HF 606 – Online continuing education for social workers, therapists and counselors
HF 691 – MHDS regions fund balances
SF 540 – powers of care and custody of children
COMMITTEE ACTION:
HF 606 – Online continuing education for social workers, therapists and counselors
HF 606 prohibits the Board of Social Work from limiting the number of continuing education credits that social workers may obtain online and the Board of Behavioral Science from limiting the number of continuing education credits that marital and family therapists and mental health counselors may obtain online. It requires programs providing the continuing education credits online to comply with standards set by the appropriate board.
[4/2: short form]
HF 691 – MHDS regions fund balances
HF 691 modifies the amount of excess funds counties can retain for cash flow for the adult Mental Health and Disability Services (MH/DS) system. Beginning in FY24, counties are limited to a fund balance reserved for cash flow of 40 percent of gross expenditures. Counties must reduce their levies by any dollar amount in excess of 40 percent beginning in FY24. If the bill takes effect on or after March 15, 2019, a county may recertify its budget as necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. In addition, MH/DS regions may amend a regional service system management plan or annual service and budget plan for FY19 and FY20. The bill strikes the current requirements of 20 or 25 percent.
[4/2: short form]
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 540 – powers of care and custody of children
SF 540 allows a parent through a power of attorney to delegate to another person (agent) any powers regarding the care and custody of their child except the power to consent to marriage, power to consent to adoption, power to consent to abortion and power to consent to termination of parental rights. The power of attorney is not to exceed three months with the option of an additional three months and never more than six months total. No minimum qualifications, training or tracking of agents is required.
[4/2: 30-16, party-line (Excused: Brown, Kinney, Mathis, Zaun)]