Date: 02/05/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-104

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion
Adopt Amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion
Refer Senate Bill 09-104, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



10:04 AM -- Senate Bill 09-104

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Senator Paula Sandoval, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-104, which requires county human service agencies to provide a birth certificate and Social Security card to youth in foster care before they leave foster care at age 18. According to the bill, the costs of providing these documents is to be paid by the counties, not the youth in foster care receiving the documents. Senator Sandoval made introductory remarks about the bill and distributed and spoke to amendments L.001 and L.002 (Attachments A and B, respectively). Senator Sandoval explained that Amendment L.001 strikes everything below the bill's enacting clause.

The following people testified on the bill:

10:08 AM -- Ms. Kippi Clausen, representing Bridging the Gap, Mile High United Way, spoke in support of the bill. Committee members received a packet of information about youth in foster care, prepared by Mile High United Way (Attachment C). Ms. Clausen said the lack of identification documents is the top issue facing young people in the state leaving foster care.

10:11 AM -- Ms. Codie Stichter, also representing Bridging the Gap, Mile High United Way, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Stichter described the need for identification documents for youth leaving foster care at no cost to the youth.

10:13 AM -- Ms. Diane Julio, representing Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children, spoke in support of the bill. Committee members received a short description of Ms. Julio's experience in helping a youth in foster care obtain identification documents, prepared by CASA (Attachment D). Ms. Julio addressed a question about why youth in foster care should wait until they are released from foster care to get viable identification documents. Discussion ensued. Ms. Julio also explained that some youth in foster care may have identification documents, but these documents are damaged and thus no longer viable.

10:19 AM -- Ms. Natalia Asher, also representing Bridging the Gap, Mile High United Way, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Asher shared her personal experiences with needing viable identification documents.

10:21 AM -- Dr. Skip Barber, representing the Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, spoke in support of the bill. Dr. Barber said his agency is working to begin the process of obtaining viable identification documents for foster care youth six months before a youth's planned emancipation.
BILL:SB09-104
TIME: 10:25:07 AM
MOVED:Foster
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 09-104, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Hodge
Yes
Kester
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Newell
Excused
Foster
Yes
Schwartz
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:SB09-104
TIME: 10:28:48 AM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Hodge
Kester
Lundberg
Newell
Foster
Schwartz
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

Prior to the vote, Senator Sandoval briefly explained and addressed questions about Amendment L.002.
BILL:SB09-104
TIME: 10:25:19 AM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Hodge
Kester
Lundberg
Newell
Foster
Schwartz
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

Prior to the vote, Senator Sandoval explained the intent of L.001. Senator Sandoval addressed questions about the bill's fiscal impact.