H.B. 15

1

CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF SEXUALLY
2 TRANSMITTED DISEASES
3 2008 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Phil Riesen
6 Senate Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 Committee Note:
10 The Health and Human Services Interim Committee recommended this bill.
11 General Description:
12 This bill amends the Communicable Disease and Control Act of the Health Code.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . requires the Department of Health and local health departments to provide
16 information to the public and health care professionals about:
17 . the health consequences of untreated sexually transmitted diseases;
18 . medical options for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases; and
19 . services and medical benefits that are available for treatment of sexually
20 transmitted diseases.
21 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
22 This bill appropriates:
23 . as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $350,000 from the
24 General Fund for fiscal year 2007-08 to the Department of Health.
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 None
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:

28 AMENDS:
29 26-6-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1996, Chapter 211
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 26-6-3 is amended to read:
33 26-6-3. Authority to investigate and control epidemic infections and
34 communicable disease.
35 (1) The department has authority to investigate and control the causes of epidemic
36 infections and communicable disease, and shall provide for the detection, reporting,
37 prevention, and control of communicable diseases and epidemic infections or any other health
38 hazard which may affect the public health.
39 (2) (a) As part of the requirements of Subsection (1), the department shall distribute to
40 the public and to health care professionals:
41 (i) medically accurate information about sexually transmitted diseases that may cause
42 infertility and sterility if left untreated, including descriptions of:
43 (A) the probable side effects resulting from an untreated sexually transmitted disease,
44 including infertility and sterility;
45 (B) medically accepted treatment for sexually transmitted diseases; and
46 (C) the medical risks commonly associated with the medical treatment of sexually
47 transmitted diseases; and
48 (ii) information about:
49 (A) public and private services and agencies available to assist individuals with
50 obtaining treatment for the sexually transmitted disease;
51 (B) medical assistance benefits that may be available to the individual with the
52 sexually transmitted disease; and
53 (C) abstinence before marriage and fidelity after marriage being the surest prevention
54 of sexually transmitted disease.
55 (b) The information required by Subsection (2)(a):
56 (i) shall be distributed by the department and by local health departments free of
57 charge;
58 (ii) shall be relevant to the geographic location in which the information is distributed

59 by:
60 (A) listing addresses and telephone numbers for clinics and agencies providing services
61 in the geographic area in which the information is distributed; and
62 (B) providing the information in English as well as other languages that may be
63 appropriate for the geographic area.
64 (c) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c)(ii), the department shall develop written
65 material that includes the information required by this Subsection (2).
66 (ii) In addition to the written materials required by Subsection (2)(c)(i), the department
67 may distribute the information required by this Subsection (2) by any other methods the
68 department determines is appropriate to educate the public, including websites, toll free
69 telephone numbers, and the media.
70 (iii) If the information required by Subsection (2)(b)(ii)(A) is not included in the
71 written pamphlet developed by the department, the written material must include either a
72 website, or a 24-hour toll free telephone number that the public may use to obtain that
73 information.
74 Section 2. Appropriation.
75 As an ongoing appropriation, subject to future budget constraints, there is appropriated
76 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2007-08, $350,000 to the Department of Health to fund
77 the education, prevention, and treatment efforts required by Subsection 26-6-3 (2).




Legislative Review Note
as of 9-19-07 1:36 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel