H_PBH_2023A 03/28/2023 01:52:12 PM Committee Summary

Representative deGruy Kennedy and Representative Velasco, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1244, concerning the transfer of the regional health connector program from the university of Colorado school of medicine to the prevention services division in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The bill recreates the Regional Health Connector Program under CDPHE and requires that $2 million be appropriated for the program. Under the program, regional health connectors receive funding to help coordinate health care across organizations, including community organizations. The CDPHE is required to contract with a third-party entity to distribute funding to regional health connectors’ host organizations. The bill repeals the Regional Health Connector Program under the University of Colorado School of Medicine that was established in Senate Bill 21-137 and funded for FY 2021-22 only.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Perry Dickinson, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Sarah Lampe, representing the Trailhead Institute, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Michael Ruddock, representing the Adams County Health Department, testified in support of the bill.

Eric Stevens, representing the Front Range Area Health Education Center, testified in support of the bill.

Mari Plaza Munet, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Christi Cahill, representing the Colorado Cancer Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Tara Trujillo, representing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, was available to answer committee questions.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Representative deGruy Kennedy explained amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

Representative deGruy Kennedy and Representative Velasco provided concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Young and Representative Amabile, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1236, concerning implementation updates to the behavioral health administration. The bill delineates certain administrative responsibilities between the recently created Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and the Department of Human Services (CDHS). The bill also formally repeals the Office of Behavioral Health, which is now functioning as the recently renamed Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health in CDHS.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Morgan Medlock, representing the BHA, testified in support of the bill.

Kevin Neimond, representing the CDHS, testified in support of the bill.

Cristen Bates, representing the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill.

Edie Sonn, representing the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill.

Andrea Jones, representing the BHA, was available to answer committee questions.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Gini Pingenot, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified to amend the bill.

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

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Amabile responded to questions from the committee on amendment L.011.

Representative Amabile and Representative Young provided concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.