Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:03/09/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:37 PM to 03:11 PM
Johnson
X
Mitchell
*
Place:SCR 352
Sandoval
X
Shaffer
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Traylor
*
Senator Hagedorn
Hanna
*
Hagedorn
X
This Report was prepared by
Elizabeth Burger
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Conf 06-Colorado Health Facilities Authority
SB06-035
SB06-196
HB06-1328
HB06-1207
HB06-1318		Favorably Refer to the Full Senate
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


01:39 PM

Andrea Dikeou, Ann Kiley, Lance Luckett, and H. Ben Weindling, candidates for appointment to the Colorado Health Facilities Authority, discussed their backgrounds and interest in serving on the authority. A copy of their resumes and application letters were distributed to the committee (Attachment A).
BILL:Conf 06-Colorado Health Facilities Authority
TIME: 01:45:19 PM
MOVED:Sandoval
MOTION:Favorably refer the names of Andrea Dikeou, Lance Luckett, H. Ben Weindling and Ann Kiley to the full senate for confirmation. The motion passed 5-0-0-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
Yes
Mitchell
Absent
Sandoval
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Traylor
Yes
Hanna
Absent
Hagedorn
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 2 FINAL ACTION: PASS




01:47 PM -- Senate Bill 06-035

Senator Hagedorn introduced Senate Bill 06-035 and distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment B), to the committee. Senate Bill 06-035 creates a health insurance premium subsidy program funded with $15 million available due to the passage of Referendum C. He explained that amendment L.001 is a strike-below amendment that strikes the premium subsidy program and substitutes a requirement that the Health Care Task Force study the issues raised in Senate Bill 06-035 during the interim of 2006. He responded to questions from the committee regarding the fiscal impact of the amendment.
BILL:SB06-035
TIME: 01:50:20 PM
MOVED:Hagedorn
MOTION:Adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
Mitchell
Sandoval
Shaffer
Traylor
Hanna
Hagedorn
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:SB06-035
TIME: 01:50:42 PM
MOVED:Hagedorn
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-035, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Sandoval
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Traylor
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Hagedorn
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS












01:54 PM -- Senate Bill 06-196

Senator Hagedorn introduced Senate Bill 06-196. He explained that the bill permits the Governor to appoint a nurse in good standing to the state Board of Nursing for one term if there is not an appropriate candidate available who meets the existing requirements for appointment. He stated that the bill is necessary because the board has been having difficulty filling a position that must be filled by a licensed practical nurse from a rural area.

01:55 PM -- Paula Sterns, Executive Director of the Colorado Nurses Association, testified in support of the bill. She described the membership of the state Board of Nursing and described why the board has had difficulty filling the position of a licensed practical nurse from a rural area. She responded to questions from Senator Hagedorn regarding whether or not the provisions of the bill should sunset at some point in the future.

01:59 PM -- Rose McCool, Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the difficulty in finding a nurse to fill the licensed practical nurse position. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the sunset date for the bill.
BILL:SB06-196
TIME: 02:02:20 PM
MOVED:Hagedorn
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-196 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Sandoval
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Traylor
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Hagedorn
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:03 PM -- House Bill 06-1328

Senator Hagedorn introduced House Bill 06-1328 and explained that the bill requires the Joint Budget Committee and the Joint House and Senate Health and Human Services Committee to review the use of tobacco settlement moneys on or before January 30, 2009. He responded to questions from the committee.














BILL:HB06-1328
TIME: 02:06:51 PM
MOVED:Hagedorn
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1328 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Sandoval
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Traylor
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Hagedorn
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:08 PM -- House Bill 06-1207

Senator Sandoval introduced House Bill 06-1207, which defines a salaried foster parent as a person employed by a child placement agency for the sole purpose of providing foster care and permits a child placement agency to employ a salary foster parent. She explained that the bill allows child placement agencies to employ salaried foster parents on a pilot basis.

02:10 PM -- Peg Long, Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, testified in support of the bill. She described a program in another state similar to the program being proposed in House Bill 06-1207.
BILL:HB06-1207
TIME: 02:13:43 PM
MOVED:Sandoval
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1207 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed 6-0-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Sandoval
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Traylor
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Hagedorn
Excused
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:14 PM -- House Bill 06-1318

Senator Mitchell introduced House Bill 06-1318. He asked that the committee recess briefly in order for an amendment to be prepared.



02:15 PM

The committee recessed briefly.


02:25 PM

The committee reconvened. Senator Mitchell distributed amendment L.003 (Attachment C), to the committee. He explained that House Bill 06-1318 changes from 1,000 to 1,500 the number of hours an applicant for a marriage and family therapist license must complete in a clinical practice prior to receiving a license. He explained that amendment L.003 permits the state Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners (board) to set the number of required hours as any number up to, but no more than, 1,500 hours.

02:28 PM -- Jacqueline Long, Colorado Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, testified that the board currently requires candidates for licensure to complete 1,500 hours in a clinical practice. She stated that no less than 1,500 hours should be required because at least 1,500 hours of experience are necessary in order to ensure that licensed therapists are highly qualified. Senator Mitchell explained that the bill, as amended, gives the authority to the board to required up to 1,500 hours of clinical practice in order to receive a license. The committee further discussed the number of hours that are necessary to ensure that family therapists are highly qualified and the current statutory requirements for licensure.

02:39 PM -- Cindy Sovine, Colorado Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, stated that the board feels that 1,500 hours is the appropriate number of hours for licensure, and that the bill clarifies that 1,500 hours will be required. She testified regarding why the bill was being proposed, stating that although the board has been requiring 1,500 hours for several years, recently, the Department of Regulatory Agencies found that the board could set the required number of hours at no more than 1,000. She responded to questions from Senator Johnson regarding why the department interpreted current statute as limiting the requirement to 1,000 hours.

02:43 PM -- Gail Fidler, Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified that the department will not oppose the bill if it is amended by L.003 (Attachment A). She discussed the current statutes and rules regulating licensure as a marriage and family therapist in Colorado. She discussed the department's opposition to the original bill, stating that the bill might take authority away from the board to set the required number of hours. She responded to questions from the committee.

02:48 PM -- Neil Cannon, representing students studying to be marriage and family therapists, testified in support of the bill. He testified that the number of hours required for licensure is higher in other states, and that Colorado's required number of hours should be higher. He responded to questions from Senator Shaffer regarding the effects of the bill. Several committee members commented on whether or not the bill was necessary, given that current statute seems to permit the board to set the required number of hours above 1,000.

02:56 PM -- Darrin Wallace, representing candidates for licensure as marriage and family therapists, testified that 1,500 hours of clinical experience should be required instead of 1,000. He stated that the extra 500 hours allows therapists to receive quality training and to be highly prepared for practice. He responded to questions from Senator Johnson regarding the minimum number of hours of clinical experience that should be required of marriage and family therapist candidates.








03:01 PM

Senator Mitchell gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:HB06-1318
TIME: 03:02:24 PM
MOVED:Mitchell
MOTION:Adopt prepared amendment L.003 (Attachment C). The motion failed 0-7.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
No
Mitchell
No
Sandoval
No
Shaffer
No
Traylor
No
Hanna
No
Hagedorn
No
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:HB06-1318
TIME: 03:05:07 PM
MOVED:Traylor
MOTION:Adopt a conceptual amendment to page 2, lines 13, specifying that the board may set the required number of hours at no less than 1,000. The motion failed 2-5.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
No
Mitchell
Yes
Sandoval
No
Shaffer
No
Traylor
Yes
Hanna
No
Hagedorn
No
Not Final YES: 2 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:HB06-1318
TIME: 03:07:57 PM
MOVED:Mitchell
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1318 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 5-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Johnson
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Sandoval
Yes
Shaffer
No
Traylor
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Hagedorn
No
Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


03:10 PM

The committee recessed.