[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6375417,"mediaKeyId","2141858-0d25415f809d79f2271059543266f7de","parentId",2141858,"title","DHHS proposes line‑item restructuring; subcommittee questions transparency and vacant‑position reductions","audioSeconds",626,"startMs",5166000,"endMs",5792000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2141858-0d25415f809d79f2271059543266f7de&start=5166&end=5792","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2141858-0d25415f809d79f2271059543266f7de/thumbnail_5166000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6375417/Utah/DHHS-proposes-lineitem-restructuring-subcommittee-questions-transparency-and-vacantposition-reductions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375417-583b76fcd2b780a6dadbf179746c556f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770416656&Signature=KJQhQBgBkiiHqupZXmO6taTDaiPUGU3ugvuZL3D9EmTpeOz5CEVzsyg0hzSNek61DF3osVdyt7zCivNF-deaaO~GE7TpCQjh49u1u66biyJgKwx~pe53YZkyqViu-co9InZtcqSIy9p5TqtWHSL-nPvXbhyLOZjlNSNIPBfHq7nCSfHNpIUj1KfmZcBPrx3K~RtF5jCSsvaajVMSKJk6Kh7sVYBKPVcS7SnUVeFNJ-AqK3YXOiHAAwHdLok2lxljWIXTBX4aFQpdj~odgM2wUI5gvq79SVtstyPgv9pUrlXG7JdUKcDz1hCwlaHtvHfb26HwqBDmuV-7yWCUJcuezg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Legislative analysts and Department of Health and Human Services officials presented a proposal to simplify the department’s line‑item structure and discussed proposed reductions tied to vacant or unfilled positions.

Deputy Director Nate Winters and budget director Taylor Kaufman outlined a plan to reduce DHHS line items from 11 to seven. Proposed moves included aligning licensing, background checks, internal audit and administrative hearing functions into an operations line item; moving the Office of Medical Examiner and Correctional Health Services into long‑term services and supports; and bringing the public health lab, primary care and office of health equity under a public health prevention and epidemiology line item. The proposal was presented as an operational alignment intended to improve budgeting and reduce duplicated accounting across recently consolidated divisions.

Representative Fiofia (committee member) questioned whether consolidation would harm transparency and the ability of members and staff to trace funding; she asked for specific justifications for each transfer and more time to review accounting codes. Committee leadership agreed to postpone a motion on line‑item changes so staff and members could follow up with the department and legislative analysts.

On proposed savings, legislative staff presented three vacant‑position or vacancy‑savings reductions (line items on the reduction sheet): nine unfilled positions at the start of FY2025 proposed as ongoing and one‑time savings; vacant position savings at the state hospital (noted as having open positions not filled in 14 months) proposed as a one‑time $350,000 saving; and a decomposition of other one‑time vacant position savings totaling roughly $435,700. Department officials opposed the reductions, saying budgeted turnover savings are a normal part of operations and that unfilled positions do not equate to discretionary dollars because the department uses turnover savings to cover overtime, critical backfills and program continuity.

Deputy Director Winters said the department budgets for normal turnover and reinvests those savings across program needs; eliminating those budgeted lines would reduce operational flexibility and could create shortfalls when positions are subsequently filled. Lawmakers asked whether cuts would prevent filling positions in future years; staff said some savings are one‑time and would not permanently close the positions, but the department cautioned that the underlying budget already assumes turnover.

