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MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 25, House Office Building
February 6, 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 2:15 p.m.

MOTION:    Rep Daw moved to approve the minutes of February 2, 2012. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. McCay and Rep. Menlove absent for the vote.

H.B. 308    Parental Rights of Biological Fathers (Rep. C. Watkins)

Rep. Watkins presented the bill to the committee.

Spoke in favor of the bill:        Mr. Wesley D. Hutchins, attorney
                    Mr. Dan Duell

Spoke in opposition to the bill:    Mr. Lance Rich, Utah Adoption Council
                    Mr. Fred Riley,Licensed clinical social worker, LDS Family Services

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

Chair Ray relinquished the chair to Vice Chair Vickers at 3:35 p.m.

H.B. 225    Child and Family Service Providers (Rep. C. Watkins)

Rep. Watkins presented the bill to the committee.




Rep. Watkins moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 2, Line 43 :    

             43          (3) When the division provides a service through a private contract,
  not including a foster parent placement,       the division shall


The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Cosgrove, Rep. McCay, and Rep. Ray absent for the vote.

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Ms. Charri Brummer, Deputy Director, Division of Child and Family Services

MOTION:    Rep. Menlove moved to pass the bill out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Cosgrove and Rep. Ray absent for the vote.

H.B. 237    Child Welfare Amendments (Rep. W. Harper)

Rep. Harper presented the bill to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Daw moved to replace H.B. 237 with 1st Substitute H.B. 237. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Cosgrove, Rep. Menlove, and Rep. Ray absent for the vote.

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

1.    Page 36, Line 1094 :    

             1094          (b) may
  , if a suitable placement is not already available,       order the division to conduct a reasonable search        , in addition to any search that occurred when the child was initially taken into protective custody,       to determine whether there


2.    Page 40, Line 1230 :    

             1230          (ii)
  except as provided in Subsection (10)(c),       conduct a visit with the client in conjunction with the visit of a Division of Child


3.    Page 40, Lines 1231 through 1232 :    

             1231      and Family Services caseworker.
    
  (c) A guardian ad litem may meet with a client during a team meeting or court hearing when a Division of Child and Family Services caseworker is present.      

             1232          [(10)] (11) (a) An attorney guardian ad litem shall maintain current and accurate

4.    Page 41, Line 1239 :    

             1239          [(11)] (12) (a) Except as provided in [Subsection (11)(b)]
{   Subsections (11)

and   }        Section       (12)(b),



The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Cosgrove, Rep. Menlove, and Rep. Ray absent for the vote.

Spoke in favor of the bill:        Mr. Brent Platt, Director, DCFS
                    Mr. Bill Duncan, Sutherland Institute
                    Ms. Gayle Ruzika, Utah Eagle Forum

Spoke in opposition to the bill:    Ms. Happie Patterson Larson, Adoptive Families Association of                     Utah
                    Ms. Nina Stulce

MOTION:    Rep. Daw moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 237 out favorably as amended. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Menlove and Rep. Ray absent for the vote.

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

Vice Chair Vickers adjourned the meeting at 4:20 p.m.



                        _____________________________
                         Rep. Paul Ray, Chair