Struggling Utahns plead lawmakers to keep Obamacare; Street-legal OHV bill advances

Struggling Utahns plead lawmakers to keep Obamacare; Street-legal OHV bill advances

(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Utahns gathered at the Capitol as results of a survey were given to the governor and state legislators Wednesday to show how repealing the law might affect them, and bills on street-legal off-highway vehicles and judicial nominees advanced committees.

High schoolers also went to the Capitol to speak out against addiction products like alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Here's a roundup of what's been happening lately on the Hill:

High schoolers crash Capitol to warn peers about addiction

A crowd of high school students cheered on their friends and peers who took the stage Wednesday at the Capitol to speak out against addiction to products such as alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarettes.

About 400 high schoolers from throughout the state gathered in the Hall of Governors for Youth Against Addiction Day. Several students joined Marc Watterson of the American Heart Association in speaking about health concerns related to substance abuse and addiction.

Joylani Kavapalu, 17, with Island Teens Against Tobacco, greeted her gathered peers with a cheerful "aloha" before quickly delving into the harsh realities of tobacco use in her Pacific Islander community.

Members of OUTRAGE! — a statewide youth anti-addiction advocacy group — listen to speakers at the Capitol's Hall of Governors in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
Members of OUTRAGE! — a statewide youth anti-addiction advocacy group — listen to speakers at the Capitol's Hall of Governors in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

"By combining a young population with a scarce college graduation rate, this leaves the Pacific Islander community as one of the vulnerable groups to the advertising attacks of these tobacco companies," she said.

Bill removes gender, race from judicial nomination process

Lawmakers voted Wednesday to ban the practice of considering race or gender in the tiebreaking process for equally qualified judicial nominees.

HB39, sponsored by Rep. Merrill Nelson, R-Grantsville, passed with a 47-25 vote and moves to the Senate for consideration.

Nelson said the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice violated the state Constitution with a policy allowing an appointment board to consider diversity through race and gender as matters of merit in filling judicial positions.

Substance abuse treatment, intervention bill on hold

A House committee Wednesday decided that a bill that would set guidelines for court-ordered treatment and interventions for people with substance abuse disorders needs more work.

HB286, sponsored by Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, would create a process for courts to intervene on the behalf of those with substance abuse disorders.

Christensen said 37 other states have passed similar legislation to reform treatment and intervention guidelines, and noted that Utah has one of the highest rates of opioid-related deaths in the nation.

The House Health and Human Services Committee opted to hold HB286, allowing Christensen to revise some of the language in the bill.

Bill pushes for street-legal OHV use in Salt Lake County

Street-legal off-highway vehicles could travel roads in Salt Lake County under legislation approved Wednesday by the Utah House of Representatives.

Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, said HB82 addresses an issue of "fairness."

There are more off-highway vehicles registered in Salt Lake County than any other county in the state, yet it's the only county where they aren't allowed to be ridden on streets or roads, Noel said.

"I don't see a rationale that a city can outlaw a street-legal vehicle," he said.

The House voted 62-10 to pass the bill, sending it to the Senate for its consideration.

Utahns visit Capitol to laud benefits of Affordable Care Act

Without the Affordable Care Act, Kammie Garr may be forced to sign her son over to the state so he to get the medical care he desperately needs.

"We struggle," the Clinton mother of three said Wednesday. "He's better with health care, but many of the therapies that would work for him are out of reach financially for us."

Kammie Garr holds a photo of son Dominick as she speaks about her health care concerns during a press conference on the Affordable Care Act at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
Kammie Garr holds a photo of son Dominick as she speaks about her health care concerns during a press conference on the Affordable Care Act at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

On top of that, 9-year-old Dominick's health problems would be considered pre-existing conditions and would not be covered without protections afforded by health care reform, which Congress is threatening to do away with.

Many Americans don't understand what may be at stake if Congress repeals the law known as Obamacare, said Whitney Duhaime, vice president at Denials Management, a Millcreek health care claims advocacy firm.

Duhaime said even people with plans secured through an employer will lose certain provisions such as coverage of 10 essential benefits, including treatment for mental health issues, coverage for pre-existing conditions and coverage of adult children to the age of 26 on a parent's plan.

Contributing: Ryan Morgan, Marjorie Cortez, Wendy Leonard

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