Legislation
Barto 2013 Health & Human Services Reform bills
As Senate Health & Human Services Chair, my main priority is to vet the bills assigned to this committee and hear only those that are Constitutional and that stay within the proper role of government at the State level - and secondly, to STOP proposals that violate those principles.
SB 1115 - How much does health care really cost? SB 1115 will crack the door open to more transparent pricing for health care services. SB 1115 ensures patients have the information upon request when purchasing health care services without insurance or when using a medical savings account. Passed the Senate 18-10; Passed House 34-25; Vetoed. Read more here.
SB 1374 - Arizona’s Board of Behavioral Health Examiners has a reputation – and it’s not good. And public testimony at the Board’s sunset hearing last Fall confirmed this Board’s continuing dysfunctional actions affecting current Licensees and individuals seeking licensure to work as licensed Substance Abuse or Marriage & Family Counselors and Social Workers in Arizona. SB 1374 comprehensively overhauls this Board’s licensure & reciprocity processes and structure.
SB 1375 - Are you a foster parent? If so, you know that most children in CPS have experienced trauma involving neglect and/or some form of serious physical or sexual abuse. These children very often require counseling at some point in order to deal with that abuse and experience lasting healing. The concern is the current system isn’t adequately providing mental health care to these children at the levels they need. SB 1375 will evaluate the system along with reporting outcomes.
SB 1108 - With over 14,000 children in the CPS system in Arizona, there is a serious shortage of foster parents to lovingly shelter these kiddos. SB 1108 will allow parents who, for whatever reason, choose not to immunize their own children, to serve as foster parents to these children needing homes.
SB 1072 - When divorced parents share parenting time current law inadequately protects parents when one of them decides to pick up and move without considering how it might affect the child’s circumstances or the other parent’s parenting time. SB 1072 will make the system fairer for all parties – especially the child.
SB 1073 - Parenting time hearings can be a problem – cases can now take months for an initial temporary custody hearing, denying the non-custodial parent their rights to participate in their child’s upbringing. SB 1073 ensures that Judges assigned new child custody cases hold an evidentiary hearing within 60 days of a parent’s filing – just as the current court rules recommend. Governor Brewer signed SB 1073 into law on April 3rd, 2013.
Other bills:
SB 1278 - Yes – it’s my HOA Roadway bill – but it will solve the issue in a moderated form that should make everyone happy! SB 1278 clarifies that PUBLIC roadways within HOA communities are regulated only by one set of laws: those set forth by their municipality or county. Effective in new HOA communities only beginning in 2015. Passed the Senate 22-7; Passed House Govt. 6-2; awaits House floor votes. Why is this bill needed? Homeowners within some HOA communities are often fined by their HOA for violating HOA CC&Rs by parking in front of their own home on a public street, where it is legal to park according to their city’s ordinance. This is confusing and unjust for homeowners who may have nowhere else to park.
For all of Senator Barto’s 2013 sponsored legislation see: sponsored bills on member page.
2012 Session Bills:
- SB 1249 – Health Provider Contracting. The Health Care Freedom Act , which passed overwhelmingly in 2010, constitutionally protects physicians and other health care providers from being forced to contract with the government, but some insurers are doing an end-run around the HCFA, violating providers’ rights. SB 1249 closes this loophole. Passed Senate Health. Held in Senate.
- SB 1384 – Price Transparency. Because of the prevalence of government & third party payers in health care over past decades, we have nothing resembling a free market health care system in the U.S. HSAs and other Medical Savings Accounts are helping patients consume health care more wisely, but who knows what health care actually costs? SB 1384 will move price transparency forward. Passed Senate. Failed in House Judiciary. Read Forbes’ Avik Roy on SB 1384.
- SB 1189 – Expanding Volunteer Health Providers in AZ. SB 1189 exempts temporary volunteer health care professionals, providing free health care in AZ, from Arizona-specific licensure if they are licensed in another state. Diane Cohen, from the Goldwater Institute, covers the bill in: Let’s Open the Door to Compassionate Volunteers. Passed Senate. Held in House Health.
- SB 1359 – “Wrongful life”. This medical tort reform ensures that physicians – who have done nothing wrong – won’t be held liable for the life of a child born with a disability when parents claim they would have aborted the child had they known of the disability. Read “‘Wrongful Birth’ lawsuits simply wrong” and a fact sheet on the issue. Passed and signed into law.
- SB 1250 – Interstate Health Insurance. Increasing competitive insurance options to Arizona consumers. SB 1250, if passed, would have enabled many of the 1.3 million uninsured Arizonans more affordable insurance options by injecting true competition into the Arizona insurance market. A prior version passed both Houses in 2011 (SB 1593), but was vetoed by Governor Brewer.
- SB 1032 – Arizona Health Care Compact – SB 1592, vetoed in 2011, would have moved unsustainable federal healthcare programs to a block grant system, allowing states the flexibility to manage their indigent health programs more cost-effectively & efficiently – without all of the Federal constraints. See Philosophy of the Health Care Compact.
- SB 1188 – Medical Bd. Tort Reform. SB 1188 raises the evidentiary standard of proof for disciplinary actions from a “preponderance of the evidence” to a “clear and convincing” standard of proof. The Board was also provided authority to discipline doctors who violate Medical Marijuana laws. Passed and signed into law.
- SB 1009 – School Presentations. Prevents abortion providers from promoting abortion in public schools. Read more here. Passed and signed into law.
Additional Bills…
- English Language Learner Reform – SB 1033 – Allowing flexibility in English Language instruction policy will help ELL students move into more appropriate content and reading classes when they are ready. Passed Senate. Held in House Education.
- HOA Roadway Authority - clarifies that an HOA may not regulate parking on the publicly owned streets within their communities. Passed Senate. Failed in House Judiciary.
- SCR 1016 – Limiting the Federal Debt. This Federal Debt Amendment effort was narrowly defeated in the 2011 session by one vote in the Senate. The amendment proposal to the Constitution would have, if passed by 2/3 of the states, required a majority of the states’ approval before Congress could increase the Federal debt in this country. See 2012 version: SCR 1005
Click here for a summary on 2012 life & family policy legislation.
Click here for a 2012 Session Summary.
