1     
RESIDENTIAL VOCATIONAL AND LIFE SKILLS

2     
PROGRAMS AMENDMENTS

3     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

6     
House Sponsor: ____________

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill creates a registry for residential vocational and life skills programs.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     requires the Department of Workforce Services to create and maintain a registry of
15     residential vocational and life skills programs; and
16          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          35A-3-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapters 105, 296, and 297
24          62A-2-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapters 122, 211, and 342
25     ENACTS:
26          35A-3-511, Utah Code Annotated 1953
27     


28     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29          Section 1. Section 35A-3-102 is amended to read:
30          35A-3-102. Definitions.
31          As used in this chapter:
32          (1) "Adjudicative proceeding" [has the same meaning as] means the same as that term
33     is defined in Section 63G-4-103.
34          (2) "Administrative order" means an order issued by the department that addresses an
35     overpayment of public assistance.
36          (3) "Applicant" means a person who requests assistance under this chapter.
37          (4) "Approved self-reliance training" means an educational class, training session, or
38     counseling session:
39          (a) approved by the department;
40          (b) described in Section 35A-3-118; and
41          (c) provided at no cost to a client.
42          (5) "Assignment of support" means the transfer to the state of a recipient's right to
43     receive support from another person that accrues during the period the recipient receives public
44     assistance, including a right to receive support on behalf of any family member for whom the
45     recipient is applying for or receiving assistance.
46          (6) "Average monthly number of families" means the average number of families who
47     received cash assistance on a monthly basis during the previous federal fiscal year.
48          (7) "Cash assistance" means the monthly dollar amount a recipient is eligible to receive
49     under the Family Employment Program under Section 35A-3-302.
50          (8) "Child care services" means care of a child by a responsible person who is not the
51     child's parent or legal guardian, for a portion of the day that is less than 24 hours in a qualified
52     setting, as defined by rules made by the department in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3,
53     Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
54          (9) (a) "Civic organization" means an organization that provides services to its
55     community.
56          (b) "Civic organization" includes a community service club or organization, a
57     charitable health care or service organization, a fraternal organization, a labor union, a minority
58     or ethnic organization, a commercial or industrial organization, a commerce or business club, a

59     private nonprofit organization, a private nonprofit corporation that provides funding to a
60     community service organization, an organization that advocates or provides for the needs of
61     persons with low incomes, a religious organization, and an organization that fosters strong
62     neighborhoods and communities.
63          (10) "Core programs" means the following activities as described in 29 U.S.C. Sec.
64     3102:
65          (a) youth services;
66          (b) adult employment and training services;
67          (c) dislocated worker employment and training services;
68          (d) adult education and literacy activities;
69          (e) employment services; and
70          (f) vocational rehabilitation services.
71          (11) "Court order" means a judgment or order of a court of this state, another state, or
72     the federal government that addresses an overpayment of public assistance.
73          (12) "Date of enrollment" means the date on which the applicant was approved as
74     eligible for cash assistance.
75          (13) "Director" means the director of the division assigned by the department to
76     administer a program.
77          (14) "Diversion" or "diversion payment" means a one-time cash assistance payment
78     under Section 35A-3-303 to a recipient who is eligible for cash assistance, but does not require
79     extended cash assistance under Part 3, Family Employment Program.
80          (15) "Education or training" means education or training in accordance with 29 U.S.C.
81     Sec. 3174 and includes:
82          (a) basic remedial education;
83          (b) adult education;
84          (c) high school education;
85          (d) education to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma;
86          (e) education to learn English as a second language;
87          (f) applied technology training;
88          (g) employment or occupational skills training;
89          (h) on-the-job training;

90          (i) incumbent worker training;
91          (j) programs that combine workplace training with related instruction, which may
92     include cooperative education programs;
93          (k) training programs operated by the private sector;
94          (l) skills upgrading and retraining;
95          (m) entrepreneurial training; or
96          (n) customized training conducted with a commitment by an employer to employ an
97     individual upon successful completion of the training.
98          (16) "Full-time education or training" means training on a full-time basis as defined by
99     the educational institution attended by the parent recipient.
100          (17) "General assistance" means financial assistance provided to a person under Part 4,
101     General Assistance.
102          (18) "Licensed clinical therapist" means an individual licensed by the state under:
103          (a) Title 58, Chapter 60, Part 2, Social Worker Licensing Act;
104          (b) Title 58, Chapter 60, Part 3, Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing Act;
105          (c) Title 58, Chapter 60, Part 4, Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensing Act; or
106          (d) Title 58, Chapter 61, Psychologist Licensing Act.
107          (19) "Notice of agency action" means the notice required to commence an adjudicative
108     proceeding as described in Section 63G-4-201.
109          (20) "Obligor" means an individual:
110          (a) who is liable to the state under Section 35A-3-603 and applicable federal statutes
111     and regulations; or
112          (b) against whom an administrative or judicial order determining overpayment has
113     been obtained.
114          (21) (a) "Overpayment" means money, public assistance, or another item of value
115     provided under a state or federally funded benefit program to a person that is not entitled to
116     receive it or is not entitled to receive it at the level provided.
117          (b) "Overpayment" includes money paid to a provider under this title in connection
118     with public assistance or another publicly funded assistance program to the extent that the
119     provider receives payment:
120          (i) for goods or services not provided; or

121          (ii) in excess of the amount to which the provider is entitled.
122          (22) "Parent recipient" means a person who enters into an employment plan with the
123     department to qualify for cash assistance under Part 3, Family Employment Program.
124          (23) "Performance goals" means a target level of performance that will be compared to
125     actual performance.
126          (24) "Performance indicators" means actual performance information regarding a
127     program or activity.
128          (25) "Performance monitoring system" means a process to regularly collect and analyze
129     performance information, including performance indicators and performance goals.
130          (26) "Plan" or "state plan" means the state plan submitted to the Secretary of the United
131     States Department of Health and Human Services to receive funding from the United States
132     through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant in accordance with 42
133     U.S.C. Sec. 602.
134          (27) "Recipient" means a person who is qualified to receive, is receiving, or has
135     received assistance under this chapter.
136          (28) "Residential vocational and life skills program" means a group living program
137     that:
138          (a) provides vocational training to residents;
139          (b) provides life skills training to residents;
140          (c) houses residents who are unrelated to the owner or manager of the facility without
141     charging monetary fees for lodging, food, clothing, or training;
142          (d) houses and trains residents on a mutually voluntary basis;
143          (e) may require residents to maintain sobriety;
144          (f) does not provide specialized rehabilitation to acquire or maintain sobriety;
145          (g) does not provide mental health services; and
146          (h) does not award any form of academic diploma, degree, or professional certification.
147          [(28)] (29) "Single minor parent" means a person under 18 years of age who is not
148     married and has a minor child in the person's care and custody.
149          [(29)] (30) "Transitional cash assistance" means assistance provided to a recipient to
150     stabilize employment and reduce the future use of cash assistance provided under Part 3,
151     Family Employment Program.

152          Section 2. Section 35A-3-511 is enacted to read:
153          35A-3-511. Residential vocational and life skills program registry.
154          (1) The department shall establish and maintain an online registry of all residential
155     vocational and life skills programs.
156          (2) The residential vocational and life skills program registry shall identify for each
157     program:
158          (a) the name;
159          (b) each individual responsible for administering the program;
160          (c) the location of the program; and
161          (d) a description of the program.
162          (3) A residential vocational and life skills program shall register with the department
163     and provide:
164          (a) the identifying information described in Subsection (2);
165          (b) a registration fee established by the department in accordance with Section
166     63J-1-504; and
167          (c) evidence that the program meets each aspect of the definition of a residential
168     vocational and life skills program.
169          (4) The department shall collect a registration fee in accordance with Subsection (3)
170     and deposit the fee into the General Fund as a dedicated credit to be used by the department to:
171          (a) establish and maintain the residential vocational and life skills program registry
172     under this section;
173          (b) receive and maintain information from the public regarding residential and life
174     skills programs; and
175          (c) as necessary, make policy recommendations to the Economic Development and
176     Workforce Services Interim Committee based on information received from the public, after
177     consulting with the residential and life skills program regarding the perceived need for the
178     policy recommendations.
179          (5) The department shall, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
180     Administrative Rulemaking Act, make rules that establish procedures to:
181          (a) register a vocational and life skills program; and
182          (b) maintain the registry.

