H_HI_2019A 04/17/2019 02:13:37 PM Committee Summary

Adela Flores-Brennan, Connect for Health Colorado, presented to the committee and distributed a handout (Attachment A).  Ms. Flores-Brennan described the membership and term limits for members of the Connect for Health Colorado Board of Directors.

Kevin Patterson, CEO, Connect for Health Colorado, presented on the Connect for Health Colorado (exchange) annual report.  He discussed 2019 open enrollment in the exchange, and discussed average tax credits and premiums for enrollees.  Mr. Patterson described enhancements to customer service and technology for exchange customers.

Steve ErckenBrack, Connect for Health Colorado, and Mr. Patterson responded to committee questions about the 2019 open enrollment numbers, eligibility requirements for the exchange, and the strategic plan for Connect for Health.

Representative Kipp, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-153 to the committee.  The bill extends the repeal date for the Podiatry Boards and the regulation of podiatrists to September 1, 2026, after a sunset review by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).  The bill also clarifies that a podiatrist must pass an exam in order to be licensed by the Podiatry Board; allows the board to enter into a confidential agreement with a podiatrist to limit his or her scope of practice if the podiatrist suffers from a physical or mental illness; and removes the requirement that the board send a letter of admonition through certified mail.  Representative Kipp responded to committee questions.

Saul Larsen, Department of Regulatory Agencies, responded to committee questions.

Committee discussion ensued.  Representative Lontine laid the bill over for action.

Representative Kennedy, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-197 to the committee.  The bill extends the repeal date for a pilot program that allows Medicaid enrollees with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) to receive certain complementary and alternative medicine not otherwise available to Medicaid enrollees.  The bill extends the repeal date from September 1, 2020, to September 1, 2025.  Amendment L.001 was distributed to the committee (Attachment B).

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Chanda Hinton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Oliver Giminaro, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Nicole Miller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Rick Narvais, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Colin Laughlin, HCPF, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Laughlin responded to committee questions.

Representative Lontine recessed the committee.

Speaker Becker, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1313 to the committee.  The bill establishes targets for utilities to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  A qualifying utility must submit clean energy plans to the Public Utilities Commission as part of its electric resource planning process.  The Department of Public Health and Environment is required to review these plans and to verify compliance with emissions targets.  Speaker Becker responded to committee questions about the bill.  

Alice Jackson, Xcel Energy Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Maria Najera, Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill.  Pam Kiely, Environmental Defense Fund, testified in support of the bill.  Jennifer Gremmert, Energy Outreach Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  Committee discussion ensued with the witnesses.

Amelia Myers, Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Monique Dyers, Ensight Energy Consulting, testified in support of the bill.  Melanie Layton, Nextera Energy, testified in support of the bill.  Gary Arnold, Rocky Mountain District Council #15, testified in support of the bill.

Mike Kruger, Colorado Solar and Storage Association, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Doug Carter, Colorado Solar and Storage Association, testified in a neutral position on the bill.  Dan Greenberg, representing himself, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment C).  Mat Elmore, Pivot Energy, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Bill Levis, AARP - Colorado, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment D).  Dianna Orf, Colorado Mining Association, testified against the bill.  Larry Miloshevich, representing himself, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment E).  Britton Naas, Coalition of Ratepayers, testified against the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Carl Smith, SMART Transportation, testified in support of the bill.  Lisa Tormoen Hickey, Interwest Energy Alliance, testified in support of the bill.  Ric Fanyo, Climax Molybdenum, testified in opposition to the bill without amendments.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Patrick Mooney, Intermountain Rural Electric Association, testified in opposition to the bill.  Steve Furr, Namaste Solar, testified in a neutral position on the bill.  Michelle King, Colorado Energy Consumers, testified in neutral position on the bill with amendments.  K.K. DuVivier, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Speaker Becker distributed amendments L.001 and L.004 to the committee (Attachments F and G).

Representative Jackson distributed amendment L.003 (Attachment H).

Representative Baisley distributed amendment L.002 (Attachment I).

Speaker Becker distributed amendment L.006 (Attachment J).

Speaker Becker gave closing remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Lontine recessed the committee.

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Lauren Snyder, Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Valerie Schlecht, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.  Bobbi Marrow, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment K).  Cristen Bates, Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Jackie Zheleznyak, Denver Health, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Lynn Parry, Colorado Medical Society, testified in support of the bill.  Kelly Erb, Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in support of the bill.  Sara Leahy, Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Amendments L.001 and L.002 were distributed to the committee (Attachments L and M).

Gail DeVore, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment N).  George Karavetsos, Partnership for Safe Medicines, testified in opposition to the bill.  Andrea Thomas, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Jennifer Churchfield, Front Range Pharmalogic, testified in opposition to the bill.  Jo Hubchik, Chronic Care Collaborative, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Ruth Parker, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  James Clark, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Krista McPherson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment O).  Brandt Wilkins, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Dana Malik, Pharmacuetical Research and Manufacturers of America, testified in opposition to the bill.  Dr. Kristina Acri, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.  Leah Lindahl, Healthcare Distribution Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill.  John Head, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.  

Brendan Thompson, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Shirley Leow, AARP - Colorado, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment P).  Marilyn Hughes, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Virginia Gebhart, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Sergeant Marc Snowden, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, testified in opposition to the bill.  Emily Roberts, Colorado Bioscience Association, testified in opposition to the bill.  Nick Colglazier, Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill.  Amy Lyons, Bristol Meyers Squibb, testified in opposition to the bill.  Bill Skewes, Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Ed Shakelford, Ageing Adults Analytics, testified in support of the bill.  Diane Robinson, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill.  Cathy Traugott, HCPF, testified in support of the bill.  Paul Ritzma, HCPF, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Four handouts were distrbuted to committee members (Attachments Q, R, S, and T).  Representative Lontine laid the bill over for action.