983EBF062CADC13187258234007C301C Hearing Summary

The committee recessed.

The committee reconvened.

Senator Lambert and Senator Jahn, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-040 to the committee. The bill establishes a pilot program for a supervised injection facility for injection drug users, and enacts several other harm reduction measures concerning clean syringe exchange and opiate antagonists.

Senators Lambert and Jahn discussed amendment L.002 [Attachment G], a strike-below amendment. Committee members received a comparison of the introduced bill and amendment L.002 [Attachment H, a fact sheet about the bill [Attachment I], and a page of written testimony [Attachment J].

Therese Mashak, representing herself, testified against the bill. She responded to committee member questions.

Jose Esquibel, representing the Colorado Attorney General's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Rob Valuck, representing the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, testified in support of the bill and amendment L.002.

Joelle Fairchild, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Rebecca Wesselman, representing GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing), testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Esquibel responded to committee member questions.

Dr. Christopher Unrein, representing the Colorado Medical Society, the Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Colorado Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, testified in support of the bill.

Albus Brooks, Denver City Council President, testified in support of the bill.

Alexandra Tooley, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Rebecca Chavez, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Unrein responded to committee member questions.

DeEtte Kozlow, representing Bobby's House, testified in support of the bill.

Lindsey Myers, representing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill, as amended by L.002.

Barbara Brohl, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Cheryl Wilson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Brohl answered committee members' questions.

Emilia Long, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Trina Faatz, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Dan Scales, representing Scales Pharmacy, testified in support of the bill.

Michael Miller, representing Young People in Recovery, testified in support of the bill.

Danielle Gauna, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Amanda Bent, representing Drug Policy Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

Kiyoka Tamesue, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Lisa Raville, representing the Harm Reduction Action Center, testified in support of the bill. She responded to committee member questions.

Nick LaVuolo, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Nancy Steinfurth, representing Liver Health Connection, testified in support of the bill.

Blair Hubbard, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

James Gould, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Hillary Jorgensen, representing Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Chris Stock, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He provided written testimony to the committee [Attachment K].

Senators Lambert and Jahn wrapped up their presentation of the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.