Ending: Committee members asked for additional detail and analysis; the chair delayed votes on line‑item consolidation and instructed staff to provide a clearer mapping of accounting codes and the operational impact of proposed vacant‑position reductions before the committee takes formal action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee - January 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Department of Health and Human Services proposed consolidating 11 line items into seven to better align funding with organizational changes and recommended several vacant‑position savings. Some lawmakers worried consolidation would reduce budget transparency; department staff and LFA described reasons and asked for more time before a vote.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6375421,"Subcommittee approves federal grants and non‑lapsing authorities; excludes local health emergency non‑lapsing item",838,6788000,7626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2141858-0d25415f809d79f2271059543266f7de&start=6788&end=7626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2141858-0d25415f809d79f2271059543266f7de/thumbnail_6788000.jpg","/articles/6375421/Utah/Subcommittee-approves-federal-grants-and-nonlapsing-authorities-excludes-local-health-emergency-nonlapsing-item","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375421-86547eda9de8db54e0cc28dda5207bb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770416656&Signature=XDH3PFwvYXyQ8eXd8F5S8Q3vrK03mkS5G2yAEyr8-5NDPLIv0hioyhTWo3XokPeAa6Jlw8wdkOf1TMPD8644Hi6qqXZrpGGLT0ACrYa-ttl6taZz03dYFiN9kTnhGQ9WgWGpJNoRK5gNe4rGRwovInYjR9Qf8rLcVIw2JzaINvEGUk5csbG4x1CvoKrKtmFonTRTvzdu6LXOhfn~wil4zE9mskWuG2epzDRssOg-AfCvA6UiSyO-RL8fmsbpLazWUYOnsEf-Lo5JV2wgTvRY2pVsrs6Uw1rMRWuAOpgoSnLbfCQeM8QOfM1pxJv34R5HH63ejYd4NjQTSt3iBhWXkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee voted to approve a package of committee motions that authorizes acceptance of federal grants, expendable receipt increases, technical transfers, and non‑lapsing intent language for a number of Department of Health and Human Services line items.

Legislative staff presented a consolidated list of motions (labeled CO1 through CO12 in committee materials) that covered: approval to accept federal grants for FY2025–FY2026 (CO1); authority to increase expendable receipts for certain epidemiology grants (CO2); technical transfers between line items (CO3); and multiple non‑lapsing intent language requests allowing specified unspent funds to carry forward for narrowly defined public health purposes (CO4–CO7). Several performance‑measure adjustments and insertions into the base budget were also presented (CO8–CO12).

Chair Stratton moved to approve the motions as presented. Senator Baldry proposed a substitute motion to approve the package but exclude CO7 — the request to allow up to $75,000 of unspent funds to carry forward for local health emergencies — citing concerns about how local health departments use funds. The substitute motion passed in committee and the House caucus present; committee staff recorded a minority opposition from Representative Daley (Provo), Senator Plumb, Representative Fitzsimona and Representative Ward on that particular amendment. The effect: the motions package passed with CO7 removed.

The motions approved will authorize the department to accept and budget specified federal grants, make the identified technical transfers, and permit limited non‑lapsing carryforward amounts for items such as communicable disease equipment and alcohol/tobacco/drug prevention programs. Staff and agencies said these authorities do not create new general‑fund appropriations but allow the department to administratively manage federal and restricted funds and to preserve unspent balances for stated public‑health purposes.

Ending: The committee approved the package (CO1–CO12) with CO7 removed; staff said agencies must continue to provide details on how non‑lapsing balances will be spent and will be accountable to the committee on implementation.","The Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee approved a package of legislative motions to accept federal grants, technical transfers and non‑lapsing intent language for multiple public‑health line items; members removed the local health emergency non‑lapsing request from the package after debate.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6375426,"Committee hears DHHS bid to secure $10M federal preparedness grant; requests $707,100 state match and authority for non‑lapsing funds",471,2998000,3469000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2141858-0d25415f809d79f2271059543266f7de&start=2998&end=3469","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2141858-0d25415f809d79f2271059543266f7de/thumbnail_2998000.jpg","/articles/6375426/Utah/Committee-hears-DHHS-bid-to-secure-10M-federal-preparedness-grant-requests-707100-state-match-and-authority-for-nonlapsing-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375426-4c4418782a5227ef6db59660329867ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770416656&Signature=MghpXqOBFapaKGGgf-IuGr8yVARLUUJcIskGiSYiCZNXN1PZlnTUwB1gXspVAD1w~uu1ckKAvcsfGI4DMZdVC7cnjue2NhXkY-b-halQfUqJ3Z2Ho8J3DnTYSqDI~FBlR0LeQ~odVDm7bfcFB8jCKRm~pFmRbK5OUmM~hX90cSruKh8m62PTYsEze90Rvr3vBJYWdk6ndiKF~wfZWVJBNrnmXEx9AO-NDvRZxP2BwA56lmWm10x-j9oJqXyWdN4zYtteyZRPH5Qwtdglpn5O6k3Q1oGhVWllMJmCNzXcC0PGftePbLl9KHLi5Rx2zbKelxoRwejb-FVgreIsc-~OKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Health and Human Services officials told the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee that a relatively small state appropriation would secure $10 million in federal funds for public health preparedness that flow to local health departments, hospitals and tribal partners.

