H_PBH_2022A 04/05/2022 01:32:01 PM Committee Summary

Representative Ricks and Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1281, concerning a program to fund behavioral health-care services. The bill creates a grant program in the Behavioral Health Administration to be awarded to nonprofits, community-based organizations, and local governments for community investment grants and children, youth, and family services grants.

Jenny Stith, representing the WINGS Foundation Inc., testified to amend the bill.

Commissioner Byron Pelton, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified to amend the bill.

Elizabeth Newman, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified to amend the bill.

Natalie Siels, representing self, testified to amend the bill.

Commissioner George Marlin, representing Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Meghan MacKillop, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill.

David Ducharme, representing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill.

Sarah Staron, representing the Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill.

Lauren Snyder, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Elizabeth Owens, representing the Office of Behavioral Health in the Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Linda Schiller, representing the Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill.

Frank Cornelia, representing the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill.

Alli Daley, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Debbie Stafford, representing the Aurora Mental Health Center, testified in support of the bill.

Aaron Miltenberger, representing the Boys and Girls Clubs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Erin Porteous, representing the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, testified in support of the bill.

Ana Vizoso, representing Servicios de La Raza, testified in support of the bill.

Harry Budisidharta, representing the Asian Pacific Development Center, testified in support of the bill.

Deb Mahan, representing the Gazette Charities Foundation and the Anschutz Foundation Mental Health Consortium, testified in support of the bill.

Giovanna Burno, representing the Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill.

Rudy Gonzales, representing Servicios Sigue, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez explained amendment L.003 (Attachment A).

Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez explained amendment L.004 (Attachment B).

Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez explained amendment L.006 (Attachment C).

Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez explained amendment L.007 (Attachment D).

Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez explained the differences between amendment L.002 (Attachment E) and amendment L.008 (Attachment F).

Representative Ricks and Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members made comments on the bill.

Representative Bradfield and Representative Michaelson Jenet, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1283, concerning enhanced residential services for persons with behavioral health needs. The bill requires the Colorado Department of Human Services to create an in-home and residential respite care program, provide operational support for psychiatric residential treatment facilities, and build a neuro-psych facility.

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to questions from the committee.

Perry May, representing the Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Benjamin Teevan, representing Fostering Colorado and the Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, testified in support of the bill.

David Ducharme, representing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill.

Alli Daley, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

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

Representative Michaelson Jenet explained amendments L.002 and L.003 (Attachments H and I).

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Michaelson Jenet and Representative Bradfield provided concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Rich and Representative Michaelson Jenet, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-106, concerning addressing conflicts of interest in regional organizations responsible for public behavioral health services. The bill requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and the Department of Human Services to require managed care entities, administrative service organizations, and managed service organizations that have 25 percent or more ownership by providers of behavioral health services to comply with specified conflict of interest policies by January 1, 2023, to promote transparency and accountability.

Lauren Snyder, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Alli Daley, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Commissioner Janet Rowland, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Written testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment J).

Representative Michaelson Jenet explained amendment L.002 (Attachment K).

Representative Rich and Representative Michaelson Jenet provided concluding remarks about the bill.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative A. Valdez presented House Bill 22-1116, concerning establishing a policy review panel to study plant-based medicines to support mental health. Representative A. Valdez requested that House Bill 22-1116 be postponed indefinitely.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representative Neville and Representative Ortiz, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1344, concerning the lawful use of a prescription drug that contains 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) that is approved by the United States food and drug administration.  Under current law, MDMA is a schedule I controlled substance.  The bill specifies that prescription drugs containing MDMA, approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, and placed on a schedule other than schedule I are legal to prescribe, dispense, transport, possess, and use in Colorado.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Jonathan Lubecky, representing the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Public Benefit Corporation, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Will Van Derveer, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Marcela Ot'alora G, representing MAPS, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Ortiz explained amendments L.001 and L.002 (Attachments L and M).

Representative Ortiz and Representative Neville provided concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.