E92C9EF30791FCDD8725824B0064A88F Hearing Summary

Representative Michaelson Jenet, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1177 to the committee and distributed handouts (Attachments B and C).  This bill enacts several youth suicide prevention initiatives within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and makes changes to the age of consent for a minor to seek certain psychotherapy services.

Representative Michaelson Jenet distributed amendment L.004 to the committee (Attachment D).

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to committee questions regarding the bill.

Committee members continued to dialogue with Representative Michaelson Jenet.

Representative Singer proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Erica Kitzman, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Michaelson Jenet read written testimony from witnesses that were unable to testify. 

Representative Michaelson Jenet played a short video for the committee.

Heather Kennedy, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Faduma Ali, Bridge Project, testified in support of the bill.

Tammy Le, Bridge Project, testified in support of the bill.

Halima Mberwa, Bridge Project, testified in support of the bill.

Corey Engle, Bridge Project, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Mberwa, Ms. Ali, Ms. Le, and Mr. Engle responded to committee questions.

Dr. Debra Boeldt, National Mental Health Innovation Center, testified in support of the bill.

Bev Marquez, Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners, testified in support of the bill.

Ellen Stern, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Boeldt, Ms. Stern, and Ms. Marquez responded to committee questions.

Beth Lipschutz, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Ms. Lipshutz responded to committee questions.

Becky Zal-Sanchez, National Association of Social Work, testified in support of the bill.

Sally Spencer Thomas, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Jeff Hunt, Colorado Christian University, testified against the bill.  Mr. Hunt responded to questions.

Drew Paterson, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Mr. Paterson responded to questions from the committee.

Barb Monark, representating herself, read testimony in opposition to the bill.

Brad Bergford, Commission for the Protection of Constitutional Rights, testified in opposition to the bill.

Rigo Mendez, representing himself, read testimony in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Monark and Mr. Bergford responded to committee questions.

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to committee questions.

Kelly Dore, National Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment E).

Chloe McNamee, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Tracy Edwards Konkol, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Moe Keller, Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Ryan Berkhart, Colorado Counselor's Association, testified in support of the bill.

Jarrod Hindman, CDPHE, came to the table to respond to committee questions.

Cristen Bates, Colorado Department of Human Services, came to the table to respond to committee questions.

Dr. Berkhart responded to committee questions.

Audrey Herrald, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment F).

Ms. Herrald responded to committee questions.

Lydia Waligorski, Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, testified in support of the bill.

Kelly Erb, Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Erb and Ms. Waligorski responded to committee questions.

Kristen Torres, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Riah Hollis, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Jess Stohlmann-Rainey, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to committee questions.  A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment H).

Karla Gonzalez Garcia, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Singer commented on the bill.

Representative Michaelson Jenet gave concluding remarks on the bill.

Representative Singer laid the bill over for action at a later date.