Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect HB0086.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

H.B. 86

             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      Committee Note:
             10          The Administrative Rules Review Committee recommended this bill.
             11      General Description:
             12          This bill amends provisions of the Open and Public Meetings Act, the Utah Human
             13      Services Code, and the Government Records Access and Management Act to provide
             14      review and oversight relating to fatalities and other matters that occur in relation to a
             15      person in the custody of, or who has received services from, the Department of Human
             16      Services.
             17      Highlighted Provisions:
             18          This bill:
             19          .    defines terms;
             20          .    amends provisions of the Open and Public Meetings Act to require that meetings of
             21      the Health and Human Services Interim Committee and the Child Welfare
             22      Legislative Oversight Panel to review individual cases be closed meetings;
             23          .    requires that investigations of abuse or neglect of a child who is in the custody of
             24      the Division of Child and Family Services shall be conducted by an independent
             25      child protective service investigator from the private sector;
             26          .    amends and consolidates other provisions relating to investigation of abuse or
             27      neglect of a child;


             28          .    codifies and amends provisions relating to fatality reviews and fatality review
             29      committees for the Department of Human Services;
             30          .    requires that a copy of a fatality review report and related documents be provided to
             31      the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel and the chairs of the Health
             32      and Human Services Interim Committee and the Child Welfare Legislative
             33      Oversight Panel;
             34          .    gives the Health and Human Services Interim Committee authority to review, in a
             35      closed meeting, a fatality review report;
             36          .    requires the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel to review, in a closed
             37      meeting, certain fatality review reports;
             38          .    describes requirements relating to the annual executive summary on fatality review
             39      reports;
             40          .    amends the Government Records Access and Management Act to permit the
             41      disclosure of fatality review reports and related documents to the Office of
             42      Legislative Research and General Counsel and the chairs of the Health and Human
             43      Services Interim Committee and the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel; 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 terms;
             106          (e) strategy sessions to discuss the sale of real property if:
             107          (i) public discussion of the transaction would:
             108          (A) disclose the appraisal or estimated value of the property under consideration; or
             109          (B) prevent the public body from completing the transaction on the best possible terms;
             110          (ii) the public body previously gave public notice that the property would be offered for
             111      sale; and
             112          (iii) the terms of the sale are publicly disclosed before the public body approves the
             113      sale;
             114          (f) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel, devices, or systems;
             115          (g) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct; [and]
             116          (h) discussion by a county legislative body of commercial information as defined in
             117      Section 59-1-404 [.]; or
             118          (i) a purpose for which a meeting is required to be closed under Subsection (2).
             119          (2) The following meetings shall be closed:
             120          (a) a meeting of the Health and Human Services Interim Committee to review a fatality


             121      review report described in Subsection 62A-16-301 (1)(a), and the responses to the report
             122      described in Subsections 62A-16-301 (2) and (4); and
             123          (b) a meeting of the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel to:
             124          (i) review a fatality review report described in Subsection 62A-16-301 (1)(a), and the
             125      responses to the report described in Subsections 62A-16-301 (2) and (4); or
             126          (ii) review and discuss an individual case, as described in Subsection 62A-4a-207 (5).
             127          [(2)] (3) A public body may not interview a person applying to fill an elected position
             128      in a closed meeting.
             129          Section 3. Section 52-4-206 is amended to read:
             130           52-4-206. Record of closed meetings.
             131          (1) Except as provided under Subsection (6), if a public body closes a meeting under
             132      Subsection 52-4-205 (1), the public body:
             133          (a) shall make a recording of the closed portion of the meeting; and
             134          (b) may keep detailed written minutes that disclose the content of the closed portion of
             135      the meeting.
             136          (2) A recording of a closed meeting shall be complete and unedited from the
             137      commencement of the closed meeting through adjournment of the closed meeting.
             138          (3) The recording and any minutes of a closed meeting shall include:
             139          (a) the date, time, and place of the meeting;
             140          (b) the names of members present and absent; and
             141          (c) the names of all others present except where the disclosure would infringe on the
             142      confidentiality necessary to fulfill the original purpose of closing the meeting.
             143          (4) Minutes or recordings of a closed meeting that are required to be retained
             144      permanently shall be maintained in or converted to a format that meets long-term records
             145      storage requirements.
             146          (5) Both a recording and written minutes of closed meetings are protected records
             147      under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act, except that the
             148      records may be disclosed under a court order only as provided under Section 52-4-304 .
             149          (6) If a public body closes a meeting exclusively for the purposes described under
             150      Subsection 52-4-205 (1)(a) [or Subsection 52-4-205 ], (1)(f), or (2):
             151          (a) the person presiding shall sign a sworn statement affirming that the sole purpose for


