Senate approves substitute to require rules for medical 'crisis of care' standards

Senator Fillmore said First Substitute Senate Bill 194 responds to the Department of Health's use of crisis‑of‑care standards during emergencies without a formal rulemaking process. He described the substitute as granting the department statutory authority to adopt scarce‑resource standards and requiring adoption through the Utah Administrative Rules Making Act so the public can comment. He said the substitute also requires the Department to notify the Administrative Rules Review Committee and to notify the legislature and governor within 48 hours of implementing an emergency protocol.

"This bill will give the State Department of Health that authority," Fillmore said on the floor, adding that the substitute was a consensus measure with support from the Department of Health and the Hospital Association. No floor amendments were adopted during the listed discussion.

The clerk recorded a roll call of 23 yea votes and 1 nay with five senators absent; the Senate ordered the bill to be read a third time.