Bill Summary for Bill Number HB07-1064

Date: 01/30/2007

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB07-1064

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 07-1064 to the Committee of on Ap	PASS

02:15 PM -- House Bill 07-1064

Representative Mitchell, prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 07-1067, concerning a Find/Save Program for the cognitively disabled. He explained that the bill allows the Department of Public Safety to administer a grant program to counties to implement Lifesaver Programs. Representative Mitchell explained that the program encourages the use of tracking technology to track people with diseases that cause wandering. Spoke to the success of this program where it is implemented throughout the country and in three Colorado counties. Representative Mitchell introduced a 2 minute video clip as testimony.

02:22 PM

Randy Councell, Sergeant, Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office, spoke to the Lifesaver Program in Arapahoe County. Sergeant Councell spoke to the program and gave specific successful examples of the program. He explained that the county program has had 100 percent success and has saved an estimated $54,000 in the last two years for what past searches could have cost much more. Sergeant Councell spoke to similar programs that are being implemented in the Denver-metro area. He addressed questions from the committee regarding how Arapahoe County was currently funding their program.

02:28 PM

Representative Mitchell spoke to possible funding options for such programs and explained that the programs are voluntary and counties can opt-in or consolidate. Discussion ensued between Representative Mitchell and the committee regarding the fiscal note and costs of these programs.

02:32 PM

Linda Mitchell, President, Alzheimer's Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Mitchell, greeted the committee and spoke to the growing numbers of people in Colorado with Alzheimer. She spoke to the tendencies of Alzheimer patience to wander off and get lost. She explained that the association would volunteer to train officers in any police department that chooses to take up a lifesaver program.

02:36 PM

Allison Patella, Project Lifesaver, testified in support of the bill and explained that her son was disabled and had a tendency to disappear. She spoke of past incidences where her son has disappeared and stated that her son is now part of Arapahoe County's program. She explained the program to the committee and that her son can now be found within 30 minutes. She and Representative Mitchell spoke to questions from the committee regarding the program and the transmitting devices that are used.

02:42 PM

Mattye Pollard-Cole, citizen, testified in support of the bill. and explained that her husband experienced early onset of Alzheimer. Ms. Pollard-Cole spoke to her husbands disability and gave a specific story husband disappearing. She explained that her husband is now part of the Arapahoe County project life-saver and spoke to the need for the program to be available statewide.

02:47 PM

David Giere, Arapahoe County resident, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Giere spoke to his wife's Alzheimer disability and gave testimony of losing his wife on numerous occasions. He spoke to the advantages of project life saver and that his wife is now part of the Arapahoe County program. Mr. Giere spoke to the need for this program to be implemented on a state-wide basis and requested the committees support of the bill.

02:53 PM

Richard Saz, citizen, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Saz testified that his son is disabled and has disappeared on several occasions. Spoke that he is tempted to move to Arapahoe County because they have implemented Project Life Safer. Mr. Saz requested the committee's support of the bill.

03:00 PM

Lynn Leader, citizen, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Leader explained that her father suffers from Alzheimer and testified to numerous accounts of her father disappearing. She explained that her father is now under Project Life Saver under Arapahoe County. She explained how great the project is and requested the committee's support of the bill.

03:04 PM

Shula Hicks, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support the bill. Ms. Hicks explained that the Coalition supports the bill and spoke to the need for disabled people to have Project Life Saver throughout the state.

03:07 PM

Elsie Lacy, Colorado Health Care Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Lacey explained that the association represents nursing homes and assisted living centers throughout the state. Ms. Lacy spoke that this type of program was needed statewide for elderly living.


BILL:	the bill.
TIME:	03:09:40 PM
MOVED:	Soper
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 07-1064 to the Committee of on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Gagliardi
		VOTE
	Curry	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Gardner B.	Yes
	Garza Hicks	Yes
	Looper	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Witwer	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS