I_MICJS_2022A 08/17/2022 02:13:33 PM Committee Summary

Senator Rodriguez, Chair, made opening remarks.  A quorum was present.  The agenda can be found here:  http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/081722_bhdcjs_agenda.pdf.

The task force appointments were laid over until the upcoming hearing on September 29, 2022. 

There was no public testimony.

Dr. David Iverson, representing the task force, approached the table to present bill draft recommendations from the task force.

Ashley Tunstall, representing the Youth Subcommittee, joined the hearing remotely to present recommendations about juvenile competency restoration (Attachment A). 

Committee members asked questions of the panel.  Discussion ensued about competency reassessments.  

Timothy Lane, legislative liaison and policy analyst at Colorado District Attorneys’ Council, answered questions about juvenile competency.

James Karbach, representing the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, also joined the panel to answer questions. He referred to a handout outlining concerns about the competency recommendations (Attachment B).

Committee members asked additional questions of the panel. 

Dr. Libby Stuyt, representing the High Potency Marijuana Subcommittee, joined the hearing remotely to discuss proposed recommendations.  She discussed a recommendation to mandate that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Medical Marijuana Registry program list the name and contact information of the prescribing doctor in an effort to coordinate care.  She noted this would be similar to how certain other medication is handled through the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).

Further conversation followed about a recommendation to include methadone on the PDMP.

Committee members asked questions about medical marijuana cards and probation. 

Dr. Iverson continued to discuss the recommendations of the Data Subcommittee about interoperability platforms between the criminal justice system and certain behavioral health treatment providers.  Committee members disucssed the bill and asked questions about its application.

Committee members also discussed a possible bill draft to fund a Colorado 9-1-1 Resource Center.  The motion was withdrawn. 

Dr. Iverson discussed the priorities of the Mental Health Hold Subcommittee.

Senator Rodriguez distributed a handout about Medicaid formulary restrictions on medications for serious mental illness and recommended prohibiting these restrictions (Attachment C). 

Committee members discussed the juvenile restraint recommendation, presented at the prior hearing.  The recommendation may be read here:  http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/cdoc_restraints_handout_8-11-22.pdf.

 

 

 

Committee members discussed infectious diseases, such as Hepatitus C, and relationships to behavioral health.

Committee members revisited the 9-1-1 Resource Center discussed earlier in the committee.  More information about the resource center may be found in Attachment D.