The Senate Appropriations Committee has endorsed $6.5 million for Utah projects to help improve health care, literacy and Internet safety.
The money was included in the 2007 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. The funds were requested by Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, a member of the committee. The measure, approved last week, now goes to the full Senate.
The bill includes $850,000 toward a health-sciences education and training center at Salt Lake Community College; $750,000 for the More Nurses Now Program at Weber State University; and $500,000 to help Intermountain Healthcare bring an electronic medical-records program to Utah.
The measure also includes $600,000 for the Internet Keep Safe Coalition to provide Internet-safety material to elementary-school teachers; $600,000 for improvements to the Orem City Public Library; and $500,000 for development of new exhibits at the Museum of Utah Art & History in downtown Salt Lake City.
The bill would send $400,000 to Brigham Young University for a comprehensive literacy program in Wasatch Front schools; $250,000 for expansion of telemedicine services by the Association of Utah Community Health; and $250,000 to provide transportation for disabled people in rural areas to travel to the National Ability Center in Park City.
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