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House passes SB224 to align workforce-services code, extend account repeal date and change food pantry distribution
Summary
SB224, a cleanup bill for the Department of Workforce Services, passed the House 66–0. The bill adjusts titles after organizational changes, expands a committee for employment of disabled persons, extends a repeal date to align with the state fiscal year, removes DWS authority to set attorney fees to comply with case law, and revises distribution of the Qualified Emergency Food Agency Fund.
Representative Westwood, the House sponsor, described SB224 as a cleanup bill for the Department of Workforce Services to integrate the recently moved Utah State Office of Rehabilitation. "This is a cleanup bill for the department of workforce services," Westwood said, and outlined six changes including increases to the Committee for Employment of the Disabled membership, extending the ReTransition Restricted Account repeal date to July 1, 2018 to align with the fiscal year, removing DWS authority to set attorney fees in response to recent Supreme Court case law, and altering the distribution mechanism for the Qualified Emergency Food Agency Fund so food pantries receive annual distributions.
The sponsor emphasized there is no new money requested and that the bill is intended to bring administrative structure and fund repeal dates into alignment with fiscal-year timing. After summation was waived, the House voted; the reading clerk announced Senate Bill 224 had received 66 yay votes and 0 nay votes and will be returned to the Senate for signature.
Next steps: SB224 goes back to the Senate; implementation details will be carried out by Department of Workforce Services and affected program administrators.
