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MINUTES OF THE SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

    STANDING COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 7, 2007
ROOM W020, WEST OFFICE BUILDING,
STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX



Members Present:        Sen. D. Chris Buttars, Chair
                Sen. Allen M. Christensen
                Sen. Brent H. Goodfellow
                Sen. Peter C. Knudson
                Sen. Scott D. McCoy
    
Staff Present:            Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst
                Nedra B. Duzett, Secretary

Public Speakers Present:    Elizabeth Beall, Christian Science
                Linda Hilton, Interfaith Roundtable
                Scott Hansen
                Bill Tibbitts, Director, Anti-Hunger Action Committee
                Tammy Diaz, citizen
                Adam Burnett, Coalition for Religious Organizations
                Kelly Atkinson, Executive Director, Utah Health Insurance Assn.
                Dr. Joseph Jarvis, Chair, Utah Health Policy Project
                Eliana White, Utah Health Insurance Assn.
                Judy Hilman, Executive Director, Utah Health Policy Project

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

Committee Chair Buttars called the meeting to order at 2:08 p.m.

    MOTION: Sen. McCoy moved to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2007 meeting.

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

1.    H.B. 57 Public Health Amendments (B. Last)

    
Rep. Last explained the bill.

    The following individuals spoke in support of the bill.
            
            Elizabeth Beall, Christian Science
            Linda Hilton, Interfaith Roundtable
            Scott Hansen




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

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

     MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to place the bill on the consent calendar.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Goodfellow and Sen. Knudson absent for the vote.
    
2.    S.J.R. 4 Resolution Establishing Right to Health Care (S. McCoy)

     MOTION: Sen. McCoy moved to delete in title and body S.J.R. 4 and replace it with 1st Substitute S.J.R. 4, "Resolution Establishing Right to Health Care."

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

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

1.    Page 1, Line 1 :    

             1     
RESOLUTION
{   ESTABLISHING RIGHT   }        RELATING       TO


2.    Page 1, Line 14 :    

             14          .    require the Legislature to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a
{   state   }        statewide      


3.    Page 1, Line 16 :    

             16      insurance
{   .   }        ; and

    . require the Legislature to enact statutes interpreting and implementing this provision.  


4.    Page 2, Line 28 :    

             28          
  (1)       The Legislature shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of a      {   state   }        statewide       system


5.    Page 2, Line 29 :    


             29      for the provision of affordable, medically necessary health care services or insurance.
    
  (2) The Legislature shall enact statutes interpreting and implementing Subsection (1).      

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

    Sen. McCoy explained the substitute bill as amended.

    The following individuals spoke in support of the bill.
    
            Bill Tibbitts, Director, Anti-Hunger Action Committee
            Tammy Diaz, citizen
            Adam Burnett, Coalition for Religious Organizations

    Kelly Atkinson, Executive Director, Utah Health Insurance Assn., spoke in opposition to the bill.                

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

    The motion failed with Sen. Goodfellow and Sen. McCoy voting in favor, and
    Sen. Christensen, Sen. Knudson, and Chair Buttars voting in opposition.


3.    S.C.R. 6 Resolution Urging States Rights to Innovate Health Care (G. Bell)

     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to delete in title and body S.C.R. 6 and replace it with 1st Substitute S.C.R. 6, Resolution Urging States Rights to Innovate Health Care."

    The motion passed unanimously.

    Sen. Bell explained the substitute bill.

    The following individuals spoke in support of the bill.
            
            Dr. Joseph Jarvis, Chair, Utah Health Policy Project
            Judy Hilman, Executive Director, Utah Health Policy Project

    Eliana White, Utah Health Insurance Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.

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



    The motion passed with Sen. Christensen voting in opposition.

     MOTION: Sen. Knudson moved to adjourn.

    The motion passed unanimously.    

Chair Buttars adjourned the meeting at 3:10 p.m.

Minutes reported by Nedra Duzett, Secretary.



                    _______________________________________
                     Sen. D. Chris Buttars, Committee Chair