Date: 03/11/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-062

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-062 to the Committee of the WPASS



02:20 PM -- SB14-062

Representatives Gardner and Foote introduced Senate Bill 14-062. The bill creates a process by which a parent whose parental rights have been terminated by the county courts can have those rights reinstated under certain limited conditions. Representative Gardner described the criteria that must be met in order for the reinstatement to occur. Representative Foote further described the provisions of the bill that he believes ensure proper oversight and safeguards for the reestablishment of the parent-child legal relationship. Representative Foote and Representative Gardner responded to questions from the committee.

02:30 PM -- Roberta Long-Twyman, League of Women Voters, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the bill will create an additional avenue to permanence for children in the child welfare system.

02:32 PM -- Pat Ratliff, Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill.

02:35 PM -- Benjamin Waters, Mile High United Way, testified in support of the bill.

02:36 PM -- Sarah Ehrlich, Denver Human Services, testified in support of the bill. She described specific provisions of the bill related to periodic reviews of the placement and the advisement of the benefits the child may lose or gain as a result of the reinstatement of the parent's parental rights. Ms. Ehrlich responded to questions from the committee regarding allegations of sexual assault and how those cases would be handled.

02:41 PM -- Megan Davis, Boulder County, testified in support of the bill. She gave an example of a family that could benefit from the bill's provisions.

02:45 PM -- Dorothy Macias, Office of the Child's Representative, noted that the bill's provisions won't be used often, but that there may be certain situations in which the reinstatement of parental rights is appropriate. She noted that the child's best interests are the driving criteria for making decisions regarding placements. She described a child who could potentially benefit from the bill. She responded to questions from the committee.

02:56 PM

Representative Foote read a portion of a letter from the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Colation into the record (Attachment B).

14HsePHS0311AttachB.pdf14HsePHS0311AttachB.pdf

02:57 PM

Representative Gardner and Representative Foote gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.

BILL:SB14-062
TIME: 03:00:28 PM
MOVED:Young
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-062 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Landgraf
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Everett
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
McCann
Yes
Schafer
Yes
Singer
Yes
Stephens
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Young
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS