Bill Summary for Bill Number HB14-1396

Date: 04/28/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB14-1396

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 14-1396 to the Committee of the W	PASS

09:05 PM -- HB14-1396

Representative Ryden, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 14-1396. The bill clarifies that the "authorized employees of the state health agency," as defined in article XVIII, section 14 of the Colorado Constitution, includes independent contractors and other agencies with whom the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) contracts or works with under an intergovernmental agreement to provide services related to the administration of the medical marijuana program registry. The bill states that these independent contractors are not state employees for the purposes of state employee benefits, including public employees retirement association benefits.

Under the bill, a "bona fide physician-patient relationship" for purposes of the medical marijuana program, is defined as meaning that:

the physician and a patient have a treatment or counseling relationship, and the physician has conducted a full assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical condition;

the physician has consulted with the patient with respect to the patient's debilitating medical condition before the patient applies for a registry identification card; and

the physician is available to or offers to provide follow-up care and treatment to the patient.

09:07 PM -- Karin McGowan, representing CDPHE, testified in support of the bill. Ms. McGowan explained why the bill is needed. She responded to questions from the committee.

09:13 PM -- Robert Chase, representing the Colorado Coalition for Patients and Caregivers, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Chase expressed his opinion that the bill violates the constitution. He responded to questions from the committee.

09:20 PM

Representative Ryden wrapped up her presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.


BILL:	HB14-1396
TIME:	09:21:24 PM
MOVED:	Ryden
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 14-1396 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Salazar
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Dore	Yes
	Foote	Yes
	Humphrey	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Nordberg	Yes
	Williams	Yes
	Salazar	Yes
	Ryden	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

09:22 PM

The committee adjourned.