Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Eldercare Registry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House approves health-care assistant registry bill to track alleged abuse; sent to Senate 48-22
Summary
The House passed House Bill 127 to create a central registry for health care assistants that will record substantiated allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation and allow employers to run background checks; sponsors said the registry is not a step toward licensure and carries a small fiscal note.
A bill to create a statewide health care assistant registry cleared the Utah House after floor debate on the scope and oversight of the proposal.
Sponsor (unnamed in the transcript) said House Bill 127 would establish a registry under the Department of Occupational Professional Licensing to collect and share information about substantiated allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation by health care assistants. "The purpose of it is to provide a central tracking system for health care assistance, which will prevent people with substantiated allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation from working in hands on health care settings," the sponsor said.
The sponsor repeatedly emphasized that "it is not the intent of this registry to go to licensure" and that the measure is a registration, not a licensure step. Supporters including providers and associations, the sponsor said, have endorsed the bill because it should improve background checks, reduce turnover‑related cross‑employment of problematic workers and be cost‑effective; the sponsor cited a fiscal note under $10,000 and said registration fees would offset some costs.
Representative Brown (floor) provided historical context, noting earlier failed licensing proposals and calling the registry a compromise that protects seniors and helps employers manage liability.
Opponents pressed about administrative burden and requested clearer rulemaking guidance and a description of the advisory board that will provide oversight; sponsors said the advisory board will include providers, hospitals and other stakeholders to guard against bureaucratic overreach.
The House voted to approve HB127 by a 48‑22 margin and referred the bill to the Senate for further consideration.
Next steps: the measure moves to the Senate; implementing details (rule definitions, advisory board composition and fee schedule) will be set in administrative rulemaking if the Senate and governor approve the bill.
