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House approves changes to disease‑testing process for workplace exposures, adds hepatitis C to presumptions
Summary
Senate Bill 19 passed the Utah House 63–2 after sponsors said it removes outdated requirements that impeded care, moves some workers' compensation language into the labor code, expedites court actions when consent is refused, and adds hepatitis C to the list of diseases presumed work related.
The Utah House approved Senate Bill 19, a measure that modifies procedures for disease testing following workplace exposures and expands presumed workplace diseases to include hepatitis C.
Representative Lipback outlined four principal changes in the bill: removal of obsolete requirements dating from 1988 that could hinder appropriate medical care; movement of workers' compensation provisions into the labor code; expedited court procedures to obtain testing when an exposed person declines medically recommended testing; and adding hepatitis C to diseases presumed to be work related. Lipback said the bill was vetted in interim committee and listed multiple supporters, including the Utah Department of Health, the Utah Hospital Association and the Utah Medical Association.
The House opened and closed voting on SB 19 and recorded 63 yes votes and 2 no votes; the bill passed this body and will be referred back to the Senate for signature. Floor remarks did not include recorded opposing floor debate beyond the vote tally.
Supporters said the changes modernize statutory language, align workers' compensation provisions with the labor code, and improve timeliness for securing testing when medically recommended but not consented to by the exposed individual.
