88C6B4EABB397ABC872586860079746A Hearing Summary

Representative Mullica, bill co-sponsor, introduced House Bill 21-1005. The bill creates the Health Care Services Reserve Corps Task Force in the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the creation of a Colorado Health Care Services Reserve Corps program.  The purpose of the program is to cross-train medical professionals to serve during emergencies and disasters.  The task force will include representatives from certain state agencies and governor-appointed representatives of health professions, the public health field, and related fields.  The task force will also explore offering student loan debt relief as a benefit for program participants.  Task force members serve without compensation, beginning in the fall of 2021, and the task force’s first progress report to the legislature is due in January 2023.

Representative Caraveo, bill co-sponsor, made opening remarks on HB21-1005.

Submitted written testimony on the bill can be found in Attachment C.

Amber Burkhart, representing Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of the bill.

Colleen Casper, representing Colorado Nurses Association, testified in support of the bill.

Andrea Stojsavljevic, representing Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Kay Rosenthal, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Judith Burke, representing Colorado Nurses Association, testified in support of the bill.

Greg Hill, representing Colorado Dental Association, testified to amend the bill. The witness responded to questions from the committee.

Jennifer Goodrum, representing Colorado Dental Association, answered questions from the committee.

Representative Mullica introduced and described amendment L.001 (Attachment D).

Representative Caraveo introduced and described amendment L.002 (Attachment E).

Representative Mullica introduced and explained amendment L.003 (Attachment F).

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks on the bill.

Committee members provided closing remarks on the bill.