H_PHC_2017A 02/28/2017 Committee Summary

01:34 PM -- HB 17-1185



Representative Singer called the meeting to order and commented on committee procedures.



Representative Singer, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1185 to the committee. The bill adds officials and employees of county departments of health, human services, or social services to the list of mandatory reporters of child abuse. It also allows these county employees to receive certain follow up information about children about whom they file a report of child abuse or neglect if they continue to be officially and professionally involved in the ongoing care of the child. The bill expands the period for county departments of human services to provide such follow up information to all eligible mandatory reports from 30 days to 60 days after the report of child abuse and neglect is filed.



01:43 PM -- Allison Daley, Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in opposition to the bill. She described a technical concern with the bill.



01:45 PM -- Lynnae Flora, Jefferson County and Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in opposition to the bill. She expressed her concern that the definition of county workers is too broad.





01:47 PM



Ms. Daley and Ms. Flora responded to a question. Representative Singer commented on a potential amendment to the bill.



01:50 PM -- Sarah Carrasco, representing herself, testified in a neutral capacity on the bill. Ms. Carrasco responded to questions from the committee.



01:59 PM -- Phil Silberman, Colorado Coalition for Vaccine Choice, testified in a neutral position on the bill.



02:03 PM -- Megan Davis, Boulder County, testified in support of the bill.



02:06 PM -- Missy Winefeldt, representing herself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.



02:09 PM -- Pam Long, representing herself, testified in a neutral position on the bill. She distributed a handout (Attachment A).



170228 AttachA.pdf



02:14 PM -- Dr. Robert Werthwein, Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Werthwein responded to questions from the committee regarding the definition of child abuse and neglect and child welfare reporting data. The committee continued to discuss the bill with Dr. Werthwein and Representative Singer.



02:27 PM



Representative Ginal laid over the bill at the request of the sponsor, and called a brief recess.



02:38 PM -- HB 17-1156



Representative Singer called the meeting back to order.



Representative Rosenthal, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1156 to the committee. The bill prohibits physicians specializing in psychiatry and licensed or registered mental health professionals from engaging in conversion therapy with patients under 18 years of age. The bill defines "conversion therapy" as practices that seek to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction to individuals of the same sex. Violations of this prohibition are addressed through the disciplinary processes for these regulated professionals.



Certain psychotherapies are exempted from the definition of conversion therapy if they provide acceptance, support, and understanding for the facilitation of an individual's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development. Sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices are also permitted, so long as they do not seek to change the patient's sexual orientation or gender identity. Therapies are also allowed to assist a person undergoing gender transition.









02:43 PM



Representative Rosenthal responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill. Representative Singer commented.



02:53 PM -- Dr. Laura Knudtson, Colorado Psychological Association, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Knudtson responded to questions from the committee.



03:00 PM -- Esteban Lee O'Neal, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Lee O'Neil responded to questions from the committee.



03:06 PM -- Reverend Laura Rossbert, Belong United Methodist Church, testified in support of the bill. Reverend Rossbert responded to questions from the committee.



03:14 PM -- Dr. Charlotte Lippolis, Colorado Psychiatric Society, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Lippolis responded to questions from the committee.



03:19 PM -- Judah Ruscha, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Ruscha responded to questions from the committee.



03:22 PM -- Brad Allen, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:26 PM -- Brandan Robertson, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Robertson responded to questions from the committee.



03:31 PM -- Jacob Schuler, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:34 PM -- Kenny Wylie, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



03:36 PM -- Noah McQueen, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:39 PM -- Moses Gur, Colorado Behavioral Health Council, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Gur responded to questions from the committee.



03:43 PM -- Robin Goodspeed, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Goodspeed responded to questions from the committee.



03:53 PM -- Jeff Johnston, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment B). Mr. Johnston responded to questions from the committee.



170228 AttachB.pdf



04:03 PM -- Drew Patterson, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Patterson responded to questions from the committee.



04:08 PM -- Susan Kerkoff, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Kerkoff responded to questions from the committee.









04:19 PM -- Brad Bergford, Commission for the Protection of Constitutional Rights, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Bergford responded to questions from the committee.



04:28 PM -- David DeJiacomo, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:31 PM -- Megan Malinaric, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Malinaric responded to questions from the committee.



04:38 PM -- Timo Jones, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



04:44 PM -- Dr. Reo Leslie, representing himself and the Colorado Association of Psychotherapists, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment C). Dr. Leslie responded to questions from the committee.



170228 AttachC.pdf



04:50 PM -- Karen Langsley, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



04:53 PM -- Leslie Chomic, League of Women Voters - Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



04:55 PM -- Arash Jahanian, Colorado LGBT Bar Association, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Jahanian responded to questions from the committee.



05:01 PM -- Rachel Katt, representing Colorado LGBT Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.









05:04 PM



Representative Rosenthal gave concluding remarks.

05:05 PM



Representative Singer adjourned the meeting.