183          (6) The department shall inform the relevant government agency when the department
184     has information that a registrant may require a license due to the registrant exceeding the scope
185     of a residential vocational and life skills program.
186          Section 3. Section 62A-2-101 is amended to read:
187          62A-2-101. Definitions.
188          As used in this chapter:
189          (1) "Adult day care" means nonresidential care and supervision:
190          (a) for three or more adults for at least four but less than 24 hours a day; and
191          (b) that meets the needs of functionally impaired adults through a comprehensive
192     program that provides a variety of health, social, recreational, and related support services in a
193     protective setting.
194          (2) "Applicant" means a person who applies for an initial license or a license renewal
195     under this chapter.
196          (3) (a) "Associated with the licensee" means that an individual is:
197          (i) affiliated with a licensee as an owner, director, member of the governing body,
198     employee, agent, provider of care, department contractor, or volunteer; or
199          (ii) applying to become affiliated with a licensee in a capacity described in Subsection
200     (3)(a)(i).
201          (b) "Associated with the licensee" does not include:
202          (i) service on the following bodies, unless that service includes direct access to a child
203     or a vulnerable adult:
204          (A) a local mental health authority described in Section 17-43-301;
205          (B) a local substance abuse authority described in Section 17-43-201; or
206          (C) a board of an organization operating under a contract to provide mental health or
207     substance abuse programs, or services for the local mental health authority or substance abuse
208     authority; or
209          (ii) a guest or visitor whose access to a child or a vulnerable adult is directly supervised
210     at all times.
211          (4) (a) "Boarding school" means a private school that:
212          (i) uses a regionally accredited education program;
213          (ii) provides a residence to the school's students:

214          (A) for the purpose of enabling the school's students to attend classes at the school; and
215          (B) as an ancillary service to educating the students at the school;
216          (iii) has the primary purpose of providing the school's students with an education, as
217     defined in Subsection (4)(b)(i); and
218          (iv) (A) does not provide the treatment or services described in Subsection (28)(a); or
219          (B) provides the treatment or services described in Subsection (28)(a) on a limited
220     basis, as described in Subsection (4)(b)(ii).
221          (b) (i) For purposes of Subsection (4)(a)(iii), "education" means a course of study for
222     one or more of grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
223          (ii) For purposes of Subsection (4)(a)(iv)(B), a private school provides the treatment or
224     services described in Subsection (28)(a) on a limited basis if:
225          (A) the treatment or services described in Subsection (28)(a) are provided only as an
226     incidental service to a student; and
227          (B) the school does not:
228          (I) specifically solicit a student for the purpose of providing the treatment or services
229     described in Subsection (28)(a); or
230          (II) have a primary purpose of providing the treatment or services described in
231     Subsection (28)(a).
232          (c) "Boarding school" does not include a therapeutic school.
233          (5) "Child" means a person under 18 years of age.
234          (6) "Child placing" means receiving, accepting, or providing custody or care for [any] a
235     child, temporarily or permanently, for the purpose of:
236          (a) finding a person to adopt the child;
237          (b) placing the child in a home for adoption; or
238          (c) foster home placement.
239          (7) "Client" means an individual who receives or has received services from a licensee.
240          (8) "Day treatment" means specialized treatment that is provided to:
241          (a) a client for less than 24 hours a day; and
242          (b) four or more persons who:
243          (i) are unrelated to the owner or provider; and
244          (ii) have emotional, psychological, developmental, physical, or behavioral

245     dysfunctions, impairments, or chemical dependencies.
246          (9) "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
247          (10) "Department contractor" means an individual who:
248          (a) provides services under a contract with the department; and
249          (b) due to the contract with the department, has or will likely have direct access to a
250     child or vulnerable adult.
251          (11) "Direct access" means that an individual has, or likely will have:
252          [(a) contact with or access to a child or vulnerable adult that provides the individual
253     with an opportunity for personal communication or touch; or]
254          (a) an opportunity for personal touch or communication with a child or vulnerable
255     adult; or
256          (b) an opportunity to view medical, financial, or other confidential personal identifying
257     information of [the child, the child's parents or legal guardians, or the] a child, a child's parent
258     or legal guardian, or a vulnerable adult.
259          (12) "Directly supervised" means that an individual is [being supervised] under the
260     uninterrupted visual and auditory surveillance of another individual who has a current
261     background screening approval issued by the office.
262          (13) "Director" means the director of the Office of Licensing.
263          (14) "Domestic violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section 77-36-1.
264          (15) "Domestic violence treatment program" means a nonresidential program designed
265     to provide psychological treatment and educational services to perpetrators and victims of
266     domestic violence.
267          (16) "Elder adult" means a person 65 years of age or older.
268          (17) "Executive director" means the executive director of the department.
269          (18) "Foster home" means a temporary residential living environment for the care of:
270          (a) (i) fewer than five foster children in the home of a licensed foster parent; or
271          (ii) five or more foster children in the home of a licensed foster parent if there are no
272     foster children or if there is one foster child in the home at the time of the placement of a
273     sibling group; or
274          (b) (i) fewer than four foster children in the home of a certified foster parent; or
275          (ii) four or more foster children in the home of a certified foster parent if there are no

