S_HHS_2016A 04/27/2016 10:42:00 AM Committee Summary

10:42 AM -- HB 16-1442



Senator Ulibarri, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1442. The bill makes various updates to the Colorado Local Government Election Code, which governs nonpartisan special district elections that are not coordinated by a county clerk. Among its provisions, the bill:



• clarifies the commencement date for a nonpartisan officers term who is elected at regular election;

• defines the term affidavit;

• allows the self-nomination letter and acceptance form to be accepted by the designated election official until close of business on the 67th day before an election;

• prohibits a current director candidate or a first or second degree family member of a candidate's immediate family from serving as an election judge or watcher;

• allows for the recertification of a ballot by the designated election official under certain conditions;

• eliminates the requirement that a duplicate stub be placed on a ballot that is prepared for an independent mail ballot election;

• changes the deadline that an application for an absentee voter's ballot must be filed from the Friday immediately before the special district election to the Tuesday before the election;

• makes the secretary of the local government responsible for processing applications for permanent absentee status if there is no designated election official;

• clarifies that the designated local government election official must mail a ballot to every eligible elector of the local government that resides within the boundaries of the local government under the Uniform Military and Oversees Voter Act;

• eliminates the requirement that the mail ballot return envelope contains a flap to cover the voters signature; and

• clarifies the procedures for the recall of special district directors.







10:49 AM -- Evan Goulding, Special District Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



11:01 AM



Senator Ulibarri made closing comments.

11:03 AM -- HB 16-1321



Senator Tate, co-prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1321. The bill directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to seek federal authorization to implement a Medicaid buy-in program for adults who are eligible to receive home-and community-based services under the Supported Living Services Medicaid waiver, the Brain Injury waiver, and the Spinal Cord Injury waiver pilot program. HCPF must implement the Medicaid program no later than three months after receiving federal approval.



11:04 AM -- David Ervin, The Resource Exchange, testified in support of the bill.



11:09 AM -- Marijo Rymer, The Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



11:12 AM -- Cindy Sovine Miller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



11:13 AM -- Tyler Deines, HCPF, responded to questions from the committee.



11:15 AM -- Jill Schnathorst, HCPF, responded to questions from the committee.



11:21 AM



Committee discussion followed about the Colorado Benefits Management System. Ms. Schnathorst and Mr. Deines responded to additional questions.





11:28 AM



Senator Merrifield, co-prime bill sponsor, made closing comments. Senator Tate made closing comments.

11:32 AM -- HB 16-1195



Senator Crowder and Senator Steadman, co-prime bill sponsors, presented the House Bill 16-1195. The bill, as amended by the House Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee, expands access to home modification services for Medicaid clients receiving home- and community-based services under the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled Waiver Program, the Persons with Brain Injury Waiver Program, the Community Mental Health Supports Waiver, and the Waiver for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury. First, "home modifications services" is defined to include home installations or adaptions related to any disability that allow an eligible person to remain in the home. Under current law, home modification services are only available for persons with physical impairments. Second, subject to federal approval, the bill specifies that the individual cap on the amount of home modification services received by an eligible person resets upon renewal of the waiver authorizing the services.



11:34 AM -- Sharon O'Hara, Multiple Sclerosis Society - Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, testified in support of the bill.



11:39 AM -- Marijo Rymer, The Arc of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Rymer responded to questions from the committee.



11:43 AM -- Nathan Colburn, Home Builders Foundation of Metro Denver, spoke in support in the bill. Mr. Colburn responded to questions from the committee.





11:49 AM



Senators Crowder and Steadman made closing comments.

11:52 AM



The committee adjourned.