             152      closing the meeting was to discuss the purposes described under Subsection 52-4-205 (1)(a) [or
             153      Subsection 52-4-205 ],(1)(f), or (2); and
             154          (b) the provisions of Subsection (1) of this section do not apply.
             155          Section 4. Section 62A-4a-202.6 is amended to read:
             156           62A-4a-202.6. Conflict child protective services investigations -- Authority of
             157      investigators.
             158          [(1) (a) In accordance with Section 67-5-16 the attorney general may employ, with the
             159      consent of the division, child protective services investigators to investigate reports of abuse or
             160      neglect of a child that occur while the child is in the custody of the division.]
             161          [(b) (i) The division shall, in accordance with Subsection 62A-4a-409 (5), contract with
             162      an independent child protective service investigator to investigate reports of abuse or neglect of
             163      a child that occur while the child is in the custody of the division.]
             164          [(ii) The executive director of the department shall designate an entity within the
             165      department, other than the division, to monitor the contract for the investigators described in
             166      Subsection (1)(b)(i).]
             167          (1) (a) The division shall contract with an independent child protective service
             168      investigator from the private sector to investigate reports of abuse or neglect of a child that
             169      occur while the child is in the custody of the division.
             170          (b) The executive director shall designate an entity within the department, other than
             171      the division, to monitor the contract for the investigators described in Subsection (1)(a).
             172          (c) When a report is made that a child is abused or neglected while in the custody of
             173      the division:
             174          (i) the attorney general may, in accordance with Section 67-5-16 , and with the consent
             175      of the division, employ a child protective services investigator to conduct a conflict
             176      investigation of the report; or
             177          (ii) a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section 53-13-103 , may, with the consent
             178      of the division, conduct a conflict investigation of the report.
             179          (d) Subsection (1)(c)(ii) does not prevent a law enforcement officer from, without the
             180      consent of the division, conducting a criminal investigation of abuse or neglect under Title 53,
             181      Public Safety Code.
             182          (2) The investigators described in [Subsection (1)] Subsections (1)(c) and (d) may also


             183      investigate allegations of abuse or neglect of a child by a department employee or a licensed
             184      substitute care provider.
             185          (3) The investigators described in Subsection (1), if not peace officers, shall have the
             186      same rights, duties, and authority of a child protective services investigator employed by the
             187      division to:
             188          (a) make a thorough investigation upon receiving either an oral or written report of
             189      alleged abuse or neglect of a child, with the primary purpose of that investigation being the
             190      protection of the child;
             191          (b) make an inquiry into the child's home environment, emotional, or mental health, the
             192      nature and extent of the child's injuries, and the child's physical safety;
             193          (c) make a written report of their investigation, including determination regarding
             194      whether the alleged abuse or neglect was substantiated, unsubstantiated, or without merit, and
             195      forward a copy of that report to the division within the time mandates for investigations
             196      established by the division; and
             197          (d) immediately consult with school authorities to verify the child's status in
             198      accordance with Sections 53A-11-101 through 53A-11-103 when a report is based upon or
             199      includes an allegation of educational neglect[;].
             200          [(e) enter upon public or private premises, using appropriate legal processes, to
             201      investigate reports of alleged abuse or neglect; and]
             202          [(f) take a child into protective custody, and deliver the child to a law enforcement
             203      officer, or to the division. Control and jurisdiction over the child shall be determined by the
             204      provisions of Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 2, Child Welfare Services, Title 78A, Chapter 6,
             205      Juvenile Court Act of 1996, and as otherwise provided by law.]
             206          Section 5. Section 62A-4a-409 is amended to read:
             207           62A-4a-409. Investigation by division -- Temporary protective custody --
             208      Preremoval interviews of children.
             209          (1) (a) The division shall make a thorough preremoval investigation upon receiving
             210      either an oral or written report of alleged abuse, neglect, fetal alcohol syndrome, or fetal drug
             211      dependency, when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a situation of abuse, neglect, fetal
             212      alcohol syndrome, or fetal drug dependency exists.
             213          (b) The primary purpose of the investigation described in Subsection (1)(a) shall be


