Date: 05/06/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-278

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 13-278 to the Committee of the WPASS



01:46 PM -- Senate Bill 13-278

Representative Young, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 13-278, concerning creating a definition of a "drug-endangered child" with respect to child abuse or neglect. Representative Young discussed the need for the legislation, and explained the bill's effect. The following persons testified regarding Senate Bill 13-278:

01:49 PM -- Ms. Annmarie Jensen, representing the Colorado Drug Investigators Association and the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jensen discussed the appointees to the Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force, created by Senate Bill 13-244. Ms. Jensen discussed the problem of children residing in a home where illegal drug activity or drug abuse is taking place, and issues associated with this problem. Ms. Jensen discussed the benefits of creating a statutory definition of "drug-endangered child," and provided background on efforts to create this definition. Ms. Jensen then discussed the effect of the bill. Ms. Jensen responded to questions regarding the effective date of the bill.

01:55 PM -- Mr. Ken Summers, representing Teen Challenge, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Summers discussed the impact of drug abuse on children, and provided background on child welfare investigations, with examples of issues related to substance abuse and families. Mr. Summers responded to questions regarding the potential inclusion of alcohol in the definition of "drug-endangered child," and the potential for legal users of marijuana to have their families impacted by enforcement efforts under the definition.


02:04 PM

No amendments were offered to Senate Bill 13-278. Representative Young provided closing remarks in support of the bill.
BILL:SB13-278
TIME: 02:06:17 PM
MOVED:Williams
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 13-278 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Dore
Yes
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Melton
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Nordberg
Yes
Scott
Yes
Williams
Yes
Salazar
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS