4D47B7CF80DD82BA872583D900747240 Hearing Summary

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representatives McLachlan and Valdez, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 19-010, concerning professional behavioral health services for schools.  Under current law, the Behavioral Health Care Professional Matching Grant Program, also known as the School Health Professionals Grant Program, provides grants to local education providers (LEP) to increase the presence of school health professionals in schools, provide training for school staff on implementation of substance abuse prevention education, and connect students at risk for substance abuse with available services.  The bill modifies the program to allow grant funding to be used for behavioral health care services, including screenings, counseling, therapy, referrals to community organizations, and training for students and staff of behavioral health issues.  Representative McLachlan distributed a letter in support of the bill (Attachment D) to the committee and responded to committee questions.

Shelby Ross, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from the committee about the bill.  Representative McLachlan continued to respond to committee questions about which schools are included in the bill.

The following people provided testimony:

Kellan Oliver, representing himself as a student, testified in support of the bill.

Sarah Davidon, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mindy Vanderford, Crestone Freedom Project, testified in support of the bill.

Nicholas Judd, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

The above four-person panel answered questions from the committee.

Evie Hudak, representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.

Mallory Armstrong, representing National Association of Social Workers, testified in support of the bill.

Shelby Thonas, representing the National Association of Social Workers, testified in support of the bill.

Ann Marie Rossi, representing Be Mindful, testified in support of the bill.

The above four-person panel answered questions from the committee.

Sarah Barnes, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Valerie Schlect, representing Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors made concluding comments on the bill, and committee discussion ensued.