The House Health and Human Resources Committee met this afternoon to consider the following bills:
House Bill 4408 allows for the development of a specialized intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The goal of this bill is to move individuals from Sharpe and Bateman hospitals to less restrictive facilities. The less restrictive environment would be a residence in a community with 8 to 10 beds which allows individuals to become involved in the community. It would be more home-like than institutional-like. After a lengthy discussion, the bill advances to finance.
House Bill 4908 permits the Department of Human Services and Department of Health Facilities to contract with WV public health institutes without a bidding process to enter into contracts. The DHHR had this permission, but when the department split the separate departments weren’t included. The bill advances.
House Bill 4783 updates the practice of optometry. It allows an optometrist to perform all procedures taught within the education and training at or through schools or colleges of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education. It also extends the expiration date for eyeglass prescriptions from one year to two years. The bill advances to the floor.
House Bill 4975 creates an information-sharing child welfare system. It requires the Department of Human Services to add to the current child welfare system a foster parent information system. The amended bill advances to finances.
House Bill 4320 clarifies that neither a parent or a legal guardian shall not be denied access to a minor’s medical records unless the minor has graduated high school, is emancipated, or is married. The bill advances.
