The Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee will decide on Aug. 28 whether to send the 2021 Legislature any proposals related to child protective services, senior and long-term care services, and guardianship laws.

The committee will hold its final scheduled meeting by video conference on Aug. 28, beginning at 8 a.m.

The agenda also includes a number of updates from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, including the impacts of the coronavirus on the agency and the status of the Medicaid expansion program.

For the study of child protective services, representatives of the judicial system will discuss the potential impacts of bill drafts that would speed up the initial hearing in child abuse and neglect cases.DPHHS also will present its strategic plan for putting the Family First Prevention Services Act into effect. That federal law revamps several aspects of the child welfare system.

For its study of a 2017 uniform law on guardianships, the committee will consider bill drafts to require consideration of less restrictive alternatives and to revise monitoring and reporting requirements for guardians of adults. 

The committee will review four bill drafts stemming from its senior and long-term care study. One bill would clarify Medicaid eligibility requirements for some individuals. The other three bill drafts focus on Medicaid home and community-based services waivers. They would establish legislative intent for the waivers, lengthen the notification period for termination of waiver services, and require rulemaking for substantive program changes.

Members of the public may comment on the bill drafts and other matters in the committee's jurisdiction by either submitting written comments before the meeting or by joining the meeting by phone or computer on Aug. 28. More information about the meeting, including an agenda and instructions for public participation is available on the committee's website or by contacting committee researcher Sue O'Connell.