AMATS Legislative Initiative

The need for families to be able to obtain assistance from professionals who will provide assistance for their loved one to be safely delivered to treatment exists. Through AMATS like-minded professional transport companies have the opportunity to ascribe to a higher standard of practice for the persons in their care and can be a catalyst for change for all transports that are conducted within the Mental Health Community.

In an attempt to assist Oregon legislators as they were creating legislation in 2020, AMATS President, Brian Shepherd consulted throughout the process. However, Shepherd’s consultation fell on deaf ears as the legislation that passed governs transport companies as though they are brick-and-mortar childcare facilities. Unfortunately, the complex legislation in Oregon is restrictive rather than supportive and has created unexpected difficulties for both transport companies as well as therapeutic programs.

AMATS Members as well as other transport companies across the country offer a uniquely different service that combines mediation, protective service, and transport. Legislation needs to provide support while affording the freedom to provide the peripatetic assistance which is part of our professional training.

AMATS believes that companies across the country who engage in the practice of transporting persons to treatment should have legislative support through governance that makes sense. In the fall of 2021 AMATS hired Sego Strategies to help us take the first steps in achieving this goal. Through a cooperative effort, AMATS and Sego Strategies crafted legislation which was championed by Utah Senator Michael K. McKell, Chief Sponsor and House Sponsor Brady Brammer. On February 22, 2022, Utah became the second State to pass legislation that supports the transport companies working within the Mental Health Community; and the first State whose governance makes sense.

Utah SB 0239 Congregate Care Program Amendments applies to schools, programs, employees, and transporters who provide support for anyone in congregate care. The groundbreaking legislation that affects all persons transporting youth in Utah which was modeled from AMATS Code of Ethics and Bylaws. The portion of the law that applies to transport companies is as follows:

Registry of Transport Companies approved to do business in Utah

To be approved, Transport Company Applicants submit:

$500.00 Application Fee

$1M or more current Insurance Deck Sheet

FBI Criminal Background Check with additional Fingerprint Fees

Valid Business License from State where Company is Headquartered

No Kickbacks Given or Received

AMATS is proud to announce that every member of our organization has been approved for transporting youth into and out of Utah and is listed on the Utah DHHS Youth Transport Company Registry.

In June 2022 Brian Shepherd, AMATS President; Holly Hunter, AMATS Vice President and Dana Cox AMATS Treasurer and Joe Pyrah, Sego Strategies met with Senator McKell to discuss next steps. AMATS leadership team expressed our gratitude to McKell for garnering support and bringing SB0239 into law; and some of AMATS strategic plan as it applies to education, training and accreditation.  

AMATS is working to exact change in the Mental Health Community. Our goal is to bring a cohesiveness unity for youth transport companies synchronized by alignment with Standards of Practice and a Code of Ethics on which referring professionals, parents, guardians and their loved ones can rely.  

AMATS is moving forward with accreditation, education and training. Be watching for AMATS Accreditation in 2024 with educational and training opportunities that will bring cohesiveness to transport companies and a defined Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics on which parents, guardians and referring professionals can rely.

AMATS Legislative Initiative is ongoing as there is much work to be done and you have an opportunity to help make a difference. AMATS is receiving donations to help underwrite this important endeavor. All donations made to AMATS for our Legislative Initiative are tax deductible and will be used to offset our legislative costs.