Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:03/15/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:10:59 AM to 02:22 PM
Berens
X
Cloer
X
Place:HCR 0112
Green
X
Kerr
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Lundberg
X
Representative Boyd
McGihon
X
Riesberg
*
This Report was prepared by
Soper
X
Whitney Gustin
Stafford
X
Sullivan
X
Weissmann
X
Frangas
X
Boyd
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB06-1363
HB06-1367		Amended, Referred to Finance
Postponed Indefinitely


11:01 AM -- House Bill 06-1363

Representative Benefield, sponsor, presented the bill creating the Colorado Student Delinquency Prevention Program within the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program. She distributed amendment L.002 to committee members (Attachment A). Representatives Stafford and Benefield discussed the bill's fee, a $75 felony and misdemeanor surcharge. Representative Benefield discussed drops in juvenile crime rates when after-school programs were offered in Baltimore and Canada. Representative Stafford suggested amending the bill to require notification regarding the purpose of the fee to persons who are charged the $75 surcharge. Representative Berens discussed other similar surcharges on persons who commit traffic offenses. Representative Riesberg discussed surcharges that apply to other crimes. Representative Benefield discussed traffic misdemeanors (e.g., driving 30 MPH or more over the speed limit and driving with a suspended license). Representatives Lundberg and Benefield discussed eliminating less effective programs to create funding for more effective programs.

The following persons testified.

11:16 AM -- Gregory Staritzky, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill and in particular the surcharge. He questioned the need for supervision of youth. Representative Stafford discussed the effects of surcharges on the poor. Mr. Staritzky answered questions about the responsibility of criminals to pay for their crimes. He described the bill's surcharge as "creative appropriating." He stated his support for paying for after-school programs with General Fund monies.






11:30 AM -- Chief Ron Sloan, Colorado Chiefs of Police Association, spoke in support of the bill. He stated the chiefs of police strongly support programs focused on prevention of crime and delinquency. He stated that jails around the state are bursting at the seams. He described the importance of programs that emphasize prevention, particularly evidenced-based programs ("blueprint programs"). He cited success rates of such programs that are as high as 80 percent. Representative Stafford discussed penalty options for persons who are convicted of crimes. Chief Sloan answered questions about funding for prevention programs in other states.

11:39 AM -- Larisa Harvey, Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver, discussed programs offered through the Boys and Girls Club. Youth of the Year, in particular, provides opportunities for independence, access to technology, and college admission. Representative Benefield stated her bill would support Boys and Girls Club's programs.

11:43 AM -- Dave Thomas, Colorado District Attorney's Council, stated the council has not yet taken a position on the bill. Certain individual DAs have expressed their support for the bill to him however. Mr. Thomas stated youth programs have been decimated in recent years because of lack of funding. He addressed the bill's provisions regarding the court's discretion to waiver the $75 surcharge. He stated court surcharges are prioritized in statute.

11:49 AM -- Brandon Bleu, Denver Scores, spoke in support of the bill. He stated Denver Scores does not receive any government funding. Currently, there are waiting lists to join Denver Scores at every school that participates in the program.

11:52 AM -- Michele Seipp, Lafayette Public Library and the Colorado Association of Libraries, she spoke in support of adding public libraries as entities that are eligible for the bill's program funding. She described "teen spaces" in libraries that specifically target youth. Some libraries have teen advisory boards to help the libraries improve youth services. Representative Benefield discussed the definition of programs eligible for funding under the Tony Grampsas Program.

11:57 AM -- Jennifer Huffman, Denver Public Library and Colorado Association of Libraries, spoke in support of the bill. She described programs the Denver libraries offers, including after-school programs for at-risk children. The programs focus on such activities as arts and crafts. One of the programs, "After School is Cool," would particularly benefit from the bill's passage.

12:00 PM -- Phillip Chung, Colorado After-school Network, stated the bill is an important and significant opportunity to support after-school programs. He described the high proportion (33 percent or 48th of the 50 states) of Colorado youth that are not supervised during after-school hours. He answered questions about the availability of federal dollars for after-school programs.

















12:08 PM

Representative Benefield discussed L.002. She stated the amendment will allow the bill's provision to apply to all children.
BILL:HB06-1363
TIME: 12:11:35 PM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Adopt L.002 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Kerr
VOTE
Berens
Cloer
Green
Kerr
Lundberg
McGihon
Riesberg
Soper
Stafford
Sullivan
Weissmann
Frangas
Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection





























12:17 PM

Representative Stafford proposed a verbal amendment to the bill. The language of her amendment was subsequently presented in L.003 (Attachment B). Representative Cloer and Benefield discussed possible changes to the bill's fiscal note.
BILL:HB06-1363
TIME: 12:20:22 PM
MOVED:Stafford
MOTION:Adopt L.003 (Attachment B). The motion passed 11-2.
SECONDED:Kerr
VOTE
Berens
Yes
Cloer
No
Green
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Soper
No
Stafford
Yes
Sullivan
Yes
Weissmann
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Boyd
Yes
Not Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
























12:23 PM

Committee members commented on the bill.
BILL:HB06-1363
TIME: 12:26:36 PM
MOVED:Stafford
MOTION:Refer the bill, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. The bill passed 11-2.
SECONDED:Kerr
VOTE
Berens
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Green
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Lundberg
No
McGihon
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Soper
Yes
Stafford
Yes
Sullivan
Yes
Weissmann
No
Frangas
Yes
Boyd
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


12:27 PM -- House Bill 06-1367

Representative Boyd, sponsor, presented the bill repealing and reenacting the Nursing Peer Health Assistance Program with certain changes. She stated the bill will create consistency among the different health professionals' peer assistance programs.

