Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-179

Date: 02/18/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-179

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment A). Th Refer Senate Bill 09-179, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection PASS

11:15 AM -- Senate Bill 09-179

Senator Tochtrop introduced Senate Bill 09-179. The bill modifies certain provisions of communicable disease control laws. Among other changes, the bill requires that pregnant women receive an HIV test, either during gestation or at the time of delivery. A pregnant woman may decline the test. Senator Tochtrop distributed amendment L.002 (Attachment A). She described the bill's provisions.

11:19 AM -- Dr. Ned Calonge, Department of Public Health and Environment, discussed the bill's requirement that pregnant women be tested for HIV, noting that state law currently requires a similar test for syphilis. He responded to questions from Senator Carroll regarding how transmission of HIV can been prevented from a mother to a child. He responded to questions from Senator Lundberg regarding whether statute allows individuals to opt out of mandatory testing for syphilis, noting that the bill's provisions will create an opt out for that test as well. He responded to additional questions from Senator Schultheis regarding why a woman's refusal to be tested would be noted in her medical record.

11:24 AM -- Chris Urbina, Denver Public Health, testified in support of the bill. He stated that Denver implemented a policy of HIV testing for pregnant woman several years ago, and that since the implementation of the policy, no infants of HIV infected mothers have been infected. He stated the bill also clarifies issues related to the treatment of individuals with tuberculosis.

11:26 AM -- Kay Kinzie, Children's Hospital, testified in support of the bill. She emphasized that HIV can be transmitted both through pregnancy and through breast-feeding, and thus it is important that, at whatever time a woman presents for care, she is tested for HIV infection so that transmission to the child can be prevented. She responded to questions from Senator Schultheis regarding the risks to health care providers if pregnant woman are not offered testing.

11:32 AM -- Jacqui Kilmer, Colorado Organizations Responding to AIDS and Colorado AIDS Project, testified that there is a need to update statutory processes related to communicable diseases. She stated that testing is a critical tool in the prevention of transmission of HIV and AIDS. She testified that the provision allowing a woman to opt out of testing is very important and protects a woman's right to refuse testing.

11:36 AM -- Susan Townsend, Colorado Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics, testified in support of the bill, and support of the HIV testing of the mothers.

11:37 AM

Senator Tochtrop gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	SB09-179
TIME:	11:38:13 AM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.
	Lundberg
	Mitchell
	Morse
	Newell
	Schultheis
	Tochtrop
	Boyd

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-179
TIME:	11:38:41 AM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-179, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 8-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS