Skip to main content
Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

ACDA50FDF82AF407872584A2005B9FCD Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ON LEGISLATION AND AMENDMENTS

INTERIM COMMITTEE  OPIOID AND OTHER SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Date Oct 29, 2019      
Location Old State Library



Committee Discussion on Legislation and Amendments - Committee Discussion Only


10:40:51 AM  
A handout of committee bill summaries was
distributed to committee members (Attachment C).  Kristen Forrestal,
Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS), described Bill #1, regarding
prevention of substance use disorders.  The bill provisions include:

-changes to insurance coverage requirements for alternatives to opioids;

-continuation of opioid prescribing limits;

-continuing education requirements for opioid prescribers; and

-changes to the prescription monitoring
date program (PDMP).

10:46:33 AM  
Representative Kennedy commented on stakeholder
conversations regarding Bill #1.  Ms. Forrestal discussed amendments
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 to Bill #1 (Attachments D to H).  Representative
Kennedy commented on the amendments and mentioned other prevention ideas
that were not included in Bill #1.  Representative Kennedy responded
to committee questions regarding the amendments.
10:58:00 AM  

Yelana Love, OLLS, described Bill #2, regarding substance use disorder harm reduction.  The bill provisions include:

-changes to naloxone use policies;  

-allowing pharmacies to sell syringes;

-changes to syringe access program regulations; and

-increasing funding to local harm reduction programs.



Senator Pettersen and Representative Kennedy commented on the contents of Bill #2.  

11:06:14 AM  

Shelby Ross, OLLS, described Bill #3 regarding substance use disorder in the criminal justice system.  The bill provisions include:

-increasing the availability of medication-assisted treatment in jails and prisons and upon release;

-allowing disposal of controlled substances at safe stations; and

-changing record sealing requirements.



Representative Herod and Senator Pettersen commented on outstanding issues and stakeholder involvement regarding Bill #3.  Jose Esquibel and Rob Valuck, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, responded to committee questions about the bill.  

11:20:07 AM  
Ms. Ross described amendment 1 to Bill
#3 (Attachment I).  
11:24:18 AM  

Brita Darling, OLLS, described Bill #4 concerning treatment for substance use disorders.  The provisions of the bill include:  

-adjusting the community needs assessment process;

-requiring insurance carriers to cover certain substance use disorder treatments;

-increasing funding to health care provider loan programs;

-allowing pharmacies to recieve an enhanced dispensing fee;

-requiring the Department of Human Services to study child care availability for parents reciving treatment;

-appropriating funding to the Center for Substance Use Disorder Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Support Strategies to employ grant writers; and

-requiring insurance carriers to report certain data to the Commissioner of Insurance.



Senator Pettersen commented on the contents of Bill #4.  Ms. Darling responded to committee questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11:33:13 AM  
Ms. Darling explained amendments 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, and 6 to Bill #4 (Attachments J to O).  Senator Pettersen
commented on amendments to the bill.  
11:43:49 AM  

Ms. Love described Bill #5 regarding substance use disorder recovery.  The provisions of the bill include:

-increasing funding for peer coaching training;

-continuing the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Committee for two additional years;

-requiring the Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force to review state legislation and submit policy recommendations regarding substance use disorders;

-modifying how child abuse and neglect or dependency is determined;

-requiring additional research into the substance use disorder treatment system in Colorado; and

-creating a grant program for recovery community organizations.

Ms. Love and Representative Herod discussed a potential amendment to Bill #5.  Ms. Love described amendments 2 and 3 to Bill #5 (Attachments P and Q).

 

 

 

 

 

 

11:50:19 AM  

Senator Pettersen recessed the committee.

12:30:19 PM  

Senator Pettersen called the meeting back to order.






Colorado legislature email addresses ending in @state.co.us are no longer active. Please replace @state.co.us with @coleg.gov for Colorado legislature email addresses.  Details