A $100,000 proposal is included for education and outreach programs to help curb the number of deaths for prescription drug overdoses, which in Utah has surpassed the number of annual deaths from automobile crashes. About 400 autopsies were conducted by the medical examiner's office the past year, and 350 of those were listed as prescription medication overdose, according to health department figures.

Human Services priorities include additional money for foster care to pay for screening and health assessment efforts of children, many of whom have more serious emotional problems due to being in homes with drug abusing parents.

The committee would like to add $1 million to the $1.1 million earmarked for reducing the number of people on the disabled services waiting list. The amount may not be added to the final recommendation because doing so would mean cutting other area's priorities to make up the difference.

Committee members indicated they would like $300,000 cut from the state's drug court system request reinstated in the final recommendation.

"The success of these courts is so remarkable we need to do everything we can to support them," said Rep. Paul Neuanswander, R-Bountiful.

Money for aging services is a priority, as well as a violence shelter pilot program to stabilize families dealing with child abuse or other crises.

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E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com