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H.B. 86 Enrolled

             1     

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES -

             2     
REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT

             3     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Rebecca D. Lockhart

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends provisions of the Open and Public Meetings Act, the Utah Human
             11      Services Code, and the Government Records Access and Management Act to provide
             12      review and oversight relating to fatalities and other matters that occur in relation to a
             13      person in the custody of, or who has received services from, the Department of Human
             14      Services.
             15      Highlighted Provisions:
             16          This bill:
             17          .    defines terms;
             18          .    amends provisions of the Open and Public Meetings Act to require that meetings of
             19      the Health and Human Services Interim Committee and the Child Welfare
             20      Legislative Oversight Panel to review individual cases be closed meetings;
             21          .    requires that investigations of abuse or neglect of a child who is in the custody of
             22      the Division of Child and Family Services shall be conducted by an independent
             23      child protective service investigator from the private sector;
             24          .    amends and consolidates other provisions relating to investigation of abuse or
             25      neglect of a child;
             26          .    codifies and amends provisions relating to fatality reviews and fatality review
             27      committees for the Department of Human Services;
             28          .    requires that a copy of a fatality review report and related documents be provided to
             29      the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel and the chairs of the Health


             30      and Human Services Interim Committee and the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel;
             31          .    gives the Health and Human Services Interim Committee authority to review, in a
             32      closed meeting, a fatality review report;
             33          .    requires the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel to review, in a closed
             34      meeting, certain fatality review reports;
             35          .    prohibits the discovery or admission of documents and testimony related to a
             36      fatality review report in a civil, judicial, or administrative proceeding;
             37          .    describes requirements relating to the annual executive summary on fatality review
             38      reports;
             39          .    amends the Government Records Access and Management Act to permit the
             40      disclosure of fatality review reports and related documents to the Office of
             41      Legislative Research and General Counsel and the chairs of the Health and Human
             42      Services Interim Committee and the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel;
             43      and
             44          .    makes technical changes.
             45      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             46          None
             47      Other Special Clauses:
             48          None
             49      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             50      AMENDS:
             51          52-4-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 263 and renumbered and
             52      amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 14
             53          52-4-205, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 14
             54          52-4-206, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             55          62A-4a-202.6, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 75
             56          62A-4a-409, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 3 and 299
             57          62A-4a-414, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 299


             58          63G-2-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 87, 91 and renumbered
             59      and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             60      ENACTS:
             61          62A-16-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             62          62A-16-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             63          62A-16-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             64          62A-16-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             65          62A-16-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             66          62A-16-204, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             67          62A-16-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             68          62A-16-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             69      REPEALS:
             70          62A-4a-202.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 58
             71     
             72      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             73          Section 1. Section 52-4-204 is amended to read:
             74           52-4-204. Closed meeting held upon vote of members -- Business -- Reasons for
             75      meeting recorded.
             76          (1) A closed meeting may be held:
             77          (a) if a quorum is present; and
             78          (b) (i) if two-thirds of the members of the public body present at an open meeting for
             79      which notice is given under Section 52-4-202 vote to approve closing the meeting[.]; or
             80          (ii) for a meeting that is required to be closed under Section 52-4-205 , if a majority of
             81      the members of the public body present at an open meeting for which notice is given under
             82      Section 52-4-202 vote to approve closing the meeting.
             83          (2) A closed meeting is not allowed unless each matter discussed in the closed meeting
             84      is permitted under Section 52-4-205 .
             85          (3) An ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, contract, or appointment may not be


             86      approved at a closed meeting.
             87          (4) The following information shall be publicly announced and entered on the minutes
             88      of the open meeting at which the closed meeting was approved:
             89          (a) the reason or reasons for holding the closed meeting;
             90          (b) the location where the closed meeting will be held; and
             91          (c) the vote by name, of each member of the public body, either for or against the
             92      motion to hold the closed meeting.
             93          (5) [Nothing] Except as provided in Subsection 52-4-205 (2), nothing in this chapter
             94      shall be construed to require any meeting to be closed to the public.
             95          Section 2. Section 52-4-205 is amended to read:
             96           52-4-205. Purposes of closed meetings.
             97          (1) A closed meeting described under Section 52-4-204 may only be held for:
             98          (a) discussion of the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health
             99      of an individual;
             100          (b) strategy sessions to discuss collective bargaining;
             101          (c) strategy sessions to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation;
             102          (d) strategy sessions to discuss the purchase, exchange, or lease of real property if
             103      public discussion of the transaction would:
             104          (i) disclose the appraisal or estimated value of the property under consideration; or
             105          (ii) prevent the public body from completing the transaction on the best possible
             106      terms;
             107          (e) strategy sessions to discuss the sale of real property if:
             108          (i) public discussion of the transaction would:
             109          (A) disclose the appraisal or estimated value of the property under consideration; or
             110          (B) prevent the public body from completing the transaction on the best possible
             111      terms;
             112          (ii) the public body previously gave public notice that the property would be offered
             113      for sale; and


             114          (iii) the terms of the sale are publicly disclosed before the public body approves the
             115      sale;
             116          (f) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel, devices, or systems;
             117          (g) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct; [and]
             118          (h) discussion by a county legislative body of commercial information as defined in
             119      Section 59-1-404 [.]; or
             120          (i) a purpose for which a meeting is required to be closed under Subsection (2).
             121          (2) The following meetings shall be closed:
             122          (a) a meeting of the Health and Human Services Interim Committee to review a
             123      fatality review report described in Subsection 62A-16-301 (1)(a), and the responses to the
             124      report described in Subsections 62A-16-301 (2) and (4); and
             125          (b) a meeting of the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel to:
             126          (i) review a fatality review report described in Subsection 62A-16-301 (1)(a), and the
             127      responses to the report described in Subsections 62A-16-301 (2) and (4); or
             128          (ii) review and discuss an individual case, as described in Subsection 62A-4a-207 (5).
             129          [(2)] (3) A public body may not interview a person applying to fill an elected position
             130      in a closed meeting.
             131          Section 3. Section 52-4-206 is amended to read:
             132           52-4-206. Record of closed meetings.
             133          (1) Except as provided under Subsection (6), if a public body closes a meeting under
             134      Subsection 52-4-205 (1), the public body:
             135          (a) shall make a recording of the closed portion of the meeting; and
             136          (b) may keep detailed written minutes that disclose the content of the closed portion of
             137      the meeting.
             138          (2) A recording of a closed meeting shall be complete and unedited from the
             139      commencement of the closed meeting through adjournment of the closed meeting.
             140          (3) The recording and any minutes of a closed meeting shall include:
             141          (a) the date, time, and place of the meeting;


             142          (b) the names of members present and absent; and
             143          (c) the names of all others present except where the disclosure would infringe on the
             144      confidentiality necessary to fulfill the original purpose of closing the meeting.
             145          (4) Minutes or recordings of a closed meeting that are required to be retained
             146      permanently shall be maintained in or converted to a format that meets long-term records
             147      storage requirements.
             148          (5) Both a recording and written minutes of closed meetings are protected records
             149      under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act, except that
             150      the records may be disclosed under a court order only as provided under Section 52-4-304 .
             151          (6) If a public body closes a meeting exclusively for the purposes described under
             152      Subsection 52-4-205 (1)(a) [or Subsection 52-4-205 ], (1)(f), or (2):
             153          (a) the person presiding shall sign a sworn statement affirming that the sole purpose
             154      for closing the meeting was to discuss the purposes described under Subsection 52-4-205 (1)(a)
             155      [or Subsection 52-4-205 ],(1)(f), or (2); and
             156          (b) the provisions of Subsection (1) of this section do not apply.
             157          Section 4. Section 62A-4a-202.6 is amended to read:
             158           62A-4a-202.6. Conflict child protective services investigations -- Authority of
             159      investigators.
             160          [(1) (a) In accordance with Section 67-5-16 the attorney general may employ, with the
             161      consent of the division, child protective services investigators to investigate reports of abuse or
             162      neglect of a child that occur while the child is in the custody of the division.]
             163          [(b) (i) The division shall, in accordance with Subsection 62A-4a-409 (5), contract
             164      with an independent child protective service investigator to investigate reports of abuse or
             165      neglect of a child that occur while the child is in the custody of the division.]
             166          [(ii) The executive director of the department shall designate an entity within the
             167      department, other than the division, to monitor the contract for the investigators described in
             168      Subsection (1)(b)(i).]
             169          (1) (a) The division shall contract with an independent child protective service


             170      investigator from the private sector to investigate reports of abuse or neglect of a child that
             171      occur while the child is in the custody of the division.
             172          (b) The executive director shall designate an entity within the department, other than
             173      the division, to monitor the contract for the investigators described in Subsection (1)(a).
             174          (c) When a report is made that a child is abused or neglected while in the custody of
             175      the division:
             176          (i) the attorney general may, in accordance with Section 67-5-16 , and with the consent
             177      of the division, employ a child protective services investigator to conduct a conflict
             178      investigation of the report; or
             179          (ii) a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section 53-13-103 , may, with the consent
             180      of the division, conduct a conflict investigation of the report.
             181          (d) Subsection (1)(c)(ii) does not prevent a law enforcement officer from, without the
             182      consent of the division, conducting a criminal investigation of abuse or neglect under Title 53,
             183      Public Safety Code.
             184          (2) The investigators described in [Subsection (1)] Subsections (1)(c) and (d) may also
             185      investigate allegations of abuse or neglect of a child by a department employee or a licensed
             186      substitute care provider.
             187          (3) The investigators described in Subsection (1), if not peace officers, shall have the
             188      same rights, duties, and authority of a child protective services investigator employed by the
             189      division to:
             190          (a) make a thorough investigation upon receiving either an oral or written report of
             191      alleged abuse or neglect of a child, with the primary purpose of that investigation being the
             192      protection of the child;
             193          (b) make an inquiry into the child's home environment, emotional, or mental health,
             194      the nature and extent of the child's injuries, and the child's physical safety;
             195          (c) make a written report of their investigation, including determination regarding
             196      whether the alleged abuse or neglect was substantiated, unsubstantiated, or without merit, and
             197      forward a copy of that report to the division within the time mandates for investigations


             198      established by the division; and
             199          (d) immediately consult with school authorities to verify the child's status in
             200      accordance with Sections 53A-11-101 through 53A-11-103 when a report is based upon or
             201      includes an allegation of educational neglect[;].
             202          [(e) enter upon public or private premises, using appropriate legal processes, to
             203      investigate reports of alleged abuse or neglect; and]
             204          [(f) take a child into protective custody, and deliver the child to a law enforcement
             205      officer, or to the division. Control and jurisdiction over the child shall be determined by the
             206      provisions of Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 2, Child Welfare Services, Title 78A, Chapter 6,
             207      Juvenile Court Act of 1996, and as otherwise provided by law.]
             208          Section 5. Section 62A-4a-409 is amended to read:
             209           62A-4a-409. Investigation by division -- Temporary protective custody --
             210      Preremoval interviews of children.
             211          (1) (a) The division shall make a thorough preremoval investigation upon receiving
             212      either an oral or written report of alleged abuse, neglect, fetal alcohol syndrome, or fetal drug
             213      dependency, when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a situation of abuse, neglect, fetal
             214      alcohol syndrome, or fetal drug dependency exists.
             215          (b) The primary purpose of the investigation described in Subsection (1)(a) shall be
             216      protection of the child.
             217          (2) The preremoval investigation described in Subsection (1)(a) shall include the same
             218      investigative requirements described in Section 62A-4a-202.3 .
             219          (3) The division shall make a written report of its investigation that shall include a
             220      determination regarding whether the alleged abuse or neglect is supported, unsupported, or
             221      without merit.
             222          (4) (a) The division shall use an interdisciplinary approach when appropriate in
             223      dealing with reports made under this part.
             224          (b) For this purpose, the division shall convene appropriate interdisciplinary "child
             225      protection teams" to assist it in its protective, diagnostic, assessment, treatment, and


             226      coordination services.
             227          (c) A representative of the division shall serve as the team's coordinator and chair.
             228      Members of the team shall serve at the coordinator's invitation. Whenever possible, the team
             229      shall include representatives of:
             230          (i) health, mental health, education, and law enforcement agencies;
             231          (ii) the child;
             232          (iii) parent and family support groups unless the parent is alleged to be the perpetrator;
             233      and
             234          (iv) other appropriate agencies or individuals.
             235          [(5) In any case where the division supervises, governs, or directs the affairs of any
             236      individual, institution, or facility that is alleged to be involved in acts or omissions of abuse or
             237      neglect, the investigation of the reported abuse or neglect shall be conducted by an agency
             238      other than the division.]
             239          [(6)] (5) If a report of neglect is based upon or includes an allegation of educational
             240      neglect, the division shall immediately consult with school authorities to verify the child's
             241      status in accordance with Sections 53A-11-101 through 53A-11-103 .
             242          [(7)] (6) When the division completes its initial investigation under this part, it shall
             243      give notice of that completion to the person who made the initial report.
             244          [(8)] (7) Division workers or other child protection team members have authority to
             245      enter upon public or private premises, using appropriate legal processes, to investigate reports
             246      of alleged abuse or neglect, upon notice to parents of their rights under the Child Abuse
             247      Prevention and Treatment Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5106, or any successor thereof.
             248          [(9)] (8) With regard to any interview of a child prior to removal of that child from the
             249      child's home:
             250          (a) except as provided in Subsection [(9)] (8)(b) or (c), the division shall inform a
             251      parent of the child prior to the interview of:
             252          (i) the specific allegations concerning the child; and
             253          (ii) the time and place of the interview;


             254          (b) if a child's parent or stepparent, or a parent's paramour has been identified as the
             255      alleged perpetrator, the division is not required to comply with Subsection [(9)] (8)(a);
             256          (c) if the perpetrator is unknown, or if the perpetrator's relationship to the child's
             257      family is unknown, the division may conduct a minimal interview or conversation, not to
             258      exceed 15 minutes, with the child prior to complying with Subsection [(9)] (8)(a);
             259          (d) in all cases described in Subsection [(9)] (8)(b) or (c), a parent of the child shall be
             260      notified as soon as practicable after the child has been interviewed, but in no case later than 24
             261      hours after the interview has taken place;
             262          (e) a child's parents shall be notified of the time and place of all subsequent interviews
             263      with the child; and
             264          (f) the child shall be allowed to have a support person of the child's choice present,
             265      who:
             266          (i) may include:
             267          (A) a school teacher;
             268          (B) an administrator;
             269          (C) a guidance counselor;
             270          (D) a child care provider;
             271          (E) a family member;
             272          (F) a family advocate; or
             273          (G) clergy; and
             274          (ii) may not be a person who is alleged to be, or potentially may be, the perpetrator.
             275          [(10)] (9) In accordance with the procedures and requirements of Sections
             276      62A-4a-202.1 through 62A-4a-202.3 , a division worker or child protection team member may
             277      take a child into protective custody and deliver the child to a law enforcement officer, or place
             278      the child in an emergency shelter facility approved by the juvenile court, at the earliest
             279      opportunity subsequent to the child's removal from the child's original environment. Control
             280      and jurisdiction over the child is determined by the provisions of Title 78A, Chapter 6,
             281      Juvenile Court Act of 1996, and as otherwise provided by law.


             282          [(11)] (10) With regard to cases in which law enforcement has or is conducting an
             283      investigation of alleged abuse or neglect of a child:
             284          (a) the division shall coordinate with law enforcement to ensure that there is an
             285      adequate safety plan to protect the child from further abuse or neglect; and
             286          (b) the division is not required to duplicate an aspect of the investigation that, in the
             287      division's determination, has been satisfactorily completed by law enforcement.
             288          Section 6. Section 62A-4a-414 is amended to read:
             289           62A-4a-414. Interviews of children -- Recording required -- Exceptions.
             290          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4), interviews of children during an
             291      investigation in accordance with Section 62A-4a-409 , and involving allegations of sexual
             292      abuse, sexual exploitation, severe abuse, or severe neglect of a child, shall be conducted only
             293      under the following conditions:
             294          (i) the interview shall be recorded visually and aurally on film, videotape, or by other
             295      electronic means;
             296          (ii) both the interviewer and the child shall be simultaneously recorded and visible on
             297      the final product;
             298          (iii) the time and date of the interview shall be continuously and clearly visible to any
             299      subsequent viewer of the recording; and
             300          (iv) the recording equipment shall run continuously for the duration of the interview.
             301          (b) This Subsection (1) does not apply to initial or minimal interviews conducted in
             302      accordance with Subsection 62A-4a-409 [(9)](8)(b) or (c).
             303          (2) Interviews conducted in accordance with Subsection (1) shall be carried out in an
             304      existing Children's Justice Center or in a soft interview room, when available.
             305          (a) If the Children's Justice Center or a soft interview room is not available, the
             306      interviewer shall use the best setting available under the circumstances.
             307          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (4), if the equipment required under Subsection
             308      (1) is not available, the interview shall be audiotaped, provided that the interviewer shall
             309      clearly state at the beginning of the tape:


             310          (i) the time, date, and place of the interview;
             311          (ii) the full name and age of the child being interviewed; and
             312          (iii) that the equipment required under Subsection (1) is not available and why.
             313          (3) Except as provided in Subsection (4), all other investigative interviews shall be
             314      audiotaped using electronic means. At the beginning of the tape, the worker shall state clearly
             315      the time, date, and place of the meeting, and the full name and age of the child in attendance.
             316          (4) (a) Subject to Subsection (4)(b), an interview described in this section may be
             317      conducted without being taped if the child:
             318          (i) is at least nine years old;
             319          (ii) refuses to have the interview audio taped; and
             320          (iii) refuses to have the interview video taped.
             321          (b) If, pursuant to Subsection (4)(a), an interview is conducted without being taped,
             322      the child's refusal shall be documented as follows:
             323          (i) the interviewer shall attempt to get the child's refusal on tape, including the reasons
             324      for the refusal; or
             325          (ii) if the child does not allow the refusal, or the reasons for the refusal, to be taped,
             326      the interviewer shall:
             327          (A) state on the tape that the child is present, but has refused to have the interview,
             328      refusal, or the reasons for the refusal taped; or
             329          (B) if complying with Subsection (4)(b)(ii)(A) will result in the child, who would
             330      otherwise consent to be interviewed, to refuse to be interviewed, the interviewer shall
             331      document, in writing, that the child refused to allow the interview to be taped and the reasons
             332      for that refusal.
             333          (c) The division shall track the number of interviews under this section that are not
             334      taped, and the number of refusals that are not taped, for each interviewer, in order to determine
             335      whether a particular interviewer has a higher incidence of refusals, or taped refusals, than
             336      other interviewers.
             337          Section 7. Section 62A-16-101 is enacted to read:


             338     
CHAPTER 16. FATALITY REVIEW ACT

             339     
Part 1. General Provisions

             340          62A-16-101. Title.
             341          This chapter is known as the "Fatality Review Act."
             342          Section 8. Section 62A-16-102 is enacted to read:
             343          62A-16-102. Definitions.
             344          (1) "Committee" means a fatality review committee, formed under Section
             345      62A-16-202 or 62A-16-203 .
             346          (2) "Qualified individual" means an individual who:
             347          (a) at the time that the individual dies, is a resident of a facility or program that is
             348      owned or operated by the department or a division of the department;
             349          (b) (i) is in the custody of the department or a division of the department; and
             350          (ii) is placed in a residential placement by the department or a division of the
             351      department;
             352          (c) at the time that the individual dies, has an open case for the receipt of child welfare
             353      services, including:
             354          (i) an investigation for abuse, neglect, or dependency;
             355          (ii) foster care;
             356          (iii) in-home services; or
             357          (iv) substitute care;
             358          (d) had an open case for the receipt of child welfare services within one year
             359      immediately preceding the day on which the individual dies;
             360          (e) was the subject of an accepted referral received by Adult Protective Services within
             361      one year immediately preceding the day on which the individual dies, if:
             362          (i) the department or a division of the department is aware of the death; and
             363          (ii) the death is reported as a homicide, suicide, or an undetermined cause;
             364          (f) received services from, or under the direction of, the Division of Services for
             365      People with Disabilities within one year immediately preceding the day on which the


             366      individual dies, unless the individual:
             367          (i) lived in the individual's home at the time of death; and
             368          (ii) the director of the Office of Services Review determines that the death was not in
             369      any way related to services that were provided by, or under the direction of, the department or
             370      a division of the department;
             371          (g) dies within 60 days after the day on which the individual is discharged from the
             372      Utah State Hospital, if the department is aware of the death; or
             373          (h) is designated as a qualified individual by the executive director.
             374          Section 9. Section 62A-16-201 is enacted to read:
             375     
Part 2. Fatality Review

             376          62A-16-201. Initial review.
             377          (1) Within seven days after the day on which the department knows that a qualified
             378      individual has died, a person designated by the department shall:
             379          (a) complete a deceased client report form, created by the department; and
             380          (b) forward the completed client report form to the director of the office or division
             381      that has jurisdiction over the region or facility.
             382          (2) The director of the office or division described in Subsection (1) shall, upon
             383      receipt of a deceased client report form, immediately provide a copy of the form to:
             384          (a) the executive director; and
             385          (b) the fatality review coordinator.
             386          (3) Within 10 days after the day on which the fatality review coordinator receives a
             387      copy of the deceased client report form, the fatality review coordinator shall request a copy of
             388      all relevant department case records regarding the individual who is the subject of the
             389      deceased client report form.
             390          (4) Each person who receives a request for a record described in Subsection (3) shall
             391      provide a copy of the record to the fatality review coordinator, by a secure method, within
             392      seven days after the day on which the request is made.
             393          (5) Within 30 days after the day on which the fatality review coordinator receives the


             394      case records requested under Subsection (3), the fatality review coordinator, or a designee of
             395      the fatality review coordinator, shall:
             396          (a) review the deceased client report form, the case files, and other relevant
             397      information received by the fatality review coordinator; and
             398          (b) make a recommendation to the director of the Office of Services Review regarding
             399      whether a formal fatality review should be conducted.
             400          (6) (a) In accordance with Subsection (6)(b), within seven days after the day on which
             401      the fatality review coordinator makes the recommendation described in Subsection (5)(b), the
             402      director of the Office of Services Review shall determine whether to order that a formal
             403      fatality review be conducted.
             404          (b) The director of the Office of Services Review shall order that a formal fatality
             405      review be conducted if:
             406          (i) at the time of death, the qualified individual is:
             407          (A) an individual described in Subsection 62A-16-102 (2)(a) or (b), unless:
             408          (I) the death is due to a natural cause; or
             409          (II) the director of the Office of Services Review determines that the death was not in
             410      any way related to services that were provided by, or under the direction of, the department or
             411      a division of the department; or
             412          (B) a child in foster care or substitute care, unless the death is due to:
             413          (I) a natural cause; or
             414          (II) an accident;
             415          (ii) it appears, based on the information provided to the director of the Office of
             416      Services Review, that:
             417          (A) a provision of law, rule, policy, or procedure relating to the deceased individual or
             418      the deceased individual's family may not have been complied with;
             419          (B) the fatality was not responded to properly;
             420          (C) a law, rule, policy, or procedure may need to be changed; or
             421          (D) additional training is needed;


             422          (iii) the death is caused by suicide; or
             423          (iv) the director of the Office of Services Review determines that another reason exists
             424      to order that a formal fatality review be conducted.
             425          Section 10. Section 62A-16-202 is enacted to read:
             426          62A-16-202. Fatality Review Committee for a deceased individual who was not a
             427      resident of the Utah State Hospital or the Utah State Developmental Center.
             428          (1) Except for a fatality review committee described in Section 62A-16-203 , the
             429      fatality review coordinator shall organize a fatality review committee for each formal fatality
             430      review that is ordered to be conducted under Subsection 62A-16-201 (6).
             431          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (5), a committee described in Subsection (1):
             432          (a) shall include the following members:
             433          (i) the department's fatality review coordinator, who shall designate a member of the
             434      committee to serve as chair of the committee;
             435          (ii) a member of the board, if there is a board, of the relevant division or office;
             436          (iii) the attorney general or the attorney general's designee;
             437          (iv) (A) a member of the management staff of the relevant division or office; or
             438          (B) a person who is a supervisor, or a higher level position, from a region that did not
             439      have jurisdiction over the qualified individual; and
             440          (v) a member of the department's risk management services; and
             441          (b) may include the following members:
             442          (i) a health care professional;
             443          (ii) a law enforcement officer; or
             444          (iii) a representative of the Office of Public Guardian.
             445          (3) If a death that is subject to formal review involves a qualified individual described
             446      in Subsection 62A-16-102 (2)(c) or (d), the committee may also include:
             447          (a) a health care professional;
             448          (b) a law enforcement officer;
             449          (c) the director of the Office of Guardian ad Litem;


             450          (d) an employee of the division who may be able to provide information or expertise
             451      that would be helpful to the formal review; or
             452          (e) a professional whose knowledge or expertise may significantly contribute to the
             453      formal review.
             454          (4) A committee described in Subsection (1) may also include a person whose
             455      knowledge or expertise may significantly contribute to the formal review.
             456          (5) A committee described in this section may not include an individual who was
             457      involved in, or who supervises a person who was involved in, the fatality.
             458          (6) Each member of a committee described in this section who is not an employee of
             459      the department shall sign a form, created by the department, indicating that the member agrees
             460      to:
             461          (a) keep all information relating to a fatality review confidential; and
             462          (b) not release any information relating to a fatality review, unless required or
             463      permitted by law to release the information.
             464          Section 11. Section 62A-16-203 is enacted to read:
             465          62A-16-203. Fatality Review Committees for a deceased resident of the Utah
             466      State Hospital or the Utah State Developmental Center.
             467          (1) If a qualified individual who is the subject of a formal fatality review that is
             468      ordered to be conducted under Subsection 62A-16-201 (6), was a resident of the Utah State
             469      Hospital or the Utah State Developmental Center, the fatality review coordinator of that
             470      facility shall organize a fatality review committee to review the fatality.
             471          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (4), a committee described in Subsection (1)
             472      shall include the following members:
             473          (a) the fatality review coordinator for the facility, who shall serve as chair of the
             474      committee;
             475          (b) a member of the management staff of the facility;
             476          (c) a supervisor of a unit other than the one in which the qualified individual resided;
             477          (d) a physician;


             478          (e) a representative from the administration of the division that oversees the facility;
             479          (f) the department's fatality review coordinator;
             480          (g) a member of the department's risk management services; and
             481          (h) a citizen who is not an employee of the department.
             482          (3) A committee described in Subsection (1) may also include a person whose
             483      knowledge or expertise may significantly contribute to the formal review.
             484          (4) A committee described in this section may not include an individual who:
             485          (a) was involved in, or who supervises a person who was involved in, the fatality; or
             486          (b) has a conflict with the fatality review.
             487          Section 12. Section 62A-16-204 is enacted to read:
             488          62A-16-204. Fatality Review Committee Proceedings.
             489          (1) A majority vote of committee members present constitutes the action of the
             490      committee.
             491          (2) The department shall give the committee access to all reports, records, and other
             492      documents that are relevant to the fatality under investigation, including:
             493          (a) narrative reports;
             494          (b) case files;
             495          (c) autopsy reports; and
             496          (d) police reports, unless the report is protected from disclosure under Subsection
             497      63G-2-305 (9) or (10).
             498          (3) The Utah State Hospital and the Utah State Developmental Center shall provide
             499      protected health information to the committee if requested by a fatality review coordinator.
             500          (4) A committee shall convene its first meeting within 14 days after the day on which
             501      a formal fatality review is ordered under Subsection 62A-16-201 (6), unless this time is
             502      extended, for good cause, by the director of the Office of Services Review.
             503          (5) A committee may interview a staff member, a provider, or any other person who
             504      may have knowledge or expertise that is relevant to the fatality review.
             505          (6) A committee shall render an advisory opinion regarding:


             506          (a) whether the provisions of law, rule, policy, and procedure relating to the deceased
             507      individual and the deceased individual's family were complied with;
             508          (b) whether the fatality was responded to properly;
             509          (c) whether to recommend that a law, rule, policy, or procedure be changed; and
             510          (d) whether additional training is needed.
             511          Section 13. Section 62A-16-301 is enacted to read:
             512     
Part 3. Reporting and Review

             513          62A-16-301. Fatality review committee report -- Response to report.
             514          (1) Within 20 days after the day on which the committee proceedings described in
             515      Section 62A-16-204 end, the committee shall submit:
             516          (a) a written report to the executive director that includes:
             517          (i) the advisory opinions made under Subsection 62A-16-204 (6); and
             518          (ii) any recommendations regarding action that should be taken in relation to an
             519      employee of the department or a person who contracts with the department; and
             520          (b) a copy of the report described in Subsection (1)(a), with only identifying
             521      information redacted, to:
             522          (i) the director of the office or division to which the fatality relates; and
             523          (ii) the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
             524          (2) Within 20 days after the day on which the director described in Subsection
             525      (1)(b)(i) receives a copy of the report described in Subsection (1)(a), the director shall provide
             526      a written response to the executive director, a copy of the response, with only identifying
             527      information redacted, to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, and an
             528      unredacted copy of the response to the director of the Office of Services Review, if the report:
             529          (a) indicates that a law, rule, policy, or procedure was not complied with;
             530          (b) indicates that the fatality was not responded to properly;
             531          (c) recommends that a law, rule, policy, or procedure be changed; or
             532          (d) indicates that additional training is needed.
             533          (3) The response described in Subsection (2) shall include a plan of action to


             534      implement any recommended improvements within the office or division.
             535          (4) Within 30 days after the day on which the executive director receives the response
             536      described in Subsection (2), the executive director, or the executive director's designee shall:
             537          (a) review the action plan described in Subsection (3);
             538          (b) make any written response that the executive director or the executive director's
             539      designee determines is necessary;
             540          (c) provide a copy of the written response described in Subsection (4)(b), with only
             541      identifying information redacted, to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel;
             542      and
             543          (d) provide an unredacted copy of the response described in Subsection (4)(b) to the
             544      director of the Office of Services Review.
             545          (5) A report described in Subsection (1) and each response described in this section is
             546      a protected record.
             547          (6) (a) As used in this Subsection (6), "fatality review document" means any document
             548      created in connection with, or as a result of, a fatality review or a decision whether to conduct
             549      a fatality review, including:
             550          (i) a report described in Subsection (1);
             551          (ii) a response described in this section;
             552          (iii) a recommendation regarding whether a fatality review should be conducted;
             553          (iv) a decision to conduct a fatality review;
             554          (v) notes of a person who participates in a fatality review;
             555          (vi) notes of a person who reviews a fatality review report;
             556          (vii) an executive summary described in Subsection 62A-16-302 (4);
             557          (viii) minutes of a fatality review;
             558          (ix) minutes of a meeting where a fatality review report is reviewed; and
             559          (x) minutes of, documents received in relation to, and documents generated in relation
             560      to, the portion of a meeting of the Health and Human Services Interim Committee or the Child
             561      Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel that a fatality review report or a document described in