             214      protection of the child.
             215          (2) The preremoval investigation described in Subsection (1)(a) shall include the same
             216      investigative requirements described in Section 62A-4a-202.3 .
             217          (3) The division shall make a written report of its investigation that shall include a
             218      determination regarding whether the alleged abuse or neglect is supported, unsupported, or
             219      without merit.
             220          (4) (a) The division shall use an interdisciplinary approach when appropriate in dealing
             221      with reports made under this part.
             222          (b) For this purpose, the division shall convene appropriate interdisciplinary "child
             223      protection teams" to assist it in its protective, diagnostic, assessment, treatment, and
             224      coordination services.
             225          (c) A representative of the division shall serve as the team's coordinator and chair.
             226      Members of the team shall serve at the coordinator's invitation. Whenever possible, the team
             227      shall include representatives of:
             228          (i) health, mental health, education, and law enforcement agencies;
             229          (ii) the child;
             230          (iii) parent and family support groups unless the parent is alleged to be the perpetrator;
             231      and
             232          (iv) other appropriate agencies or individuals.
             233          [(5) In any case where the division supervises, governs, or directs the affairs of any
             234      individual, institution, or facility that is alleged to be involved in acts or omissions of abuse or
             235      neglect, the investigation of the reported abuse or neglect shall be conducted by an agency
             236      other than the division.]
             237          [(6)] (5) If a report of neglect is based upon or includes an allegation of educational
             238      neglect, the division shall immediately consult with school authorities to verify the child's
             239      status in accordance with Sections 53A-11-101 through 53A-11-103 .
             240          [(7)] (6) When the division completes its initial investigation under this part, it shall
             241      give notice of that completion to the person who made the initial report.
             242          [(8)] (7) Division workers or other child protection team members have authority to
             243      enter upon public or private premises, using appropriate legal processes, to investigate reports
             244      of alleged abuse or neglect, upon notice to parents of their rights under the Child Abuse


             245      Prevention and Treatment Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5106, or any successor thereof.
             246          [(9)] (8) With regard to any interview of a child prior to removal of that child from the
             247      child's home:
             248          (a) except as provided in Subsection [(9)] (8)(b) or (c), the division shall inform a
             249      parent of the child prior to the interview of:
             250          (i) the specific allegations concerning the child; and
             251          (ii) the time and place of the interview;
             252          (b) if a child's parent or stepparent, or a parent's paramour has been identified as the
             253      alleged perpetrator, the division is not required to comply with Subsection [(9)] (8)(a);
             254          (c) if the perpetrator is unknown, or if the perpetrator's relationship to the child's family
             255      is unknown, the division may conduct a minimal interview or conversation, not to exceed 15
             256      minutes, with the child prior to complying with Subsection [(9)] (8)(a);
             257          (d) in all cases described in Subsection [(9)] (8)(b) or (c), a parent of the child shall be
             258      notified as soon as practicable after the child has been interviewed, but in no case later than 24
             259      hours after the interview has taken place;
             260          (e) a child's parents shall be notified of the time and place of all subsequent interviews
             261      with the child; and
             262          (f) the child shall be allowed to have a support person of the child's choice present,
             263      who:
             264          (i) may include:
             265          (A) a school teacher;
             266          (B) an administrator;
             267          (C) a guidance counselor;
             268          (D) a child care provider;
             269          (E) a family member;
             270          (F) a family advocate; or
             271          (G) clergy; and
             272          (ii) may not be a person who is alleged to be, or potentially may be, the perpetrator.
             273          [(10)] (9) In accordance with the procedures and requirements of Sections
             274      62A-4a-202.1 through 62A-4a-202.3 , a division worker or child protection team member may
             275      take a child into protective custody and deliver the child to a law enforcement officer, or place


             276      the child in an emergency shelter facility approved by the juvenile court, at the earliest
             277      opportunity subsequent to the child's removal from the child's original environment. Control
             278      and jurisdiction over the child is determined by the provisions of Title 78A, Chapter 6, Juvenile
             279      Court Act of 1996, and as otherwise provided by law.
             280          [(11)] (10) With regard to cases in which law enforcement has or is conducting an
             281      investigation of alleged abuse or neglect of a child:
             282          (a) the division shall coordinate with law enforcement to ensure that there is an
             283      adequate safety plan to protect the child from further abuse or neglect; and
             284          (b) the division is not required to duplicate an aspect of the investigation that, in the
             285      division's determination, has been satisfactorily completed by law enforcement.
             286          Section 6. Section 62A-4a-414 is amended to read:
             287           62A-4a-414. Interviews of children -- Recording required -- Exceptions.
             288          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4), interviews of children during an
             289      investigation in accordance with Section 62A-4a-409 , and involving allegations of sexual
             290      abuse, sexual exploitation, severe abuse, or severe neglect of a child, shall be conducted only
             291      under the following conditions:
             292          (i) the interview shall be recorded visually and aurally on film, videotape, or by other
             293      electronic means;
             294          (ii) both the interviewer and the child shall be simultaneously recorded and visible on
             295      the final product;
             296          (iii) the time and date of the interview shall be continuously and clearly visible to any
             297      subsequent viewer of the recording; and
             298          (iv) the recording equipment shall run continuously for the duration of the interview.
             299          (b) This Subsection (1) does not apply to initial or minimal interviews conducted in
             300      accordance with Subsection 62A-4a-409 [(9)](8)(b) or (c).
             301          (2) Interviews conducted in accordance with Subsection (1) shall be carried out in an
             302      existing Children's Justice Center or in a soft interview room, when available.
             303          (a) If the Children's Justice Center or a soft interview room is not available, the
             304      interviewer shall use the best setting available under the circumstances.
             305          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (4), if the equipment required under Subsection
             306      (1) is not available, the interview shall be audiotaped, provided that the interviewer shall


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

             337     
Part 1. General Provisions


             338          62A-16-101. Title.
             339          This chapter is known as the "Fatality Review Act."
             340          Section 8. Section 62A-16-102 is enacted to read:
             341          62A-16-102. Definitions.
             342          (1) "Committee" means a fatality review committee, formed under Section 62A-16-202
             343      or 62A-16-203 .
             344          (2) "Qualified individual" means an individual who:
             345          (a) at the time that the individual dies, is a resident of a facility or program that is
             346      owned or operated by the department or a division of the department; or
             347          (b) (i) is in the custody of the department or a division of the department; and
             348          (ii) is placed in a residential placement by the department or a division of the
             349      department;
             350          (c) at the time that the individual dies, has an open case for the receipt of child welfare
             351      services, including:
             352          (i) an investigation for abuse, neglect, or dependency;
             353          (ii) foster care;
             354          (iii) in-home services; or
             355          (iv) substitute care;
             356          (d) had an open case for the receipt of child welfare services within one year
             357      immediately preceding the day on which the individual dies;
             358          (e) was the subject of an accepted referral received by Adult Protective Services within
             359      one year immediately preceding the day on which the individual dies, if:
             360          (i) the department or a division of the department is aware of the death; and
             361          (ii) the death is reported as a homicide, suicide, or an undetermined cause;
             362          (f) received services from, or under the direction of, the Division of Services for People
             363      with Disabilities within one year immediately preceding the day on which the individual dies,
             364      unless the individual:
             365          (i) lived in the individual's home at the time of death; and
             366          (ii) the director of the Office of Services Review determines that the death was not in
             367      any way related to services that were provided by, or under the direction of, the department or a
             368      division of the department;


             369          (g) dies within 60 days after the day on which the individual is discharged from the
             370      Utah State Hospital, if the department is aware of the death; or
             371          (h) is designated as a qualified individual by the executive director.
             372          Section 9. Section 62A-16-201 is enacted to read:
             373     
Part 2. Fatality Review

             374          62A-16-201. Initial review.
             375          (1) Within seven days after the day on which the department knows that a qualified
             376      individual has died, a person designated by the department shall:
             377          (a) complete a deceased client report form, created by the department; and
             378          (b) forward the completed client report form to the director of the office or division
             379      that has jurisdiction over the region or facility.
             380          (2) The director of the office or division described in Subsection (1) shall, upon receipt
             381      of a deceased client report form, immediately provide a copy of the form to:
             382          (a) the executive director; and
             383          (b) the fatality review coordinator.
             384          (3) Within 10 days after the day on which the fatality review coordinator receives a
             385      copy of the deceased client report form, the fatality review coordinator shall request a copy of
             386      all relevant department case records regarding the individual who is the subject of the deceased
             387      client report form.
             388          (4) Each person who receives a request for a record described in Subsection (3) shall
             389      provide a copy of the record to the fatality review coordinator, by a secure method, within
             390      seven days after the day on which the request is made.
             391          (5) Within 30 days after the day on which the fatality review coordinator receives the
             392      case records requested under Subsection (3), the fatality review coordinator, or a designee of
             393      the fatality review coordinator, shall:
             394          (a) review the deceased client report form, the case files, and other relevant
             395      information received by the fatality review coordinator; and
             396          (b) make a recommendation to the director of the Office of Services Review regarding
             397      whether a formal fatality review should be conducted.
             398          (6) (a) In accordance with Subsection (6)(b), within seven days after the day on which
             399      the fatality review coordinator makes the recommendation described in Subsection (5)(b), the


