S.B. 66

             1     

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER CERTIFICATION ACT

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Luz Robles

             5     
House Sponsor:

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill directs the Utah Department of Health to certify an individual who meets
             10      certain criteria as a certified community health worker.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    directs the Utah Department of Health to designate an individual who meets certain
             14      criteria as a certified community health worker; and
             15          .    prohibits an individual who the Department of Health does not designate as a
             16      certified community health worker from using the title "certified community health
             17      worker."
             18      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      ENACTS:
             24           26-7-201 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             25           26-7-202 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             26           26-7-203 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             27           26-7-204 , Utah Code Annotated 1953


             28     
             29      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             30          Section 1. Section 26-7-201 is enacted to read:
             31     
Part 2. Community Health Worker Certification Act

             32          26-7-201. Title.
             33          This part is known as the "Community Health Worker Certification Act."
             34          Section 2. Section 26-7-202 is enacted to read:
             35          26-7-202. Definitions.
             36          As used in this section:
             37          (1) "Certified community health worker" means a community health worker certified
             38      by the department under Subsection 26-7-203 (1).
             39          (2) "Community health worker" means an individual who:
             40          (a) is familiar with the socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and linguistic characteristics of a
             41      community with a medically underserved population;
             42          (b) understands health care systems; and
             43          (c) applies the individual's knowledge to assist the community with health care issues,
             44      including by:
             45          (i) assessing and collecting data on the health care needs of the community and
             46      community members;
             47          (ii) educating community members about health care systems and the appropriate use
             48      of health care services; and
             49          (iii) promoting self-sufficiency.
             50          (3) "Medically underserved population" is as defined in Section 26-10b-102 .
             51          Section 3. Section 26-7-203 is enacted to read:
             52          26-7-203. Community health worker -- Certification.
             53          (1) The department shall certify a community health worker if the community health
             54      worker:
             55          (a) as determined by the department, demonstrates:
             56          (i) basic knowledge of health care principals and health care systems;
             57          (ii) basic fluency in a language associated with the community the individual intends to
             58      serve;


             59          (iii) basic cultural competency relating to health care beliefs and practices that are
             60      common to the community the individual intends to serve; and
             61          (iv) any other related competency the department considers necessary to certify an
             62      applicant under this section;
             63          (b) submits an application, on a form created by the department; and
             64          (c) pays a fee established by the department.
             65          (2) The department shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             66      Administrative Rulemaking Act, that establish:
             67          (a) any additional competency the department considers necessary under Subsection
             68      (1)(a)(iv);
             69          (b) the criteria an individual must meet to demonstrate the factors described in
             70      Subsection (1)(a); and
             71          (c) the method of assessing whether the individual meets the criteria described in
             72      Subsection (2)(b).
             73          (3) The department shall establish the fee described in Subsection (1)(c), in accordance
             74      with Section 63J-1-504 , to cover the cost of implementing this part.
             75          Section 4. Section 26-7-204 is enacted to read:
             76          26-7-204. Use of certified community health worker title.
             77          An individual who is not designated by the department as a certified community health
             78      worker under Subsection 26-7-203 (1):
             79          (1) may act as a community health worker and use the title "community health
             80      worker"; and
             81          (2) may not use the title "certified community health worker" or hold himself or herself
             82      out as a certified community health worker.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-11-14 11:33 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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