s_fin_2016a_2016-02-16t14:02:20z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/16/2016

02:24 PM -- SB16-077



The committee returned to order. Senator Kefalas, prime sponsor, presented strike-below Amendment L.001 to Senate Bill 16-077. The bill, as amended, would outline policies designed to increase employment opportunities for persons with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD). The bill specifies five agency partners — the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), the Department of Education (CDE), the Department of Higher Education (DHE), and the Department of Human Services (DHS) — which must work together to identify employment and educational opportunities for persons with disabilities. Second, the bill creates the Employment First Core State Advisory Group (advisory group) within CDLE.



Senator Kefalas distributed Amendments L.001, L.002, and L.003 (Attachments A, B, and C, respectively). Committee members also received a fiscal assessment of Amendment L.002, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment D).



16SenateFin0216AttachA.pdf 16SenateFin0216AttachB.pdf



16SenateFin0216AttachC.pdf 16SenateFin0216AttachD.pdf



02:27 PM -- Ms. Marilee Boylan, representing the ARC of Larimer County, testified in support of the bill.



02:31 PM -- Mr. Bob Lawhead, representing Colorado Association for Persons in Support Employment (APSE), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Lawhead provided a written copy of his testimony (Attachment E). He responded to a question from the committee about a decline in employment opportunities for individuals with IDD.



16SenateFin0216AttachE.pdf



02:37 PM -- Ms. Joyce Shorthill, representing herself as an employer of individuals with IDD, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Shorthill addressed a question from the committee about how the bill will increase employment opportunities for individuals with IDD.



02:43 PM -- Ms. Valorie Towne, representing herself as the parent of an individual with IDD, testified in support of the bill.



02:45 PM -- Ms. Chrissy Krumm, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



02:49 PM -- Mr. Rick Newell, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Newell provided a written copy of his testimony (Attachment F) and a fact sheet about the bill, prepared by Mr. Newell (Attachment G) He responded to a question from the committee.



16SenateFin0216AttachF.pdf 16SenateFin0216AttachG.pdf

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02:55 PM -- Mr. Jim Faulstich, representing himself as the sibling of an individual with IDD and as an advocate for finding employment for individuals with IDD, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Faulstich responded to comments and questions from the committee.





03:14 PM



Senator Kefalas also responded to committee comments and questions.



03:18 PM -- Mr. Michael Hoover, representing the DD Council, testified in support of the bill.



03:22 PM -- Mr. Ed George, representing the DD Council, testified in support of the bill.



03:24 PM -- Mr. Josh Winkler, representing the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Winkler addressed questions and comments from the committee.



03:35 PM -- Ms. Julie Farrar, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Farrar distributed written testimony from Mike Nelson and read from Mr. Nelson's prepared statement (Attachment H). She next discussed her employment experience as an individual with IDD. Ms. Farrar responded to a comment from the committee.



16SenateFin0216AttachH.pdf



03:43 PM -- Mr. Andrew Hagberry, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:48 PM -- Ms. Carol Meredith, representing the ARC of Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, testified in support of the bill.



03:50 PM -- Ms. Katherine Carol, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.





03:58 PM



Members of the committee commented on the merits of the bill. Senator Kefalas discussed Amendments L.001, L.002, and L.003. He also distributed a list of the members of the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program Core State Advisory Group (Attachment I).



16SenateFin0216AttachI.pdf

04:07 PM



Senator Kefalas made closing remarks about the bill. Members of the committee commented on the bill.





04:20 PM



The chair laid the bill over for action only.