Committee advances street medicine bill to define services and allow injectable treatments (HB 339)

The Health and Human Services Committee favorably recommended first substitute HB 339, which defines street medicine in statute, sets guardrails, and authorizes long-acting injectable treatments for individuals with serious behavioral-health needs who are unsheltered.

Representative Clancy, the bill sponsor, said the measure aims to avoid unregulated, ad hoc efforts and to ensure consistent standards of care for outreach teams. Johnny Dot Emerson, CEO of Fourth Street Clinic, described the clinic’s outreach and its role as Utah’s primary health-care provider for people experiencing homelessness: “In 2024, we served 6,600 individuals through more than 30,000 visits,” Emerson said, and noted outreach encounters identify urgent needs and connect people to clinic-based services.

Committee members praised the “guardrails” approach, noting street medicine can connect people with lower-cost, clinically appropriate care and reduce demands on emergency responders. The sponsor noted a separate funding request to expand clinic capacity downtown as a complementary step.

After public testimony and committee discussion the committee favorably recommended the substitute and passed HB 339 out of committee.