| Members Present: Sen. Keven J. Stratton, Senate Chair Rep. Raymond P. Ward, House Chair Rep. Doug Fiefia, Vice Chair Sen. Heidi Balderree Sen. Emily Buss Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. Jen Plumb Rep. Kristen Chevrier Rep. Tyler Clancy Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost Rep. Jake Fitisemanu | Rep. Stephanie Gricius Rep. Colin W. Jack Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck Members Absent: President J. Stuart Adams Sen. Todd Weiler Staff Present: Sean C. Faherty, Finance Manager Russell T. Frandsen, Finance Officer Kevin Edminster, Financial Analyst An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| 1.8:00 Call to Order |
| Chair Stratton called the meeting to order at 8:09 a.m. |
| 2.8:00 Approval of Minutes |
| There were no minutes for approval. |
| 3.8:10 Department of Health and Human Services' Operations Base budget |
| 3a. SSA Operations Base Budget Presentation |
| Sean Faherty introduced the Operations Base Budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). |
| Chair Stratton invited the department to respond. |
| Nate Winters, Deputy Director, and Amanda Slater, Assistant Deputy Director, provided the response to the proposed cuts for DHHS. |
| Rep. Fiefia requested more information on staffing, and Nate Winters responded. |
| MOTION:Rep. Ward moved to approve the following motions from the sheet entitled "Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee - Motions for Consideration": CA1, CA3 through CA8.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. E. Buss Rep. K. Chevrier Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. S. Gricius Rep. C. Jack Rep. N. Peck Sen. J. Plumb Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Ward | Sen. J. Adams Rep. T. Clancy Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. T. Weiler |
| MOTION:Rep. Ward moved to approve the following motions from the sheet entitled "Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee - Motions for Consideration": CB1 through CB16.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. E. Buss Rep. K. Chevrier Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. S. Gricius Rep. C. Jack Rep. N. Peck Sen. J. Plumb Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Ward | Sen. J. Adams Rep. T. Clancy Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. T. Weiler |
| 4a. SSA Oversight Base Budget Presentation |
| Sean Faherty continued the presentation, discussing the Oversight Budget. |
| Amanda Slater, Assistant Deputy Director, spoke to the proposed cuts. |
| Chair Stratton asked for additional information on background checks for providers, and Amanda Slater and Sean Faherty provided the information. |
| Rep. Fiefia asked what is the fee for a background check, and Amanda Slater, Nate Winters, and Russell Frandson responded. |
| MOTION:Rep. Ward moved to approve the following motions from the sheet entitled "Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee - Motions for Consideration": CD1 through CD3.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. E. Buss Rep. K. Chevrier Rep. T. Clancy Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. S. Gricius Rep. C. Jack Rep. N. Peck Sen. J. Plumb Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Ward | Sen. J. Adams Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. T. Weiler |
| 4.8:30 Department of Health and Human Services' Children, Youth, and Families |
| 5. CYF Presentation |
| Kevin Edminster explained the Children, Youth, and Families Base Budget. |
| Tonya Myrup, Director, Division of Child and Family Services, responded to the proposed budget reductions. |
| Rep. Dailey-Provost discussed the impact of not paying employees enough to keep them with the Division, and Tonya Myrup responded. |
| Rep. Fiefia asked how many workers would be cut, and Tonya Myrup responded. |
| Rep. Peck asked about the GRANDfamilies Kinship Program, and Tonya Myrup responded. |
| Rep. Fitisemanu asked if proposed reductions would impact federal matching funds, and Tonya Myrup responded. |
| Rep. Dailey-Provost requested the Division provide information on federal matching funds. |
| Rep. Gricius asked how a reduction in funds would impact training for foster parents, and Tonya Myrup responded. |
| Daniel Webster, Director of Operations, Utah Foster Care, was invited to tell the committee how the proposed reductions would impact the ability to provide foster care. |
| Rep. Gricius asked what impact the reductions would have on federal standards, and Daniel Webster responded. |
| Sen. Escamilla expressed concern with the impact that funding cuts would have on the State's liability. |
| 5di. 2026GS SSA Day 2 Non-State Adoption of Utah's Hardest to Place Children Slides |
| 5dii. 2026GS SSA Day 2 Non-State Adoption of Utah's Hardest to Place Children Handout |
| Tonya Myrup and Brandy Naylor, Raise the Future, made a request for an appropriation for the adoption of Utah's longest-waiting children in foster care. |
| 5ei. 2026GS SSA Day 2 DCFS Victim Services Slides |
| 5eii. 2026GS SSA Day 2 DCFS Victim Services Handout |
