S_JUD_2019A 02/25/2019 01:32:18 PM Committee Summary

Senators Lee and Gardner, co-prime sponsors, explained HB19-1063 concerning the ability to share information between county adult protective services with county child protective services as well as at-risk adults obtaining their own information.  

Gini Pingenot, representing Colorado Counties Incorporated, spoke in spport of the bill on behalf of county commissioners. She discussed the importance of sharing information between county staff.  She noted the benefits of the bill, including confidentiality and other efficiencies.  

Maureen Welch, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill.  She distributed a handout (Attachment A), which outlined concerns with the bill.  Some of her concerns addressed expanded investigative powers of Adult Protective Services (APS) and unfunded mandates. 

Jennifer Mullenbach, representing Jefferson County, spoke in favor of the bill.  She discussed the problems that counties have faced by not being able to share information between APS and Child Protective Services.   She explained the benefits of information sharing. 

Julie Krow, representing El Paso County Department of Human Services, spoke in support of the measure.  She provided an example of a case in El Paso County involving an adolescent grandchild and the grandparents and explained how information sharing would have eased communication difficulties.

Julie Reiskin, representing the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.  She highlighted benefits of the bill including the section about accessing records.

Whitney Nettleton, representing Denver County Human Services, testified in favor of the bill.  She discussed how the bill would assist in serving multi-generational households while minimizing the need for multiple case workers. 

Kelsey Lesco, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed the necessity for county human service departments to effectively share information and updates.

Heidi Haines, representing The Arc of Colorado, testified in favor of the measure. 

Senator Lee made closing remarks. 

Senator Gonzales explained HB19-1042, concerning expanding the jurisdiction of the courts for certain vulnerable youth.  She distributed a handout about vulnerable youth between the ages of 18 and 21 in Colorado (Attachment B).

Kathleen Glynn, representing herself as a private attorney, spoke in favor of the bill.  She explained how the bill would better coincide with federal provisions.  She stressed that Colorado law does not cover immigrant children between the ages of 18 to 21 who have been abused or neglected. 

Kacie Mulhern, representing Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed the benefits of better serving immigrant youth between the ages 18 and 21.

Ashley Chase, representing the Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed the need to better serve and represent this age group.

Bridget McCann, representing herself as an attorney in private practice, spoke in favor of the bill.  She discussed how the federal immigration program serves youth up to age 21 but the state system does not.  She provided an example of a family she helped represent from Guatemala. 

Heidi Haines, representing The Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  She stressed that the bill will help reduce trauma for at-risk youth.

Senator Gonzales made closing remarks.