SS/SCS/HCS/HB 555 - This act modifies provisions relating to health care policies. DISABILITY HISTORY AND AWARENESS MONTH (SECTION 162.946)
The school board of each school district may allow schools within the district to annually provide disability history and awareness instruction during the month of October. October will be designated as "Disability History and Awareness Month."
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may identify and adopt preliminary guidelines for each school board to use in developing its curriculum. In addition, higher education institutions are encouraged to conduct and promote activities that provide education, understanding, and awareness of individuals with disabilities.
This provision is similar to HCS/HB 556 (2011).
REFERENCING PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (VARIOUS SECTIONS IN CHAPTERS 8, 178, 189, 192, 198, 205, 208, 210, 211, 475, 476, 552, 630, 632, and 633)
This act changes all references of "mentally retarded," "mental retardation," or "handicapped" in current state law to "intellectually disabled," "intellectual disability," "developmentally disabled," "developmental disability" or "disabled" respectively. This act also incorporates People First Language when referring to individuals with intellectual, developmental or other mental health disabilities, conditions or disorders.
This provision is identical to SS/HB 648 (2011) and similar to HCS/HB 579 (2011).
MO HEALTHNET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (SECTION 208.955)
This act changes the qualifications for service on the MO HealthNet Oversight Committee as it relates to the consumer representative, the four physicians, the dentist, the two patient advocates and the one public member. This act also requires two rather than one, nonphysician health care professionals, with one being a nurse under chapter 335 and one being a mental health professional under chapter 337. The number of members changes from eighteen to nineteen.
Changes to the committee are identical to provisions contained in SS/HB 648 (2011), SCS/HCS/HB 464 (2011), and similar to HB 561 (2011).
MISSOURI CHILDREN'S SERVICES COMMISSION (SECTION 210.101)
This act modifies the membership of the Missouri Children's Services Commission. One of the two judges on the commission, and four of the legislative members are eliminated. Representatives from the departments of higher education and corrections are added.
This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 464 (2011) and similar to a provision in HCS/HB 562 (2011).
MISSOURI TASK FORCE ON PREMATURITY AND INFANT MORTALITY (Section 210.105)
This act establishes a 18-member Missouri Task Force on Prematurity and Infant Mortality within the Children's Services Commission to seek evidence-based and cost-effective approaches to reduce Missouri's preterm birth and infant mortality rates. The task force shall also issue findings and propose to the appropriate public and private organizations goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics designed to reduce prematurity and infant mortality in Missouri, including recommendations on public policy for consideration during the next appropriate session of the general assembly. On or before December 31, 2013, the task force shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly with their findings.
Six of the 18 members shall be members of the General Assembly with two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, two by the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and one by the Minority Leader of the Senate. The task force shall meet initially by October 15, 2011, and at least quarterly thereafter. The task force shall expire January 1, 2015, or upon the submission of a final report, whichever is earlier.
This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 464 (2011) and similar to a provision in HCS/HB 562 (2011).
PARENTAL RIGHTS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (SECTIONS 210.496, 211.031, 211.447 and 453.070)
This act specifies that the disability or disease of an individual shall not be the basis for a determination to refuse to issue, suspend, or revoke a foster care license. Disability or disease shall also not constitute a basis for a determination that a prospective adoptive parent is unfit, that a child is in need of care, that it is necessary to remove a child from the custody of a parent, or for the termination of parental rights, without a specific showing that there is a causal relation between the disability and harm to the child.
These provisions are identical to provisions in SS/HB 648 (2011) and SS/SCS/HCS/HB 604 (2011) and similar to SB 134 (2011).
ACCESSIBLE PARKING AND PARKING LOTS (SECTION 301.143)
This acts requires new parking lots and parking lots being restriped to designate a certain number of lift van only accessible parking spaces with at least one having an access aisle.
This provision is identical to HB 608 (2011).
This act prohibits all new signs erected on or after August 28, 2011, relating to disabled parking, from containing the words "Handicap Parking" or "Handicapped Parking." Such signs may contain requires the words"Accessible Parking".
This provision is identical to HB 560 (2011).
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE DENTAL BOARD AND BOARD OF HEALING ARTS (SECTIONS 332.021 AND 334.120)
Currently, the Governor is required to chose members of the Missouri Dental Board and the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts from lists of names submitted by the director of the Division of Professional Registration. When the member to be appointed to the board is a dentist or doctor, this amendment requires that the lists include the names of dentists or doctors recommend to the director by the Missouri Dental Association, the Missouri State Medical Association, or the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, as the case may be. The amendment specifies that these lists are public records available for inspection and copying.
These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 464 (2011).
MENTAL HEALTH EARNINGS FUND (SECTIONS 630.053 AND 630.095)
Subject to appropriations, the proceeds earned from the sale of Mental Health First Aid USA services shall be directed to the Mental Health Earnings Fund. Such proceeds shall be used for the purpose of funding Mental Health First AID USA activities and shall be accounted for separately from all other revenues deposited in the fund.
These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/SCS/SB 177 (2011) and HCS/HB 557 (2011), SS/HB 648 (2011).
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS (SECTION 630.167)
This act updates a statutory reference to reflect that Department of Mental Health investigative reports are automatically admissible in any hearing before the Administrative Hearing Commission.
This provision is identical to HCS/SCS/SB 177 (2011) and SS/HB 648 (2011).
ADRIANE CROUSE