Janae Duncan, division director for population health, explained the request is primarily intended to provide the state share of a federal grant match. She said the department is requesting $707,100 in ongoing state general fund to secure continued CDC preparedness grants; the federal award would support core preparedness activities across Utah’s 13 local health departments, seven tribal partners, 30 hospitals and several healthcare associations. Jordan Mathis, executive director of the Bear River Health Department, told the committee that the federal funds pay for local risk assessments, planning, exercises and implementation and that local governments commit required matching funds.

Committee members pressed for clarity on who provides the local match and how secure that contribution is. Local health department representatives and department staff said local partners provide a 10% match of whatever portion they receive; that equals roughly $1 million statewide (10% of $10 million). During questions, the department explained the state match previously used to qualify for the federal grant had been transferred to another agency and therefore no longer counted as state match; the requested appropriation would restore the state portion and avoid putting the federal grant at risk.

Committee members also asked for a clearer accounting of what county and local jurisdictions are already contributing and the sustainability of those commitments. Department staff said counties have provided matching funds historically and that the department would follow up with a precise list of county contributions and a detailed breakdown of how the requested state funds would be used. Staff noted a portion of the state request covers supplies and warehouse support in addition to match requirements.

The committee later considered a package of committee motions that included several non‑lapsing intent language items for public health; the package passed with one exception (see votes article). Several members voiced concern about allowing local health departments to retain unspent local health emergency funds across fiscal years, and the committee removed the local health emergency non‑lapsing item from the package.

Ending: The department’s preparedness request remains under active review by the subcommittee; agencies agreed to provide more detailed county match accounting and a breakdown of how the $707,100 would secure and be spent to sustain the $10 million federal drawdown.","Department of Health and Human Services asked the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee for $707,100 in ongoing general fund to secure $10 million in federal public health preparedness dollars and to authorize unspent balances to carry forward for preparedness uses; county partners provide a 10% local match.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6375432,"Committee reviews opioid settlement spending; corrections treatment and forensic surveillance requests presented",2175,784000,2959000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2141858-0d25415f809d79f2271059543266f7de&start=784&end=2959","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2141858-0d25415f809d79f2271059543266f7de/thumbnail_784000.jpg","/articles/6375432/Utah/Committee-reviews-opioid-settlement-spending-corrections-treatment-and-forensic-surveillance-requests-presented","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375432-bccbd91dc7ff8563b020e972b7728f91/orig.mp4?Expires=1770416656&Signature=QwG1Cf5wODAHjQ50MgDfxBZSy2js7Vbh1TU58PLASOkh~Cykge2Aqa8TXdzxVHErU0-QnMnEFT0qEZcudYpXOTHmGHrwcU7vlzg91q1AJJfAUNkzytgpm3pGWQZuqxxmaZ7hRZ9M-fdD5ivj3ezU7b0viUSM9XNesmglyEZLs9fIEPkMCnKr0ZJ4BPSzHOM0yRhh8SGOomWR3j4EPAEpqrrBZy9Po-NdMJj6T8uvWh5eneFTFywpQepjFNGXO5uEVmr6rS0IdGHlGHCu5oF-UD-UlcKIzvUSse6uD0vzw-mFT--8bRI-athAzCEh4ASwAywTFWQfKlPGZe-I2kmcMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee on a schedule item reviewed the state’s opioid settlement balance and heard presentations on two funding requests: a Department of Health and Human Services proposal to expand medication‑assisted treatment for incarcerated people, and a request from the Office of the Medical Examiner for ongoing funding to support forensic epidemiology and overdose surveillance.

The committee was told Utah is expected to receive about $275 million from national opioid settlements over roughly 19 years; roughly half of those collections historically are allocated to counties and local governments. Sean Faherty, legislative staff, summarized past appropriations and said about $64 million of collections to date remain unappropriated. He explained committee practice has been to treat collected but unspent settlement dollars as a limited pool and approve multi‑year (commonly three‑year) appropriations so the committee reviews commitments periodically.

Dr. Stacy Bank, executive medical director, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, introduced the corrections health presentation and Dr. Mark Wisner, director of correctional health services, outlined a two‑year request of $5.7 million from the opioid litigation restricted account to expand opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and hepatitis C care for people incarcerated in Utah’s prisons. Dr. Wisner said roughly 17–23% of the state’s prison population has OUD and that the department’s current grant funding treats fewer than 200 incarcerated people — about 12% of those estimated to need treatment. The request would expand treatment to up to 500 individuals per year, increase access to Medicaid‑assisted treatment, provide hepatitis C treatment, and fund transition supports prior to release.

Dr. Wisner described medications to be used: buprenorphine formulations (oral Suboxone for in‑custody treatment) and a long‑acting buprenorphine injection (SUBLOCADE) given approximately 90 days prior to release to “buy time” for connections to community providers and Medicaid enrollment. He said the funding is intended as a bridge while the state builds infrastructure for a Medicaid waiver for justice‑involved individuals, estimated to take about two years to implement; the waiver would shift long‑term costs to Medicaid. Committee members asked about clinical details, cost breakdowns, and long‑term sustainment; Dr. Wisner and Dr. Bank said they would provide a more detailed budget and performance measures to analysts.

Dr. Deirdre Amaro, Utah’s chief medical examiner, presented the office’s request for $280,000 in ongoing opioid‑litigation restricted account funding to support a permanent overdose fatality examiner position and part‑time epidemiology staff. Amaro said the Utah Office of Medical Examiner (OME) is the primary source of timely, case‑level overdose fatality data and that 2023 had the highest number of overdose deaths on record in Utah, with 2024 on pace to match or exceed it. She told the committee that accurate, rapid forensic data and next‑of‑kin interviews are essential to measure program effectiveness and to inform prevention efforts. She noted the fatality examiner position is referenced in statute but not currently funded on an ongoing basis.

Committee discussion emphasized two themes: measurement and sustainability. Several members pressed for clear performance measures and benchmarks — including overdose reductions, hepatitis C cure rates, and linkage to community treatment — and asked whether three‑year funding windows would be sufficient to show long‑term impact. Dr. Amaro said the OME would provide outcome measures the committee could use to evaluate effectiveness. Dr. Bank said the corrections proposal would be designed to bridge into Medicaid coverage after the waiver is active and that the department expects to continue pursuing grants to augment any gaps.

No formal appropriation votes were taken on either presentation; committee staff scheduled additional discussion of opioid settlement requests at subsequent meetings and reminded members a full statutory review of prior opioid appropriations will occur in the 2026 general session.

Ending: The committee did not act on specific appropriation motions at this meeting. Staff reiterated the legislature’s typical approach of funding opioid settlement items in multi‑year blocks and reviewing them at fixed intervals; the committee asked staff and agency presenters to supply a budget breakdown and performance measures for the prison OUD treatment proposal and to provide the OME’s proposed metrics for the epidemiology request.","Lawmakers on the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee reviewed how Utah has allocated opioid settlement proceeds and heard two formal funding requests: a Department of Health and Human Services plan to expand opioid use disorder treatment in prisons and a request from the Office of the Medical Examiner to fund forensic epidemiology work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DHHS proposes line‑item restructuring; subcommittee questions transparency and vacant‑position reductions

Subcommittee approves federal grants and non‑lapsing authorities; excludes local health emergency non‑lapsing item

Committee hears DHHS bid to secure $10M federal preparedness grant; requests $707,100 state match and authority for non‑lapsing funds

Committee reviews opioid settlement spending; corrections treatment and forensic surveillance requests presented