Date: 01/29/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1079

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1079 to the Committee on ApproPASS

10:26 AM -- HB15-1079

Representative Court, Chair, called the meeting to order.

Representative Coram and Representative Danielson, co-prime sponsors, introduced House Bill 15-1079. The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program is a pilot project out of Mesa, Delta, and Montrose Counties. The program uses evidence-based counseling and education to help at-risk youth make healthy, responsible decisions to avoid unintended pregnancies and remain in school. The bill extends the program through 2020. Representative Coram spoke of his personal knowledge of the success of this program. He noted that nationally only 1.5 percent of teen mothers have gone to get their college degrees. He stated the program uses mostly federal dollars and does not reduce Colorado's General Fund. He said the project is successful and the bill expands the benefits of this program to the whole state. Representative Coram distributed letters of support to the committee (Attachments A, B, and C).

15HouseFin0129AttachA.pdf15HouseFin0129AttachA.pdf 15HouseFin0129AttachB.pdf15HouseFin0129AttachB.pdf 15HouseFin0129AttachC.pdf15HouseFin0129AttachC.pdf

10:32 AM

Representative Danielson to spoke to House Bill 15-1079. She added her support for the bill and noted the program's success. She said the program is a common sense and balanced approach to help young people that promotes educated and healthy behavior.


10:37 AM

The committee discussed the fiscal impact of the bill. The committee asked how the participants are entered into the program. Representative Coram stated participants are enrolled through the health department and public schools. He stated that no one is turned away and there is active participation with local schools. Also, Representative Coram stated that the program includes pregnant teens, teens who have given birth, and non-pregnant teens. He reiterated that the bill allows the program to be replicated statewide.

10:41 AM -- Ms. Kerry White, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to discuss the bill's fiscal note. She noted that the fiscal note assumes the program will continue and expand statewide. She stated the $7,559 figure included in the note represents the entire cost of care given to a pregnant teen, the baby's birth, and the first two months of life. Ms. White answered questions regarding federal funds and reduction in those funds the coming years. She noted that federal funds are reduced in the fiscal note because more pregnancies are prevented and less federal funding is needed.

10:48 AM -- Ms. Laurel Karabatsos, Deputy Medicaid Director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, testified in support of the bill. She clarified that the program targets both young women and men. She noted that the majority of the participants in the program are not pregnant and the intent of the program is to prevent unintended pregnancies.

10:50 AM -- Ms. Corrine Rivera-Fowler, Deputy Director of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), testified in support of the bill. She stated the program provides access to peer counseling and knowledge-based education. She noted that Latina teens have the highest teenage birth rates; three times higher than non-Latina teens and two times higher than African-American teens. She explained that COLOR supports programs that help teens make informed decisions and that this unique approach makes it such an important part of helping youth make healthy decisions. Ms. Rivera-Fowler discussed her personal experience with teen pregnancy.

Committee discussion ensued.
BILL:HB15-1079
TIME: 10:51:34 AM
MOVED:Court
MOTION: Refer House Bill 15-1079 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-1.
SECONDED:Landgraf
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Conti
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Roupe
Yes
Van Winkle
No
Wilson
Yes
Foote
Yes
Court
Yes
FINAL YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS