H.B. 264

1

IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO
2 THE DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING TASK
3 FORCE
4 2004 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Sponsor: David L. Hogue
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill creates the Improving Mental Health Services to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
11 Task Force.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . establishes a legislative task force to study mental health services for the deaf and
15 hard-of-hearing;
16 . establishes task force membership, duties, and salaries and designates staff for the
17 task force;
18 . requires the task force to prepare a report; and
19 . requires the task force to report its findings to the Health and Human Services
20 Interim Committee before November 30, 2004.
21 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
22 This bill appropriates:
23 . $3,000 to the Senate;
24 . $3,000 to the House of Representatives; and
25 . $25,000 to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
26 Other Special Clauses:
27 This bill is repealed on November 30, 2004.

28 Uncodified Material Affected:
29 ENACTS UNCODIFIED MATERIAL
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Improving Mental Health Services to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing --
33 Creation -- Membership -- Interim rules followed -- Compensation -- Staff.
34 (1) There is created the Improving Mental Health Services to the Deaf and
35 Hard-of-Hearing Task Force consisting of the following members:
36 (a) three members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than
37 two of whom may be from the same political party; and
38 (b) three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
39 House of Representatives, no more than two of whom may be from the same political party.
40 (2) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
41 under Subsection (1)(a) as a cochair of the task force.
42 (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
43 of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(b) as a cochair of the task force.
44 (3) In conducting its business, the task force shall comply with the rules of legislative
45 interim committees.
46 (4) Salaries and expenses of the members of the task force shall be paid in accordance
47 with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rule 15.03.
48 (5) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support
49 to the task force.
50 Section 2. Duties -- Interim report.
51 (1) The task force shall review and make recommendations on the following issues:
52 (a) the state and county agency's understanding and ability to effectively serve the
53 mental health needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing populations;
54 (b) the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act mandates requiring equal access
55 for this population;
56 (c) the taxpayer burden of sending this population out-of-state for treatment; and
57 (d) the overall impact of lack of mental health services for deaf and hard-of-hearing.
58 (2) The task force shall review and recommend improvements in providing mental

59 health services to the state's deaf and hard-of-hearing populations.
60 (3) The task force shall meet no more than eight times from May to December.
61 (4) A final report, including any proposed legislation shall be presented to the Health
62 and Human Services Interim Committee before November 30, 2004.
63 Section 3. Appropriation.
64 There is appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal year 2003-04 only:
65 (1) $3,000 to the Senate to pay for the compensation and expenses of senators on the
66 task force;
67 (2) $3,000 to the House of Representatives to pay for the compensation and expenses
68 of representatives on the task force; and
69 (3) $25,000 to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel to pay for
70 staffing the task force.
71 Section 4. Repeal date.
72 This bill is repealed on November 30, 2004.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-29-04 8:25 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel