Bill to create fund to help refugees gets nod

A bill to create a fund to help refugees got a unanimous nod this morning from a House panel.

Sponsor Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, says he hopes both the House and Senate will give HB336 the two-thirds majority support needed for the Refugee Services Fund to start its fund-raising efforts immediately.

Calling the bill "good government," Herrod told the House Workforce Services Committee that the bill "doesn't force people to give money. It sets up a fund so people can give."

The 8-0 vote came after the bill was substituted to create a special revenue fund, rather than a charity.

The fund would be overseen by a board of stake-holders and would raise funds to supplement federal funds to assist refugees.