             562      this Subsection (6)(a) is reviewed or discussed.
             563          (b) A fatality review document is not subject to discovery, subpoena, or similar
             564      compulsory process in any civil, judicial, or administrative proceeding, nor shall any
             565      individual or organization with lawful access to the data be compelled to testify with regard to
             566      a report described in Subsection (1) or a response described in this section.
             567          (c) A fatality review document is not admissible as evidence in a civil, judicial, or
             568      administrative proceeding.
             569          Section 14. Section 62A-16-302 is enacted to read:
             570          62A-16-302. Reporting to, and review by, legislative committees.
             571          (1) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide a copy of
             572      the report described in Subsection 62A-16-301 (1)(b), and the responses described in
             573      Subsections 62A-16-301 (2) and (4)(c) to the chairs of:
             574          (a) the Health and Human Services Interim Committee; or
             575          (b) if the individual who is the subject of the report was, at the time of death, a person
             576      described in Subsection 62A-16-102 (2)(c) or (d), the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight
             577      Panel.
             578          (2) (a) The Health and Human Services Interim Committee may, in a closed meeting,
             579      review a report described in Subsection 62A-16-301 (1)(b).
             580          (b) The Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel shall, in a closed meeting, review a
             581      report described in Subsection (1)(b).
             582          (3) (a) Neither the Health and Human Services Interim Committee nor the Child
             583      Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel may interfere with, or make recommendations regarding,
             584      the resolution of a particular case.
             585          (b) The purpose of a review described in Subsection (2) is to assist a committee or
             586      panel described in Subsection (2) in determining whether to recommend a change in the law.
             587          (c) Any recommendation, described in Subsection (3)(b), by a committee or panel for
             588      a change in the law shall be made in an open meeting.
             589          (4) On or before September 1 of each year, the department shall provide an executive


             590      summary of all fatality review reports for the preceding state fiscal year to:
             591          (a) the Health and Human Services Interim Committee; and
             592          (b) the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel.
             593          (5) The executive summary described in Subsection (4):
             594          (a) may not include any names or identifying information; and
             595          (b) shall include:
             596          (i) all recommendations regarding changes to the law that were made during the
             597      preceding fiscal year under Subsection 62A-16-204 (6);
             598          (ii) all changes made, or in the process of being made, to a law, rule, policy, or
             599      procedure in response to a fatality review that occurred during the preceding fiscal year;
             600          (iii) a description of the training that has been completed in response to a fatality
             601      review that occurred during the preceding fiscal year;
             602          (iv) statistics for the preceding fiscal year regarding:
             603          (A) the number and type of fatalities of qualified individuals that are known to the
             604      department;
             605          (B) the number of formal fatality reviews conducted;
             606          (C) the categories, described in Subsection 62A-16-102 (2) of qualified individuals
             607      who died;
             608          (D) the gender, age, race, and other significant categories of qualified individuals who
             609      died; and
             610          (E) the number of fatalities of qualified individuals known to the department that are
             611      identified as suicides; and
             612          (v) action taken by the Office of Licensing and the Bureau of Internal Review and
             613      Audits in response to the fatality of a qualified individual.
             614          Section 15. Section 63G-2-202 is amended to read:
             615           63G-2-202. Access to private, controlled, and protected documents.
             616          (1) Upon request, and except as provided in Subsection (11)(a), a governmental entity
             617      shall disclose a private record to:


             618          (a) the subject of the record;
             619          (b) the parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated minor who is the subject of the
             620      record;
             621          (c) the legal guardian of a legally incapacitated individual who is the subject of the
             622      record;
             623          (d) any other individual who:
             624          (i) has a power of attorney from the subject of the record;
             625          (ii) submits a notarized release from the subject of the record or the individual's legal
             626      representative dated no more than 90 days before the date the request is made; or
             627          (iii) if the record is a medical record described in Subsection 63G-2-302 (1)(b), is a
             628      health care provider, as defined in Section 26-33a-102 , if releasing the record or information
             629      in the record is consistent with normal professional practice and medical ethics; or
             630          (e) any person to whom the record must be provided pursuant to:
             631          (i) court order as provided in Subsection (7); or
             632          (ii) a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative Subpoena
             633      Powers.
             634          (2) (a) Upon request, a governmental entity shall disclose a controlled record to:
             635          (i) a physician, psychologist, certified social worker, insurance provider or producer,
             636      or a government public health agency upon submission of:
             637          (A) a release from the subject of the record that is dated no more than 90 days prior to
             638      the date the request is made; and
             639          (B) a signed acknowledgment of the terms of disclosure of controlled information as
             640      provided by Subsection (2)(b); and
             641          (ii) any person to whom the record must be disclosed pursuant to:
             642          (A) a court order as provided in Subsection (7); or
             643          (B) a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative Subpoena
             644      Powers.
             645          (b) A person who receives a record from a governmental entity in accordance with


             646      Subsection (2)(a)(i) may not disclose controlled information from that record to any person,
             647      including the subject of the record.
             648          (3) If there is more than one subject of a private or controlled record, the portion of the
             649      record that pertains to another subject shall be segregated from the portion that the requester is
             650      entitled to inspect.
             651          (4) Upon request, and except as provided in Subsection (10) or (11)(b), a
             652      governmental entity shall disclose a protected record to:
             653          (a) the person who submitted the record;
             654          (b) any other individual who:
             655          (i) has a power of attorney from all persons, governmental entities, or political
             656      subdivisions whose interests were sought to be protected by the protected classification; or
             657          (ii) submits a notarized release from all persons, governmental entities, or political
             658      subdivisions whose interests were sought to be protected by the protected classification or
             659      from their legal representatives dated no more than 90 days prior to the date the request is
             660      made;
             661          (c) any person to whom the record must be provided pursuant to:
             662          (i) a court order as provided in Subsection (7); or
             663          (ii) a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative Subpoena
             664      Powers; or
             665          (d) the owner of a mobile home park, subject to the conditions of Subsection
             666      41-1a-116 (5).
             667          (5) A governmental entity may disclose a private, controlled, or protected record to
             668      another governmental entity, political subdivision, another state, the United States, or a foreign
             669      government only as provided by Section 63G-2-206 .
             670          (6) Before releasing a private, controlled, or protected record, the governmental entity
             671      shall obtain evidence of the requester's identity.
             672          (7) A governmental entity shall disclose a record pursuant to the terms of a court order
             673      signed by a judge from a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that:


             674          (a) the record deals with a matter in controversy over which the court has jurisdiction;
             675          (b) the court has considered the merits of the request for access to the record; [and]
             676          (c) the court has considered and, where appropriate, limited the requester's use and
             677      further disclosure of the record in order to protect:
             678          (i) privacy interests in the case of private or controlled records;
             679          (ii) business confidentiality interests in the case of records protected under Subsection
             680      63G-2-305 (1), (2), (40)(a)(ii), or (40)(a)(vi); and
             681          (iii) privacy interests or the public interest in the case of other protected records;
             682          (d) to the extent the record is properly classified private, controlled, or protected, the
             683      interests favoring access, considering limitations thereon, outweigh the interests favoring
             684      restriction of access; and
             685          (e) where access is restricted by a rule, statute, or regulation referred to in Subsection
             686      63G-2-201 (3)(b), the court has authority independent of this chapter to order disclosure.
             687          (8) (a) A governmental entity may disclose or authorize disclosure of private or
             688      controlled records for research purposes if the governmental entity:
             689          (i) determines that the research purpose cannot reasonably be accomplished without
             690      use or disclosure of the information to the researcher in individually identifiable form;
             691          (ii) determines that:
             692          (A) the proposed research is bona fide; and
             693          (B) the value of the research outweighs the infringement upon personal privacy;
             694          (iii) (A) requires the researcher to assure the integrity, confidentiality, and security of
             695      the records; and
             696          (B) requires the removal or destruction of the individual identifiers associated with the
             697      records as soon as the purpose of the research project has been accomplished;
             698          (iv) prohibits the researcher from:
             699          (A) disclosing the record in individually identifiable form, except as provided in
             700      Subsection (8)(b); or
             701          (B) using the record for purposes other than the research approved by the


             702      governmental entity; and
             703          (v) secures from the researcher a written statement of the researcher's understanding of
             704      and agreement to the conditions of this Subsection (8) and the researcher's understanding that
             705      violation of the terms of this Subsection (8) may subject the researcher to criminal prosecution
             706      under Section 63G-2-801 .
             707          (b) A researcher may disclose a record in individually identifiable form if the record is
             708      disclosed for the purpose of auditing or evaluating the research program and no subsequent
             709      use or disclosure of the record in individually identifiable form will be made by the auditor or
             710      evaluator except as provided by this section.
             711          (c) A governmental entity may require indemnification as a condition of permitting
             712      research under this Subsection (8).
             713          (9) (a) Under Subsections 63G-2-201 (5)(b) and 63G-2-401 (6), a governmental entity
             714      may disclose to persons other than those specified in this section records that are:
             715          (i) private under Section 63G-2-302 ; or
             716          (ii) protected under Section 63G-2-305 subject to Section 63G-2-309 if a claim for
             717      business confidentiality has been made under Section 63G-2-309 .
             718          (b) Under Subsection 63G-2-403 (11)(b), the records committee may require the
             719      disclosure to persons other than those specified in this section of records that are:
             720          (i) private under Section 63G-2-302 ;
             721          (ii) controlled under Section 63G-2-304 ; or
             722          (iii) protected under Section 63G-2-305 subject to Section 63G-2-309 if a claim for
             723      business confidentiality has been made under Section 63G-2-309 .
             724          (c) Under Subsection 63G-2-404 (8), the court may require the disclosure of records
             725      that are private under Section 63G-2-302 , controlled under Section 63G-2-304 , or protected
             726      under Section 63G-2-305 to persons other than those specified in this section.
             727          (10) A record contained in the Management Information System, created in Section
             728      62A-4a-1003 , that is found to be unsubstantiated, unsupported, or without merit may not be
             729      disclosed to any person except the person who is alleged in the report to be a perpetrator of


             730      abuse, neglect, or dependency.
             731          (11) (a) A private record described in Subsection 63G-2-302 (2)(f) may only be
             732      disclosed as provided in Subsection (1)(e).
             733          (b) A protected record described in Subsection 63G-2-305 (43) may only be disclosed
             734      as provided in Subsection (4)(c) or Section 62A-3-312 .
             735          (12) (a) A private, protected, or controlled record described in Section 62A-16-301
             736      shall be disclosed as required under:
             737          (i) Subsections 62A-16-301 (1)(b), (2), and (4)(c); and
             738          (ii) Subsection 62A-16-302 (1).
             739          (b) A record disclosed under Subsection (12)(a) shall retain its character as private,
             740      protected, or controlled.
             741          Section 16. Repealer.
             742          This bill repeals:
             743          Section 62A-4a-202.5, Law enforcement investigation of alleged abuse in foster care.


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