H.B. 429

             1     

SPINAL CORD AND BRAIN INJURY REHABILITATION

             2     
FUND AMENDMENTS

             3     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Eric K. Hutchings

             6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends provisions of the Utah Code related to the Spinal Cord and Brain
             11      Injury Rehabilitation Fund.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    changes the name of the Traumatic Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation
             15      Fund to the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund;
             16          .    directs the Division of Motor Vehicles to collect an additional 50 cent fee to register
             17      an off-highway vehicle and deposit the additional fees collected into the Spinal
             18      Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund; and
             19          .    makes technical and conforming changes.
             20      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             21          None
             22      Other Special Clauses:
             23          None
             24      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             25      AMENDS:
             26           26-54-101 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 226
             27           26-54-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 400


             28           26-54-103 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 226
             29           41-6a-1406 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 328
             30      ENACTS:
             31           41-22-8.1 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 26-54-101 is amended to read:
             35     
CHAPTER 54. SPINAL CORD AND BRAIN INJURY REHABILITATION FUND

             36           26-54-101. Title.
             37          This chapter is known as the "[Traumatic] Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation
             38      Fund."
             39          Section 2. Section 26-54-102 is amended to read:
             40           26-54-102. Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund -- Composition --
             41      Administration.
             42          (1) [Because the state finds that persons with traumatic spinal cord and brain injuries
             43      require intensive, focused, and specific rehabilitation there] There is created an expendable
             44      special revenue fund [entitled the Traumatic] known as the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury
             45      Rehabilitation Fund.
             46          (2) The fund shall consist of:
             47          (a) gifts, grants, donations, or any other conveyance of money that may be made to the
             48      fund from private sources;
             49          (b) a portion of the impound fee as designated in Section 41-6a-1406 ; [and]
             50          (c) the fees collected by the division under Section 41-22-8.1 ; and
             51          [(c)] (d) amounts as appropriated by the Legislature.
             52          (3) The fund shall be administered by the executive director of the Department of
             53      Health in consultation with the advisory committee created in Section 26-54-103 .
             54          (4) A "qualified IRC 501(c)(3) charitable clinic" means a professional medical clinic
             55      that:
             56          (a) provides [services for people in this state with] rehabilitation services to an
             57      individual in Utah with a traumatic spinal cord [and] or brain [injuries who require] injury that
             58      tends to be nonprogressive or nondeteriorating who requires post-acute-care;


             59          (b) employs licensed therapy clinicians; and
             60          (c) has no less than five years experience operating a post-acute-care rehabilitation
             61      clinic in the state.
             62          (5) Fund money shall be used to assist a qualified IRC 501(c)(3) charitable [clinics]
             63      clinic to provide rehabilitation services to an individual with a traumatic spinal cord or brain
             64      injury that tends to be nonprogressive or nondeteriorating, including:
             65          (a) physical, occupational, and speech therapy; and
             66          (b) equipment necessary for daily living[ activities for people with spinal cord and
             67      brain injuries].
             68          (6) All actual and necessary operating expenses for the advisory committee and staff
             69      shall be paid by the fund.
             70          Section 3. Section 26-54-103 is amended to read:
             71           26-54-103. Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Advisory Committee --
             72      Creation -- Membership -- Terms -- Duties.
             73          (1) There is created a [Traumatic] Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund
             74      Advisory Committee.
             75          (2) The advisory committee shall be composed of five members as follows:
             76          (a) the executive director of the Utah Department of Health, or the executive director's
             77      designee;
             78          (b) a survivor, or a family member of a survivor of a [traumatic] brain injury, appointed
             79      by the governor;
             80          (c) a survivor, or a family member of a survivor of a [traumatic] spinal cord injury,
             81      appointed by the governor;
             82          (d) a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House of
             83      Representatives; and
             84          (e) a member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.
             85          (3) (a) The term of advisory committee members shall be four years. If a vacancy
             86      occurs in the committee membership for any reason, a replacement shall be appointed for the
             87      unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
             88          (b) The committee shall elect a chairperson from the membership.
             89          (c) A majority of the committee constitutes a quorum at any meeting, and, if a quorum


             90      is present at an open meeting, the action of the majority of members shall be the action of the
             91      advisory committee.
             92          (d) The terms of the advisory committee shall be staggered so that members appointed
             93      under Subsections (2)(b) and (d) shall serve an initial two-year term and members appointed
             94      under Subsections (2)(c) and (e) shall serve four-year terms. Thereafter, members appointed to
             95      the advisory committee shall serve four-year terms.
             96          (4) The advisory committee shall comply with the procedures and requirements of:
             97          (a) Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act;
             98          (b) Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act; and
             99          (c) Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
             100          (5) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but,
             101      at the executive director's discretion, may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance
             102      with:
             103          (a) Section 63A-3-106 ;
             104          (b) Section 63A-3-107 ; and
             105          (c) rules adopted by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
             106      63A-3-107 .
             107          (6) The advisory committee shall:
             108          (a) adopt rules and procedures in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             109      Administrative Rulemaking Act, that establish priorities and criteria for the advisory committee
             110      to follow in recommending distribution of money from the fund to assist qualified IRC
             111      501(c)(3) charitable clinics;
             112          (b) identify, evaluate, and review the quality of care available to people with
             113      [traumatic] spinal cord and brain injuries through qualified IRC 501(c)(3) charitable clinics;
             114          (c) explore, evaluate, and review other possible funding sources and make a
             115      recommendation to the Legislature regarding sources that would provide adequate funding for
             116      the advisory committee to accomplish its responsibilities under this section; and
             117          (d) submit an annual report, not later than November 30 of each year, summarizing the
             118      activities of the advisory committee and making recommendations regarding the ongoing needs
             119      of people with spinal cord or brain injuries to:
             120          (i) the governor;


             121          (ii) the Health and Human Services Interim Committee; and
             122          (iii) the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee.
             123          Section 4. Section 41-6a-1406 is amended to read:
             124           41-6a-1406. Removal and impoundment of vehicles -- Reporting and notification
             125      requirements -- Administrative impound fee -- Refunds -- Possessory lien -- Rulemaking.
             126          (1) If a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is removed or impounded as provided under
             127      Section 41-1a-1101 , 41-6a-527 , 41-6a-1405 , 41-6a-1408 , or 73-18-20.1 by an order of a peace
             128      officer or by an order of a person acting on behalf of a law enforcement agency or highway
             129      authority, the removal or impoundment of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor shall be at the
             130      expense of the owner.
             131          (2) The vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor under Subsection (1) shall be removed or
             132      impounded to:
             133          (a) a state impound yard; or
             134          (b) if none, a garage, docking area, or other place of safety.
             135          (3) The peace officer may move a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor or cause it to be
             136      removed by a tow truck motor carrier that meets standards established:
             137          (a) under Title 72, Chapter 9, Motor Carrier Safety Act; and
             138          (b) by the department under Subsection (10).
             139          (4) (a) Immediately after the removal of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor, a report
             140      of the removal shall be sent to the Motor Vehicle Division by:
             141          (i) the peace officer or agency by whom the peace officer is employed; and
             142          (ii) the tow truck operator or the tow truck motor carrier by whom the tow truck
             143      operator is employed.
             144          (b) The report shall be in a form specified by the Motor Vehicle Division and shall
             145      include:
             146          (i) the operator's name, if known;
             147          (ii) a description of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor;
             148          (iii) the vehicle identification number or vessel or outboard motor identification
             149      number;
             150          (iv) the license number or other identification number issued by a state agency;
             151          (v) the date, time, and place of impoundment;


             152          (vi) the reason for removal or impoundment;
             153          (vii) the name of the tow truck motor carrier who removed the vehicle, vessel, or
             154      outboard motor; and
             155          (viii) the place where the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is stored.
             156          (c) Until the tow truck operator or tow truck motor carrier reports the removal as
             157      required under this Subsection (4), a tow truck motor carrier or impound yard may not:
             158          (i) collect any fee associated with the removal; and
             159          (ii) begin charging storage fees.
             160          (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(e) and upon receipt of the report, the
             161      Motor Vehicle Division shall give notice to the registered owner of the vehicle, vessel, or
             162      outboard motor and any lien holder in the manner prescribed by Section 41-1a-114 .
             163          (b) The notice shall:
             164          (i) state the date, time, and place of removal, the name, if applicable, of the person
             165      operating the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor at the time of removal, the reason for removal,
             166      and the place where the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is stored;
             167          (ii) state that the registered owner is responsible for payment of towing, impound, and
             168      storage fees charged against the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor;
             169          (iii) inform the registered owner of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor of the
             170      conditions that must be satisfied before the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is released; and
             171          (iv) inform the registered owner and lienholder of the division's intent to sell the
             172      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor, if within 30 days from the date of the removal or
             173      impoundment under this section, the owner, lien holder, or the owner's agent fails to make a
             174      claim for release of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor.
             175          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(e) and if the vehicle, vessel, or outboard
             176      motor is not registered in this state, the Motor Vehicle Division shall make a reasonable effort
             177      to notify the registered owner and any lien holder of the removal and the place where the
             178      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is stored.
             179          (d) The Motor Vehicle Division shall forward a copy of the notice to the place where
             180      the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is stored.
             181          (e) The Motor Vehicle Division is not required to give notice under this Subsection (5)
             182      if a report was received by a tow truck operator or tow truck motor carrier reporting a tow truck


