Bill Summary for Bill Number SB10-068

Date: 03/15/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB10-068

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-068 to the Committee	PASS

01:33 PM -- Senate Bill 10-068

Representative Massey, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 10-068 to the committee. The bill would:

eliminate the requirement that an applicant provide verification of child immunizations as a condition of eligibility of the program;
require county departments of social services to provide information concerning immunizations to all applicants;
make assistance available upon verification of pregnancy instead of waiting until the sixth month;
remove the asset test;
remove the standard of need language and calculation for a basic assistance grant; and
require the State Board of Human Services to promulgate rules for the purpose of calculating a basic cash assistance grant, and to adopt a statewide standard of need for eligibility for a basic cash assistance grant.

Representative Massey gave an overview on the provisions of the bill. Representative Massey said that the bill, brought by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), will streamline the processes for Colorado Works Program applicants and conform with other department programs, such as Medicaid and food assistance. Representative Massey said that by aligning the eligibility criteria and lessening administrative burden, the bill would ultimately benefit the consumer.

The following people testified on the bill:

01:34 PM -- Sarah Marsh, representing CDHS, Division of Colorado Works, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Marsh said that the purpose of the bill is to streamline processes and allow for more productive use of county staff time and resources. Ms. Marsh said that the bill will reduce errors in data entry which will result in fewer audit findings. Representative Massey clarified that the bill will align with House Bill 10-1022 concerning food assistance. Representative Kerr asked about requirements for immunizations for children. Conversation ensued between Representative Kerr and Ms. Marsh concerning how counties track immunizations of all applicants. Representative Gagliardi asked for clarification on a provision of the bill that provides that an unmarried parent under 18 years of age must not receive assistance unless such unmarried parent resides with his or her parent or other specified caretaker in an adult-supervised home or in any other arrangement approved by the county department. Ms. Marsh clarified that this is a federal requirement and not something that the state can eliminate. Conversation ensued between Representative Kefalas and Ms. Marsh concerning streamlining the process for Colorado Works.

01:46 PM -- William Browning and Robert Sanford, representing the Office of Information Technology (OIT), testified on the bill. Mr. Browning distributed a handout to the committee concerning a summary of the bill (Attachment A). Mr. Browning discussed the handout which provides data from Deloitte concerning the potential fiscal impact of the bill. Conversation ensued between Representative Gerou and Mr. Browning concerning implementation of the programming components of the bill and associated costs. Representative Kefalas asked about the effective date and implementation time frame of six months for the bill. Mr. Browning responded that six months is an accurate time frame. Conversation ensued between Representative Kefalas and Mr. Browning concerning OIT implementation time frames and associated costs of the bill.

02:05 PM

Conversation ensued between Representative Gagliardi and Mr. Browning concerning the estimated implementation time frame and costs relative to the estimated schedule. Representative Tyler asked about the estimated time frame and whether the fiscal note reflects Deloitte-contracted time. Mr. Browning replied that it is correct. Representative Primavera asked how many of the estimated FTE assigned to the project reside in Colorado. Mr. Browning responded that he does not know but that he can look into the question for the committee.

02:13 PM -- Brad Wood, representing Lutheran Advocacy Ministeries of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Wood spoke about the removal of the asset test under the bill.

02:16 PM -- Bridget Kaminetsky, representing 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women, testified in support of the bill.

02:17 PM -- Nan Morehead, representing the Denver Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Morehead responded to questions from the committee.

02:21 PM

Representative Massey presented closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB10-068
TIME:	02:24:42 PM
MOVED:	Kefalas
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-068 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 9-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Apuan
		VOTE
	Acree	No
	Apuan	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Roberts	Yes
	Swalm	No
	Tyler	Yes
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS