h_hie_2016a_2016-04-28t14:32:52z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/28/2016

04:36 PM -- SB 16-147



Representative Pettersen, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 16-147. The bill establishes the Colorado suicide prevention plan within the Office of Suicide Prevention (office) in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Through system-level implementation in the criminal justice and health care systems, the plan is intended to reduce suicide rates in Colorado. The bill encourages the office, the CDPHE, the Office of Behavioral Health in the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to work with various stakeholders to develop and implement a plan to improve training on:



• identification of indicators of suicidal thoughts and behavior;

• emergency procedures for 72-hour mental health holds;

• federal health care privacy laws; and

• risk assessment and management.



The bill encourages the following groups and organizations to contribute to and implement the plan on or before July 1, 2019:



• community mental health centers;

• hospitals;

• the state crisis services system;

• emergency medical services professionals and responders;

• regional health and behavioral health systems;

• substance abuse treatment systems;

• physical and mental health clinics in educational institutions;

• criminal justice systems; and

• advocacy groups, hospital chaplains, and faith-based organizations.



The bill requires the office to include a summary of its activities under the plan in a report submitted to the Office of Behavioral Health and annually to the General Assembly. CDPHE may accept gifts, grants, and donations for the direct and indirect costs of implementing the plan, all of which must be transmitted to the Suicide Prevention Coordination Cash Fund.



Representative Pettersen distributed a handout (Attachment C) to the committee and answered questions from the committee.



160428 AttachC.pdf



04:47 PM -- Jarrod Hindman, CDPHE, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hindman and Representative Pettersen answered questions from the committee.



05:02 PM -- Loye Troxler, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



05:08 PM -- Susan Marine, Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Marine answered questions from the committee.



05:15 PM -- Yasmine Mohamed, Colorado Youth Advisory Council, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Mohamed answered questions from the committee.



05:22 PM -- LeAnne Wheeler, United Veterans Committee of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She read a statement from Wes Carter.



05:25 PM -- Frank Kollar, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



05:27 PM -- Francesa Kollar, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:30 PM



Committee discussion with Mr. and Mrs. Kollar continued.



05:32 PM -- Doyle Forestal, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill.



05:35 PM -- Molly Jacobson, Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



05:37 PM -- Liza Tupa, Department Human Services, testified on the bill.



05:39 PM -- Ann Clement, Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Clement answered questions from the committee.



05:42 PM



Representative Pettersen made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members made comments about the bill.

05:53 PM



The committee adjourned.