Representative Geitner, bill sponsor, presented HB21-1172.  The bill requires health care facilities, including hospitals, nursing care facilities and assisted living residences, to allow their patients and residents to have at least one visitor of their choosing.  The bill also requires these health care facilities to have written policies and procedures concerning visitation, including any restrictions or limitations that are placed on visitation and the reasons for these restrictions or limitations.  

The bill prohibits health care facilities from disallowing visitation if the sole reason is to reduce the risk of transmission of a pandemic disease, but allows health care facilities to impose requirements and limitations on visitors to reduce the risk of transmission of a pandemic disease as follows:

• during a period of heightened pandemic disease transmission risk, health care facilities may designate entry points, deny visitors with known symptoms of the pandemic disease, require visitors to wear face coverings or other protective equipment, and require them to sign a waiver acknowledging the risks of visitation;

during a period of known community transmission of a pandemic disease, health care facilities may require all visitors to be screened for symptoms of the disease before visitation, and deny entrance to any visitor who has symptoms of the disease; and

during widespread community transmission of the disease, facilities may limit visitation to essential caregivers or for compassionate care visits from a friend or family member to alleviate physical or emotional distress.

The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Lontine proceeded with witness testimony.

Andrea Waitley, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Stephen Reiter, the NEVER Alone Project, testified in support of the bill.  The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Todd Workman, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Jennifer Crow, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Kelly Huenink, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Brandee Gillham, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Roy Gillham, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Matt Gillham, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Jake Gillham, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Nita Gillham, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Huenink responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Daniel Gillham, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Mrs. Sarah Gillham, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment G.

Representative Geitner provided closing comments on the bill.

Committee members made closing comments on the bill.

Committee comments on the bill continued.