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House approves $170,000 start-up for Davis County Children’s Justice Center
Summary
The Utah House passed HB139 to provide a one-time $170,000 appropriation to establish a Children’s Justice Center in Davis County; sponsor Cheryl L. Allen said the Attorney General’s office will absorb future operating costs into its base budget. An amendment to add Washington County failed.
The Utah House on Jan. 23 approved HB139, a bill providing a one-time appropriation of $170,000 to establish and begin operations of a Children’s Justice Center in Davis County. Sponsor Representative Cheryl L. Allen said the centers provide coordinated, multidisciplinary investigations and a ‘‘home-like’’ setting for interviewing child victims.
Allen opened debate by citing state child-welfare numbers and the centers’ track record, saying the centers ‘‘bring investigative bodies together in a coordinated effort…to carefully investigate and provide a very safe, home-like atmosphere for children’’ and asking lawmakers to support the one-time funding to get the Davis County center ‘‘off the ground.’’ She said the Attorney General’s office administers the existing centers and that ‘‘the AG’s office will include this in their base budget in future years’’ for ongoing operations.
Representative Anthony Stuyler pressed the sponsor about a flyer some residents received that used the Children’s Justice Center name and suggested an offender’s picture and name; Allen answered that the Attorney General’s office had ‘‘no knowledge of that’’ and told the House the AG’s office was investigating the mailing through the postal inspector. Members asked whether centers house children (Allen said they do not) and how the centers differ from family support centers; Allen said CJCs are investigative with clinical social workers, law enforcement and prosecutors working together.
Representative Hickman offered an amendment to insert Washington County into the bill’s geographic language; Allen warned the floor that adding another county would require splitting the $170,000 or increasing the appropriation because counties must provide facilities and matches for maintenance and operations. The House recorded vote on the Hickman amendment was 30 yes and 38 no, and the amendment failed.
After additional questions about funding structure, the House voted on final passage. HB139 passed the House 65–6 and will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
The bill’s next step is consideration in the Senate and any follow-up appropriations or work by the Attorney General’s office to include Davis County operations in its base budget.
