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House advances bill to strengthen reporting of abuse or neglect of elderly and disabled
Summary
Lawmakers passed HB142 after sponsors described the bill as improving reporting between care facilities and enabling families to obtain records on caregivers; sponsor cited a constituent case of alleged prior abuse. The House vote was 70–2.
The Utah House passed House Bill 142 on Feb. 25, 2009, a measure designed to improve reporting of abuse or neglect of elderly or disabled individuals and to provide families a way to obtain records on in‑home caregivers. Representative Hemingway, who uncircled the bill for floor consideration, said the legislation aims to increase reporting between facilities and create a streamlined process for timely reporting and record access.
Representative Hemingway recounted a constituent’s case in which her 88‑year‑old mother, living in a health‑care facility, was raped by an employee who, Hemingway said, had earlier been guilty of abuse at another facility that was not reported. "The fellow that caught that raped her had been guilty of abuse at another facility earlier in the year but had not been reported," she said, describing the personal impetus for the bill. Hemingway also noted the bill carries a fiscal note she characterized as offset by fees charged for requested reports.
The bill passed on the floor by a recorded vote of 70 yes and 2 no and will be transferred to the Senate. Sponsors said the measure increases protections for vulnerable populations by shortening notification times and improving inter‑facility communication.
Next steps: transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
