S.B. 66
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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
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29 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30 Section 1. Section 26-7-201 is enacted to read:
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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