Bill Summary for Bill Number SB06-233

Date: 05/02/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB06-233

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 06-233 to the Committee	PASS

05:47 PM -- Senate Bill 06-233

Representative Coleman provided an overview of Senate Bill 06-233, concerning clarification of the existing authority of the state auditor to access confidential documents.

05:48 PM

The following people testified regarding Senate Bill 06-233:

05:49 PM -- Ms. Joanne Hill, State Auditor, testified in favor of Senate Bill 06-233. Ms. Hill explained that passage of the bill was important for maintaining oversight of state expenditures and confidentiality of privileged information. Committee members received a factsheet regarding the bill, prepared by the State Auditors Office (Attachment F). Ms. Hill explained her objection to a forthcoming amendment, prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment G), and requested that the bill not be amended in committee, pending further discussion among interested parties. Discussion ensued regarding maintaining confidentiality of records by those involved in the audit process and the impact of amendment L.002 on the audit process. Ms. Hill responded to questions regarding accessing medical information for audit purposes under various federal programs and acts, and penalties for releasing confidential information under the bill.

06:05 PM -- Dr. Richard Vogt, representing Public Health Directors of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Vogt provided the committee with notes regarding his testimony (Attachment H). Dr. Vogt explained that reporting of diseases may be compromised due to the fear of release of confidential health-related information, and that he feels audit staff is insufficiently trained to properly handle confidential information. Mr. Vogt also explained that receipt of federal money for health programs may be jeopardized by passage of the bill, since federal officials do not wish for confidential health-related information to be involved in the audit process. Dr. Vogt responded to questions regarding his experiences with laws in other states related to release of confidential information.

06:15 PM

Dr. Vogt responded to questions regarding the nexus between the state audit process and the public health industry. Discussion ensued regarding the potential for sensitive disease-related information to be disseminated beyond the health care industry and the impact of Senate Bill 06-233 on expansion of the ability of the State Auditor and state agencies to access medical information. Dr. Vogt suggested that confidential medical information supplied to the State Auditor be stripped of names, addresses, geographic subdivisions, and other identifying elements. Discussion ensued regarding the problems associated with this approach.

06:25 PM -- Mr. Robin Valdez, representing the Denver Mayor's Office of HIV Resources, testified in opposition to Senate Bill 06-233. Mr. Valdez expressed concern that breaches of confidentiality would occur if confidential medical information were to be disseminated beyond the health care community. Mr. Valdez expressed support for amendment L.002.

06:28 PM -- Ms. Deirdre Maloney, representing Colorado Organizations Responding to AIDS, testified in opposition to the bill, stating that confidential information relating to HIV/AIDS should be exempted from the bill. Ms. Maloney explained that the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS will lead those afflicted with the disease to refrain from seeking health care services if access were granted to confidential health care information beyond health care providers. Ms. Maloney responded to questions regarding the impact of Senate Bill 06-233 on the release of confidential health care-related information. Discussion ensued regarding proposed amendment L.002 and potential barriers created by the audit process that may reduce the use of health care services.

06:38 PM

No amendments were offered for Senate Bill 06-233. Discussion ensued regarding the crafting of language based on amendment L.002 for future hearings of the bill, and amending the bill to allow certain information on confidential health care-related documents to be redacted.


BILL:	SB06-233
TIME:	06:43:02 PM
MOVED:	Coleman
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 06-233 to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 10-0-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Schultheis
		VOTE
	Cadman	Yes
	Carroll T.	Excused
	Coleman	Yes
	Crane	Yes
	Gallegos	Yes
	Liston	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Schultheis	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Weissmann	Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

06:45 PM

The committee adjourned.