Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 190 First Substitute (2024GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Welton, D.

Final action

House/ filed 3/1/2024

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• requires the Department of Public Safety (department) to administer the Forensic Equipment Grant Program (program) to provide funding for certain counties to purchase forensic equipment; and
• provides the department with rulemaking authority to implement the program.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

FORENSIC FUNDING AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Douglas R. Welton
Senate Sponsor: 
____________
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses grant funding for forensic equipment.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms; 
▸ requires the Department of Public Safety (department) to administer the Forensic
Equipment Grant Program (program) to provide funding for certain counties to
purchase forensic equipment; and
▸ provides the department with rulemaking authority to implement the program.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025:
▸ to Department of Public Safety - Programs & Operations - Department
Commissioner's Office as a one-time appropriation:
• from the General Fund, One-time, $2,000,000
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
53-1-122
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53-1-122
 is enacted to read:
 53-1-122.
Forensic Equipment Grant Program -- Rulemaking.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Forensic equipment" includes software that allows for the analysis of evidence
relating to a crime.
(b) "Grant" means a grant awarded under this section.
(c) "Program" means the Forensic Equipment Grant Program created in this section.
(2) (a) There is created within the department the Forensic Equipment Grant Program.
(b) The purpose of the program is to provide grant funding for a county with a forensic
unit that services multiple jurisdictions to purchase forensic equipment that allows for the
analysis of evidence relating to a crime and provide related training for employees.
(3) (a) A county that submits a proposal for a grant to the department shall include in
the proposal:
(i) a statement describing the forensic equipment the county is seeking to purchase and
the reasons why the county wishes to purchase the equipment;
(ii) a plan for utilizing the forensic equipment, including related training;
(iii) any funding sources in addition to the grant for the forensic equipment and related
training;
(iv) any existing or planned partnerships for the use of the forensic equipment with
another entity; and
(v) other information the department determines is necessary to evaluate the proposal.
(b) When evaluating a proposal for a grant, the department shall consider:
(i) the cost of the proposal;
(ii) the extent to which additional funding sources or existing or planned partnerships
may benefit the proposal; and
(iii) the viability and sustainability of the proposal.
(4) Subject to Subsection (3), the department may, in accordance with Title 63G,
Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, make rules to establish:
(a) eligibility criteria for a grant, including the types of forensic equipment that is
eligible for a grant;
(b) the form and process for submitting a proposal for a grant to the department;
(c) the method and formula for determining a grant amount; and
(d) reporting requirements for a grant recipient.
Section 2. 
FY 2025 Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2024, and ending June 30, 2025. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2025. 
Subsection 2(a) 
Operating and Capital Budgets
Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
ITEM 1
 To Department of Public Safety - Programs & Operations
From General Fund, One-time
$2,000,000
Schedule of Programs:
Department Commissioner's Office
$2,000,000
The Legislature intends that: 
(1) the appropriation under this item be used for the grant program described in Section
53-1-122
 of this bill; and 
(2) under Section 
63J-1-603
, the one-time appropriation provided under this item not
lapse at the close of fiscal year 2025 and the use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to the
purpose described in Subsection (1) of this item. 
Section 3. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.