Utah Senate approves one-time behavioral-health appropriation to cover county shortfalls

The Utah Senate on Dec. 12, 2019, passed Senate Bill 2002, a one-time appropriation that moves Medicaid-match money back to county behavioral-health departments to cover shortfalls in local mental-health budgets. Sponsor Senator Christianson said the transfer is intended to keep county programs and staff from being cut.

"This bill transfers Medicaid match money that has been set aside back to the county health departments to cover their shortfall," Senator Christianson told the chamber, adding that all 13 county health departments requested the relief.

Senator Christianson said counties had budgeted assuming a larger-than-actual Medicaid enrollment, so federal matching funds did not materialize at the anticipated rate and counties faced a choice of cutting services, laying off employees, or using local dollars to keep programs running.

Under suspension of the rules, the Senate took a roll-call vote and recorded 24 ayes, 0 nays, with five senators absent. The secretary announced that Senate Bill 2002 "passes this body and will be sent to the House for their consideration." The measure proceeds to the House for the next step in the legislative process.

The bill was introduced and passed on an expedited calendar that the Senate set up at the start of the special session. The sponsor said the appropriation is one-time; the House will consider the measure next.

The Senate’s action covered the formal decision recorded on the floor; implementation details — including the precise allocations to each county and any administrative reporting requirements — will be defined if and when the House acts and the bill is enrolled and signed into law.