             183      service in accordance with Subsection 72-9-603 (1)(a)(i).
             184          (6) (a) The vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor shall be released after the registered
             185      owner, lien holder, or the owner's agent:
             186          (i) makes a claim for release of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor at any office of
             187      the State Tax Commission;
             188          (ii) presents identification sufficient to prove ownership of the impounded vehicle,
             189      vessel, or outboard motor;
             190          (iii) completes the registration, if needed, and pays the appropriate fees;
             191          (iv) if the impoundment was made under Section 41-6a-527 , pays an administrative
             192      impound fee of $350; and
             193          (v) pays all towing and storage fees to the place where the vehicle, vessel, or outboard
             194      motor is stored.
             195          (b) (i) Twenty-nine dollars of the administrative impound fee assessed under
             196      Subsection (6)(a)(iv) shall be dedicated credits to the Motor Vehicle Division;
             197          (ii) $97 of the administrative impound fee assessed under Subsection (6)(a)(iv) shall be
             198      deposited in the Department of Public Safety Restricted Account created in Section 53-3-106 ;
             199          (iii) $20 of the administrative impound fee assessed under Subsection (6)(a)(iv) shall
             200      be deposited in the [Traumatic] Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund; and
             201          (iv) the remainder of the administrative impound fee assessed under Subsection
             202      (6)(a)(iv) shall be deposited in the General Fund.
             203          (c) The administrative impound fee assessed under Subsection (6)(a)(iv) shall be
             204      waived or refunded by the State Tax Commission if the registered owner, lien holder, or
             205      owner's agent presents written evidence to the State Tax Commission that:
             206          (i) the Driver License Division determined that the arrested person's driver license
             207      should not be suspended or revoked under Section 53-3-223 or 41-6a-521 as shown by a letter
             208      or other report from the Driver License Division presented within 30 days of the final
             209      notification from the Driver License Division; or
             210          (ii) the vehicle was stolen at the time of the impoundment as shown by a copy of the
             211      stolen vehicle report presented within 30 days of the impoundment.
             212          (d) A tow truck operator, a tow truck motor carrier, and an impound yard shall accept
             213      payment by cash and debit or credit card for a removal or impoundment under Subsection (1)


             214      or any service rendered, performed, or supplied in connection with a removal or impoundment
             215      under Subsection (1).
             216          (7) (a) An impounded vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor not claimed by the registered
             217      owner or the owner's agent within the time prescribed by Section 41-1a-1103 shall be sold in
             218      accordance with that section and the proceeds, if any, shall be disposed of as provided under
             219      Section 41-1a-1104 .
             220          (b) The date of impoundment is considered the date of seizure for computing the time
             221      period provided under Section 41-1a-1103 .
             222          (8) The registered owner who pays all fees and charges incurred in the impoundment of
             223      the owner's vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor, has a cause of action for all the fees and
             224      charges, together with damages, court costs, and attorney fees, against the operator of the
             225      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor whose actions caused the removal or impoundment.
             226          (9) Towing, impound fees, and storage fees are a possessory lien on the vehicle, vessel,
             227      or outboard motor.
             228          (10) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
             229      the department shall make rules setting the performance standards for towing companies to be
             230      used by the department.
             231          (11) (a) The Motor Vehicle Division may specify that a report required under
             232      Subsection (4) be submitted in electronic form utilizing a database for submission, storage, and
             233      retrieval of the information.
             234          (b) (i) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the Motor Vehicle Division or the
             235      administrator of the database may adopt a schedule of fees assessed for utilizing the database.
             236          (ii) The fees under this Subsection (11)(b) shall:
             237          (A) be reasonable and fair; and
             238          (B) reflect the cost of administering the database.
             239          Section 5. Section 41-22-8.1 is enacted to read:
             240          41-22-8.1. Registration fees.
             241          (1) In addition to the fees established in Sections 41-22-8 , 41-22-33 , and 41-22-34 , the
             242      division shall require a person to pay 50 cents to register an off-highway vehicle under Section
             243      41-22-3 .
             244          (2) The division shall deposit the fees the division collects under Subsection (1) into


             245      the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund created in Section 26-54-102 .




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    as of 2-25-14 11:55 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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