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House OKs one-year mini-grant program to connect underserved Utahns to care
Summary
Third substitute HB131, creating one-year mini-grants for nongovernmental community organizations to enroll high-risk, medically underserved Utahns in coverage and services, passed the House 64–0. The fiscal note totals $401,500 with specified grant size breakdowns.
The House on Feb. 14 approved third substitute House Bill 131, which establishes a one-year mini-grant program to help nongovernmental community-based organizations enroll higher-risk, medically underserved Utahns in public and private health coverage and related services. The bill passed the House 64–0 and will be referred to the Senate.
Representative (Jennifer) Seelick/Seelig described the program as intended both to connect individuals to insurance and care and to build the capacity of community organizations so they can operate more independently in the future. She said the program limits grantees to nongovernmental entities (for-profit or nonprofit) and requires recipients to measure and report empirical results.
The fiscal note on the floor was $401,500: four grants at $50,000 each, five grants at $30,000 each, $17,500 for outreach to organizations, and $34,000 to administer the program (including a half-time equivalent position). Representative Seelick/Seelig also cited a rise in the uninsured rate, saying, “Last year, Utahns uninsured rate increased 7 times the national average,” as part of the bill’s rationale. Representative Liptak declared a conflict of interest on the record, noting her organization could be a potential applicant; the clerk noted the conflict.
The House adopted the substitution earlier in the day, heard sponsors’ presentation and recorded the unanimous vote to pass the bill.
