House adopts first substitute to Senate Bill 5,004 adding 'fully funds' language for annual-leave conversion

The Utah House on July 9 adopted a first substitute to Senate Bill 5,004, a measure concerning annual-leave conversion for public employees, and amended the text to specify that any implementation must "and fully funds the estimated costs." Representative Kenneth Hutchings, the bill sponsor in the House, led the effort to substitute the bill and to add the funding-clarifying language.

Supporters said the amendment protects the state from an unfunded statutory obligation while preserving the option for employees to exercise the conversion if the Legislature later appropriates funding. "By having that in there, we now have control over whether or not funds go into it," Hutchings said, adding the change lets the benefit remain an option without obligating current appropriations.

Opponents and questioners pressed whether the substitute would force an "all-or-none" result — meaning that if the estimated cost could not be fully funded, no conversions would be allowed. Hutchings and other proponents responded that prorating would require broader statutory changes and that the substitute simply makes clear that money would be placed into the program only if the Legislature so appropriates; it does not create an automatic funding stream.

Several lawmakers framed the measure as a modest morale item for state employees. "This will be a great morale booster to [public employees]," Representative Bowman said, citing his 30 years as a public employee. Representative Curtis said the change lets the Legislature decide later whether to appropriate funds without requiring a statutory reenactment.

The House clerk announced the result after voting: "60 9 yes votes and 0 no votes," and the clerk stated the measure "passed this body" and was referred to the Senate for further consideration. The transcript record shows the clerk's announcement verbatim as written; the announced tally in the record is quoted exactly as provided in the House proceeding.

Procedurally, Hutchings first moved to reconsider the House's earlier action on SB 5,004 and then moved to delete the title and body and substitute the first substitute. The amendment to insert the words "and fully funds the estimated costs" after "authorizes" (line 16) was debated and adopted as part of the substituted text before the final vote.

The next step is routine transmittal: the House referred the adopted first substitute back to the Senate for further consideration, as recorded by the clerk.