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H.B. 86 Enrolled
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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
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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[
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) [
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; [
118 (h) discussion by a county legislative body of commercial information as defined in
119 Section 59-1-404 [
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 [
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) [
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)
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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.
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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 [
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[
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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.
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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 .
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243 give notice of that completion to the person who made the initial report.
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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.
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249 child's home:
250 (a) except as provided in Subsection [
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 [
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 [
259 (d) in all cases described in Subsection [
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 [
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.
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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 [
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:
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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
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
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; [
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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