s_jud_2017a_2017-02-01t13:31:10z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/01/2017

Location: SCR 352

02:35 PM -- SB17-032



Senator Merrifield, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-032. Under current law, law enforcement officials and state regulatory boards can access the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) database by providing an official court order or subpoena. This bill requires that requests be accompanied by an official court order or warrant issued by a neutral magistrate or judge, following a showing of probable cause supported by sworn testimony or affidavit.



02:41 PM -- Mr. Arnold Hanuman, representing the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Hanuman addressed questions from the committee and from the bill sponsor.



02:55 PM -- Ms. Jennifer Anderson and Mr. Jose Esquivel, both representing the Colorado Attorney General's Office, testified in opposition to the bill. Senator Merrifield responded to Mr. Esquivel's testimony. Ms. Anderson responded to questions from the committee.





03:09 PM



Discussion continued with Ms. Anderson about how access to the PDMP database would change under the bill and the relative merit of this change.



03:23 PM -- Mr. Ryan Blehle, representing the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support of the bill. He responded to questions and comments from the committee. Senator Merrifield also responded to a question from the committee.



03:30 PM -- Ms. Denise Maes, representing the ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Maes responded to questions from the committee.





03:38 PM



Senator Merrifield explained amendment L.001 (Attachment B).



17SenateJud0201AttachB.pdf

03:42 PM



Senator Merrifield and members of the committee made closing remarks on the bill.