Date: 01/30/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB12-1017

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Bill 12-1017 to the CommitteePASS



01:31 PM

Representative Szabo, committee chair, called the meeting to order.


01:31 PM -- House Bill 12-1017

Representatives Swerdfeger and Pace, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 11-1017, concerning the extension of the Local Access to Health Care Pilot Program operated under the authority of the Pueblo Board of County Commissioners. Representative Swerdfeger explained that the bill extends the Local Access to Health Care Pilot Program, which authorizes of the Pueblo Board of County Commissioners to create and contract with a provider to operate the pilot health care program within the county. Representative Pace explained that the program was created under House Bill 07-1022 to provide access to health care services to working individuals in Pueblo County. The program is operated by a nonprofit organization called Health Access Pueblo and is available to employers with two or more eligible employees that have not offered health insurance to at least one class of uninsured employees within 12 month and agree to enroll at least 50 percent of their eligible employees. Representative Pace explained that the program does not receive any direct state funding and will be repealed on July 1, 2012, unless the bill is adopted to delay the repeal to July 1, 2017. Representatives Pace and Swerdfeger addressed questions from the committee concerning the success of the pilot program.


01:39 PM

Laura Kelly, president, Health Access Pueblo, testified in support of the bill, explained the functions of the pilot program, and discussed the funding mechanisms for health insurance under the program. Ms. Kelly addressed questions from the committee concerning the funding sources that currently funds the pilot program and she explained that the program helps cover children who are not eligible for the Children's Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Ms. Kelly also responded to questions concerning the limit on services to members under the pilot program and the impact to the program caused by the federal Affordable Care Act.


01:48 PM

Karen Lillie, Pueblo Diversified Industries, testified in support of the bill, discussed the ability for employers to use the Access to Health Care Pilot Program, and responded to questions from the committee. Ms. Lillie distributed a support letter from Action 22 Inc. (Attachment A) and information concerning Pueblo Diversified Industries (Attachment B) to the committee.

HseLocal0130AttachA.pdf HseLocal0130AttachB.pdf

01:51 PM

Donald Moore, Pueblo Community Health Center, testified in support of the bill, discussed the benefits of the pilot program, and addressed questions from the committee concerning the pilot program and other programs in the state like Cover Colorado.

BILL:HB12-1017
TIME: 01:55:43 PM
MOVED:Swerdfeger
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 12-1017 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0-1.
SECONDED:Pace
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Fields
Yes
Gardner B.
Excused
Kerr J.
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Lee
Yes
Pace
Yes
Soper
Yes
Swerdfeger
Yes
Balmer
Yes
Szabo
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS