Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB05-059

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes:
Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001. (The amendment would chang
Refer SB 05-059 to the Committee on Appropriations		FAIL
PASS


02:12 PM -- Senate Bill 05-059 - Concerning the Authority of Local Governments to Provide Mental Health Care Services

Representative Hefley, prime sponsor, briefly explained the provisions of the bill. She explained that the bill authorizes the creation of a mental health care service district to provide mental health care service to residents and to family members of such residents, subject to voter approval. Representative Hefley closed saying the bill allows such a district to be created through voter approval to levy either a sales or property tax.

The following persons testified:

02:19 PM -- Mr. Chris Habgood, Mental Health Association of Colorado (MHAC), testified in support of the legislation and distributed one handout on the "Impact of State Budget Cuts on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care in Colorado" (Attachment B) and another handout from the Mental Health Corporation of Denver (Attachment C). Mr. Habgood closed by discussing some statistics in the handouts that pertain to mental health services in Colorado.

02:22 PM -- Mr. Don Eberle, Urban Peak Homeless Shelter, testified in support of the legislation and commented on the persons who could benefit from the legislation. Mr. Eberle closed by saying in Denver, the youth on the streets is becoming more dependent on mental health services over the years as the state enacts more budgetary cuts.

02:24 PM -- Mr. Edward George, representing self, asked the committee to support Senate Bill 059. Mr. George closed by saying the state budget cuts have compromised mental health services in Colorado.

02:26 PM -- Ms. Carol Jean Reynolds, Nami-Co, testified in support of the legislation and discussed the importance of providing mental health services to the people of Colorado. Ms. Reynolds commented on the importance and value of state treatment for mental illness. Ms. Reynolds closed commenting that mental illness affects not only persons directly but the families of those who suffer from this disease.

02:31 PM -- Ms. Kathy Hartman, Stride (formerly Jeffco Self Sufficiency Council), testified in support of the legislation. Mr. Hartman explained that Stride's mission is to enable low-income individuals and families to become economically self-sufficient and independent of government and community sponsored assistance for basic needs. Ms. Hartman encouraged the committee to support the legislation.

02:33 PM -- Mr. Larry Krause, representing self, testified in support of the legislation. Mr. Krause commented on how the mentally challenged have a difficult time coping with life's everyday challenges. Mr. Krause commented on the good that the Jeffco Self Sufficiency Council does for the mentally ill in Colorado.


02:37 PM -- Ms. JoAnn Groff, Colorado Retail Council, commented that the Council is taking a neutral position on Senate Bill 05-059. Ms. Groff discussed the need for the bill's provisions to include all of a county or municipality in the formation of a district (amended version of the bill).
BILL:SB05-059
TIME: 02:40:24 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001. (The amendment would change the reengrossed version of the bill back to the introduced version.) The motion failed on a 10-2-1 vote.
SECONDED:Benefield
VOTE
Benefield
No
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
No
Garcia
No
Jahn
No
Marshall
No
Massey
No
May M.
Excused
McCluskey
No
Witwer
No
Judd
No
Vigil
No
Not Final YES: 2 NO: 10 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:SB05-059
TIME: 02:53:36 PM
MOVED:McCluskey
MOTION:Refer SB 05-059 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 10-2-1 vote.
SECONDED:Jahn
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
No
Crane
No
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
May M.
Excused
McCluskey
Yes
Witwer
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:54 PM

Adjourn.