The Senate on Wednesday passed the Drug Offender Reform Act, touted as a historic change in how Utah deals with offenders that some hope will reduce prison overcrowding and rehabilitate addicts.

Senate Bill 22, sponsored by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, will now be held in the House Rules Committee until legislators in the final days of the session decide which bills will be funded.

Buttars said the act would alter "100 years of tradition" of slamming the door shut on offenders without seeking to reform drug habits.

It's "hard to change," Buttars said. But "this is a good way to do it."

SB22 would allocate $6.3 million for screening offenders for substance abuse. If it passes, the act initially would only affect those convicted of a drug crime. Starting in mid-2006, the law would mandate screening for every felon.

The Senate approved the bill unanimously. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has proposed funding the program in his recommended budget.

"This really is the direction to go," said Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights. "Fully 85 percent of our prisoners have some type of substance abuse problem. . . . If we get them therapy, we're going to see a real payback to our state."

Buttars' attempt to pass the DORA bill failed last year, mainly because of the cost.

But with a surplus this year, Buttars says there's a better chance of making the bill become law.

The proposal would require substance abuse screening before sentencing for felons - after July 2006 - and allow the Board of Pardons to order treatment programs for an offender who needs it.

"We know treatment works," Buttars said.