             400      director of the Office of Services Review shall determine whether to order that a formal fatality
             401      review be conducted.
             402          (b) The director of the Office of Services Review shall order that a formal fatality
             403      review be conducted if:
             404          (i) at the time of death, the qualified individual is:
             405          (A) an individual described in Subsection 62A-16-102 (2)(a) or (b), unless:
             406          (I) the death is due to a natural cause; or
             407          (II) the director of the Office of Services Review determines that the death was not in
             408      any way related to services that were provided by, or under the direction of, the department or a
             409      division of the department; or
             410          (B) a child in foster care or substitute care, unless the death is due to:
             411          (I) a natural cause; or
             412          (II) an accident;
             413          (ii) it appears, based on the information provided to the director of the Office of
             414      Services Review, that:
             415          (A) a provision of law, rule, policy, or procedure relating to the deceased individual or
             416      the deceased individual's family may not have been complied with;
             417          (B) the fatality was not responded to properly;
             418          (C) a law, rule, policy, or procedure may need to be changed; or
             419          (D) additional training is needed;
             420          (iii) the death is caused by suicide; or
             421          (iv) the director of the Office of Services Review determines that another reason exists
             422      to order that a formal fatality review be conducted.
             423          Section 10. Section 62A-16-202 is enacted to read:
             424          62A-16-202. Fatality Review Committee for a deceased individual who was not a
             425      resident of the Utah State Hospital or the Utah State Developmental Center.
             426          (1) Except for a fatality review committee described in Section 62A-16-203 , the
             427      fatality review coordinator shall organize a fatality review committee for each formal fatality
             428      review that is ordered to be conducted under Subsection 62A-16-201 (6).
             429          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (5), a committee described in Subsection (1):
             430          (a) shall include the following members:


             431          (i) the department's fatality review coordinator, who shall designate a member of the
             432      committee to serve as chair of the committee;
             433          (ii) a member of the board, if there is a board, of the relevant division or office;
             434          (iii) the attorney general or the attorney general's designee;
             435          (iv) (A) a member of the management staff of the relevant division or office; or
             436          (B) a person who is a supervisor, or a higher level position, from a region that did not
             437      have jurisdiction over the qualified individual; and
             438          (v) a member of the department's risk management services; and
             439          (b) may include the following members:
             440          (i) a health care professional;
             441          (ii) a law enforcement officer; or
             442          (iii) a representative of the Office of Public Guardian.
             443          (3) If a death that is subject to formal review involves a qualified individual described
             444      in Subsection 62A-16-102 (2)(c) or (d), the committee may also include:
             445          (a) a health care professional;
             446          (b) a law enforcement officer;
             447          (c) the director of the Office of Guardian ad Litem;
             448          (d) an employee of the division who may be able to provide information or expertise
             449      that would be helpful to the formal review; or
             450          (e) a professional whose knowledge or expertise may significantly contribute to the
             451      formal review.
             452          (4) A committee described in Subsection (1) may also include a person whose
             453      knowledge or expertise may significantly contribute to the formal review.
             454          (5) A committee described in this section may not include an individual who was
             455      involved in, or who supervises a person who was involved in, the fatality.
             456          (6) Each member of a committee described in this section who is not an employee of
             457      the department shall sign a form, created by the department, indicating that the member agrees
             458      to:
             459          (a) keep all information relating to a fatality review confidential; and
             460          (b) not release any information relating to a fatality review, unless required or
             461      permitted by law to release the information.


             462          Section 11. Section 62A-16-203 is enacted to read:
             463          62A-16-203. Fatality Review Committees for a deceased resident of the Utah State
             464      Hospital or the Utah State Developmental Center.
             465          (1) If a qualified individual who is the subject of a formal fatality review that is ordered
             466      to be conducted under Subsection 62A-16-201 (6), was a resident of the Utah State Hospital or
             467      the Utah State Developmental Center, the fatality review coordinator of that facility shall
             468      organize a fatality review committee to review the fatality.
             469          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (4), a committee described in Subsection (1) shall
             470      include the following members:
             471          (a) the fatality review coordinator for the facility, who shall serve as chair of the
             472      committee;
             473          (b) a member of the management staff of the facility;
             474          (c) a supervisor of a unit other than the one in which the qualified individual resided;
             475          (d) a physician;
             476          (e) a representative from the administration of the division that oversees the facility;
             477          (f) the department's fatality review coordinator;
             478          (g) a member of the department's risk management services; and
             479          (h) a citizen who is not an employee of the department.
             480          (3) A committee described in Subsection (1) may also include a person whose
             481      knowledge or expertise may significantly contribute to the formal review.
             482          (4) A committee described in this section may not include an individual who:
             483          (a) was involved in, or who supervises a person who was involved in, the fatality; or
             484          (b) has a conflict with the fatality review.
             485          Section 12. Section 62A-16-204 is enacted to read:
             486          62A-16-204. Fatality Review Committee Proceedings.
             487          (1) A majority vote of committee members present constitutes the action of the
             488      committee.
             489          (2) The department shall give the committee access to all reports, records, and other
             490      documents that are relevant to the fatality under investigation, including:
             491          (a) narrative reports;
             492          (b) case files;


