H_PHC_2018A 04/10/2018 01:38:32 PM Committee Summary

Benjamin Waters, Kelly McFadden, and Ken Norwood presented regarding the Safe Families program.  Mr. Waters discussed the lack of regulatory framework for the program.

Ms. McFadden described the origin of the Safe Families program.  She explained that Safe Families acts as a community support for families, and described the types of families that the program assists.

Mr. Norwood disucess the faith community's participation with the Safe Families program.  Mr. Waters discussed the need for a program like Safe Families in Colorado.

Mr. Waters responded to committee questions.

Representative Danielson, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1108 to the committee.  The bill clarifies and expands services that the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing offer to include persons who are deafblind; creates a citizens council to advise the commission, state and local governments, and other relevant entities on deafblind issues; and expands the authority of the commission.  A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).  

Representative Danielson responded to committee questions.

Representative Singer proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Avi Haimowitz, Deaf Overcoming Violence Through Empowerment, testified in support of the bill with the assistance of an interpreter.

Matthew Ruggles, The Independence Center and State Independent Living Council, testified in support of the bill with the assistance of an interpreter.  

Emily Harvey, Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Shannon Callahan, representing himself, testified in support of the bill with the assistance of an interpreter.  

Susan Elliot, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Vance Youngs, Colorado Association for the Deaf, testified in support of the bill with the assistance of an interpreter.

Carolyn Haas, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Haas responded to committee questions.

Cynde Vaughn, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Danielson distributed and explained amendment L.002 [Attachment B].

Kip Kolkmeier, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to to the table to respond to questions on the amendment.

Representative Danielson responded to committee questions.

Representative Danielson gave concluding remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Michaelson Jenet, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1306 to the committee.  The bill requires that the Department of Human Services and county human service offices provide transportation to the school of origin when a student is in out-of-home placement.  The bill creates a grant program and a permanent coordinator position in the Colorado Department of Education to assist local education providers with education related services to students in foster care.    

Representative Singer proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Sister Michael Dolores Allegry, representing herself, testified in support of HB 18-1306.

Director Reggie Biccha, the Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of HB 18-1306, HB 18-1319, and HB 18-1348.  Director Biccha responded to committee questions.

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to committee questions.

Katherine Page, representing herself, testified in support of HB 18-1348.  Ms. Page responded to committee questions.

Chaz Tedesco, Adams County Commissioner, testified in support of HB 18-1306, HB 18-1319, and HB 18-1348.

Benjamin Waters, Foster in Colorado and Mile High United Way, testified in support of HB 18-1306.

Kristina Smith, representing herself, testified in support of HB 18-1306 and HB 18-1348.

Michayla Collins, representing herself, testified in support of HB 18-1306, HB 18-1319, and HB 18-1348.

Gloria Mendez, representing herself, testified in support of HB 18-1306, HB 18-1319, and HB 18-1348.

Luisa Hernandez, representing herself, testified in support of HB 18-1306.

Ms. Hernandez, Ms. Mendez, and Mr. Tedesco responded to committee questions.

Jenny Bender, Court Appointed Special Advocates, testified in support of HB 18-1306, HB 18-1319, and HB 18-1348.

Cynthia Butler, representing herself, testified in support of HB 18-1348.

Ms. Shuler, Ms. Bender, and Ms. Butler responded to committee questions.

Connie Rule, Boys and Girls Club, testified in support of HB 18-1306.

Kaleo George, representing herself, testified in support of HB 18-1306.

Ms. Curtsinger responded to committee questions.

Ashley Chase, Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of HB 18-1306 and HB 18-1319.

Tiffany Noelle Brown, representing herself, testified in support of House Bill 18-1306 and House Bill 18-1348.

Renee Bernhart, Foster Source, testified in support of HB 18-1306, HB 18-1319, and HB 18-1348.

Riley Kitts, Colorado Association of School Board, testified in a neutral capacity on HB 18-1306.

Joanna McFarland, HopSkipDrive, testified in support of HB 18-1306.

Brian Brinkerhoff, Colorado Youth for Change, testified in support of HB 18-1306.

Dr. Skip Barber, Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, testified in support of HB 18-1306, HB 18-1319, and HB 18-1348.

Ms. McFarland responded to committee questions.

Wendy Hollister, representing herself, testified in support of HB 18-1348.

Dave Brown, representing himself, testified in support of HB 18-1348.

Justin Finesilver, representing himself, testified in support of HB 18-1348.

Mr. Finesilver, Mr. Brown, and Ms. Hollister responded to committee questions.

Representative Michaelson distributed amendments L.001 [Attachment C] and L.003 [Attachment D], and described them to the committee.

Committee members discussed the amendments.

Representative Michaelson Jenet gave concluding remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Singer and Representative Young, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1319 to the committee.  The bill allows county departments of human or social services to provide services to foster youth who have aged out of the foster care system if the county department develops a plan for the services.  The bill also creates a former foster care steering committee in the Department of Human Services.

Representatives Singer and Young gave concluding remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Singer and Representative Landgraf, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1346 to the committee.  The bill expands the crime of child abuse to include abuse against youths who are between the age of 18 and 21 and are cared for in a facility.

No witnesses testified on this bill.

Representative Singer distributed amendment L.001 and explained it to the committee [Attachment E].

Representatives Singer and Landgraf gave concluding remarks on the bill.  

Representative Singer and Representative Landgraf, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1348 to the committee. The bill allows foster parents access to certain information regarding a foster child or prospective foster child, including judicial information and education records. The bill requires that a county prioritize child care assistance for certified foster parents and certified kinship foster parents and for noncertified kinship care providers that provide care for children with an open child welfare case.

Representative Landgraf distributed amendment L.003 and explained it to the committee [Attachment F].

Representatives Singer and Landgraf responded to committee questions.

Representatives Landgraf and Singer gave concluding remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Young, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1288 to the committee. The bill requires single entry point agencies to serve individuals enrolled in certain Medicaid waivers through a conflict-free case management system.

Grant Jackson, Mesa County Human Services, testified in opposition to the bill.

Kelly Morrison, Larimer County, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Jackson, Ms. Daley, and Ms. Morrison responded to committee questions.

Jeanette Hensley, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill.

Ruth Aponte, Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout [Attachment G].

Christiano Sosa, The Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Gretchen Hammer, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Hammer, Ms. Hensley, and Mr. Sosa responded to committee questions.

Representative Young distributed and explained amendment L.001 and L.002 [Attachments H and I].

Dave DeNovellis, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, came to the table to respond to questions regarding the amendments.

Committee discussion ensued regarding the amendments.

Representative Young gave concluding remarks on the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.