276     foster children or if there is one foster child in the home at the time of the placement of a
277     sibling group.
278          (19) (a) "Human services program" means a:
279          (i) foster home;
280          (ii) therapeutic school;
281          (iii) youth program;
282          (iv) resource family home;
283          (v) recovery residence; or
284          (vi) facility or program that provides:
285          (A) secure treatment;
286          (B) inpatient treatment;
287          (C) residential treatment;
288          (D) residential support;
289          (E) adult day care;
290          (F) day treatment;
291          (G) outpatient treatment;
292          (H) domestic violence treatment;
293          (I) child placing services;
294          (J) social detoxification; or
295          (K) any other human services that are required by contract with the department to be
296     licensed with the department.
297          (b) "Human services program" does not include:
298          (i) a boarding school[.]; or
299          (ii) a residential vocational and life skills program.
300          (20) "Licensee" means an individual or a human services program licensed by the
301     office.
302          (21) "Local government" means a city, town, metro township, or county.
303          (22) "Minor" has the same meaning as "child."
304          (23) "Office" means the Office of Licensing within the Department of Human Services.
305          (24) "Outpatient treatment" means individual, family, or group therapy or counseling
306     designed to improve and enhance social or psychological functioning for those whose physical

307     and emotional status allows them to continue functioning in their usual living environment.
308          (25) (a) "Recovery residence" means, except as provided in Subsection (25)(b), a
309     home, residence, or facility that meets at least two of the following requirements:
310          (i) provides a supervised living environment for individuals recovering from a
311     substance abuse disorder;
312          (ii) provides a living environment in which more than half of the individuals in the
313     residence are recovering from a substance abuse disorder;
314          (iii) provides or arranges for residents to receive services related to their recovery from
315     a substance abuse disorder, either on or off site;
316          (iv) is held out as a living environment in which individuals recovering from substance
317     abuse disorders live together to encourage continued sobriety; or
318          (v) (A) receives public funding; or
319          (B) is run as a business venture, either for-profit or not-for-profit.
320          (b) "Recovery residence" does not mean:
321          (i) a residential treatment program;
322          (ii) residential support; [or]
323          (iii) a home, residence, or facility, in which:
324          (A) residents, by their majority vote, establish, implement, and enforce policies
325     governing the living environment, including the manner in which applications for residence are
326     approved and the manner in which residents are expelled;
327          (B) residents equitably share rent and housing-related expenses; and
328          (C) a landlord, owner, or operator does not receive compensation, other than fair
329     market rental income, for establishing, implementing, or enforcing policies governing the
330     living environment[.];or
331          (iv) a residential vocational and life skills program.
332          (26) "Regular business hours" means:
333          (a) the hours during which services of any kind are provided to a client; or
334          (b) the hours during which a client is present at the facility of a licensee.
335          (27) (a) "Residential support" means arranging for or providing the necessities of life
336     as a protective service to individuals or families who have a disability or who are experiencing
337     a dislocation or emergency that prevents them from providing these services for themselves or

