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Utah Senate advances package of bills on autism coverage, blood draws, licensing and retirement
Summary
On Feb. 8 the Utah Senate approved a slate of consent‑calendar and third‑reading measures, including repeal of an autism insurance sunset, a requirement that warrant be obtained to draw blood without consent, and technical retirement system amendments.
The Utah State Senate on Feb. 8 adopted a series of consent and third‑reading bills addressing insurance coverage, law enforcement procedures, professional licensing changes and retirement system housekeeping.
Key measures approved included House Bill 24, which repeals the sunset on a pilot autism insurance program; House Bill 43, which clarifies that law enforcement must obtain a warrant to draw a person’s blood when consent is not given; and House Bill 37, which amends nursing board membership by removing an ex officio DOPL (Department of Professional Licensing) seat and leaving an 11‑member commission of nine nurses and two public members.
Senator Bramble, sponsor of HB 24 and HB 32 matters, said HB 24 "repeals the sunset on the pilot program for insurance companies as it relates to autism." Senator Wyler summarized HB 43 this way: "If law enforcement wants to draw someone's blood and does not have their consent, that they need to get a warrant." Senator Bramble said the nursing board change removes an ex‑officio appointment after DOPL indicated it preferred not to retain the seat; he said DOPL retains oversight authority despite removing the ex‑officio position.
Votes at a glance as recorded on the floor (reporting in the transcript): House Bill 24 — reported as passing (26 yea, 3 absent). House Bill 43 — reported as passing (26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent). House Bill 13 (public safety peer counseling provisions) — reported as passed (tally reported in transcript). House Bill 28 (Utah Retirement Systems administrative amendments) — reported as passing (25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent). Several other bills and substitutes (including House Bill 32, House Bill 36 and reconsideration of Senate Bill 52) were debated and placed on calendars per the clerk and committee actions recorded on the floor.
Senator Henderson asked whether removing the DOPL ex‑officio seat on the nursing board could weaken state oversight; Senator Bramble responded that DOPL would continue to have oversight authority. Multiple committee reports were adopted earlier in the session and the Senate proceeded to a short recess after announcements from the Rules Committee.
The Senate also paused to recognize visiting students and graduates from civic programs in the gallery before recessing until 2 p.m.
Next steps: Bills passed by the Senate are to be transmitted to the House as recorded on the Senate floor; Senate Bill 52 (state land leasing) was moved for reconsideration and placed atop the third‑reading calendar for later consideration.
