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House Creates Advisory Council to Review Disability Determination Services
Summary
House Bill 120 establishes an unpaid advisory council to improve the Division of Disability Determination Services (DDS) after reports of backlogs and an ongoing lawsuit. Sponsor Representative Birmingham said stakeholders and the Social Security Administration endorsed the measure; the House approved the bill and sent it to the Senate.
House Bill 120, creating an advisory council for the Division of Disability Determination Services (DDS), passed the Utah House after sponsor Representative Birmingham framed the measure as a response to service backlogs and controversy over determinations of Social Security eligibility.
Birmingham described DDS as a federally funded, state-run office responsible for determining disability eligibility for Social Security benefits and said the office has experienced ‘‘considerable controversy’’ and backlogs in recent years. He said the issue led to press conferences, demonstrations and a lawsuit that has reached class certification. The bill would create a non‑paid advisory council (expenses allowed) to help improve dialogue among advocates, DDS staff, lawyers and the legislative auditor and to recommend improvements in service quality and procedures.
Several members voiced support, noting the need for careful, non-emotional application of federal eligibility guidelines and for sustained dialogue between advocates and the agency. Representative Buckmeyer and others emphasized federal guidelines (POEMs) and quality-assurance reviews as guardrails for decision-making.
Representative Birmingham said he consulted lawyers on all sides of the lawsuit, auditors, advocates and DDS staff and obtained an endorsement letter from the Social Security Administration. The House recorded a vote on HB 120; the bill received 51 affirmative votes and 14 negative votes and will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
Supporters characterized the bill as an incremental step to improve accuracy and communication in disability determinations; opponents raised questions about interagency coordination with job training and other services.