338     their families.
339          (b) "Residential support" includes providing a supervised living environment for
340     persons with dysfunctions or impairments that are:
341          (i) emotional;
342          (ii) psychological;
343          (iii) developmental; or
344          (iv) behavioral.
345          (c) Treatment is not a necessary component of residential support.
346          (d) "Residential support" does not include:
347          (i) a recovery residence; [or]
348          (ii) a residential vocational and life skills program; or
349          [(ii)] (iii) residential services that are performed:
350          (A) exclusively under contract with the Division of Services for People with
351     Disabilities; or
352          (B) in a facility that serves fewer than four individuals.
353          (28) (a) "Residential treatment" means a 24-hour group living environment [for four or
354     more individuals unrelated to the owner or provider] that offers room or board and specialized
355     treatment, behavior modification, rehabilitation, discipline, emotional growth, or habilitation
356     services [for persons with] for four or more individuals who are unrelated to the owner or
357     provider and who have emotional, psychological, developmental, or behavioral dysfunctions,
358     impairments, or chemical dependencies.
359          (b) "Residential treatment" does not include a:
360          (i) boarding school;
361          (ii) foster home; [or]
362          (iii) recovery residence[.]; or
363          (iv) residential vocational and life skills program.
364          (29) "Residential treatment program" means a human services program that provides:
365          (a) residential treatment; or
366          (b) secure treatment.
367          (30) "Residential vocational and life skills program" means the same as that term is
368     defined in Section 35A-3-102.

369          [(30)] (31) (a) "Secure treatment" means 24-hour specialized residential treatment or
370     care for persons whose current functioning is such that they cannot live independently or in a
371     less restrictive environment.
372          (b) "Secure treatment" differs from residential treatment to the extent that it requires
373     intensive supervision, locked doors, and other security measures that are imposed on residents
374     with neither their consent nor control.
375          [(31)] (32) "Social detoxification" means short-term residential services [for persons
376     who are experiencing or have recently experienced drug or alcohol intoxication,] that are
377     provided outside of a health care facility licensed under Title 26, Chapter 21, Health Care
378     Facility Licensing and Inspection Act, for individuals who are experiencing or have recently
379     experienced drug or alcohol intoxication, and that include:
380          (a) room and board for persons who are unrelated to the owner or manager of the
381     facility;
382          (b) specialized rehabilitation to acquire sobriety; and
383          (c) aftercare services.
384          [(32)] (33) "Substance abuse treatment program" means a program:
385          (a) designed to provide:
386          (i) specialized drug or alcohol treatment;
387          (ii) rehabilitation; or
388          (iii) habilitation services; and
389          (b) that provides the treatment or services described in Subsection [(32)] (33)(a) to
390     persons with:
391          (i) a diagnosed substance abuse disorder; or
392          (ii) chemical dependency disorder.
393          [(33)] (34) "Therapeutic school" means a residential group living facility:
394          (a) for four or more individuals that are not related to:
395          (i) the owner of the facility; or
396          (ii) the primary service provider of the facility;
397          (b) that serves students who have a history of failing to function:
398          (i) at home;
399          (ii) in a public school; or

400          (iii) in a nonresidential private school; and
401          (c) that offers:
402          (i) room and board; and
403          (ii) an academic education integrated with:
404          (A) specialized structure and supervision; or
405          (B) services or treatment related to:
406          (I) a disability;
407          (II) emotional development;
408          (III) behavioral development;
409          (IV) familial development; or
410          (V) social development.
411          [(34)] (35) "Unrelated persons" means persons other than parents, legal guardians,
412     grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles, or aunts.
413          [(35)] (36) "Vulnerable adult" means an elder adult or an adult who has a temporary or
414     permanent mental or physical impairment that substantially affects the person's ability to:
415          (a) provide personal protection;
416          (b) provide necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, or mental or other health care;
417          (c) obtain services necessary for health, safety, or welfare;
418          (d) carry out the activities of daily living;
419          (e) manage the adult's own resources; or
420          (f) comprehend the nature and consequences of remaining in a situation of abuse,
421     neglect, or exploitation.
422          [(36)] (37) (a) "Youth program" means a nonresidential program designed to provide to
423     minors behavioral, substance abuse, or mental health services [to minors] that:
424          (i) serves adjudicated or nonadjudicated youth;
425          (ii) charges a fee for its services;
426          (iii) may or may not provide host homes or other arrangements for overnight
427     accommodation of the youth;
428          (iv) may or may not provide all or part of its services in the outdoors;
429          (v) may or may not limit or censor access to parents or guardians; and
430          (vi) prohibits or restricts a minor's ability to leave the program at any time of the

431     minor's own free will.
432          (b) "Youth program" does not include recreational programs such as Boy Scouts, Girl
433     Scouts, 4-H, and other such organizations.






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel