SS#2/HB 648 - This act modifies provisions relating to individuals with disabilities. REFERENCING PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (VARIOUS SECTIONS IN CHAPTERS 8, 178, 189, 192, 198, 205, 208, 210, 211, 402, 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.
These provisions are identical to provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 555 (2011) and similar to provisions in 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 nineteen to twenty.
Changes to the committee are identical to provisions contained in SS/SCS/HB 555 (2011), SCS/HCS/HB 464 (2011), and similar to HB 561 (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/SCS/HB 555 (2011), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 604 (2011) and similar to SB 134 (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/SCS/HCS/HB 555 (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/SCS/HCS/HB 555 (2011).
ADRIANE CROUSE