Senator Rankin and Senator Winter, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-172, which establishes the Colorado Rural Health-Care Workforce Initiative to expand the number of health-care professionals practicing in rural or frontier counties. The bill permits an institution of higher education to establish a health-care professional rural track, or expand an existing rural track, within specified health care degree programs at the schools. The bill specifies required components of a rural track program, including outreach campaigns, scholarships, didactic curriculum, and clinical experience.

Committee members asked questions of the bill sponsors.

Dr. Emily Matuszewicz, representing Metro State University, testified in support of the bill. Amy Bronson, representing Colorado Mesa University, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Teresa Sharp, representing the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Northern Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Cheryl Nixon, representing Fort Lewis College, testified in support of the bill.

Richard Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Francesca Maes, representing the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jeanette Hensley, representing the Colorado Center for Aging, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Matt Aronson, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Alyn Whelchel, representing the Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants, testified in support of the bill.

Additional written testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment B).

Senator Rankin and Senator Winter provided closing remarks. Committee members asked the sponsors questions and provided closing remarks.