H_HHS_2024A 04/23/2024 01:31:34 PM Committee Summary

The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Bird and Hartsook, introduced Senate Bill 24-142 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill creates the Oral Health Screening in Public Schools Pilot Program in the Department of Public Health and Environment to provide grants for local education providers to conduct oral health screenings of children in kindergarten or third grade.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Dr. Leah Schulz,
representing Colorado Dental Association, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Maryam Mahmood,
representing Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, was
available to answer committee questions.



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment A).

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Scott Bookman, representing
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified to amend
the bill.



Ms. Kelli Curl,
representing Jefferson County Public Health, testified in support of the
bill.



Dr. Bernadette
Albanese, representing Adams County Health Department, testified in support
of the bill.



Ms. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment B).

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

The bill sponsors responded to the amendment.

Members of the committee provided comments on the amendment.

The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Marvin and Daugherty, provided closing comments on House Bill 24-1456.

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.

The primary bill sponsors, Representatives English and Bacon, introduced Senate Bill 24-042 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill creates the Arie P. Taylor Sickle Cell Disease Outreach Program in the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The CDPHE will contract with one or more nonprofit organizations to deliver outreach and support services to individuals with sickle cell disease.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Rachelle Nuss,
representing University of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Jacquita Cunningham,
representing Colorado Sickle Cell Association, testified in support of
the bill.



Ms. Michelle Woods,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Ms. Tiesha Byars,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Donna Dixon, representing
Colorado Sickle Cell Association, Inc., testified in support of the bill.



Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment E).

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.

The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Young and Holtorf, introduced Senate Bill 24-121 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. Under current law, critical access hospitals are licensed as general hospitals with the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The bill requires critical access hospitals to be licensed separately, and directs CDPHE to adopt rules for this new license.

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



Kevin Stansbury,
representing Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium (EPHC), testified in
support of the bill.



Joshua Ewing,
representing Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of the
bill.



A handout was
provided to members of the committee (Attachment G).

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

The primary bill sponsor, Representative McCormick, introduced Senate Bill 24-167 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill requires assisted living residences to provide to direct-care workers the results of tuberculosis testing and fit testing for respiratory masks, and certificates of completion for certain trainings provided. Direct-care workers may provide results to other assisted living residences to satisfy testing and training requirements when changing employment.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Sherrie Bonham, representing
Colorado Assisted Living Association, testified in support of the bill.



Carrie Peters,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Eileen Doherty, representing Colorado Gerontological Society, testified in support of the bill.