Santa Clara Republican Rep. Dave Clark sponsored HB216 in answer to state employees, who complained about legislators' hypocrisy when they phased out a similar retirement benefit for workers last year. Lawmakers currently can collect discounted state retirement medical benefits based on their numbers of years in office - after 10 years in office, taxpayers will pick up all of the insurance premium.

Originally adopted in 1998 to take care of an ill senator, the legislation has expanded to include about 30 former legislators and their family members at a cost of more than $120,000 annually.

Some senior lawmakers worry the legislation would force them to retire from the Legislature. Under the bill, lawmakers who are 62 years old or older would have to leave office by Jan. 1, 2007, in order to collect the benefit. A handful of longtime House members and influential senators have complained about the change in policy. The bill passed the House but stalled more than a month ago in the Senate.

"If we've asked state employees to tighten their belts, the moral and right thing for us to do is to do the same," said Clark.

Last year, lawmakers cut off state workers' ability to trade unused sick leave for retirement medical coverage. Employees sued to block that law's implementation, but lost a legal fight that went to the Utah Supreme Court.

Senate Rules Committee member Curt Bramble said the bill may face difficulty in the Senate because it never had a committee hearing.

But Rules Committee Chairman Michael Waddoups said House leaders simply haven't indicated that the bill is a priority. "It would stand a better chance if it were high on their priority list," he said.

House leaders put the bill on their "must pass" list Tuesday.