House Committee on Health and Human Services (02/04/2005)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:	02/04/2005	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:09 PM to 04:29 PM	Berens	X
		Clapp	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Cloer	E*
		Green	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Lundberg	X
	Representative Boyd	McGihon	X
		Riesberg	X
This Report was prepared by		Soper	X
	Whitney Gustin	Stafford	X
		Sullivan	E
		Weissmann	X
		Frangas	X
		Boyd	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB05-1174 HB05-1093 HB05-1173 HB05-1009 HB05-1173 HB05-1091		Laid Over Amended and Referred to the Committee on Finance Amended and Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended and Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended and Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended and Laid Over

01:10 PM -- House Bill 05-1174

Representative Stafford, sponsor, presented the bill regarding child placement in dependency and neglect (D&N) actions. She stated Colorado has about 7,000 children in foster care. She distributed and discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment A). Representative Stafford discussed current problems getting the names of relatives from parents involved in D&N actions. In some cases, children are placed out of home with non-relatives, become attached to those caregivers, and then are placed with relatives who come forward later. The bill's purpose is to avoid these types of situations and place children with relatives early whenever possible. She answered questions about the bill's effect on parents involved in D&N cases, current caseworker reviews, and adopted children. Amendment L.002 was distributed to members (Attachment C).

The following persons testified.

01:36 PM -- Adoree Blair, Colorado State Foster Parent Association, stated the bill will effect primarily children up to age three years. She addressed issues related to adopted children.

01:40 PM -- Scott Nelson, citizen, discussed his experience in foster care.

01:43 PM -- Lois Helvie, citizen, discussed her family's experience in seeking custody of her grandchildren. She distributed a copy of her testimony to members (Attachment B).

01:51 PM -- Carla Bennett, Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families, discussed issues related to children's attachment to caregivers.

01:56 PM -- Constance Schmidt, foster parent, discussed her experience caring for a foster child.

02:05 PM -- Karen Kottmeier, American Adoption Congress and Concern United Birth Parents, discussed her family's experience with adoption and the bill's effect on adopted children.

02:12 PM -- Andi Leopoldus, Child Placement Agency (CPA) Network, spoke in support of the bill. She answered questions about determining if a particular relative can provide appropriate care.

02:17 PM

Representative Stafford answered questions about the bill.

02:21 PM -- Peg Long, Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies (CAFCA), discussed the importance of adult involvement in children's lives.

02:29 PM -- Ms. Blair answered questions regarding the bill's provisions.

02:35 PM

Members commented on the bill. Representative Boyd pulled the bill from the table for action at a later date.
02:42 PM -- House Bill 05-1093

Representative Solano, sponsor, presented the bill requiring finger print background checks for prospective adoptive parents. She distributed amendment L.001 and a summary document to members (Attachments D and E).

The following persons testified.

02:47 PM -- Judge Brian Boatwright, Department of the Judiciary, discussed reasons for the bill.

02:50 PM -- Peg Long, Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, stated the bill codifies best practices in adoption.

02:52 PM -- Matthew Flora, Department of Human Services, spoke in support of the bill.

02:54 PM

Representative Solano discussed L.001.


BILL:	HB05-1093
TIME:	02:55:03 PM
MOVED:	Weissmann
MOTION:	Adopt L.001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Soper
		VOTE
	Berens
	Clapp
	Cloer
	Green
	Lundberg
	McGihon
	Riesberg
	Soper
	Stafford
	Sullivan	Excused
	Weissmann
	Frangas
	Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

02:57 PM

Representative Solano made concluding remarks. Members commented on the bill.


BILL:	HB05-1093
TIME:	02:59:03 PM
MOVED:	Berens
MOTION:	Refer the bill, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed 11-1-1.
SECONDED:	Frangas
		VOTE
	Berens	Yes
	Clapp	Yes
	Cloer	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	McGihon	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Stafford	Yes
	Sullivan	Excused
	Weissmann	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Boyd	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:01 PM -- House Bill 05-1173

Representative Harvey, sponsor, presented the bill regarding child placements following termination of parental rights.

The following persons testified.

03:05 PM -- Judge Brian Boatwright, Lt. Governor's Committee on Promotion of Adoption, stated the bill would help speed up placements for children and encourage relatives to come forward earlier in placement proceedings. He answered questions about notice to relatives regarding a child's need for placement.

03:31 PM -- Peg Long, Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, spoke in support of the bill,

03:32 PM -- Marilyn Neihart, Lt. Governor's Committee on Promoting Adoption, discussed processes for placing children.

03:43 PM -- Carla Bennett, Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed reasons why some grandparents wait to come forward for placement consideration.

03:45 PM -- Judge Boatwright answered questions about consideration of relatives for a child's placement.

03:46 PM

Representative Boyd took the bill off the table to consider amendments later in the meeting.
03:47 PM -- House Bill 05-1009

Amendments L.001. L.002, and L.003 were distributed to members (Attachments F, G, and H). Representative Coleman answered questions about L.003.


BILL:	HB05-1009
TIME:	03:51:10 PM
MOVED:	Soper
MOTION:	Adopt L.003. The motion passed without objection. Rep. Weissman recused himself from the vote based upon House Rule 25(j)(6).
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Berens
	Clapp
	Cloer	Excused
	Green
	Lundberg
	McGihon
	Riesberg
	Soper
	Stafford
	Sullivan	Excused
	Weissmann	Excused
	Frangas
	Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

03:56 PM

Representative Coleman discussed L.001.


BILL:	HB05-1009
TIME:	03:59:04 PM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Adopt L.001, as amended. The motion passed without objection. Rep. Weissman recused himself from the vote based upon House Rule 25(j)(6).
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Berens
	Clapp
	Cloer	Excused
	Green
	Lundberg
	McGihon
	Riesberg
	Soper
	Stafford
	Sullivan
	Weissmann	Excused
	Frangas
	Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB05-1009
TIME:	04:00:59 PM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Amend L.001, line 3, strike "OR" and substitute "AND". The motion passed without objection. Rep. Weissman recused himself from the vote based upon House Rule 25(j)(6).
SECONDED:	Soper
		VOTE
	Berens
	Clapp
	Cloer	Excused
	Green
	Lundberg
	McGihon
	Riesberg
	Soper
	Stafford
	Sullivan	Excused
	Weissmann	Excused
	Frangas
	Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB05-1009
TIME:	04:01:39 PM
MOVED:	Soper
MOTION:	Refer the bill, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 6-4-3. Rep. Weissman recused himself from the vote based upon House Rule 25(j)(6).
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Berens	No
	Clapp	No
	Cloer	Excused
	Green	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	McGihon	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Stafford	No
	Sullivan	Excused
	Weissmann	Excused
	Frangas	Yes
	Boyd	Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:03 PM -- House Bill 05-1173

Representative McGihon distributed and discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment I).


BILL:	HB05-1173
TIME:	04:06:04 PM
MOVED:	McGihon
MOTION:	Adopt L.001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Berens
	Clapp
	Cloer	Excused
	Green
	Lundberg
	McGihon
	Riesberg
	Soper
	Stafford
	Sullivan	Excused
	Weissmann
	Frangas
	Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB05-1173
TIME:	04:07:05 PM
MOVED:	Stafford
MOTION:	Refer the bill, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 11-0-2.
SECONDED:	Clapp
		VOTE
	Berens	Yes
	Clapp	Yes
	Cloer	Excused
	Green	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	McGihon	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Stafford	Yes
	Sullivan	Excused
	Weissmann	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Boyd	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:08 PM -- House Bill 05-1091

Representative Boyd distributed and discussed L.003 (Attachment J).


BILL:	HB05-1091
TIME:	04:11:09 PM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Adopt L.003.
SECONDED:	McGihon
		VOTE
	Berens
	Clapp
	Cloer	Excused
	Green
	Lundberg
	McGihon
	Riesberg
	Soper
	Stafford
	Sullivan	Excused
	Weissmann
	Frangas
	Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

04:13 PM

Representative Boyd answered questions about direct and indirect costs and fees to restaurateurs

04:20 PM

Members commented on the bill. Representative Boyd answered questions about her work with the bill's stakeholders. Representative Frangas pulled the bill off the table for action on Monday.

04:28 PM

The committee adjourned.