4DBA9679CF3808A88725839A0074F9B5 Hearing Summary

President Garcia, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-001. The bill extends the Medication-assisted Treatment Pilot Program administered within the University of Colorado for two years and increases its appropriation from $500,000 to $5,000,000 from the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund, with any uncommitted money reverting to the fund at the end of FY 2020-21. Counties in the San Luis Valley — Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Huerfano, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache — and up to an additional two counties where a need is demonstrated are eligible to participate in the program, in addition to Pueblo and Routt counties where the program currently operates. The administration of the program is shifted from the College of Nursing to the Center for Research into Substance Use Disorder Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Support Strategies at the University of Colorado. Finally, the bill modifies the program's advisory board and extends its reporting requirements through June 30, 2021.  President Garcia distributed a handout and amendments L.002 and L.003 (Attachments B, C, and D).

Robert Valuck, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, testified in support of the bill.

Tanya Sorrell, University of Colorado, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.

Dr. Valuck responded to questions.

Dr. Patrick Smith, Community Health Centers, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Justin Hanel, Valley-Wide Health, testified in support of the bill.

Angelina Martinez, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions.

Bev Strnad, Alamosa Public Health, testified in support of the bill.

Commissioner Helen Sigmond, Alamosa County Commissioner, testified in support of the bill.

Commissioner Steven Romero, Costilla County Commissioner, testified in support of the bill.

Allison Daley, Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Cristen Bates, Colorado Department of Human Services, told the committee she was available for questions.

Jose Esquibel, Office of the Attorney General, testified in support of the bill.

Ruth Nerenberg, League of Women Voters and the Substance Use Response Ecosystem, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment E).

Dr. Valuck, Mr. Esquibel, and Ms. Nerenberg responded to questions.

Senator Garcia made closing comments on the bill.