s_hhs_2016a_2016-04-21t13:33:53z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/21/2016

01:34 PM -- HB 16-1227



Senator Crowder, co-prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1227. This bill, as amended by the House Committee on Public Health Care and Human Services and the House Appropriations Committee, specifies that a teen parent is not required to submit an application for child support establishment as a condition of receiving child care assistance. However, the county can require the parent to submit an application for child support establishment in order to receive child care assistance once they no longer qualify as a teen parent. Once the teen parent is determined to be eligible for child care assistance, a county may also require them to regularly attend informational sessions on the benefits of child support establishment and the benefits of two-parent engagement in the child's life. These sessions are to be provided by county child support staff at no cost to the teen parent.



This bill also states that a county cannot require an application for child support establishment as a condition of receiving child care assistance if the applicant submits a statement indicating that he or she has been the victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, harassment, or stalking. The information and evidence that are required to be submitted with the statement are also specified.



Counties are permitted to provide information on the importance of establishing child support to anyone who chooses not to engage in child support establishment. The Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS) must establish rules and criteria to be reported and ensure that case management systems are capable of accommodating the provisions of this bill.



01:36 PM -- Cindy Sovine Miller, Florence Crittenton High School, testified in support of the bill.



01:38 PM -- Jazelle Aldridge, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



01:41 PM -- Pat Ratliff, Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill.



01:43 PM -- Jennifer Douglas, New Legacy Charter School, testified in support of the bill.



01:45 PM -- Kanise Hampton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



01:46 PM -- Jenny Macias, Hope House of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.





01:50 PM



Senator Hill, co-prime bill sponsor, commented on the bill.



01:50 PM -- Minna Castillo Conen, Mile High United Way, testified in support of the bill.



01:52 PM -- Benjamin Waters, Opportunity Coalition, testified in support of the bill.



01:52 PM -- Abby Eschler, SafeHouse Denver, spoke in support of the bill.



01:56 PM -- Lydia Waligorski, Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, spoke in favor of the bill.



01:58 PM -- Bill Jaeger, Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.



02:00 PM -- Melissa Feeler, Aurora Public School, testified in support of the bill.



02:01 PM -- Jodi Doyle, Aurora Public School, testified in support of the bill.



02:04 PM



Senator Crowder made closing comments. Committee members commented on the bill.