H_PBH_2022A 03/04/2022 12:49:48 PM Committee Summary

Representative Mullica and Representative Bradfield, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-052, concerning aligning medical assistance income eligibility requirements with federal law.  The bill aligns state income eligibility requirements with federal law for children and pregnant women under the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and Medicaid programs.  The bill sponsors provided a handout to the committee (Attachment A).

Marivel Klueckman, representing the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill.

 

Written testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment B).

Representative Bradfield explained amendment L.002 (Attachment C).

Representative Mullica and Representative Bradfield made concluding remarks on the bill.

Representative Van Beber, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1231, concerning a bill of rights for foster parents. The bill creates certain rights for foster parents, including the right to receive training and support, timely financial reimbursements, clear descriptions of expectations, certain records, reasonable notice for any changes to a foster child’s placement, certain notices about court proceedings, and access to the grievance process with appropriate licensing authorities. These rights do not apply to foster parents who jeopardize the safety of children, or if criminal charges have been filed against them for child abuse, a sexual offense, or a felony.

Representative Van Beber responded to questions from the committee.

Korey Elger, representing the Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Melanie Jordan, representing the Office of Respondent Parents' Counsel, testified in opposition to the bill.  She provided a written statement to the committee and responded to questions from the committee (Attachment D).

Ms. Elger responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Jordan and Ms. Elger responded to additional questions from the committee.

Dr. Emily Kosirog, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Ross Wright, representing Hope and Home, testified in support of the bill.

Renee Bernhard, representing Foster Source, testified in support of the bill.

Jamie Ulrich, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Heather Gonzales, representing the Colorado State Foster Parents Association, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Written testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment E).

Representative Van Beber explained amendment L.001 (Attachment F).

Representative Van Beber explained amendment L.002 (Attachment G). She responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Van Beber made concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Bradfield and Representative Young, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1209, concerning the continuation of the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging. The bill sunsets the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging, which is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2022, and makes conforming changes to statute. The related sunset report was distributed to the committee (Attachment H).

Representative Young responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Edward Leary, representing the Colorado Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Bradfield and Representative Young provided concluding remarks on the bill. The committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Young, prime bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 22-102, concerning increasing the transparency concerning programs for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are in out-of-home placements. The bill requires an interdisciplinary appeals review panel in the Department of Human Services to review certain cases involving children and youths with intellectual or developmental disabilities in out-of-home placements and adds new reporting requirements.

Jamie Ulrich, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Alli Daley, representing Children’s Hospital Colorado , testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Ulrich responded to questions from the committee.

Dennis Desparrois, representing the Colorado Department of Human Services, responded to committee questions.

Written testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment I).

Representative Young made concluding remarks on the bill.

Representative Michaelson Jenet, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1221, concerning the creation of the County Coroner and Mortuary Mental Health and Wellness Program. The bill creates the County Coroner and Mortuary Mental Health and Wellness Program in the Behavioral Health Administration to provide mental health services to county coroner offices, funeral directors, and mortuary science practitioners where existing health insurance plans do not include coverage.

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to question from the committee.

Ian Harwick, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Coroner Jill Romann, representingthe  Douglas County Coroner's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Moe Keller, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Annette Cannon, representing the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Elizabeth Ortiz, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members commented on the testimony. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Written testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment J).

Representative Michaelson Jenet made concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Michaelson Jenet made additional comments about the bill.  Committee members further discussed the bill.