H_PBH_2023A 02/08/2023 01:31:02 PM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGHOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Date 02/08/2023 Attendance Amabile * Bradfield X Bradley X English * Gonzales-Gutierrez * Hamrick * Holtorf X Jodeh X Story X Young X Michaelson Jenet X Time 01:31:02 PM to 03:57:55 PM Place HCR 0107 This Meeting was called to order by Michaelson Jenet This Report was prepared by Amanda King Hearing Items Action Taken hChild Welfare Funding and the Federal Families First Act Presentation Committee Discussion Only hHB23-1124 Referred to House Appropriations hHB23-1117 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole Child Welfare Funding and the Federal Families First Act Presentation - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment A http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/0D3F4C064377...$File/Attachment A.pdf?OpenElement Attachment A.pdf Attachment B http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/D13371EE69D7...$File/Attachment B.pdf?OpenElement Attachment B.pdf Attachment C http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/63E5BEC21627...$File/Attachment C.pdf?OpenElement Attachment C.pdf Attachment D http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/314BAA03B444...$File/Attachment D.pdf?OpenElement Attachment D.pdf 01:32:53 PM Heather Durosko, representing the Colorado Human Services Directors Association and Colorado Counties, Inc., presented to the committee about child welfare issues. She referenced the materials provided to the committee (Attachments A to D). She discussed the behavioral health needs of children and youth in the child welfare system and the use of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide prevention services. 01:38:58 PM Megan Cook, representing Children's Hospital Colorado, presented to the committee. She shared statistical data about Children's Hospital Colorado patients presenting in the emergency department with mental health needs. Ms. Cook discussed potential ways to address the mental health needs of children and youth. 01:44:20 PM Becky Miller Updike, representing Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, presented to the committee. She discussed the closure of provider agencies and the workforce challenges that agencies are facing. 01:49:00 PM Minna Costilla Cohen, representing the Colorado Department of Human Services, presented to the committee. She discussed the need for individual treatment and placing youth in the proper treatment settings. 01:54:08 PM Benjamin Teevan, representing Fostering Colorado, presented to the committee. He discussed legislative historical information about funding related to the federal Families First Act and mental health services. He highlighted the workforce and funding challenges for child welfare. 01:59:14 PM The panelists responded to questions from the committee. HB23-1124 - Referred to House Appropriations Attachment Tag File Name Attachment E http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/226DDE4914AD...$File/Attachment E.pdf?OpenElement Attachment E.pdf 02:08:54 PM Representative Lindsay, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 23-1124, concerning the continuation of funding for supportive employment services for Colorado employment first participants. The Colorado Employment First Program, housed in the Department of Human Services (DHS), provides employment, education, and training services to families receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill appropriates $1.5 million General Fund per year through FY 2024-25 to the DHS for the Colorado Employment First Program. The funding will be used by county departments and a third-party partner to provide employment support and job retention services, and to support work-based learning opportunities for Colorado Employment First participants. This requirement repeals July 1, 2025. 02:12:27 PM Aaron Carpenter, Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions from the committee about the bill's fiscal note. 02:17:15 PM Representative Lindsay responded to questions from the committee. 02:19:17 PM Rebecca Balu, representing DHS, responded to committee questions. Laura Ware, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill. Kathryn Harris, representing ActivateWork, testified in support of the bill. Juan Pena, representing CrossPurpose, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee. 02:47:17 PM Valerie Greenhagen, representing the Center for Employment Opportunities, testified in support of the bill. Vanessa Fewell, representing the Larimer County Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. Suzanne Miller, representing Arapahoe/Douglas Works, testified in support of the bill. Committee members made comments about the testimony. Written testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment E). 02:57:04 PM Representative Lindsay made concluding remarks about the bill. 02:58:55 PM Motion Refer House Bill 23-1124 to the Committee on Appropriations. Moved Young Seconded Hamrick Amabile Yes Bradfield Yes Bradley Yes English Yes Gonzales-Gutierrez Excused Hamrick Yes Holtorf Yes Jodeh Yes Story Yes Young Yes Michaelson Jenet Yes Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS HB23-1117 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole Attachment Tag File Name Attachment F http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/537ABBD98D09...$File/Attachment F.pdf?OpenElement Attachment F.pdf Attachment G http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/9B1ED3F6F6C2...$File/Attachment G.pdf?OpenElement Attachment G.pdf Attachment H http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/DAF14EEA0B49...$File/Attachment H.pdf?OpenElement Attachment H.pdf 02:59:06 PM The committee recessed. 02:59:21 PM The committee came back to order. Representative Jodeh and Representative Garcia, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1117, concerning requirements for affidavits of support related to eligibility for public benefits in Colorado. The bill repeals the requirement that legal immigrants agree to refrain from executing an affidavit of support for the purpose of sponsoring a bid for immigration while receiving public assistance from a program in the Department of Human Services (DHS) or the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). A handout was provided to the committee (Attachment F). 03:07:39 PM Representative Garcia and Representative Jodeh responded to questions from the committee. 03:21:50 PM Ellen Giarratana, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill. Laura Sartor, representing DHS, testified in support of the bill. Dee Daniels Scrivens, representing the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, testified in support of the bill. Marivel Klueckman, representing HCPF, was available to answer committee questions. Victoria Francis, representing the International Rescue Committee in Denver, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee. Written testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment G). 03:43:29 PM Representative Garcia explained amendment L.001 (Attachment H). She responded to questions from the committee. 03:46:53 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment H). Moved Jodeh Seconded Young Amabile Yes Bradfield No Bradley No English Yes Gonzales-Gutierrez Yes Hamrick Yes Holtorf No Jodeh Yes Story Yes Young Yes Michaelson Jenet Yes YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS 03:46:55 PM Representative Jodeh and Representative Garcia made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill. 03:57:47 PM Motion Refer House Bill 23-1117, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Moved Jodeh Seconded Gonzales-Gutierrez Amabile Yes Bradfield No Bradley No English Yes Gonzales-Gutierrez Yes Hamrick Yes Holtorf No Jodeh Yes Story Yes Young Yes Michaelson Jenet Yes Final YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS 03:57:55 PM The committee adjourned.