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House revives HB105, approves 3‑year pilot to equalize mental‑health disability benefits
Summary
After a motion to reconsider, the House passed HB105 to create a three‑year pilot extending long‑term disability coverage parity for mental and physical conditions; sponsors cited a $1.5 million annual fiscal note and said one‑time funds are available to seed the pilot.
The Utah House on Feb. 15 reconsidered and then passed House Bill 105, a three‑year pilot to provide parity between mental‑health and physical‑health long‑term disability benefits for state employees.
Representative Burton moved to reconsider HB105, saying lawmakers should re‑examine the bill given current challenges in the mental‑health system. After the reconsideration, Representative King and the sponsor described the measure as a pilot with an annual fiscal note of about $1.5 million. King said a termination pool and recent payoff of liabilities freed roughly $11.5 million in available funds that could cover the pilot’s initial three years, though final funding remains subject to the Executive Appropriations Committee.
Sponsor Representative King and others argued the bill ensures parity for disabilities caused by mental health conditions and includes processes—such as annual PEHP (Public Employees Health Program) reviews—to work with treating physicians and vocational rehabilitation to return eligible employees to work. ‘‘We’re going to keep you having resources available to you in the form of health care to treat your underlying condition and in terms of voc rehab to try to get you back to work,’’ King said.
Opponents warned the measure risks expanding entitlement programs. Representative Snyder urged caution about expanding state commitments and called for prudence in adding long‑term obligations. Representative Brammer and others described skepticism about pilot programs becoming permanent and questioned whether the body understood the program when it initially voted.
After floor debate, the House voted 38–30 in favor of HB105 and transmitted the bill to the Senate for further consideration.
What happens next: The bill heads to the Senate; funding and long‑term costs will be determined by the appropriations process.
