Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs committee advances 14 bills in executive session; several measures split committee

The House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs met in executive session to consider 14 bills that ranged from procedural cleanups to sharply contested policy changes. The committee approved motions to move bills forward on a mix of 18-0 and narrow 10-8 votes, and several items drew commitments to file minority reports or send measures to interim study.

Representative Drew moved that HB 1070 be ruled inexpedient to legislate, saying the bill could create a scenario where an EMS crew calls police to handle a violent mental-health episode and the police then transport the patient involuntarily. The committee approved the ITL motion 18-0.

Representative Kesselring won approval of Amendment 1006H to HB 1071, which she said limits any repeal of immunity so it is effective only from the date of passage and not retroactive. The amendment and the bill as amended passed on a 10-8 vote; a minority report was signaled by members in opposition.

Representative McGrath described changes to HB 1117 as clarifying who qualifies as a "health care provider," restricting covered medications to FDA-approved products and restating enforcement and remedy language. She characterized the bill as protecting "medical free speech," and the committee passed the amendment and bill, 18-0.

On HB 1249, members supported language allowing equipment such as nebulizers to be purchased more readily at pharmacies; the committee voted 18-0 for ought to pass.

A number of bills…