6990ECF7D02F691E87258B030076D22B Hearing Summary

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB24-202

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date Apr 18, 2024
Location SCR 357

SB24-202 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole

03:37:54 PM

Senator Fields, primary
bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 24-202. Currently, when a child is
placed with a public agency, a court order must require the child’s parent
to pay a fee that covers the costs of a guardian ad litem and residential
care for the child, with the fee based on their ability to pay. The bill
removes the requirement for a court order for this fee, and instead allows
a delegate child support enforcement unit to impose the fee when approved
by a county child welfare unit. It also removes the requirement that the
fee be based on the parent’s ability to pay and that the payment must
cover the costs of a guardian ad litem.

The bill also affects the assignment of child support for foster care.
Current law requires the Department of Human Services to reimburse for
child support for the out-of-home placement costs for children placed in
foster care. The bill restricts these assignments to current child support
obligations only, excluding previously accrued amounts. Additionally, a
child support enforcement unit can enforce these child support obligations,
if a county child welfare unit determines a referral is appropriate.

03:43:47 PM

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.

04:01:27 PM

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

04:04:01 PM

The primary bill sponsor provided closing remarks.

04:05:41 PM	Motion	Refer Senate Bill 24-202 to the Committee of the Whole.
	Moved	Fields
	Seconded

	Cutter	Yes
	Jaquez Lewis	Yes
	Lundeen	Excused
	Michaelson Jenet	Yes
	Mullica	Yes
	Rich	No
	Will	No
	Ginal	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Final	YES: 6 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

SB24-202 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Colorado General Assembly