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MINUTES OF THE
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
ROOM 223, STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
February 10, 2004

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Rep. Mike Thompson, Chair
            Rep. Steven R. Mascaro, Vice-Chair
            Rep. Calvin G. Bird
            Rep. Judy Ann Buffmire
            Rep. D. Gregg Buxton
            Rep. Marda Dillree
            Rep. Patricia W. Jones
            Rep. Bradley G. Last
            Rep. David Litvack
            Rep. Rebecca Lockhart
            
STAFF PRESENT:        Mark Andrews, Policy Analyst
            Sylvia Newton, House Secretary

Note:    A list of visitors and copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes.

Rep. Thompson called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.

MOTION: Rep. Litvack moved to approve the minutes of the February 6, 2004 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Bird and Rep. Mascaro absent for the vote.


H.B. 85    Health Insurance Mandate Amendments (Rep. R. Lockhart)

MOTION:    Rep. Dillree moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 1, Line 14 :    

             14              .    increase the adoption indemnity benefit to $
[[   3,155   ]]        4,000       ; and


2.    Page 2, Lines 41 through 42 :    

             41          (c) The [commissioner shall:(i) establish, by rule, the] amount of the adoption
             42      indemnity benefit provided under Subsection (1) [at a minimum of $2,500; and] is $
[[   3,155   ]]        4,000      


The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously with Rep. Bird and Rep. Mascaro absent for the vote.

Rep. Lockhart introduced H.B. 85 as amended and explained it to the committee.



Spoke in favor of the bill:    Kelly Atkinson, Utah Health Insurance Association

Spoke to the bill:    Mark Duke, Utah Adoption Council

MOTION:    Rep. Dillree moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously.


H.B. 236    Families, Agencies, and Communities Together Amendments (Rep. D. Litvack)

MOTION:    Rep. Litvack moved to delete in title and body H.B. 236 and replace it with 1st Sub. H.B. 236. The motion passed unanimously.

Rep. Litvack introduced 1st Sub. H.B. 236 and explained it to the committee.

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Karen Silver, Salt Lake Community Action Program

MOTION:    Rep. Mascaro moved to pass the substitute bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:    Rep. Litvack moved to place 1st Sub. H.B. 236 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously.


S.B. 70    Health Care Facility Licensing Exemption (Sen. J. Hickman)

Sen. Hickman introduced S.B. 70 and explained it to the committee.

Rep. Last declared a conflict of interest.

MOTION:    Rep. Buffmire moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Lockhart absent for the vote.


H.B. 244    Amendments to Asset Testing for Medicaid (Rep. D. Hogue)

Rep. Hogue introduced H.B. 244 and explained it to the committee.

Spoke to the bill:    Scott Williams, Executive Director, Department of Health (handout)
                Mike Hales, Department of Health


Spoke in favor of the bill:    Karen Crompton, Voices for Utah Children (handout)
                        Judi Hilman, Family Issues (handout)
                        Monica Obeyta, parent

MOTION:    Rep. Buffmire moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

S.B. 79    Repeal of Child Welfare Worker Designations (Sen. D. Eastman)

Rep. Dillree introduced S.B. 79 and explained it to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Mascaro moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Lockhart absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Dillree moved to place S.B. 79 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Lockhart absent for the vote.


S.B. 135    Center for Multicultural Health (Sen. J. Evans)

Sen Evans introduced S.B. 135 and explained it to the committee.

Spoke to the bill:    Scott Williams, Executive Director, Department of Health
                Myron Bateman, Tooele County Health Department

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Judi Hilman, Utah Issues (handout)
                        Jesse Soriano, University of Utah Health Sciences
                        Melissa Zito, American Indian Community (handout)
                        Deborah Hinton, Comunidades Unidas
                        Luz Robles, Utah Hispanic Advisory Council

MOTION:    Rep. Buffmire moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 39 through 42 :    

             39          (a) promote and coordinate the research, data production and dissemination, education,
             40      and health promotion activities of the department, local health departments, local mental health
             41      authorities, public schools, community-based organizations,
  indian tribes,       and other organizations within the

             42      state as they relate to multicultural and minority health issues;


The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously.

MOTION:    Rep. Litvack moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION:    Rep. Dillree moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:01 p.m.



                        __________________
                        Rep. Mike Thompson
                        Committee Chair