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MINUTES OF THE SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

    STANDING COMMITTEE
JANUARY 24, 2006
ROOM W020, WEST OFFICE BUILDING,
STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX



Members Present:        Sen. Allen M. Christensen, Chair
                Sen. Gregory S. Bell
                Sen. Brent H. Goodfellow
                Sen. Peter C. Knudson
                Sen. Scott D. McCoy
                
Member Excused:        President John L .Valentine
        
Staff Present:            Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst
                Nedra B. Duzett, Secretary

Public Speakers Present:    Bob Bunnell, Utah Academy of Physician Assistants
                Joyce Dolcourt, The Arc of Utah
                Steve Erickson, Utah Issues

A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Sen. Christensen called the meeting to order at 2:20 p.m.

MOTION: Sen. McCoy moved to approve the minutes of the Jan.18, 2006 meeting.

The motion passed unanimously.

1.    S.B. 0104 Prescribing Practices for Schedule II Drugs (P. Knudson)

    This bill was not discussed.

2.    S.B. 0141 Response to Hippa Changes (P. Knudson)

    Sen. Knudson explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to adopt the following amendment:


1.    Page 1, Line 1 :    

             1     
RESPONSE TO
{   HIPPA   }        HIPAA       CHANGES

         
    
The motion passed unanimously.




     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously.

3.    S.B. 0146 Physician Assistants and Public Health Amendments
(G. Bell)

    Sen. Bell explained the bill.

    Bob Bunnell, Executive Director, Utah Academy of Physician Assistants, spoke in support of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously.

4.    S.B. 0152 Medicaid Task Force (S. Killpack)

    Sen. Killpack explained the bill.

    The following individuals spoke in support of the bill:
        Dr. David Sundwall, Utah Department of Health
        Joyce Dolcourt, The Arc of Utah
        Steve Erickson, Utah Issues

     MOTION: Sen. McCoy moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Goodfellow absent for the vote.

5.    H.B. 0021 Child Welfare Revisions (W. Harper)

    Rep. Harper explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Knudson moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously.

6.    H.B. 0025 Child Welfare - Licensing and Management Information Systems
    
(W. Harper)

    Rep. Harper proposed the following amendments to the bill:





1.    Page 2, Line 40a
    House Floor Amendments
    1-18-2006 :
    

             40a          
{   H. 62A-4a-101, as last amended by Chapter 95, Laws of Utah 2005 .H   }


2.    Page 14, Line 405a through Page 14d, Line 405en
    a.House Floor Amendments
    b.1-18-2006 :
    

             405a          
{   H. Section 6. Section 62A-4a-101 is amended to read:

             405b          62A-4a-101.   Definitions.
             405c          As used in this chapter:
             405d          (1) "Abuse" means:
             405e          (a) actual or threatened nonaccidental physical or mental harm;
             405f          (b) negligent treatment;
             405g          (c) sexual exploitation; or
             405h          (d) any sexual abuse.
             405i          (2) "Adoption services" means:
             405j          (a) placing children for adoption;
             405k          (b) subsidizing adoptions under Section 62A-4a-105;
             405l          (c) supervising adoption placements until the adoption is finalized by the court;
             405m          (d) conducting adoption studies;
             405n          (e) preparing adoption reports upon request of the court; and
             405o          (f) providing postadoptive placement services, upon request of a family, for the purpose of
             405p      stabilizing a possible disruptive placement.
             405q          (3) "Board" means the Board of Child and Family Services established in accordance with
             405r      Sections 62A-1-105, 62A-1-107, and 62A-4a-102.
             405s          (4) "Child" has the same meaning as "minor," as defined in this section.
             405t          (5) "Consumer" means a person who receives services offered by the division in accordance
             405u      with this chapter.
             405v          (6) "Chronic physical abuse" means repeated or patterned physical abuse.
             405w          (7) "Chronic neglect" means a repeated or patterned failure or refusal by a

parent, guardian,
             405x      or custodian to provide necessary care for a minor's safety, morals, or well-being.
             405y          (8) "Chronic emotional abuse" means repeated or patterned emotional abuse.
             405z          (9) "Custody," with regard to the division, means the custody of a child in the division as of
             405aa      the date of disposition.
             405ab          (10) "Day-care services" means care of a child for a portion of the day which is less than 24
             405ac      hours:
             405ad          (a) in the child's own home by a responsible person; or
             405ae          (b) outside of the child's home in a:
             405af          (i) day-care center;
             405ag          (ii) family group home; or
             405ah          (iii) family child care home.
             405ai          (11) "Dependent child" or "dependency" means a child, or the condition of a child, who is
             405aj      homeless or without proper care through no fault of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian.
             405ak          (12) "Director" means the director of the Division of Child and Family Services.
             405al          (13) "Division" means the Division of Child and Family Services.
             405am          (14) (a) "Domestic violence services" means:
             405an          (i) temporary shelter, treatment, and related services to persons who are victims of abuse and
             405ao      their dependent children; and
             405ap          (ii) treatment services for domestic violence perpetrators.
             405aq          (b) As used in this Subsection (14):
             405ar          (i) "abuse" means the same as that term is defined in Subsection 30-6-1(1); and
             405as          (ii) "domestic violence perpetrator" means a person who is alleged to have committed, has
             405at      been convicted of, or has pled guilty to an act of domestic violence as defined in Subsection 77-36-1(2).
             405au          (15) "Homemaking service" means the care of individuals in their domiciles, and help given to
             405av      individual caretaker relatives to achieve improved household and family

management through the
             405aw      services of a trained homemaker.
             405ax          (16) (a) "Minor" means a person under 18 years of age.
             405ay          (b) "Minor" may also include a person under 21 years of age for whom the division has been
             405az      specifically ordered by the juvenile court to provide services.
             405ba          (17) "Natural parent" means a minor's biological or adoptive parent, and includes a minor's
             405bb      noncustodial parent.
             405bc          (18) (a) "Neglect" means:
             405bd          (i) abandonment of a child, except as provided in Part 8, Safe Relinquishment of a Newborn
             405be      Child;
             405bf          (ii) subjecting a child to mistreatment or abuse;
             405bg          (iii) lack of proper parental care by reason of the fault or habits of the parent, guardian, or
             405bh      custodian;
             405bi          (iv) failure or refusal of a parent, guardian, or custodian to provide proper or necessary
             405bj      subsistence, education, or medical care, including surgery or psychiatric services when required, or
             405bk      any other care necessary for the child's health, safety, morals, or well-being; or
             405bl          (v) a child at risk of being neglected or abused because another child in the same home is
             405bm      neglected or abused.
             405bn          (b) The aspect of neglect relating to education, described in Subsection (18)(a)(iv), means that,
             405bo      after receiving notice that a child has been frequently absent from school without good cause, or
             405bp      that the child has failed to cooperate with school authorities in a reasonable manner, a parent or
             405bq      guardian fails to make a good faith effort to ensure that the child receives an appropriate education.
             405br          (c) A parent or guardian legitimately practicing religious beliefs and who, for that reason, does


             405bs      not provide specified medical treatment for a child, is not guilty of neglect.
             405bt          (d) (i) Notwithstanding Subsection (18)(a), a health care decision made for a child by the
             405bu      child's parent or guardian does not constitute neglect unless the state or other party to the proceeding
             405bv      shows, by clear and convincing evidence, that the health care decision is not reasonable and informed.
             405bw          (ii) Nothing in Subsection (18)(d)(i) may prohibit a parent or guardian from exercising the
             405bx      right to obtain a second health care opinion.
             405by          (19) "Protective custody," with regard to the division, means the shelter of a child by the
             405bz      division from the time the child is removed from the child's home until the earlier of:
             405ca          (a) the shelter hearing; or
             405cb          (b) the child's return home.
             405cc          (20) "Protective services" means expedited services that are provided:
             405cd          (a) in response to evidence of neglect, abuse, or dependency of a minor;
             405ce          (b) to a cohabitant who is neglecting or abusing a child, in order to:
             405cf          (i) help the cohabitant develop recognition of the cohabitant's duty of care and of the causes of
             405cg      neglect or abuse; and
             405ch          (ii) strengthen the cohabitant's ability to provide safe and acceptable care; and
             405ci          (c) in cases where the child's welfare is endangered:
             405cj          (i) to bring the situation to the attention of the appropriate juvenile court and law enforcement
             405ck      agency;
             405cl          (ii) to cause a protective order to be issued for the protection of the minor, when appropriate;
             405cm      and
             405cn          (iii) to protect the child from the circumstances that endanger the child's welfare including,
             405co      when appropriate:
             405cp          (A) removal from the child's home;
             405cq          (B) placement in substitute care; and


             405cr          (C) petitioning the court for termination of parental rights.
             405cs          (21) "Services to unwed parents" means social, educational, and medical services arranged for
             405ct      or provided to unwed parents to help them plan for themselves and the unborn child.
             405cu          (22) "Severe neglect" means neglect that causes or threatens to cause serious harm to a minor.
             405cv          (23) "Shelter care" means the temporary care of minors in nonsecure facilities.
             405cw          (24) "State" means:
             405cx          (a) a state of the United States;
             405cy          (b) the District of Columbia;
             405cz          (c) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
             405da          (d) the Virgin Islands;
             405db          (e) Guam;
             405dc          (f) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; or
             405dd          (g) a territory or possession administered by the United States.
             405de          (25) "Severe emotional abuse" means emotional abuse that causes or threatens to cause
             405df      serious harm to a minor.
             405dg          (26) "Severe physical abuse" means physical abuse that causes or threatens to cause serious
             405dh      harm to a minor.
             405di          (27) "State plan" means the written description of the programs for children, youth, and
             405dj      family services administered by the division in accordance with federal law.
             405dk          (28) "Status offense" means a violation of the law that would not be a violation but for the age
             405dl      of the offender.
             405dm          (29) "Substantiated" or "substantiation" means a judicial finding based on a preponderance
             405dn      of the evidence that abuse or neglect occurred. Each allegation made or identified in a given case shall
             405do      be considered separately in determining whether there should be a finding of substantiated.
             405dp          (30) "Substitute care" means:


             405dq          (a) the placement of a minor in a family home, group care facility, or other placement outside
             405dr      the minor's own home, either at the request of a parent or other responsible relative, or upon court
             405ds      order, when it is determined that continuation of care in the child's own home would be contrary to
             405dt      the child's welfare;
             405du          (b) services provided for a child awaiting placement; and
             405dv          (c) the licensing and supervision of a substitute care facility.
             405dw          (31) "Supported" means a finding by the division based on the evidence available at the
             405dx      completion of an investigation that there is a reasonable basis to conclude that abuse, neglect, or
             405dy      dependency occurred. Each allegation made or identified during the course of the investigation shall
             405dz      be considered separately in determining whether there should be a finding of supported.
             405ea          (32) "Temporary custody," with regard to the division, means the custody of a child in the
             405eb      division from the date of the shelter hearing until disposition.
             405ec          (33) "Transportation services" means travel assistance given to an individual with escort
             405ed      service, if necessary, to and from community facilities and resources as part of a service plan.
             405ee          (34) "Unsubstantiated" means H. except as provided in Subsections 62A-4a-1008(1)(a) and
             405ef      (1)(b)(ii), .H a judicial finding that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that abuse or neglect
             405eg      occurred.
             405eh          (35) "Unsupported" means a finding at the completion of an investigation that there is
             405ei      insufficient evidence to conclude that abuse, neglect, or dependency occurred. However, a finding of
             405ej      unsupported means also that the division worker did not conclude that the allegation was without


             405ek      merit.
             405el      (36) "Without merit" means a finding at the completion of an investigation by the division, or
             405em      a judicial finding, that the alleged abuse, neglect, or dependency did not occur, or that the alleged
             405en      perpetrator was not responsible for the abuse, neglect, or dependency. .H  
}


Renumber remaining sections accordingly

3.    Page 29, Lines 865 through 874a :    

             865          [62A-4a-116.4].     62A-4a-1008. Timeframes for deletion of specified
             866      information or reports.
             867          (1)
{   H. (a)    For purposes of Subsection (1)(b)(ii) only, "unsubstantiated" means a

             867a      finding by the division that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that abuse or neglect
             867b      occurred.
             867c           (b) .H  
}
Unless the executive director determines that there is good cause for keeping a
             868      report of abuse or neglect in the Management Information System, based on standards
             869      established by rule, the division shall delete any reference to:
             870          H.
{   [   } (a)      {   ]   }      {   (i)   } .H a report that is H.      {   determined by the division to be   } .H without merit,

             870a      if no subsequent report involving the same alleged
             871      perpetrator H.
{   [   } has occurred      {   ]   }      {   is made   } .H within one year H.      {   after the day on which the

             871a      division determines that the report is without merit  
}
.H ; H.
{   [   } or      {   ]   }

             871b          
{   (ii)    a report that, before May 1, 2002, is determined by the division to be

             871c      unsubstantiated, if no subsequent report involving the same alleged perpetrator is made within
             871d      five years after the day on which the division determines that the report is unsubstantiated;
             871e          (iii)    a report that, on or after May 1, 2002, is determined by the division to be
             871f      unsupported, if no subsequent report involving the same alleged perpetrator is made

within
             871g      five years after the day on which the division determines that the report is
             871h      unsupported; or  
}

             872          

{   [   } (b)      {   ]   }      {   (iv)   } .H a report that [has been] is determined by a court of competent

             872a      jurisdiction to be
             873      unsubstantiated or without merit, if no subsequent report involving the same alleged
             874      perpetrator H.
{   [   } has occurred      {   ]   }      {   is made   } .H within five years H.      {   after the day on which the

             874a      court determines that the report is unsubstantiated or without merit  
}
.H .

     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to adopt the amendments to the bill.

    The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to pass the bill as amended.

    The motion passed unanimously.

7.    H.B. 0023 Office of Child Welfare Parental Defense Amendments (W. Harper)

    Rep. Harper explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Bell moved to pass the bill out favorably.

    The motion passed unanimously.

     MOTION: Sen. Bell moved to adjourn.

    The motion passed unanimously.

Sen. Christensen adjourned the meeting at 3:20 p.m.

Minutes reported by Nedra Duzett, Secretary.



                    _______________________________________
                     Sen. Allen Christensen, Committee Chair