House approves funding mechanism to stabilize Rocky Mountain Center grants despite objections over earmarking employer funds

The House voted to approve Senate Bill 159, which establishes a statutory funding mechanism intended to stabilize core funding for the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Utah.

Representative Barriss, the bill’s sponsor, described the center as a NIOSH-approved regional training and research organization that provides occupational-health training and research and which needs roughly $250,000 a year in consistent core funding to leverage federal grants. The proposed mechanism would allow employers subject to workers’ compensation premium-related assessments to apply a dedicated credit equal to one-tenth of 1% of a portion of their premium-related tax to a restricted account that supports the center’s core operations.

Opponents including Representative Dayton and Representative Alexander raised concerns that the approach effectively earmarks funds already being paid by employers and reduces the legislature’s discretion over those dollars. Dayton said the funds are currently collected and overseen in accounts that the Legislature supervises and cautioned against diminishing legislative control. Supporters argued the modest per-employer impact would be small but create a stable match that helps secure larger federal grants.

The House recorded passage 58-15; the bill includes a sunset provision through Feb. 2010 to allow reassessment after a five-year period.