H_PBH_2022A 02/22/2022 01:31:58 PM Committee Summary

Representative Tipper and Majority Leader Esgar, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1153, concerning affirming parentage by adoption for a person who did not give birth when the child is conceived as a result of assisted reproduction. The bill allows a non-child bearing parent or presumed parent, in instances of assisted reproduction, to complete an adoption of a child to affirm parentage.

Representative Esgar and Representative Tipper responded to questions from the committee.

Scott Horak, representing self, testified in a neutral position on the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

Heather Palm, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Megan Andersen, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Jennifer Masket-Valenta, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Ellen Trachman, representing Colorado Women's Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Majority Leader Esgar explained amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

Representative Tipper provided concluding remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Majority Leader Esgar made concluding remarks on the bill.

Representative Van Beber and Representative Kipp, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1113, concerning amending the appeals procedures in dependency and neglect cases to minimize delay in achieving permanency for children. The bill requires the Judicial Department’s Child Welfare Appeals Workgroup to monitor and report on the implementation of recommendations from its 2021 final report. It also requires district courts to issue written orders within 35 days after hearings concerning termination of the parent-child legal relationship.

Representative Van Beber responded to questions from the committee.

Renee Bernhard, representing Foster Source, testified in support of the bill.

Kaci Nice, representing self, testified in support of the bill.  Ms. Nice provided a written copy of her testimony to the committee (Attachment B).

Heather Williamson, representing self, testified in support of the bill.  Ms. Williamson provided a written copy of her testimony to the committee (Attachment C).

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Jody Britton, representing Foster Source/Social Workers/Kinship Parents, testified in support of the bill. 

Lauren Langan, representing Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill.

Benjamin Teevan, representing Fostering Colorado and Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Jennifer Mullenbach, representing Colorado Counties, Inc. and Jefferson County, testified in support of the bill.

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

Heather Gonzales, representing Colorado State Foster Parent Association, testified in support of the bill.

Melanie Jordan, representing Office of Respondent Parents' Counsel, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Korey Elger, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Nathan Hoag, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Chaz Tedesco, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Kipp and Representative Van Beber provided concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative McCormick and Representative Titone, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1157, concerning the utilization of demographic health data by the Department of Public Health and Environment to address health inequities. The bill requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to expand the collection of public health data to include certain voluntary demographic information and to provide direct and technical assistance for entities that collect data.

Representative McCormick and Representative Titone responded to questions from the committee.

Mardi Moore, representing Out Boulder County, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Michael Neil, representing Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Christopher Urbina, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Kelli Hintch, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Steven Haden, representing Envision: You, testified in support of the bill. He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment D).

Representative Titone explained amendment L.001 (Attachment E).

Representative McCormick explained amendment L.002 (Attachment F).

Representative McCormick and Representative Titone provided concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Bradfield, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1167, concerning temporary proxy decision-makers for medical treatment. The bill allows physicians and healthcare facilities to assign temporary proxy decision-makers for patients who are unable to provide consent about receiving or refusing medical treatment.