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Senate restores and advances funding for offender treatment programs
Summary
Lawmakers on Feb. 7 restored funding the House reduced and moved House Bill 68, which directs $1.5 million toward prison-based treatment programs and associated facility improvements, to the third-reading calendar for further action.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Senate moved House Bill 68 to the third-reading calendar on Feb. 7 after floor discussion emphasizing funding for treatment programs for *** offenders and facility remodeling to support those services.
On the floor, senators described HB68 as a three-part appropriation. One floor explanation said, "1.5 million would go to developing treatment programs that would be done at the prison," with additional one-time funding proposed to remodel part of the prison to improve facilities for treatment. The bill as considered in the Senate restored the larger funding level that the Sentencing Commission had requested after the House had included a reduced amount in its version.
Senators discussed how to prioritize the fiscal note and oversight: the Sentencing Commission would report back on program effectiveness and the Senate recognized that the appropriation would need to be reconciled with other budget priorities. Senators also noted the normal practice of seeking restitution or cost-sharing where appropriate but cautioned against creating inequitable access to treatment based on an inmate’s wealth.
Next steps: HB68 will appear on the third-reading calendar for final action and, if enacted, will fund expanded prison-based treatment and a study/report on program effectiveness as directed by the bill’s language.
