Mixed results from legislators on Catholic social justice issues

Friday, Mar. 18, 2016

The 2016 Utah legislative session tackled a number of weighty issues and ended making some small progress in areas that concern Catholic social justice.

Assisted Suicide: Thankfully, HB 264 End of Life Options Act failed to pass its first committee hearing. The issue, however, is not going away and has been referred for interim study. Potentially, the proposal could be considered by the Health and Human Services Committee during its monthly meetings from April through December. Regardless of whether it is on the committee agenda, proponents of assisted suicide will continue to amass studies, journal articles, and media in support of the proposal. Advocates against the measure will need to do the same. The rosy picture of assisted suicide painted by proponents is aided by the failure of Oregon and other states with such laws to collect any data beyond the point that the person receives a lethal prescription. Reminding legislators of this lack of critical data is just one of many points we will need to reiterate at committee meetings and with our individual legislators from now until the 2017 session.

Death Penalty: SB 189 Death Penalty Amendments came a handful of votes shy of passage during the session. This is a remarkable feat considering how little time advocates had to muster support for the bill. With a few more hours in the session, we might have found those final few votes, but time was not on our side. Time is on our side in the interim, however, and the passage of the bill through the Senate and a House committee are extremely positive signs that Utah is moving ever closer to ending the use of this barbaric form of punishment.

Medicaid Expansion: Legislators passed a very narrow extension of Medicaid to the most needy in Utah. Childless, chronically homeless adults will receive Medicaid coverage, as will some individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system and thus ineligible currently for health insurance.  The legislation also added a number of low-income parents to the Medicaid rolls. This small group is somewhat of a test case for further extensions of Medicaid, and we expect to engage in ongoing advocacy for more coverage to more low-income individuals as an important means of promoting the dignity and sanctity of life.

Abortion: Legislators passed a bill to require anesthesia for the fetus in a narrow range of abortions. The bill was highly contested by medical professionals but passed easily through both houses. In other action, the House of Representatives held onto a bill that would have ended most abortions after a three-page constitutional note from legislative lawyers raised substantial concerns about the likelihood of litigation and the probability that the bill would be found unconstitutional.

Homelessness: Legislators provided the first year of funding for a three-year plan to create satellite shelters and services for homeless individuals and families. The funding is part of a strategy developed over the past several months by Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City with stakeholders from across the area. The money will help provide safer shelter for women and families and more services for all. 

Gun Violence: Legislators made some strides to address gun violence in the state, passing a measure to study potential links between access to guns and gun-related violence and providing information for gun stores to help employees recognize when a customer may be suicidal.  Legislators also managed to stop a bill that would allow anyone over the age of 21 to carry a firearm without a permit, though the bill is expected to make yet another appearance in 2017. 

The issues debated in 2016 will continue to be areas of concern for Catholics in Utah. Please continue to contact your legislators throughout the year regarding these and other legislative proposals. For regular updates and action items on legislation at the state and national levels that implicate our Catholic social doctrine, please sign up for the weekly Prayer and Action Network, email https://vr2.verticalresponse.com/s/prayeractionnetwork.