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House approves reorganization of Children's Trust into prevention board to boost child‑abuse programs
Summary
House passed First Substitute House Bill 115 to reorganize the Children's Trust account into a trust fund and create a Child Abuse Prevention Board under the Department of Health, allowing the board to solicit private funds (estimated $1–3 million annually); fiscal note roughly $218,000. Vote: 66–0.
The Utah House voted unanimously to reorganize the Children's Trust account into a trust fund and establish a Child Abuse Prevention Board to coordinate and raise funding for prevention programs.
Representative Paul Ray presented First Substitute House Bill 115, saying the change grew from a governor’s task force on child‑abuse prevention that included nearly 90 participants statewide. Ray said the proposal transforms the existing pass‑through Children’s Trust account into a true trust fund housed in the Department of Health and establishes an advisory prevention board that will report annually to the Health and Human Services Committee.
Ray said a major change allows the board to solicit private funds to supplement fee revenue (he estimated the board could raise $1 million to $3 million annually), enabling more stable and coordinated funding for prevention programs. He also referenced a fiscal note of about $218,000 for FTEs and asked members to support funding during the budget process.
Voting was opened and closed on the bill; First Substitute House Bill 115 received 66 yes votes and 0 no votes and was referred to the Senate.
Vote: First Substitute House Bill 115 passed the House 66–0 and will be transmitted to the Senate.
