Senate approves technical corrections to merge health agencies; floor debate centers on behavioral-health language
February 17, 2022 | 2022 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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The Utah Senate on Feb. 17 passed third substitute Senate Bill 45, a technical-corrections bill intended to align statutory language and accounting structures as the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services move toward an integrated organizational model. The measure will be returned to the House for further consideration.
Sponsor remarks on the Senate floor said the third substitute ‘‘repeals that amendment number 1 that we did under second sub’’ and mainly fixes cross-references so the merger works ‘‘not only in statute, but then also happens in practice in the financial aspects of this’’ (Sponsor (unnamed), floor presentation).
The most contested point was terminology: several senators asked whether removing explicit references to a "substance abuse and mental health" division meant the state would eliminate that work. Senator Thatcher, who said he had worked with the division for 12 years, told colleagues he had met leaders of the newly combined department and was reassured the work would continue. "I initially had concerns as well... I am convinced and I am supportive that what they're doing is that they're better incorporating behavioral health as an overall part of their entire mission, and... have received assurances that they will continue to do the exact same amount of work" (Senator Thatcher).
Floor debate on the substitute was brief and procedural. The sponsor noted the changes were largely technical, and that a planned recodification of health and human services code this summer would allow the Legislature to further adjust wording if needed. After a roll-call vote, the chair announced third substitute SB45 had passed and would be sent to the House.
What happens next: the bill goes back to the House for its consideration of the Senate’s third substitute; sponsors indicated additional statutory recodification work later this year could address any remaining drafting issues.
Votes and formal action: the sponsor moved for substitution and subsequent passage; the motion carried and the Senate recorded the passage and transmission to the House (floor record).
Sponsor remarks on the Senate floor said the third substitute ‘‘repeals that amendment number 1 that we did under second sub’’ and mainly fixes cross-references so the merger works ‘‘not only in statute, but then also happens in practice in the financial aspects of this’’ (Sponsor (unnamed), floor presentation).
The most contested point was terminology: several senators asked whether removing explicit references to a "substance abuse and mental health" division meant the state would eliminate that work. Senator Thatcher, who said he had worked with the division for 12 years, told colleagues he had met leaders of the newly combined department and was reassured the work would continue. "I initially had concerns as well... I am convinced and I am supportive that what they're doing is that they're better incorporating behavioral health as an overall part of their entire mission, and... have received assurances that they will continue to do the exact same amount of work" (Senator Thatcher).
Floor debate on the substitute was brief and procedural. The sponsor noted the changes were largely technical, and that a planned recodification of health and human services code this summer would allow the Legislature to further adjust wording if needed. After a roll-call vote, the chair announced third substitute SB45 had passed and would be sent to the House.
What happens next: the bill goes back to the House for its consideration of the Senate’s third substitute; sponsors indicated additional statutory recodification work later this year could address any remaining drafting issues.
Votes and formal action: the sponsor moved for substitution and subsequent passage; the motion carried and the Senate recorded the passage and transmission to the House (floor record).
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