Date: 04/23/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1337

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1337 to the Committee of the WPASS



02:52 PM -- HB 15-1337

Senator Newell presented House Bill 15-1337, concerning placement stability for children and siblings. Under current law, the courts are encouraged to consider certain factors when deciding whether to place a child with relatives following the termination of the parent-child legal relationship or when conducting a periodic review of a child's placement when in foster care. House Bill 15-1337 requires that all the factors specified in statute be considered by the courts in these cases. The bill also updates the legislative declaration concerning placement stability for children in foster care.


02:55 PM -- Adoree Blair, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Blair spoke about the stress foster children experience when moving from home to home and the benefits associated with limiting the number of moves these children endure.


02:57 PM -- Jessica Spangler, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill. She spoke about her experience as a foster parent and her concerns about children being moved from home to home. She expressed her desire to have the county departments of human services and child placement agencies consider the mental health effects multiple moves have on foster children.


03:02 PM -- Linda Weinerman, Office of the Child's Representative, spoke in support of the bill. She told the committee that the bill addresses all moves that a child may be subject to, including the initial move away from his or her parents.


03:04 PM -- Kristin Melton, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, spoke in support of the bill.


03:06 PM

Senator Newell made closing comments.

BILL:HB15-1337
TIME: 03:06:33 PM
MOVED:Newell
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1337 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Aguilar
Yes
Martinez Humenik
Yes
Newell
Yes
Crowder
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



3:06 PM

The committee adjourned.