MINUTES OF THE
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 • 8:00 a.m. • 215 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Michael S. Kennedy, Chair
Sen. Jacob L. Anderegg
Sen. David G. Buxton
Sen. Jen Plumb
Sen. Evan J. Vickers
Sen. Chris H. Wilson

Members Absent:
Sen. Luz Escamilla

Staff Present:
Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst
Karen C. Allred, 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 8:00 a.m.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to approve the minutes of the February 10, 2023, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 2-0-5.
Yeas - 2Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
1.1st Sub. H.B. 166 Mental Health Professional Licensing Amendments (Gricius, S.)
Rep. Stephanie Gricius presented the bill.
Michelle McOmber, Chief Executive Officer, Utah Medical Association, spoke to the bill.
Ben Shelton, Policy Associate, Libertas Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Stroup, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Chair Kennedy moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 166 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 166.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Chair Kennedy moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 166 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. E. Vickers
2.S.B. 196 Medical Expense Liability Amendments (Pitcher, S.)
This bill was not considered.
3.1st Sub. H.B. 72 Medical Cannabis Governance Revisions (Brooks, W.)
Rep. Walt Brooks presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 72 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 72.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 72 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. E. Vickers
4.S.B. 204 Autism Coverage Amendments (Bramble, C.)
Sen. Curtis Bramble presented the bill with the assistance of Cheryl Smith, Autism Council of Utah, and mother of Carson of the Carson Smith Scholarship.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to pass S.B. 204 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. E. Vickers
5.2nd Sub. H.B. 66 Behavioral Health Crisis Response Commission Amendments (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Steve Eliason presented the bill.
Taryn Hiatt, Area Director, Utah Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sherri Wittwer, Board of Directors, Mental Health of America, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rob Wesemann, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Michelle McOmber, Chief Executive Officer, Utah Medical Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Charles W. Ellis spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to replace 2nd Substitute H.B. 66 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 66.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. E. Vickers
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 66 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. E. Vickers
6.2nd Sub. H.B. 228 Unprofessional Conduct Amendments (Petersen, M.)
Rep. Mike Petersen presented the bill.
Marina Low, Policy Director, Equality Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brooke Stephens, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rebecca Day spoke to the bill.
Taryn Hiatt, Area Director, Utah Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, spoke in favor of the bill.
Gayle Ruzicka, President, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mike Ostermiller spoke in favor of the bill.
Dalane England, United Women's Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 228 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. E. Vickers
7.1st Sub. H.B. 248 Mental Health Services for Adults (Judkins, M.)
Rep. Marsha Judkins presented the bill with the assistance of Sherri Wittwer, Board of Directors, Mental Health of America.
Mental Health Services for Adults
Jack Tidrow, President, Professional Fire Fighters of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Taryn Hiatt, Area Director, Utah Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mindy Deeter, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, spoke in favor of the bill.
Andrew Riggle, Public Policy Advocate, Disability Law Center of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ivy Flinders spoke in favor of the bill.
Kristen Chevrier spoke to the bill.
Mark Allen spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 248 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-2-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 3
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. C. Wilson
8.S.B. 193 Pharmaceutical Amendments (Vickers, E.)
Sen. Evan J. Vickers presented the bill.
Mike Sontagg, Utah Health Insurance Association, spoke to the bill.
Kavish Choudary, Chief Pharmacy Officer, University of Utah Health, spoke in favor of the bill.
Carrie Dunford, State Board of Pharmacy, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Plumb moved to pass S.B. 193 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Vickers moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Anderegg
Sen. M. Kennedy
Sen. J. Plumb
Sen. E. Vickers
Sen. D. Buxton
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Kennedy adjourned the meeting at 9:58 a.m.