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Senate reinstates biotech appropriation, sending SB 201 to the House
Summary
The Utah Senate voted to reinstate ongoing biotech funding in SB 201 after sponsor Senator Blackcomb said an earlier drafting omission removed the program from the budget; the measure passed under suspension of the rules and will go to the House.
Senators voted to pass Senate Bill 201 on Feb. 23, 1995, restoring language to make a previously authorized biotechnology appropriation an ongoing program. Sponsor Senator Blackcomb said the bill corrects a drafting problem from last year that left the item out of the fiscal analyst's budget reports and makes clear "this will be an ongoing program."
Blackcomb told the Senate the intent is simply to ensure the legislature's prior funding decision is reflected in statute and in the budget documents that follow. A procedural question was raised about taking the bill up under suspension of the rules; the Senate proceeded and recorded a roll-call vote sending SB 201 to the House for further consideration.
The Senate's brief debate focused on procedure rather than policy. Blackcomb said staff language in the substitute was taken from research counsel and was intended to "make it crystal clear" that the program be ongoing. There were no substantive amendments on the floor.
Under the action recorded on the floor, SB 201 will be transmitted to the House for its consideration and any subsequent conference or fiscal action. The Senate did not record additional funding details on the floor beyond noting that the matter corrects last year's omission; budget details are handled in the separate appropriations process.
