Revised June 6, 2002
Members Present:
Rep. Carl R. Saunders, Chair
Sen. D. Edgar Allen
Sen. Peter C. Knudson
Rep. Patrice M. Arent
Rep. Trisha S. Beck
Rep. Glenn A. Donnelson
Rep. Patricia W. Jones
Rep. David Litvack
Rep. Rebecca D. Lockhart
Rep. Steven R. Mascaro
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
Rep. Jack A. Seitz
Rep. Mike Thompson
Members Absent:
Sen. Terry R. Spencer
Rep. Wayne A. Harper
Rep. Paul Ray
Rep. Glenn L. Way
Staff Present:
Mr. Mark D. Andrews, Research Analyst
Ms. Catherine J. Dupont, Associate General Counsel
Ms. Alicia M. Laughlin, Legislative Secretary
1. Committee Business
Chair Saunders called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.
MOTION: Sen. Allen moved to approve the minutes of the January 16 and April 24, 2002 meetings. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Interim Study Topics
Mr. Andrews reviewed the Legislative Management Committee's response to the committee's proposed interim study agenda. The Management Committee did not approve Master Study Resolution Item #5, "Decertifying unused nursing home beds," and Item #79, "Optometry law."
3. Accessible Housing for the Disabled
Rep. Mascaro introduced the issue and explained that accessible housing is important not only for persons with a disability but also for the elderly.
Ms. Fraser Nelson, Disability Law Center, distributed "Policy Statement: The Creation of Accessible Housing." She presented a proposal to increase the availability of accessible housing. She discussed the benefits of an accessible home and the changes necessary to make a home accessible. She indicated that incentives could be made available to private and public developers to increase the number of accessible homes.
Ms. Nelson said that it is easier to build accessible homes than trying to re-model homes to make them accessible. She recommended that the committee draft a statewide statute or a model municipal or county ordinance to require all new construction of publicly funded housing in Utah to be "visit-able." She also recommended that an "Easy Living Home" certificate be created as an incentive to build privately funded accessible homes.
Mr. Roger Bourdnick, Director, ASSIST, said that his organization finds ways to modify existing homes to make them accessible to persons with disabilities. He indicated that funding for these modifications is available through his organization, Wells Fargo Bank, and Utah Housing.
Ms. Joyce Dalcourt, Information Officer, Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, said that the Council has identified housing as a crucial issue for people with disabilities. She indicated that the Council has funded a small grant for the Disability Law Center to provide training to architects, builders, and others within the construction industry to make them aware of accessibility. She indicated that development of a model ordinance would be helpful.
MOTION: Rep. Arent moved that Ms. Nelson work with staff and return in September with legislation to address the availability of accessible housing. The motion passed unanimously.
4. FACT (Families, Agencies, and Communities Together for Children and Youth At Risk)
Mr. Thor Nilsen, Analyst, Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, gave a brief overview of his office's proposed study of the FACT program. He invited input from the committee.
Ms. Jan Ferre, Legislative Coalition for People With Disabilities, spoke in favor of the FACT program.
Ms. Gayle Ruzika, Utah Eagle Forum, requested that the committee consider making FACT less intrusive in families.
Ms. Jayne Wolfe, Executive Director, The Family Support Center, spoke in favor of the FACT program and indicated that FACT has allowed each agency involved to come together and create a single service plan to meet all of a family's needs. She indicated that FACT allows agencies to do their jobs efficiently.
Mr. Conrad Lloyd, FOCUS, requested that the committee consider the involvement of non-custodial parents and extended families.
Ms. Nano Podowsky, Project Hope, Salt Lake City School District, indicated that FACT eliminates the practice of using multiple service plans and case managers.
Rep. Litvack suggested the Fiscal Analyst's study consider the effects of recent budget reductions to FACT.
5. Obesity
Chair Saunders presented a video by the National Conference of State Legislatures outlining the causes, effects, costs, and potential policy approaches for dealing with overweight and obesity. The committee discussed the issue. Sen. Knudson recommended the committee receive a report from the State Office of Education as follow-up to the committee's work last year.
6. Calcium Initiative
Rep. Saunders introduced the topic and indicated that the Indiana has already adopted the calcium initiative.
Ms. Dupont presented draft legislation, "Calcium Initiative."
Chair Saunders indicated that the proposed legislation would require state agencies or related entities that receive funding from the state to purchase calcium-enriched products when those products are of the same type, quality, and price as non-enriched products that would otherwise be purchased.
Mr. Douglas Richens, State Purchasing Director, indicated that his agency would be responsible for implementing the proposed legislation. He indicated that he did not think the proposed legislation would pose a problem if it passed. He recommended that the proposal be presented to schools.
Ms. Helen Goddard, Director, Division of Aging and Adult Services, commented on the draft legislation. She indicated that the division's concern is for a senior's overall diet, that federal law requires a nutritionist to approve all meal plans developed by aging agencies, and that calcium is not the only issue for seniors served under the division.
Chair Saunders invited committee members to sponsor the proposed legislation.
7. Other Business
None.
8. Adjourn
MOTION: Rep. Donnelson moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Arent, Rep. Litvack, and Rep. Lockhart absent for the vote.
Chair Saunders adjourned the meeting at 4:10 p.m.