NEWS RELEASE For immediate release Monday, March 14, 1994 Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats Post Office Box 11311 Salt Lake City, Utah 84147-0311 (801)461-5058 metropolitan Salt Lake City telephone number (800)864-0310 na tional toll-free telephone number Tear sheet requested GLUD hails governor's support of viatical bill SALT LAKE CITY - Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats leaders applauded today Republican state Gov. Michael O. Leavitt's announcement that he'll support a bill which was recently passed by the state Legislature which will let terminally ill people in Utah, including people with AIDS, sell their life insurance in "viatical-settlements" for supplemental income. "The governor recognized that this is an issue of personal rights, including the right of a term inally ill person to sell personal property including life insurance," said GLUD Founder and Lobbyist David Nelson, who helped write the bill. "I'm pleased that he's joining with the overwhelming majority of the state Legislature in supporting this bill and providing a humane and sensible approach to helping terminally ill people." The governor said at a news conference that the bill will go into law without his signature. He said that in most cases, the market place is the best long-term regulator but that viatical settlements have the potential for abuse. He said that it may be necessary for the state to establish laws to protect people who sell their life insurance. The bill was the group 's top legislative priority during the 45-day legislative session which ended on March 2. The bill passed the state House of Representatives by a vote of 62-6 and the state Senate by a vote of 27-0. The state insurance department published in July a regulation which prohibited viatical settlements in the state. ***