| Tonya Myrup and Erin Jameson, Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, made the request for appropriations for victim services. |
| 5eii. 2026GS SSA Day 2 DCFS Victim Services Handout |
| 5fi. 2026 GS SSA Day 2 DFH Baby Watch Sustaining Early Intervention Services Slides |
| 5fii. 2026GS SSA Day 2 DFH Baby Watch Sustaining Early Intervention Services Handout |
| Noel Taxin, Director, Division of Family Health, made the appropriation request for Baby Watch Early Intervention Services. |
| Rep. Ward asked what would be the impact of budget cuts, and Noel Taxin responded. |
| Chair Stratton asked how long it has been since employees received a cost of living increase, and Noel Taxin responded. |
| Sen. Escamilla asked for information on maintenance of effort with the funds, and Kevin Edminster responded. |
| Rep. Chevrier asked if there is a flow chart showing all the programs for children, and Kevin Edminster replied. |
| MOTION:Rep. Ward moved to approve the following motions from the sheet entitled "Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee - Motions for Consideration": CP1-CP4, CP5-CP10.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. E. Buss Rep. K. Chevrier Rep. T. Clancy Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. S. Gricius Rep. C. Jack Rep. N. Peck Sen. J. Plumb Sen. K. Stratton Rep. R. Ward | Sen. J. Adams Rep. D. Fiefia Sen. T. Weiler |
| 5.9:00 Department of Health and Human Services Office of Recovery Services |
| 6c. ORS Data Analytics Implementation Plan |
| 6ci. ORS Data Analytics and Implementation Plan |
| Kevin Edminster introduced the Base Budget for the Office of Recovery Services (ORS). |
| Georgia Wood, Division Director, discussed the review of ORS. |
| 6cii. ORS Ombuds Program |
| Georgia Wood discussed the ORS Ombuds program. |
| Kevin Edminster explained budget reduction options. |
| MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to approve the following motions from the sheet entitled "Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee - Motions for Consideration": All #CQ1.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-9. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 9 | |
| Sen. E. Buss Rep. K. Chevrier Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. C. Jack Rep. N. Peck Sen. K. Stratton | Sen. J. Adams Sen. H. Balderree Rep. T. Clancy Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. S. Gricius Sen. J. Plumb Rep. R. Ward Sen. T. Weiler |
| 6.9:25 Department of Health and Human Services Juvenile Justice and youth |
| 7di. 2026GS SSA Day 2 JJYS_JJYS Recidivism Reduction Support Slides |
| 7dii. 2026GS SSA Day 2 JJYS JJYS Recidivism Reduction Support Handout |
| Kevin Edminster presented the Juvenile Justice and Youth Services (JJYS) Base Budget. |
| April Graham, Division Director, JJYS, provided a response to the proposed reductions. |
| Kevin Edminster explained possible motions. |
| MOTION:Rep. Jack moved to approve the following motions from the sheet entitled "Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee - Motions for Consideration": All #CR1 and CR2.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-8. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 8 | |
| Sen. E. Buss Rep. K. Chevrier Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. C. Jack Rep. N. Peck Sen. K. Stratton | Sen. J. Adams Sen. H. Balderree Rep. T. Clancy Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. S. Gricius Sen. J. Plumb Rep. R. Ward Sen. T. Weiler |
| 7.9:45 Department of Health and Human Services Correctional Health Services |
| Kevin Edminster discussed Correctional Health Services. |
| Marcus Wisner, Director, Division of Correctional Health Services, responded to the proposals. |
| Chair Stratton asked if the prisons are providing reasonable standards of care, and Marcus Wisner responded. |
| Rep. Peck asked how many dental assistants are available per dentist, and Marcus Wisner responded. |
| Chair Stratton asked if fiscal impact statements are attached to bills enhancing criminal penalties, and Kevin Edminster and Sean Faherty responded. |
| 8dii. 2026 GS SSA Day 2 CHS Correctional Health Services Handout |
| Marcus Wisner discussed funding needs for planned increases in the prison population. |
| 8.10:10 Fees in the Department of Health and Human Services Issue Brief |
| 9. Health and Human Services Fees |
| Russell Frandsen explained the Fees Issue Brief. |
| 9.10:25 Rural Health Transformation Program Follow-Up |
| Chair Stratton invited comment from subcommittee members on the agenda item, and no one responded. |
| 10.10:30 Other Business |
| Chair Stratton stated when public comment would be taken. |
| 11.10:50 Written Reports/Adjourn |
| MOTION:Sen. Buss moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-11. | |||
| Yeas - 5 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 11 | |
| Sen. E. Buss Rep. K. Chevrier Rep. J. Fitisemanu Rep. N. Peck Sen. K. Stratton | Sen. J. Adams Sen. H. Balderree Rep. T. Clancy Rep. J. Dailey-Provost Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. D. Fiefia Rep. S. Gricius Rep. C. Jack Sen. J. Plumb Rep. R. Ward Sen. T. Weiler |
| Chair Stratton adjourned the meeting at 10:47 a.m. |