ST. GEORGE — Utahns who suffer from kidney disease won’t be able to turn to the government for a state-sponsored Kidney Health Task Force.
The proposed legislation, HB 142, was defeated Feb. 7 by a vote of 45-26, with six legislators absent or abstaining. Southern Utah Reps. Colin Jack, Walt Brooks, Neil Walter, Joseph Elison and Rex Shipp voted against the bill, the goal of which was to improve kidney health for all Utahns, primarily through a focused education campaign.
Rep. Mark Wheatley, the bill’s sponsor and a Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease patient, having undergone a kidney transplant, said he was “very disappointed” his bill did not advance.
“The bill passed Committee 11 to 1 — at the time no one expressed a concern,” Wheatley said in a text to St. George News.
But Rep. Norm Thurston said during the Feb. 7 House session that he didn’t think a government-sponsored Kidney Health Task Force would accomplish its goal of fully addressing the kidney health of all Utahns.
“I appreciate the intent,” Thurston said. “I appreciate the seriousness of the issue. But I also resist the idea that creating another task force is going to make any difference. If people wanted to meet and find solutions and get together and work this issue, they already can, and they already have.”
Thurston also said the creation of such a task force would “increase the administrative burden” on the governor’s office, which would be involved in coordinating the formation and implementation of the task force.
“I don’t see this necessarily getting us down the road to where we need to get on this particular issue,” Thurston said.
Following Thurston’s comments and just before the vote, Wheatley said in his summation that he believed a government-sponsored task force would have the teeth needed to make a significant impact.
“By having the state’s involvement, it adds credibility to the task force and also to the residents in the state that we take it seriously and we’d like to do more to combat this disease,” Wheatley said.
In his text response to St. George News following the bill’s defeat, Wheatley added that he “had a conversation with the director of Legislative Research and General Counsel [John Cannon] and he said a task force would have minimal impact on staff.”
According to the HB142 Fiscal Note:
Enactment of this legislation could cost the Senate and House of Representatives $2,400 each from the General Fund ongoing beginning in FY 2024 for compensation of legislators on the Kidney Health Task Force. Enactment could also cost the Department of Health and Human Services $4,200 ongoing from the General Fund ongoing beginning in FY 2024 for per diem, travel expenses, and staff costs for the Kidney Health Task Force.
To view the full House discussion and vote, click here.
Check out all of St. George News’ coverage of the 2023 Utah Legislature here.
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