Senate advances mental-health training changes, consumer-protection amendments and several bills to third reading

The Utah Senate took up a slate of bills and committee reports, favorably advancing several measures to third reading and approving committee recommendations.

The Judiciary, Natural Resources, Transportation and other standing committees reported favorable recommendations on numerous bills earlier in the day. The Rules Committee then announced assignment of dozens of bills to standing committees.

Senators moved to encircle and advance a number of bills. First substitute Senate Bill 44, the Mental Health Professional Practice Act Amendments, was described on the floor as expanding the time window for professionals in training to complete requirements — extending the completion period from one year to between two and four years — which the sponsor said could increase the flow of mental-health professionals by up to 10 percent. The sponsor told the body there was no fiscal note associated with the first substitute. The measure was encircled and, on a roll call to read a third time, first substitute SB44 received 28 yay, 0 nay, 1 absent.

Senate Bill 26, described as implementing auditor recommendations to amend the Business Opportunity Disclosure Act and target "get-rich-quick" schemes, was presented and read for third and received 28 yay, 0 nay, 1 absent. Senate Bill 79 and several other bills were similarly advanced on unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls.

Floor action included votes approving committee reports and procedural motions to place bills on the second reading calendar or assign them to committees. The Senate concluded the day by taking up light-hearted floor motions and adjourning until the next scheduled sitting.