HB 303 Summary

• Establishes "Sarah's Law" creating licensure requirements for pediatric respite care programs that serve children under 27 with life-threatening conditions, including regulatory standards, criminal background checks for employees, and inspection procedures

• Modifies methadone treatment program licensing by requiring new programs to be located at least 500 feet from schools and child-serving agencies, with waiver provisions if institutions provide letters of support

• Expands qualified immunity from civil liability for volunteer health care professionals serving uninsured and indigent persons, extending protections to behavioral health professionals including counselors, psychologists, and marriage/family therapists

• Updates nursing profession regulations including creation of dialysis technician intern certificates, modification of intravenous therapy authorization procedures, and changes to medication aide and community health worker certification requirements

• Authorizes Department of Developmental Disabilities to conduct resident assessments at intermediate care facilities in early 2013 to determine case-mix scores for Medicaid rate calculations, with protections ensuring rates do not fall below 90% of prior year levels