Senator Jen Plumb proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
CHILD HEALTH MEDICAL AMENDMENTS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Jen Plumb

5     
House Sponsor: Steve Eliason

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill creates the position of medical director within the Department of Health and
10     Human Services, with a focus on children, youth, and families.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     creates the position of medical director within the Department of Health and Human
14     Services, with a focus on children, youth, and families;
15          ▸     establishes certain qualifications for the medical director position; and
16          ▸     defines the duty and authority of the medical director position.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     ENACTS:
23          26B-1-214, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

26          Section 1. Section 26B-1-214 is enacted to read:
27          26B-1-214. Medical director.
28          (1) There is created the position of medical director within the department.
29          (2) The position of medical director is one full-time equivalent position.
30          (3) The medical director shall:
31          (a) be licensed to practice as a physician or osteopath under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah
32     Medical Practice Act, or Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act;
33          (b) be board certified in pediatrics or family medicine;
34          (c) have at least seven years of experience in direct patient care, or equivalent
35     experience; and
36          (d) have significant training and experience in evaluating children and youth who may
37     be victims of abuse or neglect.
38          (4) Under the direction of the executive director or the executive director's designee,
39     the medical director shall:
40          (a) support the divisions relating to community health and well-being, as described in
41     Subsection 26B-1-204(3)(c), with a focus on the health and well-being of children, youth, and
42     families served by the department; and
43          (b) participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs to
44     improve the physical and mental health and well-being of children, youth, and families, with an
45     emphasis on those children and youth who are involved with the state's child welfare agencies.
46          (5) Under the direction of the executive director or the executive director's designee,
47     the medical director may do one or more of the following:
48          (a) support the delivery of comprehensive medical and mental health care services for
49     children and youth in state care, in collaboration with other department programs that address
50     the wellbeing of children, youth, and families in the state;
51          (b) provide non-binding consultation regarding the adoption of evidence-based
52     evaluation and treatment programs for child, youth, and family well-being across the
53     department; or
54          (c) perform other similar duties.
55          (6) The medical director may serve as a consultant on complex medical issues, but may
56     not make a determination in a specific case on behalf of the department or any division within

57     the department.