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House OKs SB 57 to study using postal employees in emergency response
Summary
The House approved SB 57 to authorize a feasibility study on using U.S. Postal Service employees to assist statewide emergency response, citing postal workers' local knowledge, vehicles and GPS; sponsor said the bipartisan effort included federal and state partners.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on Feb. 24 passed Senate Bill 57, authorizing the Division of Emergency Management to conduct a feasibility study on using U.S. Postal Service employees in state emergency operations. Representative Perry, the House sponsor, described the proposal as the product of two years of work with federal and state partners, including Representative Jason Chaffetz and Senator Maine.
Perry said postal employees have vehicles with GPS and local knowledge of addresses — attributes that could be useful in locating homes, identifying vacant properties and helping emergency managers prioritize responses in rural areas. He described the measure as an innovative, first‑in‑the‑nation effort to explore joint operations with the USPS.
The bill was presented with little floor opposition and was returned to the Senate after passage. Sponsor remarks opened the floor to questions but no substantive amendment was offered.
Next steps: SB 57 passed the House as amended in committee and will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.
