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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-1-205.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 26B-1-205.1 is enacted to read:
27 26B-1-205.1. 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 support the delivery of comprehensive medical and mental health care
48 services for children and youth in state care, in collaboration with other department programs
49 that address the well-being of children, youth, and families in the state.
50 (6) The medical director may not:
51 (a) consult on individual or categorical cases;
52 (b) make management decisions on behalf of the department or any division within the
53 department;
54 (c) make a determination in a specific case or about a specific individual on behalf of
55 the department or any division within the department; or
56 (d) create, recommend, or implement within the department or any division within the
57 department any policy that is contrary to the policies set by the Legislature.
58 Section 2. Effective date.
59 This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.