h_hie_2017a_2017-02-09t13:36:18z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/09/2017

Location: RM 271

01:36 PM -- HB 17-1086



Representatives Everett and Nordberg presented House Bill 17-1086 to the committee. Except in cases of medical emergencies, this bill requires physicians to inform patients orally and in person, at least 24 hours before prescribing or giving abortion-inducing drugs to a woman or beginning the abortion, that:



• it may be possible to reverse the abortion should she change her mind, but that time is of the essence; and

• information on and assistance with reversing the effects of abortion-inducing drugs is available in the state-prepared materials.



State-prepared information. After telling the patient this information, the physician is required to provide a written copy of the text listed in the bill outlining information about abortion reversal, including a website and telephone number at which additional information can be obtained. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is required to post this information on its website and annually update the website and telephone number included in the required information, if needed.



Civil penalties. The bill states that failure to comply with the information requirements in the bill provides the basis for a civil action for damages; fines and penalties imposed by the Attorney General; and professional disciplinary action under Colorado's medical malpractice law. The bill specifies that penalties are not to be assessed against a women seeking abortion services and that the privacy of women shall be preserved during a civil action under the bill.



The committee discussed the bill and asked questions of the sponsors.



01:47 PM -- Wendy Smith, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and presented two handouts (Attachments A and B).



170209 AttachA.pdf170209 AttachB.pdf



02:12 PM -- Karen Middleton, representing NARAL Colorado, testified against the bill.



02:35 PM -- Dr. George Delgado, representing the Charlotte Lozier Institute, testified in support of the bill and presented a handout (Attachment C).



170209 AttachC.pdf



02:57 PM -- Dr. Joyce Gottesfeld, representing NARAL Colorado, testified against the bill.



03:12 PM -- Dr. David Martinez, representing Alternatives Pregnancy Center, testified in support of the bill.



03:31 PM -- Dr. Tista Ghosh, representing the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, testified against the bill.



03:36 PM -- Jenny Langness, representing Marisol Health, DeDe Chism, representing Bella Natural Women's Care, and Amy Mendoza, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



03:49 PM -- Dr. Gina Moore representing Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified against the bill.



03:57 PM -- Megan Malinaric read the testimony of Dr. John Stallworth in support of the bill and presented a written copy of the testimony (Attachment D).



170209 AttachD.pdf



04:00 PM -- Jackie Billotte, representing herself, testified against the bill.



04:15 PM -- Shanelle Felder, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



04:24 PM -- Dr. Kelly Sennholz, representing herself, testified against the bill.



04:27 PM -- Marcy McGovern, representing Alternatives Pregnancy Center, testified in support of the bill.



04:31 PM -- Dr. Rebecca Cohen, representing herself, testified against the bill.



04:37 PM -- Debra Burton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She read the statement of another person.



04:40 PM -- Dominc DePizzol, representing Students for Life, testified in support of the bill.



04:43 PM -- Leslie Chomic, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified against the bill.



04:49 PM -- Geridette Schiavone, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



04:52 PM -- Tania Van Pelt, representing herself, testified against the bill.



04:55 PM -- Jenna Ellis, representing the Centennial Institute, testified in support of the bill.



05:18 PM -- Amy Rosette, representing Abortion Story Project, testified against the bill.



05:21 PM -- Rick Theilen, representing Life Choices, testified in support of the bill.



05:28 PM -- Former Representative JoAnn Windholz, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:31 PM -- Pastor John Smith, representing Majestic View Church, testified in support of the bill.



05:34 PM -- Summer Burton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:37 PM -- Eleanor Cabell, representing herself, testified against the bill.



05:41 PM -- Joyce Zounis Brown, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:45 PM -- Patty Haas, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:49 PM -- Yvonne Williams, representing Care Net, testified in support of the bill.



05:51 PM -- Mike Norton, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and presented a handout (Attachment E).



170209 AttachE.pdf



05:56 PM -- Brad Bergford, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and presented a handout (Attachment F).



170209 AttachF.pdf



06:03 PM -- Matt Niedzielski, representing Pikes Peak Citizens For Life, testified in support of the bill.



06:06 PM -- Scott Horak, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



06:10 PM -- Dr. Thomas Perille, representing the Protect Life Coalition, testified in support of the bill and presented a handout (Attachment G).



170209 AttachG.pdf



06:14 PM -- Danna Liebert, representing herself, testified against the bill.



06:23 PM



Representative Nordberg distributed amendment L.003 (Attachment H) to the committee. The committee members discussed the amendment.



170209 AttachH.pdf



06:30 PM



Michael Dohr, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered committee questions regarding the amendment.