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Senate funds assistive-technology program to expand access to wheelchairs and hearing aids
Summary
Senate approved Senate Bill 20 to appropriate $200,000 to the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation, a sum sponsors said can leverage roughly $2 million in support (bank financing noted); SB20 passed 24–0 and was sent to the House.
Senators voted to place conservative state funding behind assistive-technology services that help people buy power wheelchairs, hearing aids and related equipment.
Senate Bill 20, sponsored on the floor by Senator Scott Howe, would appropriate $200,000 for the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation. Howe told the Senate the state contribution could be leveraged — with private financing from First Security Bank at 'one over prime' on mostly unsecured loans — to convert that $200,000 into approximately $2 million in client loans or assistance. He said the appropriation would directly help people obtain power wheelchairs, hearing aids and other adaptive devices.
Questions from the floor were limited; the sponsor called for the question and the roll call showed 24 ayes, no nays. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for its further consideration.
Ending: SB20 proceeds to the House; sponsors asked members to remember its appropriation priority during subsequent budget discussions.