             493          (c) autopsy reports; and
             494          (d) police reports, unless the report is protected from disclosure under Subsection
             495      63G-2-305 (9) or (10).
             496          (3) The Utah State Hospital and the Utah State Developmental Center shall provide
             497      protected health information to the committee if requested by a fatality review coordinator.
             498          (4) A committee shall convene its first meeting within 14 days after the day on which a
             499      formal fatality review is ordered under Subsection 62A-16-201 (6), unless this time is extended,
             500      for good cause, by the director of the Office of Services Review.
             501          (5) A committee may interview a staff member, a provider, or any other person who
             502      may have knowledge or expertise that is relevant to the fatality review.
             503          (6) A committee shall render an advisory opinion regarding:
             504          (a) whether the provisions of law, rule, policy, and procedure relating to the deceased
             505      individual and the deceased individual's family were complied with;
             506          (b) whether the fatality was responded to properly;
             507          (c) whether to recommend that a law, rule, policy, or procedure be changed; and
             508          (d) whether additional training is needed.
             509          Section 13. Section 62A-16-301 is enacted to read:
             510     
Part 3. Reporting and Review

             511          62A-16-301. Fatality review committee report -- Response to report.
             512          (1) Within 20 days after the day on which the committee proceedings described in
             513      Section 62A-16-204 end, the committee shall submit:
             514          (a) a written report to the executive director that includes:
             515          (i) the advisory opinions made under Subsection 62A-16-204 (6); and
             516          (ii) any recommendations regarding action that should be taken in relation to an
             517      employee of the department or a person who contracts with the department; and
             518          (b) a copy of the report described in Subsection (1)(a), with only identifying
             519      information redacted, to:
             520          (i) the director of the office or division to which the fatality relates; and
             521          (ii) the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
             522          (2) Within 20 days after the day on which the director described in Subsection (1)(b)(i)
             523      receives a copy of the report described in Subsection (1)(a), the director shall provide a written


             524      response to the executive director, a copy of the response, with only identifying information
             525      redacted, to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, and an unredacted copy of
             526      the response to the director of the Office of Services Review, if the report:
             527          (a) indicates that a law, rule, policy, or procedure was not complied with;
             528          (b) indicates that the fatality was not responded to properly;
             529          (c) recommends that a law, rule, policy, or procedure be changed; or
             530          (d) indicates that additional training is needed.
             531          (3) The response described in Subsection (2) shall include a plan of action to
             532      implement any recommended improvements within the office or division.
             533          (4) Within 30 days after the day on which the executive director receives the response
             534      described in Subsection (2), the executive director, or the executive director's designee shall:
             535          (a) review the action plan described in Subsection (3);
             536          (b) make any written response that the executive director or the executive director's
             537      designee determines is necessary;
             538          (c) provide a copy of the written response described in Subsection (4)(b), with only
             539      identifying information redacted, to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel;
             540      and
             541          (d) provide an unredacted copy of the response described in Subsection (4)(b) to the
             542      director of the Office of Services Review.
             543          (5) A report described in Subsection (1) and each response described in this section is a
             544      protected record.
             545          (6) A report described in Subsection (1) and each response described in this section is
             546      not subject to discovery, subpoena, or similar compulsory process in any civil, judicial, or
             547      administrative proceeding, nor shall any individual or organization with lawful access to the
             548      data be compelled to testify with regard to a report described in Subsection (1) or a response
             549      described in this section.
             550          Section 14. Section 62A-16-302 is enacted to read:
             551          62A-16-302. Reporting to, and review by, legislative committees.
             552          (1) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide a copy of the
             553      report described in Subsection 62A-16-301 (1)(b), and the responses described in Subsections
             554      62A-16-301 (2) and (4)(c) to the chairs of:


             555          (a) the Health and Human Services Interim Committee; or
             556          (b) if the individual who is the subject of the report was, at the time of death, a person
             557      described in Subsection 62A-16-102 (2)(c) or (d), the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight
             558      Panel.
             559          (2) (a) The Health and Human Services Interim Committee may, in a closed meeting,
             560      review a report described in Subsection 62A-16-301 (1)(b).
             561          (b) The Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel shall, in a closed meeting, review a
             562      report described in Subsection (1)(b).
             563          (3) (a) Neither the Health and Human Services Interim Committee nor the Child
             564      Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel may interfere with, or make recommendations regarding,
             565      the resolution of a particular case.
             566          (b) The purpose of a review described in Subsection (2) is to assist a committee or
             567      panel described in Subsection (2) in determining whether to recommend a change in the law.
             568          (c) Any recommendation, described in Subsection (3)(b), by a committee or panel for a
             569      change in the law shall be made in an open meeting.
             570          (4) On or before September 1 of each year, the department shall provide an executive
             571      summary of all fatality review reports for the preceding state fiscal year to:
             572          (a) the Health and Human Services Interim Committee; and
             573          (b) the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel.
             574          (5) The executive summary described in Subsection (4):
             575          (a) may not include any names or identifying information; and
             576          (b) shall include:
             577          (i) all recommendations regarding changes to the law that were made during the
             578      preceding fiscal year under Subsection 62A-16-204 (6);
             579          (ii) all changes made, or in the process of being made, to a law, rule, policy, or
             580      procedure in response to a fatality review that occurred during the preceding fiscal year;
             581          (iii) a description of the training that has been completed in response to a fatality
             582      review that occurred during the preceding fiscal year;
             583          (iv) statistics for the preceding fiscal year regarding:
             584          (A) the number and type of fatalities of qualified individuals that are known to the
             585      department;


