Date: 04/21/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1358

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1358 to the Committee on ApproPASS



01:49 PM -- HB 15-1358

Representative Singer introduced House Bill 15-1358. The bill continues the Differential Response Pilot Program as a permanent program and removes the pilot program reporting requirements and repeal date. The Differential Response Pilot Program, which is administered in selected counties and overseen by the Department of Human Services, identifies low- and moderate-risk cases of abuse or neglect and diverts families to voluntary services rather than referring them to potentially adversarial court intervention. The pilot program is currently operating in Arapahoe, Fremont, Garfield, Jefferson, Larimer, Boulder, Chaffee, Eagle, La Plata, Lincoln, Mesa, and San Juan counties and is scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2015. He responded to questions from the committee regarding statistics on the success of the pilot program. He explained that studies have found that the pilot program results in outcomes for children that are as safe as the traditional child welfare response. Two handouts were distributed to the committee (Attachments A and B).

150421 AttachA.pdf150421 AttachA.pdf150421 AttachB.pdf150421 AttachB.pdf

02:00 PM -- Angela Lytle, Arapahoe County, testified in support of the bill. She described how the Differential Response Pilot Program operates in Arapahoe County and described the benefits of the program. She stated that the county's timeliness measures in responding to allegations of abuse or neglect have improved, and the number of families who have been re-referred to child welfare services after receiving services from the county has decreased. She noted that the program has resulted in a reduction in the number of children placed out of the home and the number of cases of abuse and neglect within the county. She stated that the bill promotes engagement with families to promote good outcomes for families and children.

02:04 PM -- Commissioner Steve Johnson, Larimer County Commissioner, testified in support of the bill. He described the operation of the program in Larimer County, and a study on the pilot program conducted by Colorado State University. He discussed the findings of the study. He discussed how the differential response differs from the traditional child welfare investigative response. He responded to questions from the committee regarding whether families who are initially referred to differential response are ever referred to a more traditional child welfare response. Ms. Lytle responded to additional questions from the committee regarding the involvement of grandparents in child welfare cases and whether the bill will result in additional costs for counties. Committee discussion regarding the program continued.

02:25 PM -- Laura Solomon, Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. She stated that differential response has significant benefits for families involved in the child welfare system. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the current application process for counties to participate in the pilot program.

02:31 PM

Representative Singer gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.

BILL:HB15-1358
TIME: 02:33:07 PM
MOVED:Singer
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1358 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-3, with one member excused.
SECONDED:Ginal
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Everett
No
Ginal
Yes
Joshi
No
Klingenschmitt
No
Landgraf
Yes
Melton
Excused
Moreno
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Singer
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




02:34 PM

The committee adjourned.