved a combined $28,200 annually.
Opponents pushed back on who ultimately bears cost. Representative Glenn Brown said savings for local entities could shift costs to the state and questioned whether the motor pool's rates fully reflect the state's added fleet costs. Brown also raised oversight concerns about state-marked vehicles being driven by non-state employees and asked how citizens could register complaints about misuse.
Supporters including the bill sponsor and other members argued the central motor pool operates on dedicated credits and that users should realize savings from breakeven rate structures; state insurance and contract terms would place liability on the contracting entities. After debate and summation, the House passed HB 111 as amended and will transmit it to the Senate.
