Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Utah House approves third substitute to boost law-enforcement salaries; bill heads to Senate
Summary
The House passed the third substitute of House Bill 157 to partially address salary shortfalls for state-certified law-enforcement officers, approving an appropriation that sponsors said targets turnover in Highway Patrol and natural-resources enforcement.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on Feb. 16 approved third substitute House Bill 157, a targeted appropriation aimed at narrowing pay gaps for law-enforcement officers in the Department of Public Safety and the Division of Natural Resources.
Representative Wayne Harper, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the measure responds to an ‘‘average shortfall of 15%’’ for Highway Patrol and ‘‘about 10.73%’’ for natural-resources law-enforcement positions compared with comparable agencies. He said the measure directs approximately $2,100,000 toward the Department of Public Safety with an additional allocation—stated on the floor—as $360,000, to reduce turnover and raise pay equity.
Supporters said the appropriation would not fully eliminate the gap but is an important step to retain certified officers. ‘‘We have a high level of turnover in both of those entities and I think this is the right step and action to do,’’ Harper said on the floor.
Opponents did not press a substantive floor amendment. Following brief procedural motions to substitute the third-version text and to suspend the rules for rapid reading, the House opened and then closed the vote. After a brief technical delay during the electronic vote, the clerk announced the tally: 59 yes, 11 no. The bill passed and was transmitted to the Senate for further action.
The action on HB157 was procedural and appropriation-specific: the House substituted the third version on the floor before approving the funding. The sponsor said the money ‘‘does not completely alleviate the situation, but it’s a good step.’’
Next steps: HB157 now awaits Senate consideration. The House debate did not include amendment language changing the bill’s funding levels; the sponsor invited follow-up questions but no further amendments were adopted on the floor.
