SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Doing intensive mental health and substance abuse screenings for people who enter Utah county jails was identified as a top priority for state officials several years ago.

But the Standard-Examiner reports the money has dried up and now lawmakers are searching for ways to find more funds.

Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice Deputy Director Dave Walsh says the state spent $2.5 million in 2016 on an intensive jail intake screening program that helped counties improve the reviews during the booking process.

But funding for that program declined to about $800,000 in the most recent year.

The Utah Substance Abuse Advisory Council, a workgroup lawmakers created to look into jail substance abuse, met earlier this week to refine potential proposals to submit to the Legislature for consideration in the 2019 session.

The workgroup will meet again Wednesday to finalize recommendations.