HB 437 Health Improvements Initiative Bill Signing

On Friday, March 25th, Governor Gary Herbert signed Rep. Dunnigan's bill, HB 437. The passing of HB 437 through the legislature was a monumental moment during the 2016 legislative session. Rep. Dunnigan's Health Improvements Initiative will provide full Medicaid coverage for 16,000 individuals within the coverage gap. The chronically homeless, recently incarcerated, and those suffering with behavioral health issues will qualify for this new coverage. Below are photos from the public signing of the bill at the 4th Street Clinic in Salt Lake City. 

Rep. Dunnigan had support from Governor Herbert and Pamela Atkinson, an advocate for the homeless. They both spoke at the bill signing event. 

During the bill signing ceremony, Rep. Dunnigan said, "To the mayors, and the governor, and all the rest, I thank you. I am excited. And certainly to those 16,000...what an opportunity to change their lives forever."

Governor Herbert signed HB 437, as well as HB 436.

After months of tireless service, this coalition of supporters and legislators is happy to see it is all paying off. 

Governor Herbert shook Rep. Dunnigan's hand as he gave him a ceremonial pen and signed copy of the final bill. 

What a great day for this caring team of men and women!

Caucus Meeting Recap

Yesterday was an important voting day in Utah on a national leval, as well as a local level. Utah citizens voted in the presidential primaries and in the district delegate elections. 

Rep. Dunnigan thoroughly enjoyed talking with many of his constituents last night at their local caucus meeting held at Taylorsville High School. He had a great team of family members and friends helping him spread the word about his re-election campaign. He wanted everyone who attended to know how thankful he was for your participation! 

Week 7 Update - The End!

Rep. Dunnigan is in the midst of the craziness that is the last day of the session. Voting began at 8:00 a.m. this morning and won't end until 12:00 a.m. tonight. Here's a quick snap shot of the week. 

Monday

Rep. Dunnigan was grateful to spend quality time on the House Floor with Mayor Johnson from Taylorsville on Monday afternoon.

Tuesday

Rep. Dunnigan presented his HB 437 Health Improvements Initiative to Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday morning. Later that day, HB 437 passed through the Senate as well with a vote of 19 - 7. 

Wednesday

Comcast Newsmakers interviewed Rep. Dunnigan on Wednesday morning about the passing of HB 437 Health Improvements Initiative. The interview was held in the Supreme Court Chamber. Watch the interview on Comcast Cable Channel 6.

Thursday

As this legislative session comes to a close, it is tradition for the spouse to come sit on the House floor. Rep. Dunnigan is grateful for his supportive wife, Vicki, and his intern, Jenessa. It's been an incredible 45 days!

Week 6 Update

With one week left, Rep. Dunnigan is working hard to pass his bills before time is up. He's had a really good week. Scroll through this week's picture update! 

Monday

Last Monday, Rep. Dunnigan presented one of his bills in the Business and Labor Standing Committee in the afternoon. Many people showed up in support of HB 437: Health Improvements Initiative. The bill passed with a vote of 9 - 4.

Tuesday

Mayor McAdams and Mayor Biskupski held a press conference Tuesday in the Hall of Governors in support of Rep. Dunnigan's Health Improvements Initiative (HB 437). Other legislators came to stand in support as well.

Wednesday

Rep. Dunnigan has continually worked on gaining support for HB 437 Health Improvements Initiative. Follow this link to read the comments of Keith McMullin and Kimal James at the committee hearing on the bill.

Thursday

Rep. Dunnigan loved this House Chamber visit from Coach Whittingham, the football coach up at the University of Utah. The coach even signed Rep. Dunnigan's football.

Friday 

Rep. Dunnigan had his own little support team with him on Friday as he presented HB 437 Health Care Revisions to the House Chamber. The bill passed the House with a vote of 54 - 17.

Keith McMullin and Kimal James Speak on Behalf of Rep. Dunnigan's HB 437

Rep. Dunnigan presented his healthcare expansion bill earlier this week on Monday in a committee hearing. After Rep. Dunnigan's presentation, many members of the public spoke on behalf of the bill. Fortunately, HB 437 passed the Business and Labor standing committee with a roll call vote of 9 - 4. Below is a transcript of Keith McMullin and Kimal James' comments, who both came to speak on behalf of the bill. To hear more of the Business and Labor standing committee meeting, follow this link.

Keith McMullin

"Mr. Chairman, committee members, my name is Keith McMullin. I am here representing the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. I am the President and Chief Executive Officer of Deseret Management Corporation and I am here on my own personal account. I am pleased with the efforts of Rep. Dunnigan in bringing this particular bill forward. 

My life represents 50 years of experiences with this most vulnerable population, both here in the state of Utah and abroad. I understand that a society grows and prospers as it attends to those who are must vulnerable within it. I believe that this particular initiative addresses that need within our state and I believe our state has a need to address those who are in these most vulnerable populations.

Some years ago I had the privilege of sitting in the company of a very prominent leader in this state, who has since passed away. As we spoke about some of the political turmoil around the world and the efforts that were being made to assuage the grief and incident thereto.

He made an observation which has stayed with me which I think is an important matter as it pertains to this particular initiative. He said, "I refuse to let political considerations set bounds to my charity." I took note of that and feel that it has been a good guide in my own personal life. I think it adds to good governance, as well.

Furthermore, I would like to take a moment and put a face to those who have been spoken about here and who are addressed in this bill by Rep. Dunnigan. As I drive to my place of employment on a daily basis, I often see those who are in the categories of the mentally ill, or the tragic transient, or those who have come out of institutions in this state or elsewhere and carry with them the burdens of past misbehavior.

Often, I see these individuals on our streets coping with demons that only they can understand and that go unobserved by those passing by except for their unusual behavior, that is the unusual behavior of those who suffer from mental illness. 

I have watched the men and women who carry the homeless burden upon their shoulders and I know the reasons therefore, I know the consequences thereof, and I know that they are in circumstances that prohibit them from easily accessing the kind of care that most of us are accustomed to in one form or another. 

Three weeks ago, I buried a good friend of mine, a man who spent some 10 years in a federal prison. I watched him as he was discharged from that federal prison. I saw him try to get his feet back under him so to speak. He suffered from diabetes, a condition that worsened while he was incarcerated. As he came out of incarceration and tried to put his life back together, he was faced with unemployment challenges, the lack of essential benefits, and nowhere to turn in this state to help him on his way to recovery. I helped put him up for some time. I hired him, put him to work. I dealt with his mistakes as he tried to put his life back together and as I said three weeks ago, I stood at his graveside and spoke at his graveside service.

I hope that these brief comments will help put a face to those who stand in need of our attention. What Rep. Dunnigan has done, as suggested in this bill, is something that is good for the citizens of this state to do. It is good for the economy. For as we turn our attention to those who stand in need, the economy will prosper. As we turn our attention from those who stand in need, the economy will not. 

Furthermore, I speak on behalf of the business community as represented by the Salt Lake Chamber. This is good for business. For those who are in our community who find themselves retrained and reestablished add to the workforce and contribute in a constructive way to the benefit of the society in which we live, to the state as a whole.

And so without reservation, I commend to you the difficult task of addressing the problems faced with those in need and for your courage in doing so, I commend Rep. Dunnigan for that work which he has done, which I believe is good governance and hope this piece of legislation will find favorable consideration. Thank you very much." 

Kimal James

"My name is Kimal James. I'm the pastor of the First United Methodist Church in the Odgen area in Marriott-Slaterville. I want to speak in favor of this bill. As a pastor, I have people in my congregation who suffer from mental illness and other physical problems,  and people who have adult children who suffer from these problems. They suffer greatly because they don't know how to help them when the system doesn't provide for them an economic way to have the care that they need.

As a pastor of a church, I tend to think in spiritual way. The bible came to my mind, the gospel story from Luke chapter 6 of when Jesus healed a man with a withered hand in a synagogue on the Sabbath day. 

Jesus broke the traditional law in order to take care of a man whose need was great. Some could have said, "Why didn't Jesus wait til the next day when it wouldn't have been breaking the law and the tradition?" I think that Jesus broke the law that day in order to heal that man because he had the opportunity to do what was right then. Maybe the next day, the opportunity would be gone.

I urge you to take the opportunity that is at hand right now. Make a difference for these people. It's much bigger than physical, and even mental health and substance abuse. These things rob a person's spirit and they rob the spirits of the people who love them: the parents, the siblings, the grandparents who need help for their family members.

I urge you to help these people now. The opportunity is here for you to do this. Thank you."