28AC37A068F2203D8725851C00093536 Hearing Summary

Senator Danielson, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 20-182.  The bill renames lifesaver programs to wanderer recovery programs and expands the current grant program administered by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to support both the creation and maintenance of wanderer recovery programs in local jurisdictions.  A wanderer recovery program is a program where participants receive an electronic device that may be used to assist in locating the participants in cases where they are missing.  Wanderer recovery programs are generally utilized for individuals with developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments.  The bill also renames the cash fund used to fund the grant program from the Lifesaver Program Cash Fund to the Wanderer Recovery Cash Fund. The current grant program provides grants to county governments for establishing a wanderer recovery program.  The bill expands eligibility criteria to allow for county, municipal, or organizations designated by county or municipal governments, to apply for grants to support the establishment or maintenance of a wanderer recovery program.  The bill also eliminates the cap of $10,000 for grant awards, and removes the cap on the amount the General Assembly may annually appropriate to the wanderer recovery program cash fund, which is used to fund the program.  The bill also directs the CBI to establish and maintain a website that:

• lists local governments or designees that offer a wanderer recovery program and their contact information;
• lists resources for caretakers of persons with medical conditions that cause wandering;
• provides procedures to follow when a wanderer recovery program participant has gone missing;
• describes how wanderer recovery program technology works; and
• provides any other information the CBI concludes is necessary to explain and publicize wanderer recovery programs.

Valerie Schlecht , Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Rachael Minore, Alzheimer's Association, testified in support of the bill.

Scott Pinkney, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Danielson responded to questions from the committee.

Senator Danielson made closing comments.