NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release

Monday, January 31, 1993

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 national toll-free telephone number

Tear sheet requested

GLUD hails unanimous committee vote

SALT LAKE CITY - Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats leaders commended Utah
lawmakers today after a unanimous committee vote to 
approve a bill which would allow terminally ill people to sell their life
insurance in "viatical settlements" for supplemental income.

The "Settlements on Insurance Policies of Terminally Ill"
 bill, S.B. 66, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Haven Barlow, passed 5-0
in the state Senate State and Local Affairs Standing Committee despite
opposition from state Insurance Commissioner Robert Wilcox who forbid viatical 
settlements in the state in July.

"We're pleased that the committee members stood up to powerful special
interests like the insurance industry and the state Insurance 
Commission, and voted in our favor," GLUD Executive Director Dale Sorenson
said.

GLUD Founder and Lobbyist David Nelson called the committee vote an important 
victory. "This vote gives us the momentum we need in future committee meetings 
to pass this bill and its companion," Nelson said.

The
 "Purchase of Insurance Proceeds" bill, H.B. 69, is sponsored by Democratic
state Rep. Pete Suazo and is planned to be considered tomorrow at the state
House Business, Labor and Economic Development Standing Committee meeting.
Both bills are being supported by GLUD and groups like the People With AIDS
Coalition of Utah, the Utah AIDS Foundation and the Utah Log Cabin Club.

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