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Senate passes first substitute for SB 245 after debate over arbitrator panel size
Summary
The Utah Senate voted to pass the first substitute of Senate Bill 245 after floor debate that removed a recent amendment; sponsors and opponents questioned whether moving from one to three arbitrators would raise costs and skew outcomes.
The Utah Senate passed the first substitute of Senate Bill 245 on a roll‑call vote after Senators agreed to return the measure to its earlier substituted form and debate it without a recently adopted amendment.
Sen. Walker, describing floor procedure, said the Senate was reverting to an earlier substitute ‘‘to go back to basically delete the last amendment that was proposed and passed. That was a lot simpler than to substitute yet again.’’ He framed the change as a procedural move to restore the bill to the first substitute so debate could continue on the bill as it existed without the most recent amendment.
Sen. Dimitrich told colleagues he understood the earlier amendment (the Gladwell amendment) ‘‘does away with the 1 arbiter and goes to 3. Even though I disagree with that, I think we have to get this bill moving. So I support the bill as written now.’’ Other senators voiced concern that a requirement for three arbitrators could increase costs and create incentives for lawyers and doctors to serve on panels, with one senator warning it could ‘‘create an industry for certain lawyers and certain doctors to serve on these panels, and charge the fees.’’
After a call of the Senate and a roll call, the chamber recorded passage of the first substitute; senators offered brief explanations of their votes on the floor. The transcript records that the substitute passed following the roll call (see provenance). The clerk’s roll‑call record printed in the transcript is partially garbled and does not provide a clearly legible final tally in the floor transcript excerpt.
Next steps: The first substitute will be forwarded to the House for further consideration (as noted on the floor).
