Committee introduces several proposals, advances House Bill 220 to the floor

A House committee voted to introduce a series of legislative requests and to send House Bill 220 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.

Introductions recorded without extended debate included: - RS32350, which would add a pharmacy technician seat and expand pharmacy board membership; committee members approved introduction. - RS32382, described by its sponsor as an "Esther's Law"-style measure to authorize electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities; sponsor said the measure would "enhance residential safety" and that similar laws exist in other states. - RS32401, to clarify that medical assistants may be supervised by nurses with appropriate education and training, reflecting changes in clinic staffing. - RS32425, to codify the independent practice authority of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), clarifying physicians are not responsible for supervising CRNAs. - RS32247C1, which moves immunization rules into statute without adding new immunization requirements and consolidates policy for clarity.

House Bill 220, described by Representative Marco Erickson, would simplify the fee determination process for adult patients and families receiving behavioral-health services through the Department of Health and Welfare. Erickson said the bill eliminates a sliding-scale fee tied to an older contracting structure (currently Magellan) and moves certain certification and disposition rules into a different section to reflect current contracting practice. The committee voted to send HB220 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.

All introductions and the HB220 recommendation were approved in committee votes recorded on the transcript. The transcript records standard "aye"/"no" voice votes for the introductions; no extended debate or amendments were recorded on the introduced RS items during this hearing.