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S_HHS_2023A 02/09/2023 01:23:00 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date 02/09/2023
Attendance
Buckner X
Cutter X
Jaquez Lewis X
Mullica X
Rich X
Smallwood X
Will *
Ginal X
Fields X
Time 01:23:00 PM to 07:05:22 PM
Place SCR 357
This Meeting was called to order by Fields
This Report was prepared by Jerard Brown
Hearing Items Action Taken
SB23-082 Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB23-033 Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB23-027 Committee Discussion Only
SB23-004 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar

SB23-082 - Referred to Senate Appropriations


01:36:03 PM  
Senators Zenzinger
and Kirkmeyer, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-082 concerning
establishing the Colorado Fostering Success Voucher Program in the Department
of Human Services. The purpose of the program is to provide housing vouchers
and case management services to eligible youth.

01:43:05 PM  
Director Minna Castillo Cohen, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Deputy Director Mollie Bradlee, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kristin Toombs, representing Department of Local Affairs, Division of Housing, Office of Homeless Initiatives, testified in support of the bill.

01:53:40 PM  
Ms. Jordyn Gendel,
representing Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support
of the bill.



Ms. Jamie Ulrich, representing Weld County, CO, testified in support of
the bill.



Benjamin Teevan, representing Fostering Colorado and Colorado Association
of Family & Children's Agencies, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members asked the panel questions.
02:05:42 PM  
Madeline Williams, representing United Way, testified in support of the bill.

Shelby Costello, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kippi Clausen, representing Colorado Rural Collaborative for Homeless Youth, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Ann Ayers, representing Raise the Future, testified in support of the bill.

02:18:14 PM  
Ms. Kaitlyn Tollefson,
representing Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill.


Additional written
testimony can be found in Attachment A.

02:22:14 PM  
Bill sponsors and committee members provided closing remarks.


02:29:16 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-082 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Ginal
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Cutter Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Mullica Yes
Rich Yes
Smallwood Yes
Will Yes
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB23-033 - Referred to Senate Appropriations


02:29:25 PM  
Senators Rodriguez
and Fields, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-033, concerning
prohibiting the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing from requiring
certain utilization management practices for prescription drugs used to
treat serious mental health disorders provided under a contract with a
health maintenance organization.
02:36:04 PM  
Thomas Leahey, representing Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing - HCPF, testified to amend the bill.

Committee members asked questions of Mr. Leahey.

02:51:05 PM  
Mr. Ray Merenstein,
representing NAMI Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



Dr. Marisa Wickerath, representing Colorado Academy of Family Physicians,
testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Stuart Jenkins, representing Healthier Colorado, testified in support
of the bill.



Committee members asked questions of the panel.
03:03:37 PM  
Dr. Stephanie Sandhu,
representing Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, testified in support
of the bill.



Mr. Lucas Smith, representing RxPlus Pharmacies, testified in support of
the bill.



Lauren Snyder, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support
of the bill.



Additional written
testimony can be found in Attachment B.




Committee members asked the panel questions.

03:31:08 PM  
Co-prime sponsors provided closing remarks.
03:33:36 PM  
Committee members provided closing remarks.


03:42:04 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-033 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Fields
Seconded
Buckner Yes
Cutter Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Mullica Yes
Rich No
Smallwood No
Will No
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB23-027 - Committee Discussion Only


03:43:11 PM  
Senator Cutter, prime
bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 23-027 concerning extending funding
for the food pantry assistance grant program in the Department of Human
Services through FY 2026-27 and repeals the program on July 1, 2028.





Committee members asked questions of the bill sponsor.

03:47:37 PM  
Marc Jacobson, representing Hunger Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Monique Marez, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Whitney Leeds, representing Growing Home, Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Roberto Meza, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

04:10:35 PM  
Mrs. Yevgeniya Tsyganok, representing Solid Rock Community Development Corporation, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Thai Nguyen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jess Soulis, representing GoFarm, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Patience Kabwasa, representing Food to Power, testified in support of the bill.

04:22:26 PM  
Ms. Shellie Logan
McKeown, representing Mountain Resource Center, testified in support of
the bill.



Gwen Cameron, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Eric Heydorn, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



Committee members asked the panel questions.
04:46:33 PM  
Mr. Dan Waldvogle,
representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the
bill.



Ms. Kaitlyn Tollefson, representing Young Invincibles, testified in support
of the bill.



Mrs. Effie Rorke, representing Feeding Colorado, testified to amend the
bill.



Amy Pezzani, representing Food Bank for Larimer County, testified to amend
the bill.



Committee members asked the panel questions.
05:17:34 PM  
Shaina Knight, representing
Food Bank of the Rockies, testified to amend the bill.



Sarah Gregory, representing Feeding Colorado, testified to amend the bill.



Carolyn Alexander, representing The Action Center, testified to amend the
bill.



Committee members asked the panel questions.
05:36:03 PM  
Ms. Stella Zhu, representing Fort Lewis College, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Carol Pace, representing AARP Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Michael Neil, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Shannon Coker, representing Nate Springer, testified to amend the bill.

05:48:22 PM  
Bob O'Connor, representing
Weld Food Bank, testified to amend the bill.



Kim Da Silva, representing Community Food Share, testified to amend the
bill.



Mr. Bill Selby, representing Milliken Community Food Pantry, testified
to amend the bill.



Mr. Bob Bell, representing Food for Thought Denver, testified to amend
the bill.



Committee members asked the panel questions.
06:01:32 PM  
Mrs. Darlene Kilpatrick, representing North 40 Mountain Alliance, testified to amend the bill.
06:04:28 PM  
Ashley Wheeland,
representing Hunger Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Committee
members asked questions of Ms. Wheeland.




Additional written
testimony can be found in Attachment C.
06:11:34 PM  
The committee laid the bill over for action only



SB23-004 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar

06:13:11 PM  
Senators Marchman
and Jaquez Lewis, co-prime bill sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 23-004
which allows school districts to employ licensed mental health professionals
who are not licensed by the Department of Education. The bill minimally
increases workload for school districts.




Senator Marchman
distributed a handout that can be found in Attachment D.
06:17:26 PM  
Jennifer Guthals, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Stephanie Smith, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Michelle Murphy, representing Colorado Rural Schools Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions of the panel.

06:33:47 PM  
Mr. Brandon Shaffer, representing St. Vrain Valley School District, testified in support of the bill.
06:36:47 PM  
Riley Kitts, representing Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kaitlyn Tollefson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Maria Huber, representing Colorado School Social Work Association, testified to amend the bill.

Libby Malone, representing Colorado Society of School Psychologists, testified to amend the bill.

Committee members provided comments to the panel.

06:50:24 PM  
Autumn Brooks, representing
Clear Creek School District Re-1, testified in support of the bill. Additional
written testimony can be found in Attachment E.

06:58:59 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis
introduced amendment L.005 (Attachment F).



07:00:01 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment F).
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Buckner
Cutter
Jaquez Lewis
Mullica
Rich
Smallwood
Will
Ginal
Fields
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
07:00:02 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis
explained amendment L.001 (Attachment G).



07:00:41 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment G).
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Buckner
Cutter
Jaquez Lewis
Mullica
Rich
Smallwood
Will
Ginal
Fields
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
07:01:03 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis
explained amendment L.003 (Attachment H).



07:01:26 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment H).
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Buckner
Cutter
Jaquez Lewis
Mullica
Rich
Smallwood
Will
Ginal
Fields
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
07:02:04 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis
explained amendment L.004 (Attachment I).



07:02:49 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment I).
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Buckner
Cutter
Jaquez Lewis
Mullica
Rich
Smallwood
Will
Ginal
Fields
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
07:03:05 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis
explained amendment L.006 (Attachment J).



07:03:20 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment J).
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Buckner
Cutter
Jaquez Lewis
Mullica
Rich
Smallwood
Will
Ginal
Fields
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
07:03:30 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis
explained amendment L.009 (Attachment K).



07:03:51 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.009 (Attachment K).
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Buckner
Cutter
Jaquez Lewis
Mullica
Rich
Smallwood
Will
Ginal
Fields
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


07:05:13 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-004, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Buckner Excused
Cutter Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Mullica Yes
Rich Yes
Smallwood Excused
Will Yes
Ginal Yes
Fields Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 2   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


07:05:22 PM   The committee adjourned.






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