E0D1B8A6DA808C5487258385007A445D Hearing Summary

Senator Fields, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-010.  The bill modifies the Behavioral Health Care Professional Matching Grant Program, also known as the School Health Professionals Grant program, to allow grant funding to be used for behavioral health care services, including screenings, counseling, therapy, referrals to community organizations, and training for students and staff on behavioral health issues.  Behavioral health care services include services to prevent, identify, and treat substance use disorders, substance misuse, and mental health disorders.  

In addition, the bill:

• increases the amount of the appropriation that the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) may use for administration from 3 percent to 5 percent;
• allows grant recipients to use the funding to contract with a community partner for behavioral health care services, or to provide direct services by a school health professional through telehealth technology;
• requires that grant applicants include certain information in their applications, including data demonstrating the need for a school health professional, the extent to which the education provider has experienced certain factors that impact student wellbeing, and the extent to which the applicant prioritizes staff training related to behavioral health supports; and
• includes licensed mental health professionals in the definition of school health professional.

 

 

Senator Fields responded to questions.

Anna Gerstle, Legislative Council Staff, responded to committee questions.

Committee discussion followed.

Misti Ruthven, Colorado Department of Education (CDE), responded to questions from the committee.

Sarah Mathew, CDE, responded to questions from the committee.

Senator Fields distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment C).

Ms. Mathew and Ms. Ruthven responded to questions.

Valerie Schleht, Colorado-Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Cam Short-Camilli, National Association of Social Workers and  Colorado School Social Work Association, testified in support of the bill.

Ellen Stern, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Committee comments and discussion followed.

Ms. Stern responded to committee questions.

Sarah Davidon, Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Sonja Linman, Roaring Fork School District, testified in support of the bill.

Michelle Murphy, Rural Schools Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

Committee discussion and questions followed.

Shelby Ross, OLLS, responded to questions.

Dr. Davidon responded to questions.

Ms. Ross responded to questions. Committee discussion continued.

Evie Hudak, Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.

Tammy Wollbrinck, Colorado Association of School Nurses, testified in support of the bill.

Sarah Barnes, Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.  Committee discussion followed.

Erin Pier, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Jacque Phillips, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Kellen Oliver, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Committee comments and questions followed.

Ms. Ross responded to questions.

Ms. Wollbrinck responded to questions. Committee discussion followed.

Alison Hargarten, Colorado Society of School Psychologists, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Fields discussed amendment L.003 (Attachement D).

Senator Fields discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment E).