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h_phc_2017a_2017-03-21t13:35:11z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/21/2017

Location: HCR 0107

Final

BILL SUMMARY for HB17-1229



HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES


Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 17-1229 to the Committee of the W PASS







03:16 PM -- HB 17-1229



Representative Singer and Representative Becker, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 17-1229 to the committee and distributed a handout (Attachment A). The bill makes changes to workers' compensation law. It requires mental impairment claims to be proven by evidence supported by the testimony of a licensed psychiatrist, rather than a physician, or a psychologist. The bill defines "psychologically traumatic event" as one generally outside of a worker's usual experience that would evoke significant symptoms of distress in a worker in similar circumstances, or an event within a worker's usual experience only when the worker is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist after:



170321 AttachA.pdf170321 AttachA.pdf

    experiencing an attempt by another person to cause the worker serious bodily injury or death through the use of deadly force;

    • witnessing a death, or the immediate aftermath of a death, of one or more people as the result of a violent event; or

    • repeatedly witnessing the serious bodily injury (or immediate aftermath) of one or more people as a result of an intentional act or of an accident.



03:26 PM --
Jackie Zheleznyak, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Zheleznyak responded to questions from the committee.



03:36 PM --
Frank Cavanaugh, Colorado Self-Insured Association, testified in opposition to the bill.



03:40 PM --
Dr. John Nicoletti, Fraternal Order of Police, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Nicoletti responded to questions from the committee.



03:49 PM --
Edie Sonn, Pinnacol Assurance, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Sonn responded to questions from the committee.



03:55 PM --
Howard Paul, Colorado Search and Rescue Board, testified in support of the bill.



04:00 PM --
Kevin Bommer, Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Bommer responded to questions from the committee.



04:08 PM --
Amy Newton, Pinnacol Assurance, responded to questions from the committee.



04:11 PM --
Tim Dienst, Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



04:14 PM --
Jim Crone, County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



04:19 PM --
Don Enlow, Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Association of State Patrol Professionals, testified in support of the bill.



04:24 PM --
Ron Sloan, Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, testified in support of the bill.



04:27 PM --
Nick Fogel, Fraternal Order of Police, testified in support of the bill.



04:30 PM --
Sean Harper, Fraternal Order of Police, testified in support of the bill.



04:36 PM



Representative Becker and Representative Singer gave concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

BILL: HB17-1229
TIME: 04:48:21 PM
MOVED: Singer
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1229 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 12-1.
SECONDED: Michaelson Jenet
VOTE
Catlin
Yes
Everett
No
Ginal
Yes
Hooton
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
Liston
Yes
Michaelson Jenet
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Ransom
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Singer
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





04:50 PM



Representative Danielson adjourned the meeting.








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