The following persons testified.

12:31 PM -- Susan Miller, Colorado State Board of Medical Examiners, discussed the differences between the current diversion program and the proposed employee assistance program (EAP) model. The EAP model addresses all types of problems health care professionals may be experiencing, not just substance abuse issues. Family members of licensees are also eligible for help through the EAP model. Representative Cloer discussed a recent favorable review of the current nurse assistance program. Ms. Miller stated her support for a broad approach to health care professional peer assistance. She stated the current nurse peer assistance program is too narrow in its approach and may be missing the opportunity to help nurses who are experiencing problems that are not related to substance abuse. She discussed her 12 years working for the State Board of Medical Examiners.

12:49 PM -- Dr. Trey Causey, Colorado Nurse Health Program (CNHP), spoke in opposition to the bill. He stated his position as one of "if its not broke, don't fix it."

12:54 PM -- Jeremy Still, citizen, described his experience with CNHP.






12:58 PM -- Margie Derozier, Executive Director, CNHP, spoke in opposition to the bill. She described the bill as raising costs to nurses. She stated that like Colorado's CNHP, most states have alternative-to-decipline programs. She described the personal issues faced by nurses enrolled in the CNHP program. She stated the bill will limit the number of entities that may bid to carry out the peer assistance program and cause a disruption of services to nurses in need.

01:12 PM -- Diane Bialkowski, CNHP, described her professional experience with substance abuse and mental health treatment. She stated the bill eliminates critical elements of the nurse peer program, including an external review process. She described CNHP as an evidence-based program of high integrity. She answered questions about possible retribution for her testimony and the processes of psycho-education.

01:25 PM -- Leslie Ranniger, CNHP, discussed her work as an attorney for CNHP. She stated the bill's provisions are not consistent with current peer assistance programs for other licensed professionals. She described peer assistance programs. Ms. Ranniger and Representative Boyd discussed possible changes to the bill.

01:32 PM -- Paula Stearns, Colorado Nurses Association, spoke in support of the bill. She stated that the Association has been neutral on similar bills in past years. She stated open bidding by diversion programs may allow more information to be provided to the public. She answered questions about fees charged to nurses and possible risks to public safety,

01:37 PM -- Jeffrey Downing, Peer Assistance Services, Inc., spoke in support of the bill. He stated Peer Assistance Services, Inc., would like the opportunity to bid to provide the state's peer nurse assistance program. He answered questions about the types of professionals his company provides assistance to, criteria for competitive bidding, and loopholes in current law. He described these loopholes to include a lack of services for nurses whose problems fall outside the scope of CNHP's services.

01:49 PM -- Carmelita Muniz, Colorado Association of Alcohol and Drug Service Providers, spoke in support of the bill. She stated the current nurse peer assistance program does not serve the wide range of issues faced by nurses. Committee members discussed dilemmas they feel they are facing on the bill. Ms. Muniz stated the bill offers the opportunity to expand the breadth of service to nurses.

02:03 PM -- Rose McCool, Department of Regulatory Agencies, addressed committee members' questions. She stated her concerns with CNHP representatives' opposition to the bill. She answered questions about the expected request for proposal (RFP) if the bill passes. Representative Boyd answered questions about reasons for the bill's late bill status. She stated its status was not due to late action by the Department. Ms. McCool discussed current statutory provisions for other health professionals peer assistance programs.


















02:17 PM

Representative Weissmann distributed and discussed L.001 (Attachment C).
BILL:HB06-1367
TIME: 02:18:03 PM
MOVED:Weissmann
MOTION:Adopt L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Cloer
VOTE
Berens
Cloer
Green
Kerr
Lundberg
McGihon
Riesberg
Soper
Stafford
Sullivan
Weissmann
Frangas
Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB06-1367
TIME: 02:18:23 PM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Refer the bill, as amended, to the Committee of Whole.
SECONDED:Weissmann
VOTE
Berens
Cloer
Green
Kerr
Lundberg
McGihon
Riesberg
Soper
Stafford
Sullivan
Weissmann
Frangas
Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:HB06-1367
TIME: 02:18:42 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Substitute motion to postpone the bill indefinitely. The motion passed 7-6.
SECONDED:Stafford
VOTE
Berens
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Green
No
Kerr
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Riesberg
No
Soper
No
Stafford
Yes
Sullivan
Yes
Weissmann
No
Frangas
No
Boyd
No
Final YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:21 PM

The committee adjourned.