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H_PBH_2023A 02/08/2023 01:31:02 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date 02/08/2023
Attendance
Amabile *
Bradfield X
Bradley X
English *
Gonzales-Gutierrez *
Hamrick *
Holtorf X
Jodeh X
Story X
Young X
Michaelson Jenet X
Time 01:31:02 PM to 03:57:55 PM
Place HCR 0107
This Meeting was called to order by Michaelson Jenet
This Report was prepared by Amanda King
Hearing Items Action Taken
Child Welfare Funding and the Federal Families First Act Presentation Committee Discussion Only
HB23-1124 Referred to House Appropriations
HB23-1117 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

Child Welfare Funding and the Federal Families First Act Presentation - Committee Discussion Only

01:32:53 PM  
Heather Durosko,
representing the Colorado Human Services Directors Association and Colorado
Counties, Inc., presented to the committee about child welfare issues.
 She referenced the materials provided to the committee (Attachments
A to D).  She discussed the behavioral health needs of children and
youth in the child welfare system and the use of federal American Rescue
Plan Act funds to provide prevention services.
01:38:58 PM  
Megan Cook, representing
Children's Hospital Colorado, presented to the committee.  She shared
statistical data about Children's Hospital Colorado patients presenting
in the emergency department with mental health needs.  Ms. Cook discussed
potential ways to address the mental health needs of children and youth.
 
01:44:20 PM  
Becky Miller Updike, representing Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, presented to the committee. She discussed the closure of provider agencies and the workforce challenges that agencies are facing.
01:49:00 PM  
Minna Costilla Cohen,
representing the Colorado Department of Human Services, presented to the
committee.  She discussed the need for individual treatment and placing
youth in the proper treatment settings.  
01:54:08 PM  
Benjamin Teevan,
representing Fostering Colorado, presented to the committee.  He discussed
legislative historical information about funding related to the federal
Families First Act and mental health services.  He highlighted the
workforce and funding challenges for child welfare.    
01:59:14 PM  
The panelists responded to questions from the committee.



HB23-1124 - Referred to House Appropriations
02:08:54 PM  
Representative Lindsay,
prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 23-1124, concerning the continuation
of funding for supportive employment services for Colorado employment first
participants.  The Colorado Employment First Program, housed in the
Department of Human Services (DHS), provides employment, education, and
training services to families receiving assistance under the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  The bill appropriates $1.5 million
General Fund per year through FY 2024-25 to the DHS for the Colorado Employment
First Program. The funding will be used by county departments and a third-party
partner to provide employment support and job retention services, and to
support work-based learning opportunities for Colorado Employment First
participants.  This requirement repeals July 1, 2025.
02:12:27 PM  
Aaron Carpenter,
Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions from the committee about
the bill's fiscal note.
02:17:15 PM  
Representative Lindsay responded to questions from the committee.
02:19:17 PM  
Rebecca Balu, representing
DHS, responded to committee questions.



Laura Ware, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified
in support of the bill.



Kathryn Harris, representing ActivateWork, testified in support of the
bill.



Juan Pena, representing CrossPurpose, testified in support of the bill.



The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
02:47:17 PM  
Valerie Greenhagen,
representing the Center for Employment Opportunities, testified in support
of the bill.



Vanessa Fewell, representing the Larimer County Department of Human Services,
testified in support of the bill.



Suzanne Miller, representing Arapahoe/Douglas Works, testified in support
of the bill.



Committee members made comments about the testimony.

Written testimony
was provided to the committee (Attachment E).
02:57:04 PM  
Representative Lindsay made concluding remarks about the bill.


02:58:55 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 23-1124 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Young
Seconded Hamrick
Amabile Yes
Bradfield Yes
Bradley Yes
English Yes
Gonzales-Gutierrez Excused
Hamrick Yes
Holtorf Yes
Jodeh Yes
Story Yes
Young Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB23-1117 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

02:59:06 PM  
The committee recessed.
02:59:21 PM  
The committee came
back to order.

Representative
Jodeh and Representative Garcia, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House
Bill 23-1117, concerning requirements for affidavits of support related
to eligibility for public benefits in Colorado.  The bill repeals
the requirement that legal immigrants agree to refrain from executing an
affidavit of support for the purpose of sponsoring a bid for immigration
while receiving public assistance from a program in the Department of Human
Services (DHS) or the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF).
 A handout was provided to the committee (Attachment F).
03:07:39 PM  
Representative Garcia and Representative Jodeh responded to questions from the committee.
03:21:50 PM  
Ellen Giarratana,
representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support
of the bill.



Laura Sartor, representing DHS, testified in support of the bill.



Dee Daniels Scrivens, representing the Colorado Department of Labor and
Employment, testified in support of the bill.



Marivel Klueckman, representing HCPF, was available to answer committee
questions.



Victoria Francis, representing the International Rescue Committee in Denver,
testified in support of the bill.



The panelists responded to questions from the committee.


Written testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment G).
03:43:29 PM  
Representative Garcia
explained amendment L.001 (Attachment H).  She responded to questions
from the committee.


03:46:53 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment H).
Moved Jodeh
Seconded Young
Amabile Yes
Bradfield No
Bradley No
English Yes
Gonzales-Gutierrez Yes
Hamrick Yes
Holtorf No
Jodeh Yes
Story Yes
Young Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
YES: 8   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
03:46:55 PM  
Representative Jodeh and Representative Garcia made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.


03:57:47 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 23-1117, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Jodeh
Seconded Gonzales-Gutierrez
Amabile Yes
Bradfield No
Bradley No
English Yes
Gonzales-Gutierrez Yes
Hamrick Yes
Holtorf No
Jodeh Yes
Story Yes
Young Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


03:57:55 PM   The committee adjourned.






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