Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Date:04/14/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:34 PM to 03:15 PM
Becker K.
*
Conti
X
Place:HCR 0107
Danielson
X
Everett
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 = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Presentation on New Treatments for Hepatitis C
HB15-1226
HB15-1302
HB15-1338
HB15-1337		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Amended, Referred to Finance
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Postponed Indefinitely
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


01:36 PM -- Presentation on New Treatments for Hepatitis C

Nancy Steinfurth, Hepatitis C Connection, began the presentation on new treatments for Hepatitis C. She discussed the costs of medical treatment for individuals with Hepatitis C, and stated treatments approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration in 2013 and 2014 provide 95 percent effectiveness in curing Hepatitis C. She discussed the differences in the treatment protocol in 2010 to the current treatment protocol. She discussed the overall cost of treatments for Hepatitis C, and discussed the co-morbidities that may develop in individuals with Hepatitis C. She noted that the treatment drugs are classified as "tier 4 specialty" drugs under the Affordable Care Act, which means that patients pay a coinsurance, rather than a copayment, for the drugs. She discussed the coverage of the drugs by Medicaid. Ms. Steinfurth responded to questions from the committee.

01:47 PM

The committee recessed briefly.



01:52 PM -- HB 15-1226

The committee reconvened. Representative K.C. Becker introduced House Bill 15-1226 and distributed amendment L.002, a strike-below amendment to the bill (Attachment A). As introduced, the bill repealed the statutory licensing fees for restaurant inspections and allowed the fees to be set by the State Board of Health. The amendment creates a stakeholder group to study retail food establishments, license fees, and inspection programs. She explained that counties are picking up a large share of the costs of restaurant inspections due to the current licensing scheme. She discussed the stakeholder process that led to the development of amendment L.002. Representative Becker responded to questions from the committee regarding inspections of school food programs and the fees charged for those inspections.

150414 AttachA.pdf150414 AttachA.pdf

01:58 PM -- Tom Gonzales, Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials and El Paso Public Health, testified in support of amendment L.002. He explained that current fees for inspections are set in statute and have not been increased since 2009. He noted that the fees support unannounced restaurant inspections and follow-up inspections, relayed statistics regarding the frequency of inspections, and stated that the fees are too low to support the current level of inspections. He stated that El Paso County General Funds pay for 50 percent of the cost of inspections in the county and discussed the inspection program and the training and experience of restaurant inspectors.

02:04 PM -- Mary Lou Chapman, Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association, testified in support of amendment L.002.

02:07 PM -- Grier Baily, Colorado and Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, testified in support of amendment L.002.

02:09 PM -- Chris Howes, Colorado Retail Council, testified in support of amendment L.002.

02:10 PM -- Tom Butts, Tri-county Health Department and Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials, testified in support of amendment L.002 and distributed two handouts to the committee (Attachments B and C). He noted that counties provide 50 percent of the funding for Tri-County Health Department's inspection program. He responded to questions from the committee.

150414 AttachB.pdf150414 AttachB.pdf150414 AttachC.pdf150414 AttachC.pdf

02:15 PM -- Bill Artist, Colorado Restaurant Association, stated that there is value in setting up a process to examine restaurant licensing fees. He stated his support for the process created by amendment L.002, and testified in a neutral position on the bill. He spoke regarding the importance of uniform inspection and licensing requirements across the state.


02:18 PM -- Sundari Kraft, Mile High Business Alliance, testified in support of amendment L.002.
BILL:HB15-1226
TIME: 02:19:56 PM
MOVED:Becker K.
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Danielson
VOTE
Becker K.
Conti
Danielson
Everett
Joshi
Landgraf
Melton
Moreno
Sias
Tyler
Windholz
Singer
Primavera
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



02:20 PM

Representative Becker gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:HB15-1226
TIME: 02:22:37 PM
MOVED:Becker K.
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1226, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 11-2.
SECONDED:Conti
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Conti
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Everett
No
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




02:24 PM -- HB 15-1338

Representative Moreno introduced House Bill 15-1338. The bill establishes a program to provide state subsidies for telecommunications companies that choose to participate in the Lifeline Benefits Program. Through the program, eligible consumers receive discounts on the cost of wireless phones and monthly service charges on those phones. Eligible consumers must be receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). He requested that the bill be laid over until after the conclusion of the legislative session. The effect of such a motion is to postpone the bill indefinitely.
BILL:HB15-1338
TIME: 02:26:28 PM
MOVED:Moreno
MOTION:Lay over House Bill 15-1338 until June 21, 2015. The effect of this motion is to postpone House Bill 15-1338 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0, with one member excused.
SECONDED:Landgraf
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Conti
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Everett
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
Melton
Excused
Moreno
Yes
Sias
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Singer
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




02:29 PM -- HB 15-1302

Representative Primavera introduced House Bill 15-1302, concerning continuing education requirements for administrators of assisted living facilities. The committee previously considered witness testimony on the bill on March 31, 2015. She distributed amendment L.002 (Attachment D), and described the provisions of the amendment.

150414 AttachD.pdf150414 AttachD.pdf
BILL:HB15-1302
TIME: 02:31:33 PM
MOVED:Primavera
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Danielson
VOTE
Becker K.
Conti
Danielson
Everett
Joshi
Landgraf
Melton
Moreno
Sias
Tyler
Windholz
Singer
Primavera
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB15-1302
TIME: 02:34:54 PM
MOVED:Primavera
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1302, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-3.
SECONDED:Joshi
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Conti
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Everett
No
Joshi
Yes
Landgraf
No
Melton
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Sias
No
Tyler
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Singer
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:35 PM

The committee recessed briefly.

02:40 PM -- HB 15-1337

The committee reconvened. Representative Williams introduced House Bill 15-1337. The bill adds a legislative declaration to the "Colorado Children's Code" regarding the impact upon children of multiple moves while in foster care and the importance of children having stable placements with a primary caregiver and with siblings. The bill also requires, rather than encourages, the court 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 the child's placement when in foster care. She responded to questions from the committee.

02:45 PM -- Adoree Blair, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and distributed a copy of House Bill 05-1174, concerning child placements in dependency or neglect actions (Attachment E).

150414 AttachE.pdf150414 AttachE.pdf

02:48 PM -- Linda Weinerman, Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill, stating that it was an oversight that the legislative declaration language was not included in the Colorado Children's Code in previous legislation.


02:52 PM -- Jessica Spangler, representing herself, discussed her experience as an adoptive and foster care parent and regarding how disruptive moves between foster care homes can be for children. She responded to questions from the committee.

03:04 PM -- Kristen Melton, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill and stated that the bill's changes will promote more thoughtful decisions about the placement of children. She responded to questions from the committee.

03:10 PM

Representative Williams gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:HB15-1337
TIME: 03:11:21 PM
MOVED:Landgraf
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1337 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Danielson
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Conti
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Everett
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

03:15 PM

Representative Primavera made announcements related to the committee's schedule.

03:15 PM

The committee adjourned.