House committee adopts 12-month postpartum protection amendment for SUD treatment, advances HB 50

Chair Marshall presided as the House Health and Human Services Committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 50 and moved the bill to the House floor on a due-pass motion.

Millie, committee staff, said HB 50 was introduced by Representative Marshall at the request of the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee and is titled 'An Act Providing Protections to Parents and Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorder.' Vice Chair Howell moved amendment 50.1.1 to clarify that a woman seeking postpartum health care up to 12 months after delivery may seek substance use disorder treatment without that treatment being the sole reason for child-family action or a drug-related arrest.

"We want to make sure the purpose of this bill is to ensure that there aren't barriers to people getting access to that treatment," Vice Chair Howell said, explaining the amendment's intent to protect access during the postpartum period.

Representative Cunningham voiced support for extending protections to 12 months, saying that period includes heightened mortality risk for some new mothers and that causes include drug-related deaths and depression.

The committee called the question and conducted a roll call on the amendment; the clerk reported 18 ayes and 3 nays and the amendment was adopted. Vice Chair Etcher then moved HB 50 as amended for a due pass. The committee conducted a roll call on the bill and Chair Marshall declared HB 50 will move to the floor on a due-pass recommendation; a complete roll-call tally for the bill was not summarized on the record.

The bill now proceeds to the full House where further floor consideration and a final vote will occur.