             586          (B) the number of formal fatality reviews conducted;
             587          (C) the categories, described in Subsection 62A-16-102 (2) of qualified individuals who
             588      died;
             589          (D) the gender, age, race, and other significant categories of qualified individuals who
             590      died; and
             591          (E) the number of fatalities of qualified individuals known to the department that are
             592      identified as suicides; and
             593          (v) action taken by the Office of Licensing and the Bureau of Internal Review and
             594      Audits in response to the fatality of a qualified individual.
             595          Section 15. Section 63G-2-202 is amended to read:
             596           63G-2-202. Access to private, controlled, and protected documents.
             597          (1) Upon request, and except as provided in Subsection (11)(a), a governmental entity
             598      shall disclose a private record to:
             599          (a) the subject of the record;
             600          (b) the parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated minor who is the subject of the
             601      record;
             602          (c) the legal guardian of a legally incapacitated individual who is the subject of the
             603      record;
             604          (d) any other individual who:
             605          (i) has a power of attorney from the subject of the record;
             606          (ii) submits a notarized release from the subject of the record or the individual's legal
             607      representative dated no more than 90 days before the date the request is made; or
             608          (iii) if the record is a medical record described in Subsection 63G-2-302 (1)(b), is a
             609      health care provider, as defined in Section 26-33a-102 , if releasing the record or information in
             610      the record is consistent with normal professional practice and medical ethics; or
             611          (e) any person to whom the record must be provided pursuant to:
             612          (i) court order as provided in Subsection (7); or
             613          (ii) a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative Subpoena
             614      Powers.
             615          (2) (a) Upon request, a governmental entity shall disclose a controlled record to:
             616          (i) a physician, psychologist, certified social worker, insurance provider or producer, or


             617      a government public health agency upon submission of:
             618          (A) a release from the subject of the record that is dated no more than 90 days prior to
             619      the date the request is made; and
             620          (B) a signed acknowledgment of the terms of disclosure of controlled information as
             621      provided by Subsection (2)(b); and
             622          (ii) any person to whom the record must be disclosed pursuant to:
             623          (A) a court order as provided in Subsection (7); or
             624          (B) a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative Subpoena
             625      Powers.
             626          (b) A person who receives a record from a governmental entity in accordance with
             627      Subsection (2)(a)(i) may not disclose controlled information from that record to any person,
             628      including the subject of the record.
             629          (3) If there is more than one subject of a private or controlled record, the portion of the
             630      record that pertains to another subject shall be segregated from the portion that the requester is
             631      entitled to inspect.
             632          (4) Upon request, and except as provided in Subsection (10) or (11)(b), a governmental
             633      entity shall disclose a protected record to:
             634          (a) the person who submitted the record;
             635          (b) any other individual who:
             636          (i) has a power of attorney from all persons, governmental entities, or political
             637      subdivisions whose interests were sought to be protected by the protected classification; or
             638          (ii) submits a notarized release from all persons, governmental entities, or political
             639      subdivisions whose interests were sought to be protected by the protected classification or from
             640      their legal representatives dated no more than 90 days prior to the date the request is made;
             641          (c) any person to whom the record must be provided pursuant to:
             642          (i) a court order as provided in Subsection (7); or
             643          (ii) a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative Subpoena
             644      Powers; or
             645          (d) the owner of a mobile home park, subject to the conditions of Subsection
             646      41-1a-116 (5).
             647          (5) A governmental entity may disclose a private, controlled, or protected record to


