Date: 02/02/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB12-1047

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Bill 12-1047 to the CommitteePASS



01:42 PM -- House Bill 12-1047

Representative Kefalas presented House Bill 12-1047, concerning the waiver of non-safety licensing standards for kinship foster care. The bill allows county directors of social services to waive certain non-safety licensing standards for kinship foster care. Representative Kefalas explained that the bill does not have a state fiscal impact and that the legislation is permissive. Representative Kefalas responded to a question about whether the bill would provide a net cost savings to counties.


01:48 PM -- Pat Ratliff, Colorado Counties, Inc., introduced Barbara Drake, Douglas County Department of Human Services, and Toni Rozanski, City and County of Denver Department of Human Services. Ms. Ratliff explained how the bill would be beneficial to counties and that it would eliminate a 60-day delay in some situations. Ms. Rozanski expressed support for the bill and indicated that the bill helps in the county's efforts to seek permanency for children. Ms. Drake expressed support for the bill and explained what types of non-safety licensing standards could be waived if the bill is enacted. Ms. Ratliff responded to questions about the bill not allowing for appeals and explained that by not allowing for appeals, the bill allows the program to be permissive rather than an entitlement. Ms. Ratliff and Ms. Drake responded to questions about the safety of kinship placements. Ms. Drake responded to questions about what is included in the non-safety criteria and stated that these issues would be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Ms. Ratliff stated the bill would allow federal rules to be waived at the county level rather than the state level as is currently permitted. Ms. Ratliff responded to questions about why the bill is limited to kinship placements.


02:02 PM -- Shari Shink, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, Katie Facchinello, Every Child Matters Colorado, Dr. Gail "Skip" Barber, Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, and Becky Miller Updike, Child Protection Ombudsman, expressed their support of the bill. Ms. Updike explained the history of the Office of Colorado's Child Protection Ombudsman. Ms. Updike stated the bill expands placement options for counties.

02:05 PM

Representative Kefalas provided concluding remarks on the bill.


BILL:HB12-1047
TIME: 02:06:48 PM
MOVED:Kefalas
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 12-1047 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Schafer S.
VOTE
Bradford
Excused
Brown
Yes
Fields
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCann
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Young
Yes
Acree
Yes
Summers
Excused
YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS