House adopts substitute and returns bill requiring jail reporting on in-custody deaths to Senate

Representative Moss, speaking for the bill sponsor, said the third substitute of Senate Bill 205 would require county jails and the Department of Corrections to report in-custody deaths and current alcohol- and substance-use treatment policies to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) and the law enforcement interim committee. "We believe that no one should die from detoxing or die in jail, particularly if they've been jailed on a minor conviction or they haven't been convicted of anything," Moss said.

Moss cited Utah’s elevated per-capita rate of county jail deaths and described cases linked to detox and lack of basic medical care; she said reporting would reveal whether deaths occurred in custody or after transport to hospitals and would help identify where treatment protocols need improvement. The presentation noted legal settlements elsewhere, including a cited Georgia county payout, as rationale for greater transparency and humane treatment.

There was no recorded debate opposing the substitute on the floor. After adoption of the third substitute, the House opened and closed the vote; the presiding officer announced the substitute had received 66 yea votes and 0 nay votes. The substituted bill will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.

Next steps: The House’s action moves the substituted SB205 back to the Senate for its consideration of the House changes. Any additional amendments or concurrence will occur during that return process.