H_HHS_2024A 04/02/2024 09:36:30 AM Committee Summary

The primary bill
sponsor, Representative Vigil, introduced House Bill 24-1040 to the House
Health and Human Services Committee. The bill requires the Department of
Public Health and Environment, or a third party contracted by the Department
of Public Health and Environment, to conduct a study on the status of gender-affirming
health care in Colorado, especially in rural areas.



The bill sponsor
requested that a motion be made to postpone the bill indefinitely

Written testimony
was provided to the committee (Attachment A).



Members of the
committee provided closing comments on the bill.

The committee was placed in a brief recess.

The committee came back to order.

The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Young and Sirota, introduced Senate Bill 24-115 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill modifies requirements for licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and addiction counselors, to practice in the state.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

The bill sponsors continued responding to questions from the committee.

Dr. Stacey Hardy-Chandler,
representing the Association of Social Work Boards, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Ms. Cara Sanner,
representing the Association of Social Work Boards, testified in opposition
to the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Mark Noonan,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Sophia Coker
Gunnink, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Reo Leslie,
representing the Colorado American Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy (AAMFT), testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel
responded to questions from the committee.



Additional written
testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment B).

Ms. Vanessa Alarcon,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Ryan Burkhart,
representing the Colorado Counseling Association, testified in support
of the bill.



Mr. Brad Palmertree,
representing Metropolitan State University of Denver, testified in support
of the bill.



Ms. Leanne Rupp,
representing the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) - Colorado
Chapter, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel
responded to questions from the committee.



Sarah Werner,
representing the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of
Professions and Occupations, was available to answer committee questions.

The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Young and Sirota, provided closing comments on Senate Bill 24-115.

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Carolyn Martin,
representing the Christian Home Educators of Colorado, testified in opposition
to the bill.



Stephanie Vitale,
representing themself, testified to amend the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Kelly Causey,
representing the Behavioral Health Adminsitration, testified in support
of the bill.



Bridget Anshus,
representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Jake Swanton,
representing Inseparable, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Rebecca Orsi-Hunt,
representing the Kempe Foundation, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Dawn Fritz,
representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support
of the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

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



Ms. Deb Mahan,
representing the Colorado Mental Health Consortium, testified in support
of the bill.



Bri Buentello,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Natalie Perez,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Steven Haden, representing
Envision You, testified in support of the bill.



David LaRocca,
representing Boulder County and Boulder County Public Health, testified
in support of the bill.



The witness panel
answered questions from members of the committee.



Additional written
testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment D).

The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Brown and Rutinel, provided closing comments on Senate Bill 24-001.

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.

The primary bill sponsor, Representative Brown, introduced Senate Bill 24-068 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. Under current law, a mentally competent, terminally ill patient who resides in Colorado with a prognosis of less than 6 months may receive medical aid-in-dying by following a qualifying procedure. Current law also prohibits the patient’s life, health, or accident insurance rates and benefits from depending on the decision to request medical aid-in-dying, and allows providers and health care facilities to refuse to participate.

The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee.

Fofi Mendez, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Cory Carroll,
representing Compassion and Choices, testified in support of the bill.



Gina Gentry, representing
Compassion & Choices, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Ashley Fry,
representing the Colorado Nurses Association, testified in support of the
bill.



Ms. Charmaine
Manansala, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Thomas Perille,
representing Democrats for Life of Colorado, testified in opposition to
the bill.



Ms. Kristy Neeley,
representing themself, testified in an amend position to the bill.



Ms. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Dr. Catherine
Wheeler, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

The witness panel
responded to questions from the committee.



Dr. Perille provided
members of the committee with a handout (Attachment F).

Mr. Lloyd Benes,
representing themself, testified to amend the bill.



Dr. Thomas Jensen,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Dr. Sharon Quick,
representing the Physicians for Compassionate Care Education Foundation,
testified in opposition to the bill.



Matthew Server,
representing the Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in opposition
to the bill.

The witness panel
responded to questions from the committee.



Lloyd Benes provided
a handout to members of the committee (Attachment G).

Mr. Jacob Shannon,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Jordan Sibayan,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Devin Hibbard,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Michael Neil,
representing the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in a neutral
position on the bill.

The witness panel
responded to questions from the committee.



Additional written
testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment H).

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Members of the committee provided comments on the amendment.

Members of the committee provided comments on the amendment.

Members of the committee provided comments on the amendment.

The primary bill sponsor, Representative Brown, provided closing comments on Senate Bill 24-068.

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.

Ms. Alyn Whelchel,
representing the Colorado Academy of Physician Associates, testified in
support of the bill.



Kelly Erb, representing
the Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Christopher
Sacheli, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Additional written
testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment L).

The primary bill sponsors provided closing comments on the bill.