News from Week Two at the Utah State Legislature

AARP Utah's Advocacy Director Danny Harris is hard at work at the Utah State  Capitol, fighting for legislation that will help caregivers with their legal rights, nurse practitioners with their ability to prescribe medications, and small business employees with their ability to save for retirement at work.  Here's his update after week two of the Utah legislative session:

First, let me thank you for your support of the Nurse Practitioner amendments legislation (SB 58). We were pleased to see it pass out of its senate committee hearing with a unanimous vote. The bill will allow nurse practitioners to practice to the full extent of their licenses after two years or 2,000 hours of practice with a consulting physician. It now moves on to the entire Senate for their vote.

AARP Utah also testified in support of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act legislation (HB 74) and we're happy to see that it also passed unanimously out of committee on Friday (February 5). This bill would help many Utah family caregivers who manage the affairs of their loved ones. It not only makes a Power of Attorney more useful in Utah and recognized by more financial institutions across the country, but also outlines the duties and responsibilities of a Power of Attorney which will help reduce abuse. This is where we need your help this week. As this bill moves to the House for a vote, please follow this link to send a message to your representative in support of this important legislation.

We have also continued to see additional support of our effort to increase access to retirement savings vehicles for more of Utah’s workers. SB 133 (Small Business Retirement Program) was released publicly this week and we expect a committee hearing soon. In addition to the support from business last week, the legislation was endorsed this week by the AFL-CIO, Utahns Against Hunger and the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants. This legislation is showing support across industries and interests and we hope to see it passed this session to help more Utahns be prepared for retirement.

As one of your constituents, I urge you to support HB 74, the Uniform Power of Attorney Act.

This bill will help many of Utah’s 336,000 family caregivers who may act as an agent for their loved one through a Power of Attorney. The Uniform Power of Attorney Act will make these legal instruments more useful for family caregivers who have invested time and resources in having attorneys create them for them only to have them rejected by financial institutions. This bill will help make powers of attorney more uniform, more accepted and more useful.

It will also help reduce abuse of vulnerable persons by outlining the clear duties and responsibilities of a power of attorney. This new clarity will make civil actions and criminal prosecutions more effective against bad actors.

Passing the Uniform Power of Attorney Act will help protect more older Utahns and better support more family caregivers. Please vote to support HB 74.