Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Date:03/24/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:31 PM to 03:53 PM
Conti
*
Danielson
X
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
X
Elizabeth Burger
Ryden
X
Sias
X
Windholz
X
Singer
X
Primavera
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB15-1268
SB15-065
HB15-1281		Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to Appropriations

01:31 PM -- HB 15-1268

Representative McCann introduced House Bill 15-1268. The bill creates the CO9to25 Youth Development Council in the Department of Human Services. The bill directs the council to develop and implement a comprehensive system of youth and young adult development services and to identify best practices for prevention, intervention and treatment services related to youth and young adults ages 9 to 25. Representative McCann explained the development of the bill. Representative McCann discussed amendment L.002 (Attachment A), which makes a variety of changes to the bill, including moving the council from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Public Health and Environment. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the makeup of the membership of the council, the relationship between the council and the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, and why the council focuses on young adults up to age 25. The committee discussed age-range focus of the council, the regional councils created by amendment L.002, and the bill's fiscal note.

01:48 PM -- Connie Rule, Boys and Girls Clubs of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. She spoke regarding the goals of the council.

01:52 PM -- Audra Bishop, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill's fiscal note and the bill's language regarding standards for youth engagement and development.

01:57 PM -- Betsy Fordyce, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill, stating the bill fosters collaboration focusing on the challenges facing youth. She responded to questions from the committee regarding participation of youth in the council that recommended the bill.



02:01 PM -- Ronn Nixon, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He stated that allowing youth to be involved in the council will increase its success.

02:03 PM -- Yashna Eswaran, Youth Partnership for Health, discussed her involvement in developing the bill. She spoke regarding the relationship of the bill with the Colorado Youth Advisory Council and responded to questions from the committee.

02:08 PM

Representative McCann explained amendment L.002 (Attachment A).

150324 AttachA.pdf150324 AttachA.pdf
BILL:HB15-1268
TIME: 02:08:27 PM
MOVED:Singer
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Ryden
VOTE
Conti
Danielson
Everett
Ginal
Joshi
Landgraf
Melton
Moreno
Ryden
Sias
Windholz
Singer
Primavera
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



02:08 PM

Representative McCann gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:HB15-1268
TIME: 02:09:52 PM
MOVED:Singer
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1268, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-6.
SECONDED:Ryden
VOTE
Conti
No
Danielson
Yes
Everett
No
Ginal
Yes
Joshi
No
Landgraf
No
Melton
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Sias
No
Windholz
No
Singer
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:11 PM

The committee recessed briefly.

02:14 PM -- SB 15-065

The committee reconvened. Representative Nordberg introduced Senate Bill 15-065. The bill prohibits recipients of public benefits from using electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards at adult-oriented entertainment and licensed marijuana establishments. He explained that the bill is necessary due to change in federal law that requires states to take measures to prevent recipients of public benefits from using EBT cards at gambling establishments, liquor stores, and adult-oriented entertainment establishments. He distributed amendment L.002 (Attachment B).

150324 AttachB.pdf150324 AttachB.pdf


02:19 PM -- Reggie Bicha, Executive Director of the Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. He explained that automated teller machines (ATMs) are a primary access point for individuals to receive cash-assistance benefits. He noted that most grocery stores have ATMs, and thus, there is no need for EBT recipients to access their benefits at the locations prohibited by the bill. He responded to questions from the committee regarding amendment L.002, how many beneficiaries access their benefits through ATMS at the locations prohibited by the bill, the cost of reprogramming ATMs, and whether fees are charged to public assistance recipients who withdraw funds through ATMs.

02:32 PM -- Shawn Coleman, 36 Solutions, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the financial services industry for marijuana businesses is very fragile and that the bill removes a perception that benefits recipients are using cash assistance to purchase marijuana. He stated that because of the specific nature of the financial services industry for marijuana centers, marijuana centers are not a viable option for cash assistance beneficiaries to access their benefits.
BILL:SB15-065
TIME: 02:35:52 PM
MOVED:Landgraf
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Conti
VOTE
Conti
Danielson
Everett
Ginal
Joshi
Landgraf
Melton
Moreno
Ryden
Sias
Windholz
Singer
Primavera
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



02:37 PM

Representative Nordberg gave concluding remarks regarding the bill. Members of the committee commented on the bill.
BILL:SB15-065
TIME: 02:40:17 PM
MOVED:Landgraf
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-065, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Singer
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Everett
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
Melton
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Sias
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Singer
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:44 PM -- HB 15-1281

Representative Primavera introduced House Bill 15-1281. The bill requires all newborns born in a Colorado birthing center below an elevation of 7,000 feet on or after January 1, 2016, to be screened for congenital health defects using pulse oximetry prior to being released from the center. The state Board of Health within the Department of Public Health and Environment must promulgate rules concerning pulse oximetry testing at hospitals at or above elevations of 7,000 feet. She explained that the test is designed to detect certain types of congenital heart defects. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the necessity of the bill, whether pulse oximetry testing is part of the standard protocol of tests that is performed after a baby is born, the number of birthing centers in Colorado located above 7,000 feet, and why the bill applies different requirements to those facilities. A handout and amendment L.001 were distributed to the committee (Attachments C and D).

150324 AttachC.pdf150324 AttachC.pdf150324 AttachD.pdf150324 AttachD.pdf



02:54 PM -- Marci Sontag, Colorado School of Public Health, testified in support of the bill and discussed newborn screening. She explained that 31 screening tests are mandated, 29 of which are administered through a blood test. She discussed the difficulty in implementing pulse oximetry screening due to Colorado's altitude, and stated that researchers estimate that 1 percent of infants will test positive for congenital heart defects as a result of the test. She spoke regarding the importance of data collection by the state Department of Public Health and Environment to improve the testing. She stated that waiting to implement the screening has resulted in Colorado being one of only a few states that has not implemented the screening. She responded to questions from the committee regarding whether there are any recommendations to bring the babies below 7,000 feet to conduct the test, the window after birth for the test to be conducted, and whether the bill will affect the tests that are conducted on children who are born at home. She further responded to questions regarding insurance coverage for the tests.

03:07 PM -- Janet Stephens, Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of amendment L.001 and described the amendment. She stated that the amendment creates standard terminology regarding birthing centers and revises language regarding the testing that will occur at facilities above 7,000 feet. She discussed issues with the accuracy of the test at higher elevations. She responded to questions from the committee regarding why hospitals are not currently conducting the tests, stating that the cost of the test is minimal, but does require a certain expertise to administer. She stated that most metropolitan hospitals are conducting the tests, and some of the hospitals located in rural areas may not have the necessary testing equipment.

03:16 PM -- Dr. Jason Wright, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill is an early intervention that is critical for newborn health. He stated that lack of screening can leave infants vulnerable to death before the defects are diagnosed. He described the screening, and stated studies still need to be conducted regarding the accuracy of tests that are conducted at higher elevations.

03:21 PM -- Dr. Mary Kohn, University Hospital, demonstrated how the screening is conducted. She stated that parents expect that the test will be conducted as it is the standard of care in most states. She described cases in which children were screened using the test and referred for further treatment. Dr. Wright responded to questions from the committee regarding false positive results and false negative results from the test.

03:32 PM -- Kayla and Avery Mumby, representing themselves and the American Heart Association, described Avery's diagnosis with a heart defect and her subsequent open heart surgery. Ms. Mumby stated that the test was not conducted at Avery's birth and described the benefit she believed would have resulted if Avery had been tested earlier. Ms. Mumby responded to questions from the committee.


03:41 PM -- Gretchen and Cooper Whitehurst, representing themselves and the American Heart Association, spoke regarding Cooper's birth and the results of the pulse oximetry test that was conducted on him shortly after his birth. Ms. Whitehurst described Cooper's subsequent diagnosis with a congenital heart defect and the treatment he received.
BILL:HB15-1281
TIME: 03:46:46 PM
MOVED:Primavera
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Melton
VOTE
Conti
Danielson
Everett
Ginal
Joshi
Landgraf
Melton
Moreno
Ryden
Sias
Windholz
Singer
Primavera
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



03:47 PM

Representative Primavera gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:HB15-1281
TIME: 03:48:03 PM
MOVED:Primavera
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1281, as amended, 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
Ryden
Yes
Sias
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Singer
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:53 PM

The committee adjourned.