S_HHS_2024A 04/18/2024 02:04:30 PM Committee Summary

Senators Zenzinger and Simpson, primary bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-191, which requires the Department of Human Services to oversee the operation of host home programs. The bill sets requirements for organizations seeking to operate a host home program and requirements for individuals operating host homes through a host home program.

Ms. Mercedes Wright, representing CASA of the 7th Judicial District, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Judy McNeilsmith, representing La Puente Home, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Dennis Desparrois, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, was available to answer committee questions.

Senator Zenzinger introduced and explained amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

Committee members discussed the amendment.

Senator Zenzinger introduced amendment L.002 (Attachment B).

Senators Buckner and Fields, primary bill sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1176, which expands the scope of the Behavioral Health-Care Continuum Gap Grant Program to include awarding a community investment grant for a new capital construction project.

Committee members provided comments to the bill sponsors.

Marla Fernandez,
representing themself, testified in opposition of the bill.



Committee members asked the panel questions.



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment C).

Senator Buckner introduced and explained amendment L.002 (Attachment D).

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

Senators Michaelson Jenet and Coleman, primary bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-200, which by January 1st of every year, requires the Department of Human Services (CDHS) to update the department’s annual equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) report in collaboration with county departments. This includes reporting on the state’s progress in addressing data challenges in the child welfare case management system and progress in training child welfare staff on demographic data collection. The CDHS must also strengthen EDI training for child welfare staff and evaluate the impact of the trainings, and may extend the trainings to other child welfare agencies and entities. Any changes to the child welfare allocation funding model must consider resources to improve equitable outcomes.

Mollie Warren, representing Boulder County, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Paul Gamino, representing Larimer County Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jamie Ulrich, representing Weld County, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Lauren Smith, representing Soul 2 Soul Sisters and Elephant Circle, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Heather Allan, representing The Kempe Foundation, testified in support of the bill.

Meighen Lovelace, representing Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Ashley Jellison,
representing Colorado Children's Alliance, testified in support of the
bill.



Ashley Chase, representing Office of the Child's Representative, testified
in support of the bill.



MJ Coleman Jackson, representing themself, testified in support of the
bill.



Ms. Marla Fernandez, representing themself, was available to answer committee
questions.



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment E).

Senator Michaelson Jenet introduced and explained amendment L.001 (Attachment F).

Senator Michaelson Jenet introduced and explained amendment L.005 (Attachment G).

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks.

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

Ashley Chase, representing Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill.

Melanie Jordan, representing Office of Respondent Parents' Counsel, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Larry Desbien, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

The primary bill sponsor provided closing remarks.

The committee recessed.

The committee resumed.

Adam Turk, representing Colorado Association of the Chiefs of Police - Greeley Police Department, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Mike Wilson, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Nancy Friedland, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Eva Chan, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ginny Burton, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Matthew Server, representing Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in opposition to the bill.

Michelle Steeb, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

June Churchill, representing Greater Denver Transit, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Ms. Marla Fernandez, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Greg Sadar, representing Colorado Association of the Chiefs of Police - Commerce City Police Department, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Lisi Owen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. MJ Coleman Jackson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions

Dr. Jody Ryan, representing WellPower, testified in support of the bill.

Molly McKinley, representing Denver Streets Partnership, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Dr. Katherine LeMasters, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Katrina Zamudio, representing Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Kyle Giddings, representing Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Christopher Bonham, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Brian Jimenez Fraile, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Joseph Mitchell, representing Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Ruth Carlock, representing The Brain Injury Association of Maryland, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Michael Neil, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Steven Haden, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ean Tafoya, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Betsy Craft, representing Colorado Drug Policy Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Tonya Wheeler, representing Advocates for Recovery, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Dave Wasserman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Camden Sharkey, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Ms. Pamela Clifton, representing Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Colleen Casper, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Stephanie Stewart, representing Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine, testified in support of the bill.

Hannan Braun, representing Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Lisa Peterson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Barrett Montgomery, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Vivian Aranda-Hughes, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Breeah Kinsella, representing Colorado Providers Association, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

Bailey Kramer, representing Colorado Mental Wellness Network, testified in support of the bill.

Lisa Raville, representing Harm Reduction Action Center, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Brian Erickson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Vincent Atchity, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked the panel questions.

The primary bill sponsor provided closing remarks.

Committee members provided closing remarks.