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MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 25, House Office Building
January 25, 2012

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Rep. Paul Ray, Chair
                Rep. Evan J. Vickers, Vice Chair
                Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck
                Rep. Tim M. Cosgrove
                Rep. Bradley M. Daw
                Rep. Daniel McCay
                Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove
                Rep. Dean Sanpei
                Rep. Christine F. Watkins


STAFF PRESENT:        Mr. Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst
                Ms. Linda Black, House Secretary

Note:    A list of visitors and copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes.

Chair Ray called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.

H.B. 241    Foster Care and Kinship Placement Amendments (Rep. C. Watkins)

Rep. Watkins presented the bill to the committee.

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Ms. Gayle Ruzika, Utah Eagle Forum
                Ms. Charri Brummer, Deputy Director, DCFS
                Mr. Stan Rasmussen, Public Affairs, Sutherland Institute
Spoke to the bill:        Mr. Rick Schwermer, Administrative Office of the Courts

MOTION:    Rep. Daw moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Menlove absent for the vote.

H.B. 202    Child Protection Amendments (Rep. C. Watkins)

Rep. Watkins presented the bill to the committee.

Spoke to the bill:        Ms. Charri Brummer, Deputy Director, DCFS
                Mr. Brent Platt, DCFS
                Ms. Kathryn Perkins, parent
                Ms. Lynne Skowronski, parent


MOTION:    Rep. Watkins moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 1, Line 18 :    

             18      parent's or guardian's proper use of prescribed medication;
  and      


2.    Page 1, Lines 20 through 22 :    

             20      is due to a parent's or guardian's proper use of prescribed medication
{   ;   }        .            {   and   }

             21     
{       .    states that an employee of the Division of Child and Family Services who violates

             22      these provisions is subject to discipline.  
}


3.    Page 2, Lines 45 through 46 :    

             45     
{       (3) An employee of the division who violates these provisions is subject to discipline,

             46      up to and including termination from employment.  
}


The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Menlove absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Daw moved to hold the bill. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Menlove and Rep. Vickers absent for the vote.

H.B. 203    Parental Rights Revisions (Rep. C. Watkins)

Rep. Watkins presented the bill to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Cosgrove moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 1, Lines 12 through 14 :    

             12          .    provides that before ordering termination, the court
{   shall   }        may       consider whether

             13      terminating a parent's rights will cause a child to lose meaningful contact with other
             14      members of the child's ethnic group or race; and

2.    Page 2, Lines 55 through 57 :    

             55          (2) Prior to termination, the court
{   shall   }        may       consider whether terminating a parent's rights

             56      will cause the child to lose meaningful contact with other members of the child's ethnic

group
             57      or race.

The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Menlove absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Sanpei moved to hold the bill. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Menlove absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. McCay moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Menlove absent for the vote.

Chair Ray adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.



                        _____________________________
                         Rep. Paul Ray, Chair