MINUTES OF THE
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 • 2:07 p.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Michael S. Kennedy, Chair
Sen. Jacob L. Anderegg
Sen. David G. Buxton
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. Jani Iwamoto
Sen. Evan J. Vickers
Sen. Chris H. Wilson

Staff Present:
Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst
Kristen Anderson, Committee Secretary
Lorna Wells, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Kennedy called the meeting to order at 2:21 p.m.
1. S.B. 41 Mental Health Access Amendments (Escamilla (Robles), L.)
Senator Escamilla presented the bill.
Stephen Foxley, Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations, Cambia Health Solutions, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Escamilla moved to replace SB0041 with 1st Substitute SB0041. The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1.
Yeas - 7Nays-0Abs-1
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION: Sen. Escamilla moved to pass 1st substitute SB0041 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-0.
Yeas - 8Nays-0Abs-0
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. C. Wilson
2. S.B. 47 Mental Health Crisis Intervention Council (Thatcher, D.)
Senator Thatcher presented the bill.
David Spatafore, Chief of Police Association, spoke to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Vickers moved to pass S.B. 47 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-0.
Yeas - 8Nays-0Abs-0
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. C. Wilson
3. S.B. 53 Behavioral Emergency Services Amendments (Thatcher, D.)
Senator Thatcher presented the bill.
Guy Dansie, EMS Systems Program Manager, Utah Department of Health, spoke to the bill.
Andrew Riggle, Public Policy Advocate, Disability Law Center, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Escamilla moved to pass S.B. 53 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-2.
Yeas - 6Nays-0Abs-2
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. E. Vickers
4. S.B. 63 Caregiver Compensation Amendments (Harper, W.)
Senator Harper presented the bill.
Kory Holdaway, Utah Home Health and Hospice Association of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tonya Hales, Department of Health, spoke to the bill.
Danny Harris, Advocacy Director, AARP Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Buxton moved to pass S.B. 63 out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-1.
Yeas - 7Nays-0Abs-1
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. E. Vickers
Heather Borksi, Deputy Director, Utah Department of Health, presented a COVID-19 update.
Dr. Angela Dunn, State Epidemiologist, Utah Department of Health, presented an update on COVID-19 case counts and case positivity.
Rich Lakin, Immunization Program Manager, Utah Department of Health, discussed COVID-19 vaccination.
Greg Bell, President/CEO, Utah Hospital Association, reviewed the impact of COVID-19 on hospitals.
Nate Checketts, Director, Medicaid and Health Financing, Utah Department of Health, presented an update on COVID-19 testing.
MOTION: Sen. Wilson moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-5.
Yeas - 3Nays-0Abs-5
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. E. Vickers
Chair Kennedy adjourned the meeting at 4:33 p.m.