H_HI_2020A 03/04/2020 02:34:47 PM Committee Summary

Representative Kennedy, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 20-1221 to the committee.  The bill makes changes to eligibilty for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's Complimentary or Alternative Medicine Pilot Program, which allows Medicaid enrollees with spinal cord injuries to receive additional medical services not otherwise available to Medicaid clients.  The bill expands the geography-based eligibility and diagnosis-based eligibility for the program.

Amendments L.001 and L.002 were distributed to the committee (Attachments A and B).  The bill sponsor responded to committee questions.

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Michael Neil, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.  Jennifer Maxwell, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Sarah Purdy, Craig Hospital, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Mary Colecchi, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  John Morris, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Jay Seller, NeuAbility, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Chanda Hinton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness responded to committee questions.  Candace Bailey, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, responded to committee questions.

Max Nardo, Legislative Council Staff, responded to committee questions regarding the amendments and fiscal note.

The committee discussed amendments to the bill.

The bill sponsor gave closing remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Lontine recessed the committee.

The committee came back to order.

Represenative Becker and Representative Caraveo, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 20-1319 to the committee.   The bill prohibits retailers from selling, offering for sale, or otherwise providing flavored cigarettes, tobacco products, nicotine products, or flavor enhancers, beginning September 1, 2020.  Flavored products include those that impart a taste or smell other than that of tobacco, including menthol, mint, wintergreen, fruit, herb, and spice, among other flavors.  The Liquor Enforcement Division in the Department of Revenue has the authority to enforce the ban.  The bill establishes fine schedules for violations.

The bill sponsors responded to committee questions.

Dr. Maude Lofton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Jonathan Godes, Glenwood Springs Mayor, testified in support of the bill. Karl Hanlon, Glenwood Springs City Attorney, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Jason Casados, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Daniel Gotwald, representing himself and Vapor Uprising, testified in opposition to the bill.  James Howard, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dr. Ricky Mohon, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Dan Richardson, Colorado Municipal League and the town of Carbondale, testified in support of the bill. Katrice Traylor, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Mykel Brown, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Marissa Howard, Vapor Rising, testified in opposition to the bill.  Serenity Martinez, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Natalie Gray, representing herself, testified in opposition of the bill.

Helen Cross, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Natalie Taylor, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Dylan Behanna, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Robert Murphy, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Brian Fojtik, National Association of Tobacco Outlets, testified in opposition to the bill.  Grier Bailey, Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, testified in opposition to the bill.  Alex Smelser, Cignot Denver, testified in opposition to the bill.  Monica Vondruska, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Matthew McGregor, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and provided a handout (Attachment C).  Dr. Carolyn Dresler, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ellen Penrod, American Lung Association, testified in support of the bill.  Michael Crews, One Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Art Way, Equitable Consulting, testified in opposition to the bill.  Sean Smith, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Victoria Reynolds, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Gregory Conley, American Vaping Association, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment D).  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Elysia Nitsch, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Meagan Figgins, Nederland Youth Leadership Academy, testified in support of the bill.  Leanne Wheeler, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Thomas Davidson, Summit County Commissioner, testified in support of the bill.

Shaune Walter, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Tyler Henson, Premium Cigar Association, testified in opposition to the bill.  Sarah Walter, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Amanda Wheeler, Rocky Mountain Smoke Free Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment E).  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Dr. Anne Rice-Jones, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Evan Stepp, National Jewish Health, testified in support of the bill. Jennifer Carl, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Kevin Cox, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Peggy Hegler, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Sophia, representing herself, testified in a neutral capacity on the bill.

Mathew Mengesha, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Euda Best, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Charlie Reish, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Christine Hansen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Naomi Amana Gollnick, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Eric Heydorn, American Cancer Society - Cancer Action Network, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment F).  Ella Antonson, American Cancer Society - Cancer Action Network, testified in support of the bill.  Jodi Radke, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, testified in support of the bill.  Danny Katz, Colorado Public Interest Research Group, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Dawn Reinfeld, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment G).  Echo Crockett, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Cory Vigil, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions.

The bill sponsors provided remarks on the bill and discussed possible amendments.

Representative Lontine laid the bill over for action at a later date.