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House Approves Procurement Preference for Sheltered Workshops
Summary
The House passed House Bill 78 to create a procurement preference (a 5% price allowance) for sheltered workshops and supported‑employment providers that meet state quality and timeliness specifications, aiming to preserve employment for people with severe disabilities.
The Utah House approved House Bill 78 on Feb. 2, changing state procurement policy to give sheltered workshops and supported employment providers a preference when bidding for state contracts. Representative Gerald L. Jorgensen, sponsor, said the bill moves the existing recommendation to a formal procurement preference similar to the correctional industries price preference.
Under the bill, a qualifying sheltered workshop that meets state specifications on quality and delivery would receive a 5% price preference in bidding, enabling sheltered workshops to better compete against private suppliers. Supporters argued the move will help keep people with severe disabilities employed and support organizations such as Utah Industries for the Blind as they transition toward financial self‑sufficiency.
Representative Buckmeyer and others urged support, noting Utah lacked a use law similar to other states and that the measure helps sustain employment programs facing shrinking social‑service dollars. The bill passed the House (floor record: 64 yes, 8 no) and was referred to the Senate.
