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House approves HB 4 61 to boost jail programming payments; sponsors cite recidivism reduction
Summary
Lawmakers lifted House Bill 4 61 from rules and passed an amendment raising the per-bed programming payment for county contract jails, freeing $427,000 previously allocated in the budget to support treatment programs for roughly 1,800 contract beds.
The Utah House approved House Bill 4 61 to amend how the state pays counties for contract jail beds and to direct $427,000 toward programming for inmates in county contract jails.
Representative Noelle, speaking to the bill on the floor, said the measure allows state funds to cover evidence-based in-jail treatment programs, naming substance-abuse and reentry programs as examples. "These are good programs," Noelle said, noting approximately 1,800 contract jail beds could benefit from the funding.
Representatives clarified the mechanism: the state has a standard daily incarceration rate and historically paid a share (about 73%) for state inmates held in county jails; certified treatment participants receive a higher share (about 89%). The bill authorizes a $3-per-day increase to the programming payment so counties can maintain and expand treatment for inmates.
House members confirmed during floor discussion that budget allocations to support the change already exist from the budget process. The House passed HB 4 61 by a recorded vote of 61 yes to 8 no; the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
Next steps: HB 4 61 will be transmitted to the Senate for signature or further action.
