This Bill did not reach the Senate floor for a vote.
Libertas Institute supports this bill.
In the video above, we highlighted the innovative approach being taken by The Other Side Academy, a new non-profit in Salt Lake City helping rehabilitate drug addicts and criminal offenders. Based on a long-validated approach taken by a similar organization in California, the Academy is already helping many struggling Utahns get back on their feet and become productive and capable members of society.
This innovative approach did not fit into existing regulation, and the Academy was concerned that the state government may attempt to regulate them under the laws applicable to a different institution, which would conflict with their business model and frustrate (or even invalidate) their efforts.
Senator Evan Vickers is sponsoring Senate Bill 131 to carve out an institution of this type from existing regulatory models, and merely requiring them to register with the state so regulators are aware of their existence. These exemptions will allow the Academy to continue serving Utahns in need—and hopefully expanding their efforts in the years to come to become a model that successfully rehabilitates those in need without taxpayer funding.
