House urges upgrade for Provo's State Hospital

(Salt Lake Tribune) During floor discussion Wednesday on a $113 million capital facilities bonding bill, several House members pleaded on behalf of the State Hospital in Provo, which has housed the mentally ill for many decades.

"They need a new pediatric unit," said Rep. Laura Black, D-Sandy, in offering an amendment to SB282 to fund the design phase for the structure this year.

The current children's housing -- half a century old -- is seismically and electrically unsafe and does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Black said.

Rep. Stephen Clark, R-Provo, called the situation "untenable."

"If you were down there to see it," Clark said, "you would be ashamed at the way we're dealing with children."

If the $2 million design can take place this year, construction plans should be shovel-ready in 2011. Clark estimated the new building's price tag at about $35 million.

Rep. Jennifer Seelig, D-Salt Lake City, was adamant that the project should not be put off any longer.

"It's a pig-hole," she said. "This is a value statement about how we feel about vulnerable and sick children and whether we're OK with warehousing them in a deplorable pit of disgust."

Black's amendment passed and SB282 now returns to the Senate for further consideration.

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