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First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB21-197

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR, & TECHNOLOGY
Date Apr 28, 2021       Location SCR 352

SB21-197 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
02:18:19 PM  
Senator Rodriguez introduced Senate Bill 21-197, concerning choice of physician for workers' compensation cases.
02:20:13 PM  
Ms. Edie Sonn, representing Pinnacol Assurance, testified to amend the bill.
02:21:25 PM  
Mr. Doug Kotarek, representing the Colorado Self Insurers Association, testified in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.
02:28:42 PM  
Senator Rodriguez responded to questions from the committee.
02:29:02 PM  
Ms. Sonn responded to questions from the committee.
02:29:35 PM  
Mr. Alan Hutchins, representing the Colorado Self Insurers Association, testified in opposition to the bill.  He responded to questions from the committee.
02:32:12 PM  
Mr. Royce Mueller, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
02:38:36 PM  
Mr. Dennis Dougherty, representing the AFL-CIO, testified in support of the bill.
02:42:05 PM  
Mr. Mueller responded to questions from the committee.
02:42:25 PM  
Dr. Sander Orent, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
02:47:53 PM  
Ms. Elizabeth Vigil-Jaen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
02:52:08 PM  
Ms. Haley Kroll, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
02:54:47 PM  
Ms. Susanne Ventzke, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
02:57:41 PM  
Dr. Orent responded to questions from the committee.
03:00:10 PM  
Captain Charles CJ Nauert, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
03:05:46 PM  
Mr. Mike Sturtavent, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
03:08:22 PM  
Mr. Gene McCaffrey, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
03:12:28 PM  
Mr. Phil Hayes, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
03:15:02 PM  
The committee took a recess.
03:16:51 PM  
The committee came back to order.
03:30:21 PM  
Ms. Charlene Willem , representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
03:32:53 PM  
Mr. Matthew Rinella, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
03:37:07 PM  
Ms. Vickie Stubbs, representing Peak Form Medical Clinic, testified in opposition to the bill.
03:38:59 PM  
Mr. Bill Gaus, representing Concentra, testified in opposition to the bill.  He responded to questions from the committee.
03:41:31 PM  
Ms. Meghan Dollar, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in opposition to the bill.
03:47:58 PM  
Ms. Loren Furman, representing the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill.  She responded to questions from the committee.
03:49:46 PM  
Committee discussion ensued.
03:58:54 PM  
Ms. Dollar responded to questions from the committee.
04:00:39 PM  
Mr. David Miller, representing the Colorado Self Insurers Association and the City of Colorado Springs, testified in opposition to the bill.
04:03:33 PM  
Ms. Danielle Curtiss, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.
04:06:13 PM  
Mr. Michael Haller, representing the Gallegos Corporation, testified in opposition to the bill.
04:09:09 PM  
Mr. Paul Feld, representing the Colorado Self Insurers Association, testified in opposition to the bill.  He responded to questions from the committee.
04:12:02 PM  
Ms Sonja Guenther, representing the Workers Compensation Coalition, testified in opposition to the bill.
04:21:27 PM  
Ms. Lauren Masias, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill.
04:23:36 PM  
Ms. Dianne Criswell, representing the Special District Association of Colorado, testified to amend the bill.
04:28:46 PM  
Ms. Paula Lowder, representing the Colorado Special Districts Property & Liability Pool, testified to amend the bill.
04:29:00 PM  
Kris Owen, Colorado Self Insured Association, testified against the bill. Committee questions followed.
04:36:07 PM  
Dr. Castrejon, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
04:44:49 PM  
Mr. Tony Gagliardi, representing the National Federation of Independent Businesses, testified in opposition to the bill.  Harvey Flewelling, representing Pinnacol Assurance, responded to committee questions.
04:57:05 PM  
Ms. Amy Brewer, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  She responded to questions from the committee.
05:03:19 PM  
Mr. Peter DellaVecchia, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
05:03:48 PM  
Mr. Jason Wardrip, representing the Colorado Building Trades Council, testified in support of the bill.
05:08:20 PM  
Ms. Laura Kerr, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
05:11:17 PM  
Mr. Mark Elliot, representing the Workers Compendation Education Association, testified in support of the bill.
05:11:18 PM  

Additional written testimony may be found in Attachment C.
05:14:35 PM  
Senator Rodriguez distributed and explained Amendment L.002 (Attachment D).  He responded to questions from the committee.

05:19:11 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.002
Moved Rodriguez
Seconded
Coleman
Kolker
Liston
Priola
Woodward
Danielson
Rodriguez
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:19:18 PM  
Senator Rodriguez distributed and offered Amendments L.003, L.004, L.005, and L.007 (Attachments E through H).

05:20:00 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.003
Moved Rodriguez
Seconded
Coleman
Kolker
Liston
Priola
Woodward
Danielson
Rodriguez
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection

05:20:30 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.004
Moved Rodriguez
Seconded
Coleman
Kolker
Liston
Priola
Woodward
Danielson
Rodriguez
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection

05:21:21 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.005
Moved Rodriguez
Seconded
Coleman
Kolker
Liston
Priola
Woodward
Danielson
Rodriguez
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection

05:22:24 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.007
Moved Rodriguez
Seconded
Coleman Yes
Kolker Yes
Liston No
Priola No
Woodward No
Danielson Yes
Rodriguez Yes
YES: 4   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
05:22:31 PM  
Senator Liston distributed and explained Amendment L.001 (Attachment I).
05:24:44 PM  
The bill sponsor discussed the proposed amendment.

05:26:10 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Liston
Seconded
Coleman No
Kolker No
Liston Yes
Priola Yes
Woodward Yes
Danielson No
Rodriguez No
YES: 3   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL
05:26:18 PM  
Senator Priola distributed and explained Amendment L.006 (Attachment J).
05:28:21 PM  
The bill sponsor discussed the amendment.

05:29:52 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.006
Moved Priola
Seconded
Coleman No
Kolker No
Liston Yes
Priola Yes
Woodward Yes
Danielson No
Rodriguez No
YES: 3   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL
05:30:20 PM  
Senator Priola distributed and explained Amendment L.009 (Attachment K).
05:30:50 PM  
The committee discussed the amendment.

05:32:25 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.009
Moved Priola
Seconded
Coleman No
Kolker No
Liston Yes
Priola Yes
Woodward Yes
Danielson No
Rodriguez No
YES: 3   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL
05:32:32 PM  
Senator Rodriguez made closing comments on the merits of the bill.

05:35:49 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-197, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Rodriguez
Seconded
Coleman Yes
Kolker Yes
Liston No
Priola No
Woodward No
Danielson Yes
Rodriguez Yes
Final YES: 4   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS