s_hhs_2016a_2016-03-10t13:31:47z3 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/10/2016

02:05 PM -- SB 16-147



Senators Newell and Martinez Humenik, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 16-147. Senator Newell discussed the number of Colorado residents who have either attempted or completed suicide. She discussed the need for the bill to protect Coloradoans and explained that the bill establishes the zero suicide model within the Office of Suicide Prevention of the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Through system-level adoption and implementation in health systems, the model is intended to reduce suicide rates in Colorado. The bill encourages CDPHE, the Office of Behavioral Health within the Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to work together to improve suicide prevention training programs for health care personnel and to provide professional development resources and training opportunities. The bill encourages the following organizations to adopt the seven core tenets of the national zero suicide model on or before July 1, 2019:

• community mental health centers;
• hospitals;
• the state crisis services system;
• regional health and behavioral health systems;
• substance abuse treatment systems; and
• physical and mental health clinics in educational institutions.

The bill encourages CDPHE to request and analyze existing data in order to better understand suicide and how to prevent it. It requires CDPHE to include a summary of its activities under the model in a report submitted to the Office of Behavioral Health and annually to the General Assembly. Senator Martinez Humenik continued to provided additional statistical information about suicide.



02:14 PM -- Jarrod Hindman, CDPHE, testified in support of the bill.



02:22 PM -- Susan Marine, Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado, testified in support in the bill.



02:31 PM -- Linda White, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



02:39 PM -- Erin Wilkinson, Suicide Prevention Commission of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She discussed suicide rates among veterans and active duty military.



02:47 PM -- Cole Hancock, Colorado Youth Advisory Council, testified in support of the bill.



02:48 PM -- Maranda Miller, Centennial Mental Health Center, testified in support of the bill.



02:55 PM -- Dr. Barb Becker, Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network, testified in support of the bill.



02:58 PM -- Paul Bretz, Suicide Prevention Commission of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



03:02 PM -- Dr. Abigail Tucker, Community Health Center, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Tucker responded to questions from the committee.



03:15 PM -- Dr. Jonathan Gordon, Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Gordon responded to questions from committee members.



03:22 PM -- Frank Cornelia, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill.



03:26 PM -- Michael Lott-Manier, Mental Health America of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



03:30 PM -- Dr. Liza Tupa, DHS, testified in support of the bill.



03:31 PM -- Evie Hudak, Colorado Parent Teacher Association, spoke in support of the bill.





03:34 PM



Senator Lundberg laid the bill over. Senators Martinez Humenik and Newell made closing comments.





03:40 PM



The meeting adjourned.