3A53D02AA25EFC2787258513005EB25B Hearing Summary

Senators Gonzales and Priola, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 20-163 and distributed a handout (Attachment A).

School immunizations. Under current law, most students must either submit a certificate of immunization, a certificate of medical exemption, or a statement of nonmedical exemption for an immunization for a religious or personal belief to attend school.  The bill allows students to attend school after completion of an online immunization education module by their parent or guardian, or by the student if age 18 or older or emancipated. 

The bill codifies a definition of nonmedical exemption to mean an immunization exemption based on a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunizations or a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations. The bill also establishes a vaccine-protected children standard with an immunization rate goal of 95 percent for every school.

Revised documentation.  The Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) must revise its standardized document regarding childhood immunizations to include a place on the document where a school can include their specific immunization and exemption rates.  The document must be provided to the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services by January 15, 2021, which must post the standardized document to their respective websites by January 31, 2021.  CDPHE must also revise and post its standardized certifications of medical and nonmedical exemption by January 1, 2021.  The certifications must inform individuals of their right to exclude their exemption information from the immunization tracking system, collect only pertinent information related to the exemption, and must not identify specific religious faiths or personal beliefs.

Online education module. CDPHE must administer an online learning module that uses scientific, evidence-based, and peer reviewed information to present the benefits and risks of immunizations.  The learning module must incorporate interactive elements. The CDPHE currently maintains an online learning module regarding immunizations, however it does not contain interactive elements. 

Annual evaluation. CDPHE must annually evaluate the state's immunization practices.  The State Board of Health will review the evaluation and may update immunization practices for the state in response to the evaluation.

Immunization tracking system.  The bill requires, as applicable, health care practitioners to submit immunization, medical, or nonmedical exemption data to the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) maintained by the CDPHE, which is not required under current law.

The sponsors of the bill responded to questions.

Committee discussion and questions continued.

Committee discussion and questions continued with the bill sponsors.

Senator Fields proceeded with witness testimony.  Handouts distributed during witness testimony may be found in Attachment B.  Written testimony submitted during the bill hearing may be found in Attachment C.

Dr. Sean O'Leary, Children's Hospital - Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Bernadette Albanese, Tri-County Health Department, testified in support of the bill.

Stephanie James, Colorado Pharmacy Providers, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Theresa Wrangam, National Vaccine Information Center, testified against the bill.  Dr. Shelley O'Neil, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Wren Klein, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Leslie Scott, Democrats for Medical Autonomy, testified against the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Remote Testimony from Colorado Mountain College - Vail Valley in Edwards.  Dana Griffin, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Elena Griffin, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Patrick Griffin, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Jessica Tsuo, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Kate Brooks, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Emily Adams, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Elizabeth Fashing, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Colene Elaine, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Carolyn Martin, Christian Home Educators of Colorado, testified against the bill.  Andrew Roice, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Steve Craig, Christian Home Educators of Colorado, testified against the bill.

Remote Testimony from Otero Junior College: Kelsey Scutti, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Gayle Sanford, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Dr. Stacy Parra, American Academy of Pediatrics, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Chris Stille, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Craig Anthony, Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Emily Zadvorny, Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Tayna Wilson, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Mark Clark, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Denice Dirks, Concerned Colorado, testified against the bill.  Holly Calbert, representing herself, testified against the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Kelly Grenham, Association of School Nurses, testified in support of the bill.  Taran Schneider, Healthy Childcare Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Chris Urbina, Boulder County Public Health, testified in support of the bill.  Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Sarah Carrasco, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Jennifer Lyn, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Beth Fisher, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Jami Lynn, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Jeff Aufderheide, representing himself, testified against the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Cynthia Williamson, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Phillip Williamson, representing himself, testified against the bill. Conrad Williamson, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Craig Williamson, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Ms. Hunsaker Ryan, Dr. Urbina, and Ms. Grenham returned to the table.  The committee dialogued with the witness panel.

Dr. Tony Capello, CDPHE, responded to committee questions.

Dr. Marny Eulberg, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Remote testimony from Colorado Mesa University Montrose:  Terri Horton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Brooke Drake, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Michael Canavan, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Chris Nicholson, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Aimee Bernard, Colorado Parents for Vaccinated Communities, testified in support of the bill.  Zoe O'Donoghue, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Alison Rodenburg, Colorado Parents for Vaccinated Communities, testified in support of the bill.  Alicia Heim, Colorado Parents for Vaccinated Communities, testified in support of the bill.

Angela Davis, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Pam Long, Colorado Health Choice Alliance, testified against the bill. Andrea Galek, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Matt Baylor, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Edwin Asturias, University of Colorado School of Medicine, testified in support of the bill.  Gladys Jones Turnbough, Immunize Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Erin Miller, Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Melissa Atchley, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Florence Silverman, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Phil Silverman, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Joseph, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Jennifer Olsted, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Meredith Martinez, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Rene Howat, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Brittney Randle, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Jill Felix, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Desirae Richards, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Mary Ann Martin, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Natalie Wadhwa, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Brittany Dock, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Kamari Ellis, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Sharon Anable, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Ashley Ruf, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Johanna Brosie, representing herself, against the bill.

Rev. Chris Gilmore, Interfaith Alliance, testified in support of the bill.  Jessica Troy, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Grace Thoruilson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Kym Bloom, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Dena Pisciotte, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Tiffany Province, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Sadie Wathen, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Rebekah Quinlan, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Mike Quinlan, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Margaret Sachsenmaier, representing herself, testified against  the bill.

Senator Fields recessed the meeting.

Senator Fields reconvened the meeting.

Anthony Hill, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Taylor-Brooke Hill, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Jennifer Nims, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Leigh Wallman, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Stephanie Fukui, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Suzie Brundage, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Mara Brosy-Wiwchar, CDPHE, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Taylor Downing, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Nicholas Downing, representing himself, testified against the bill. Rowan Downing, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Hudson Downing, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Lindy Larson, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Madeliene Larson, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Caleb Larson, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Garett Roccaforte, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Michelle Hood, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Heather Grooms, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Scott Sorcenburger, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Beth Hoffman, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Patty McCarthy, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Audrey Herman, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Kimberly M., representing herself, testified against the bill.

Samantha Rick, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Karen Romero, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Ainsley Melone, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Megan Carouso, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Cynthia Shelden, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Trisha Winslow, representing herself, testified against the bill. Micah Baylor, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Abi Baylor, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Kimberly Baylor, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Eli Baylor, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Amanda Vlasak, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Pati Thomas, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Kayla Arndt, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Stephanie Seibel, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Emma Seibel, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Anna Khrestov, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Rachel Ponsor, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Hannah Crick, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Shelly Redder, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Julia Mansfield, representing herself, testified against the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Tom Olstead, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Alyssandra Hossler, Hope Academy, testified against the bill.  Jenny McCabe, Hope Academy, testified against the bill.  Michael Dalton, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Helen Carta, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Sophia San Miguel, representing herself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.  Holly Bradley, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Nicole Smythe, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Deborah Skeen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Kim Zawacki, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Natalie Chiappone, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Gretchen Flores, representing herself, testified against the bill. Dakota Stoddard, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Megan DeLauro, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Jollen Allen, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Heather Lahdenpera, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Jennifer Paddington, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Stephanie Thorpe, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Heather Hryshkanych, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Katrina Brynildsen, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Kerri Park, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Nancy Eason, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Katherine Walker, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Roger Walker, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Jenna Ikuta, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Golda Shaul, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Gary McIntyre, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Randi McIntyre, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Christy Simpson, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Emma Williams, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Shaiha Miller, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Jessica Fox, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Robyn Kremser, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Susan VanMeter, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Sara Hasstedt, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Marcy Boyle, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Senator Fields recessed the meeting.

Senator Fields called the meeting back to order.

Tara Swartzendruber, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Mary Salh, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Theresa Tran, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Stephanie Warshaw, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Committee members commented on the provisions of the bill.

Rebecca Blair, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Kaitlin Garsten, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Elizabeth Jenks, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Megan Yahr, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Natasha Souder, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Vera Bergman, representing herself, testified against the bill. Maria Bergman, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Victoria Goncharova, representing herself, testified against the bill. Liria Bergman, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Avigeya Bergman, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Lynea Brown, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Katelyn Banks, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Jessie Schroetlin, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Thea Jackson, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Laurel Anne Flahive, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Gabrielle Palove, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Joshua Parker, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Jodi Parker, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Courtney Morehouse, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Lacy Keep, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Alexis Walbridge, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Anna Smith, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Dorine Tchoudine, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Lindsay Tuttle, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Vicki Walbridge, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Julie Bogdan, representing herself, testified against the bill. Megan Kibling, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Jessica Ingram, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Sonia Miller, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Tina Suriano, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Jennifer Price, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Julie Holmlund, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Starla Nicoll, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Vanessa Garbara, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Francesca Miller, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Josh Miller, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Taylor Osario, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Jessica Eberhart, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Chandler Payne, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Ashley Payne, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Danielle Lawrence, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Amber Lo, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Betty Bona, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Rebecca Heath, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Yael Cohen, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Doug Raizk, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Suzanne Shapiro, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Amy Horn, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Bianca Shaffer, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Dr. Katia Meier, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Ruth Marquez, representing herself, testified against the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Ayla Sortard, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Kimberly Ederson, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Danielle Carr, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Dr. Irv Arenberg, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Sarah Nolan representing herself, testified against the bill.

Katie Adams, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Shanna Mossbarger, representing herself, testified against the bill. Shandy Laskey, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Laura Gaydos, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Sean Burke, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Julie Denton, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Stacy Trefethen, representing herself, testified against the bill.  John Mazzucco, represented himself, testified against the bill.

Jake Williams, Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Jessica Cataldi, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Committee questions and discussion followed.

Committee questions continued.

Senator Gonzales made closing comments.

Senator Priola made closing comments.  Committee members commented on the bill.