Senate approves SJR 11 settlement agreement for Dong family from University of Utah

The Utah General Legislative Session convened on March 1, 2023, to address several key agenda items, primarily focusing on the approval of committee reports and a significant settlement agreement.

The meeting began with a motion to approve the standing committee report, excluding Senate Joint Resolution 11 (SJR 11). The motion was quickly seconded and passed unanimously, allowing all bills to be sent back to the rules committee, except for SJR 11, which was prioritized for discussion.

Senator Stevenson then introduced SJR 11, which pertains to a proposed settlement agreement involving the University of Utah and the Dong family, amounting to $5 million. This settlement is in relation to the death of a young woman and requires legislative approval despite being funded by the university's own resources, thus having no impact on the state budget.

To facilitate the discussion of SJR 11, a motion was made to suspend the rules, as the bill had not undergone a standing committee hearing. This motion was also approved, allowing the resolution to move forward. Following this, another motion was made to suspend the three-reading requirement for SJR 11, which was subsequently called for a vote.

Senator Stevenson emphasized the importance of the settlement and clarified that the funds would not come from state resources, reiterating the necessity for legislative oversight in such matters. The meeting concluded with a clear focus on the implications of the settlement and the procedural steps taken to ensure its approval.