House Approves Limited Testing Access for EMS, Officers and Volunteers After Blood Exposure (HB78)

The Utah House passed House Bill 78 on a floor vote that the clerk recorded as 67 yes and 2 no. The bill establishes a legal mechanism to disclose, under certain circumstances and subject to a court order, whether an individual who exposed an EMS worker, peace officer or other covered responder carried a blood-borne infectious disease.

Sponsor and purpose

Representative John L. Valentine, sponsor of HB78, told the House the measure is intended to strike a balance between individual privacy and the safety of emergency responders. "What this bill does, house bill 78, is it allows me to have knowledge of what I have been exposed to," he said, arguing that responders and their families deserve information after a "significant exposure."

Amendment to include volunteers

Judge May Howard offered an amendment to extend the law’s protections to first-aid volunteers and bystanders who render emergency assistance and may have significant exposure to blood. Howard framed the amendment as a personal concern: she recounted how her wife had assisted a victim and feared possible exposure, and she urged inclusion of citizen rescuers in the bill’s scope. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Core policy and procedural protections

Members repeatedly emphasized that the bill requires judicial oversight before testing information is released. The floor debate clarified that a district court order would be necessary to obtain test results and that such hearings are confidential, not public disclosure. Opponents argued that a 10-day window for ordering tests is often too short because some infections may not be detectable for up to six months; proponents replied that the process supplements routine occupational testing and provides an additional protection when significant exposure occurs.

Points of contention

Critics warned the bill could give a false sense of security because of the incubation or "window" period—members cited that infections can take weeks or months to show detectable results. Supporters stressed that the bill is not about blaming victims but about giving responders timely information that may affect prophylactic treatment and family protection.

Outcome and next steps

After extended floor debate and the amendment vote, the House called the question and passed HB78 (67–2 as recorded in the floor transcript). The bill will proceed to the Senate for consideration; floor speakers said further refinement may occur in subsequent committee or Senate action.