Senate advances bill to fund services for people with disabilities when surpluses occur

The Utah Senate advanced second substitute House Bill 242, a measure that would create a mechanism to use budget surpluses to reduce the Developmental Disabilities Services (DSPD) waiting list.

Sen. Anderegg explained the bill would direct the Office of Management and Budget and fiscal analysts to include a growth factor in the base budget after two consecutive surplus years, with a target to fund services for up to 200 high-priority individuals from the waiting list each eligible year. The waiting list was described on the floor as roughly 4,500 people with an average waiting time of about 17 years.

High-priority individuals are identified by criteria in the bill, including lack of family caregivers, documented behavioral issues that create imminent risk, or homelessness risk. Sen. Anderegg said the approach is similar to automatic growth factors used for other appropriations and would slowly chip away at the waiting list.

The bill carries a fiscal note and, after passage, was placed on the third-reading table for fiscal impact review. The Senate recorded 21 ayes, 0 nays, with 8 senators absent when the measure passed the floor.

What’s next: Senate and appropriations staff will reconcile fiscal impacts and determine appropriation options during follow-up committee consideration.