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S_HHS_2021A 05/24/2021 01:53:31 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date 05/24/2021
Attendance
Buckner X
Jaquez Lewis X
Kirkmeyer X
Simpson X
Smallwood X
Ginal X
Fields *
Time 01:53:31 PM to 03:47:33 PM
Place SCR 357
This Meeting was called to order by Fields
This Report was prepared by Ken Cole
Hearing Items Action Taken
HB21-1094 Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
SB21-269 Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB21-274 Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB21-275 Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB21-276 Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB21-277 Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB21-278 Referred to Senate Appropriations

HB21-1094 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
01:53:53 PM  
Senators Zenzinger
and Rankin, prime sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1094 and responded
to questions. The
bill creates the foster youth in transition program (transition program)
in the state department of human services (state department) to be implemented
in county departments of human or social services (county departments)
throughout the state. The purpose of the transition program is to allow
foster youth who meet eligibility criteria to voluntarily continue to receive
certain child welfare services (services) up until the last day of the
month of the youth's twenty-first birthday, or such greater age of foster
care eligibility as required by federal law. Services provided through
the transition program must be client-directed and developmentally appropriate
as set forth in and agreed to through a voluntary services agreement (agreement)
developed and entered into between the youth and county department.
02:05:02 PM  
Ashley Chase, Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill.
02:07:34 PM  
Ms. Betsy Fordyce, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill.
02:09:54 PM  
Ms. Samantha Little, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
02:11:56 PM  
Ms. Minna Castillo-Cohen,
CDHS, testified in support of the bill.
02:15:03 PM  
Ms. Kristin Melton,
CDHS, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.
02:22:06 PM  
Ms Isadora Cruz, Court Appointed Special Advocates, testified in support of the bill.
02:25:48 PM  
Ms. Kippi Clausen, Colorado Rural Collaborative for Homeless Youth, testified in support of the bill.
02:28:12 PM  
Mr. Trevor Williams,
CDHS, testified in support of the bill.
02:30:29 PM  
Lonni Woodruff, Metropolitan State University Denver, testified in support of the bill.
02:33:31 PM  
Mr. Williams responded to questions.
02:36:24 PM  
Benjamin Waters, Fostering Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
02:36:52 PM  
Becky  Updike,
representing Colorado Associations of Families and Childrens Agencies (CAFCA),
testified in support of the bill.
02:39:45 PM  
Senator Zenzinger
presented amendments L.006 (Attachment A) and L.007 (Attachment B).


02:41:45 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment A).
Moved Buckner
Seconded
Buckner
Jaquez Lewis
Kirkmeyer
Simpson
Smallwood
Ginal
Fields Excused
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


02:42:19 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.007 (Attachment B).
Moved Buckner
Seconded
Buckner
Jaquez Lewis
Kirkmeyer
Simpson
Smallwood
Ginal
Fields Excused
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
02:42:54 PM  
Senators Zenzinger
and Rankin, co-prime sponsors, provided closing remarks.
02:46:29 PM  
Committee members commented about the bill.


02:48:13 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 21-1094, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Buckner
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Kirkmeyer Yes
Simpson Yes
Smallwood Yes
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-269 - Referred to Senate Appropriations
02:48:45 PM  
Senators Winder and
Smallwood, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 21-269. The bill prohibits
an insurer from using any external consumer data and information source,
algorithm, or predictive model that unfairly discriminates against an individual
based on an individual's race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion,
sex, sexual orientation, disability, or transgender status.  
02:50:13 PM  
Becky Updike, representing CAFCA, testified in support of the bill.
02:52:50 PM  
Benjamin Waters, Fostering Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
02:53:48 PM  
Senators Smallwood and Winter provided closing remarks.


02:56:00 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-269 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Smallwood
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Kirkmeyer Yes
Simpson Yes
Smallwood Yes
Ginal Yes
Fields Excused
Final YES: 6   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-274 - Referred to Senate Appropriations
02:56:33 PM  
Senator Moreno, prime
sponsor, presented Senate Bill 21-274. The
bill creates a work group that is tasked with developing a sustainable
model that is not embedded in the child welfare system to better serve
students. The bill outlines membership in the work group, duties of the
work group, and reporting requirements for the work group and commissioner
of education.
03:01:47 PM  
Becky Updike, CAFCA,
testified in support of the bill.
03:02:47 PM  
Benjamin Waters Benjamin Waters, Fostering Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
03:04:25 PM  
Robin Smart, Joint Budget Committee staff, responded to questions.
03:11:35 PM  
Melissa Colsman,
CDE, testified in support of the bill.  Please see Attachment C for
additional written testimony.

 
03:14:14 PM  
Senator Moreno provided closing remarks.


03:15:39 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-274 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Fields
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Kirkmeyer Yes
Simpson Yes
Smallwood Yes
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-275 - Referred to Senate Appropriations
03:16:09 PM  
Senator Moreno, prime
sponsor, presented Senate Bill 21-275 and responded to questions. The
bill transfers the responsibility of performing part C child find from
the department of education to the department of human services on July
1, 2022; except that, on and after May 1, 2022, CDHS shall administer the
referral intake process for part C child find evaluations.
03:19:58 PM  
Melissa Colsman, CDE, testified in support of the bill.
03:22:43 PM  
Christy Scott, CDHS,
was available to answer committee questions.
03:23:45 PM  
Kendra Dunn, Office
of Early Childhood, CDHS, testified in support of the bill and responded
to questions.  Please see Attachment D for additional written testimony.
03:25:32 PM  
Senator Moreno, prime
sponsor, provided closing remarks.


03:27:51 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-275 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Ginal
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Jaquez Lewis Excused
Kirkmeyer Yes
Simpson Yes
Smallwood Yes
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-276 - Referred to Senate Appropriations
03:29:31 PM  
Senator Moreno, prime
sponsor, presented Senate Bill 21-276 and responded to questions. The bill
makes updates to a program within the Department of Human Services for
children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are placed
in out-of-home settings.
03:31:03 PM  
Mr. Dennis Desparrios,
CDHS, was available to answer committee questions.
03:31:30 PM  
Senator Moreno, prime
sponsor, provided closing remarks.


03:32:21 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-276 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Ginal
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Kirkmeyer Yes
Simpson Yes
Smallwood Yes
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-277 - Referred to Senate Appropriations
03:34:04 PM  
Senator Moreno, prime
sponsor, presented Senate Bill 21-277.  The bill requires modifications
to the allocation model for child welfare services funding, and creates
new state reporting requirements.
03:35:01 PM  
Benjamin Waters,
Fostering Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
03:36:18 PM  
Becky Updike, CAFCA,
testified in support of the bill.


03:38:57 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-277 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Ginal
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Kirkmeyer Yes
Simpson Yes
Smallwood Excused
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-278 - Referred to Senate Appropriations
03:40:29 PM  
Senator Moreno, prime
sponsor, presented Senate Bill 21-278. The bill makes changes to state
responsibilities and requirements relating to out-of-home placement services
for children and youth, including the process CDHS uses to establish provider
reimbursement rates.
03:40:47 PM  
Mr. Kent Moe, Ridge View Academy, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.
03:43:04 PM  
Benjamin Waters,
Fostering Colorado, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions..
03:45:42 PM  
Becky Updike, CAFCA,
testified in support of the bill.   Additional written testimony may
be found at Attachment E.  

Senator Moreno
provided closing remarks.  


03:47:12 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-278 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Ginal
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Kirkmeyer Yes
Simpson Yes
Smallwood Excused
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


03:47:33 PM   The committee adjourned.






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