             648      another governmental entity, political subdivision, another state, the United States, or a foreign
             649      government only as provided by Section 63G-2-206 .
             650          (6) Before releasing a private, controlled, or protected record, the governmental entity
             651      shall obtain evidence of the requester's identity.
             652          (7) A governmental entity shall disclose a record pursuant to the terms of a court order
             653      signed by a judge from a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that:
             654          (a) the record deals with a matter in controversy over which the court has jurisdiction;
             655          (b) the court has considered the merits of the request for access to the record; and
             656          (c) the court has considered and, where appropriate, limited the requester's use and
             657      further disclosure of the record in order to protect:
             658          (i) privacy interests in the case of private or controlled records;
             659          (ii) business confidentiality interests in the case of records protected under Subsection
             660      63G-2-305 (1), (2), (40)(a)(ii), or (40)(a)(vi); and
             661          (iii) privacy interests or the public interest in the case of other protected records;
             662          (d) to the extent the record is properly classified private, controlled, or protected, the
             663      interests favoring access, considering limitations thereon, outweigh the interests favoring
             664      restriction of access; and
             665          (e) where access is restricted by a rule, statute, or regulation referred to in Subsection
             666      63G-2-201 (3)(b), the court has authority independent of this chapter to order disclosure.
             667          (8) (a) A governmental entity may disclose or authorize disclosure of private or
             668      controlled records for research purposes if the governmental entity:
             669          (i) determines that the research purpose cannot reasonably be accomplished without
             670      use or disclosure of the information to the researcher in individually identifiable form;
             671          (ii) determines that:
             672          (A) the proposed research is bona fide; and
             673          (B) the value of the research outweighs the infringement upon personal privacy;
             674          (iii) (A) requires the researcher to assure the integrity, confidentiality, and security of
             675      the records; and
             676          (B) requires the removal or destruction of the individual identifiers associated with the
             677      records as soon as the purpose of the research project has been accomplished;
             678          (iv) prohibits the researcher from:


             679          (A) disclosing the record in individually identifiable form, except as provided in
             680      Subsection (8)(b); or
             681          (B) using the record for purposes other than the research approved by the governmental
             682      entity; and
             683          (v) secures from the researcher a written statement of the researcher's understanding of
             684      and agreement to the conditions of this Subsection (8) and the researcher's understanding that
             685      violation of the terms of this Subsection (8) may subject the researcher to criminal prosecution
             686      under Section 63G-2-801 .
             687          (b) A researcher may disclose a record in individually identifiable form if the record is
             688      disclosed for the purpose of auditing or evaluating the research program and no subsequent use
             689      or disclosure of the record in individually identifiable form will be made by the auditor or
             690      evaluator except as provided by this section.
             691          (c) A governmental entity may require indemnification as a condition of permitting
             692      research under this Subsection (8).
             693          (9) (a) Under Subsections 63G-2-201 (5)(b) and 63G-2-401 (6), a governmental entity
             694      may disclose to persons other than those specified in this section records that are:
             695          (i) private under Section 63G-2-302 ; or
             696          (ii) protected under Section 63G-2-305 subject to Section 63G-2-309 if a claim for
             697      business confidentiality has been made under Section 63G-2-309 .
             698          (b) Under Subsection 63G-2-403 (11)(b), the records committee may require the
             699      disclosure to persons other than those specified in this section of records that are:
             700          (i) private under Section 63G-2-302 ;
             701          (ii) controlled under Section 63G-2-304 ; or
             702          (iii) protected under Section 63G-2-305 subject to Section 63G-2-309 if a claim for
             703      business confidentiality has been made under Section 63G-2-309 .
             704          (c) Under Subsection 63G-2-404 (8), the court may require the disclosure of records
             705      that are private under Section 63G-2-302 , controlled under Section 63G-2-304 , or protected
             706      under Section 63G-2-305 to persons other than those specified in this section.
             707          (10) A record contained in the Management Information System, created in Section
             708      62A-4a-1003 , that is found to be unsubstantiated, unsupported, or without merit may not be
             709      disclosed to any person except the person who is alleged in the report to be a perpetrator of


             710      abuse, neglect, or dependency.
             711          (11) (a) A private record described in Subsection 63G-2-302 (2)(f) may only be
             712      disclosed as provided in Subsection (1)(e).
             713          (b) A protected record described in Subsection 63G-2-305 (43) may only be disclosed
             714      as provided in Subsection (4)(c) or Section 62A-3-312 .
             715          (12) (a) A private, protected, or controlled record described in Section 62A-16-301
             716      shall be disclosed as required under:
             717          (i) Subsections 62A-16-301 (1)(b), (2), and (4)(c); and
             718          (ii) Subsection 62A-16-302 (1).
             719          (b) A record disclosed under Subsection (12)(a) shall retain its character as private,
             720      protected, or controlled.
             721          Section 16. Repealer.
             722          This bill repeals:
             723          Section 62A-4a-202.5, Law enforcement investigation of alleged abuse in foster care.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-11-10 9:44 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]