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Senate approves bill letting counties seek reimbursement for inmate medical costs
Summary
House Bill 110 passed the Utah Senate after a brief floor presentation. The bill requires counties to cover jail medical costs and authorizes county collection efforts when inmates have resources; senators asked questions about rate-setting and contracts.
Salt Lake City — The Utah Senate approved House Bill 110, which requires counties to pay medical costs for people charged with or convicted of crimes and committed to county jails, while allowing counties to pursue reimbursement from inmates who have resources.
Senator Greiner, presenting the bill, said it "provides that the county will pay for the medical costs and needs of a person charged with a convicted of a criminal offense and committed to the county jail" and explained that counties may pursue collections from those with the ability to pay.
Senators questioned the practical details: Senator Goodfellow asked at what rate the county would pay and whether local facilities have contracts; Senator Griner responded that the cost would be at the rate charged by the local facility and noted state contract arrangements in many cases.
The roll call on HB110 showed 27 yea votes, 0 nay and 2 absent, and the bill was signed by the president in open session for return to the House for the speaker's signature. The transcript contains the sponsor’s summary and the roll call; implementation details such as the mechanics of collections and exact rate agreements were discussed but left to counties and existing contracting arrangements.
