H_PHC_2020A 02/14/2020 03:08:30 PM Committee Summary

Representative Caraveo, bill sponsor, introduced House Bill 20-1212. The bill continues the regulation of naturopathic doctors by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for nine years and implements the department's recommendations in the sunset report.  Specifically, it provides department staff, consultants, and complainants with immunity from liability for acts occurring while acting in their capacity; removes references to the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners and the Council of Naturopathic Medical Education; and repeals the requirement that naturopathic doctors enter into a collaborative agreement with a licensed physician before treating children under the age of two.

Deputy Karen McGovern, Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified against portions of the bill.

Deputy McGovern responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Rachelle Forsberg, Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors, testified in support of the bill. She distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment A).

Dr. Ashley Biscoe, Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. James Gilchrist, Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors, testified about the bill.

Ruth Aponte, Academy of Pediatrics, testified in favor of the bill.

The previous panel of witness responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Caraveo introduced amendment L.001 (Attachment B).

The bill sponsor made closing comments on the bill.

Representative Mullica and Representative Cutter, bill sponsors, introduced House Bill 20-1209. The bill continues indefinitely the Nurse-Physician Advisory Task Force for Colorado Health Care in the Department of Regulatory Agencies, which is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2020.  The bill sponsors discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment C).

There were no witnesses signed up for public testimony about this bill.

The bill sponsors made final comments on the bill.

Representative Singer and Representative Larson, bill sponsors, introduced House Bill 20-1230.  This bill continues the licensing of occupational therapists and assistants until September 1, 2030, and makes the following changes:

• adds occupational therapy consultant and occupational therapy assistant to the list of titles a person can use if they are licensed in the state and allows occupational therapy assistants to use the abbreviation O.T.A. or C.O.T.A.;
• clarifies that the law does not restrict the activities of a person fulfilling an occupational therapy doctoral capstone experience under appropriate supervision;
• adds failing to make essential or falsifying entries on a patent record, committing abuse of health insurance, and committing a fraudulent insurance act to the grounds of discipline;
• adds additional definitions concerning the scope of practice for occupational therapists; and
• reorganizes sections of statute and makes other technical changes.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Bailey LaBoeuf Johnson, Occupational Therapy Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Kathryn Carano, Occupational Therapy Association of Colorado, testified about an amendment to the bill.

Betsy Murray, American Physical Therapy Association Colorado Chapter, testified in a neutral position about the bill. She distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment D).

The bill sponsors distributed and discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment E).

Richard Sweetman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to a question from the committee

The bill sponsor explained amendment L.002 (Attachment F).

The bill sponsors made closing comments on the bill.

Representative Michaelson Jenet, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 20-1270. This bill allows a medical or a mental health professional to provide services for a behavioral health disorder to a child under the age of 15, as long as one parent or legal guardian gives consent.  It does not apply when parental consent is not required for treatment.  

The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee.

The bill sponsor continued to respond to questions from the committee.

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

Representative Michaelson Jenet, introduced amendment L.001 (Attachment G).

The bill sponsor responded to questions about the amendment.

Jane Ritter, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from the committee about the amendment. The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee about the amendment.

Representative Michaelson Jenet made closing comments on the bill.

Committee members made closing comments on the bill.