House Committee on Public Health Care & Human Services (04/24/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Date:	04/24/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:43 PM to 04:43 PM	Conti	X
		Danielson	*
Place:	HCR 0107	Everett	X
		Ginal	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Joshi	X
	Representative Primavera	Landgraf	X
		Melton	X
This Report was prepared by		Moreno	*
	Elizabeth Burger	Sias	X
		Tyler	X
		Windholz	X
		Singer	X
		Primavera	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB15-012 SB15-020 HB15-1370		Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations Referred to the Committee of the Whole

02:45 PM -- SB 15-012

Representative Pettersen introduced Senate Bill 15-012. The bill allows the state and county departments of human services to disregard child support income a Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipient may be eligible to receive and pass-through such income to the TANF recipient. Under the bill, any child support income a TANF recipient receives will not be considered income when calculating the basic cash assistance grant an individual may receive. However, such child support payments, with applicable disregards, will be considered income for the purposes of determining eligibility. She responded to questions from the committee.

02:55 PM -- Chaer Robert, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment A) and testified in support of the bill. She responded to questions from the committee regarding penalties for nonpayment of child support. Representative Singer commented on the bill. Representative Pettersen responded to questions from the committee regarding the fiscal note. Ms. Robert commented on the fiscal impact of the bill.

150424 AttachA.pdf

03:05 PM -- Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado and Colorado Council of Churches, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill will help reduce the level of poverty for children in Colorado and increase the number of non custodial parents paying child support.

03:09 PM -- Bridget Kaminetsky, 9 to 5, testified in support of the bill, stating that child support that is collected for a child should stay with the child. She shared stories of women who have been negatively affected by the current policy to not pass through child support to TANF recipients.

03:13 PM -- Rich Jones, Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill and distributed a copy of his testimony (Attachment B). He discussed studies of other states in which child support payments were passed through to families on welfare.

150424 AttachB.pdf

03:16 PM -- Jennifer Corrigan, Department of Human Services, testified in support of the concept of the legislation.

03:17 PM -- Mike Auran, Department of Human Services, offered to respond to committee questions. Mr. Auran and Representative Pettersen responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill's fiscal impact. The committee discussed in what circumstances the county would stop passing through the child support, and what notice families would receive in this circumstance. Representative Pettersen responded to questions from the committee regarding how the bill affects TANF eligibility.

03:31 PM

Representative Petterson gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	SB15-012
TIME:	03:31:44 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 15-012 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-2.
SECONDED:	Primavera
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Danielson	Yes
	Everett	No
	Ginal	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Landgraf	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Sias	Yes
	Tyler	Yes
	Windholz	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Primavera	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:33 PM -- SB 15-020

Representative McCann introduced Senate Bill 15-020. The bill expands the duties of the School Safety Resource Center in the Colorado Department of Public Safety to include providing materials and training to personnel in school districts and charter schools, parents, and students regarding the awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse and assault. She responded to questions from the committee.

03:39 PM -- Karen Moldovan, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill and discussed the necessity of training regarding sexual abuse. She discussed issues resulting from the lack of training for school personnel regarding sexual abuse. She stated that the bill will provide resources and training so that victims receive the necessary support following a sexual assault. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the School Safety Resource Center and statistics regarding sexual abuse.

03:48 PM -- Megan McDonald, Colorado School Counselor Association, testified in support of the bill. She stated that there is stigma and secrecy regarding child sexual abuse, and having resources available will assist counselors in working with teachers and students regarding the issue. She responded to questions from the committee.

03:54 PM -- Chrisann Scadden, representing herself, shared her personal story regarding the abuse suffered by her son and his subsequent death. She testified in support of the bill.

03:57 PM -- Suzy Shotts, Wings Foundation, shared her personal story regarding the abuse she suffered in her youth and spoke in support of increased training for school personal. She spoke in support of the bill.

04:00 PM -- Elena Clark, representing herself, shared her personal story regarding the abuse she suffered in her youth and spoke in support of the bill.

04:03 PM -- Cathy Burds, representing herself, shared her personal story regarding the abuse she suffered in her youth. She discussed the importance of prevention and spoke in support of the bill.

04:06 PM -- Jason Burds, representing himself, stated that children need adults to listen to what they have to say and to respond in an appropriate manner. He spoke in support of the bill.

04:09 PM -- Amy Ashford, representing herself and the Wings Foundation, discussed the abuse she suffered as a child, and the ways the abuse affected her life. She discussed the importance of training for school personnel to help children who are being abused.

04:11 PM -- Christine Harms, Colorado School Safety Resource Center, discussed the establishment of the center in 2008, and its role in providing training, consultation, and resources to schools regarding safety issues. She discussed the importance of school staff and parents having information regarding sexual abuse and for students to have training on personal safety. She responded to questions from the committee regarding how the center works with schools to train teachers and schools.

04:22 PM

Representative McCann gave concluding remarks regarding the bill. She responded to questions from the committee regarding whether the bill contains any reporting requirements.


BILL:	SB15-020
TIME:	04:24:10 PM
MOVED:	Landgraf
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 15-020 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-2.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Danielson	Yes
	Everett	No
	Ginal	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Landgraf	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Sias	Yes
	Tyler	Yes
	Windholz	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Primavera	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:25 PM -- HB 15-1370

Representative Primavera introduced House Bill 15-1370. The bill permits an auditor conducting a financial or performance audit to receive access to all of the records, reports, papers, files, and communications of the county department of human or social services deemed necessary to conduct the audit. She said that the bill will promote accountability and transparency. A packet of information regarding the bill was distributed to the committee (Attachment C).

150424 AttachC.pdf

04:32 PM -- Dennis Gallagher, Denver City Auditor, testified regarding the difficulties his office has encountered in auditing the Denver Department of Human Services. He spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

04:37 PM -- Keith King, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

04:38 PM -- Kip Memmott, Denver City Auditor's Office and the Association of Local Government Auditors, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:	HB15-1370
TIME:	04:40:19 PM
MOVED:	Primavera
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1370 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:	Conti
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Danielson	Yes
	Everett	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Landgraf	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Sias	Yes
	Tyler	Yes
	Windholz	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Primavera	Yes

Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:43 PM

The committee adjourned.