H_PBH_2022A 02/11/2022 10:31:00 AM Committee Summary

Representative Ransom and Representative Young, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1090, concerning allowing a child reasonable independence to engage in activities without finding that the child is abused or neglected. The bill amends the statutory definition of neglect to state that a child is not neglected when allowed to participate in certain independent and safe activities.

Representative Ransom and Representative Young responded to questions from the committee.

Ruchi Kapoor, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

April Hawley, representing Christian Home Educators of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hawley responded to questions from the committee.

Brinley Sheffield, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Christa Sheffield, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Diane Campbell, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Courtney Judd, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Ashley Chase, representing Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill.

Written testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment  A).

Representative Ransom and Representative Young provided closing remarks on the bill.

The committee members commented on the bill.

Heather Durosko, County Human Service Director’s Association, presented to the committee on child welfare funding and the Federal Families First Act. She reviewed information in a powerpoint presentation (Attachment B).  She provided a copy of a letter sent by the Colorado Human Services Directors Association and Colorado Counties, Inc. to the Department of Human Services and Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (Attachment C).  Ms. Durosko discussed aspects of the federal Families First Prevention Services Act.  She reviewed the recommendations of the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. She continued discussing placements outside the home and qualified residential treatment programs.

Ms. Durosko and Ms. Ulrich responded to questions from the committee.

Benjamin Teevan, Fostering Colorado and Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies (CAFCA), responded to questions from the committee. In response to committee questions, Ms. Ulrich and Ms. Durosko discussed matters related to workforce issues and the group home environments.

Ms. Durosko and Mr. Teevan continued to respond to questions from the committee.

Becky Miller Updike, Fostering Colorado and CAFCA, presented to the committee about CAFCA and its members. She discussed issues related to capacity, workforce, and COVID-19 and their impact on mental health services for children. Ms. Miller Updike discussed the need in Colorado to build a continuum of care for mental health services for children and youth.

Mr. Teevan presented to the committee about prior legislation to assist foster children and the implementation of the federal Families First Act.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.