STAFF SUMMARY OF
FIRST
MEETING OF
FIRST
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON
HB05-1287
Date:
05/09/2005
ATTENDANCE
Time:
12:09 PM
to
01:06 PM
Lindstrom
X
Tapia
X
Place:
HCR 0109
Harvey
X
Kester
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Shaffer
X
Representative Coleman
Coleman
X
This Report was prepared by
Jennifer Moe
12:09 PM
The conference committee came to order. A quorum was present. Representative Coleman, prime House sponsor, explained why she requested a conference committee. She asked Ms. Debbie Haskins, drafter from the Office of Legislative Legal Services, to describe the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The committee was provided with draft Amendment CLHB1287.002 (Attachment A), and a comparison of the House and Senate versions of the bill (Attachment B). Ms. Haskins pointed to a major difference on page 3 of Attachment B (opt-in for the contact preference form versus opt-out for birth certificate access). She also asked for permission to make conforming amendments to the bill in the final conference committee report, should the committee adopt the draft amendment. Representative Coleman explained the provisions of the draft amendment, which creates an opt-out contact preference form provision but delays the effective date of the bill to 2010. She also noted concerns of the Governor's office over an opt-out provision.
12:17 PM
The committee discussed several options. Senator Shaffer commented that the bill may have problems passing in the Senate with the draft amendment. Representative Harvey asked for clarification, and Senator Shaffer responded further. Representative Harvey then asked how the education campaign would be funded, and Representative Coleman responded that it is not addressed in the bill but the plan is to begin the campaign in July 2005 and go national with it, relying on gifts, grants, and donations. Discussion continued on what the proper course of action should be and what provisions should be included in the conference committee report and, ultimately, in the bill.
12:26 PM
Ms. Haskins emphasized the draft nature of the amendment and the fact that the amendment has a couple of provisions that fall outside the scope of differences between the two houses. Senator Shaffer made suggestions for the conference committee report, and Representative Coleman made comments about her intentions with the bill and areas that are open for discussion. Ms. Haskins discussed the feasibility of exempting out a certain group from contact. Discussion continued on feasibility. Representative Coleman walked the committee through Attachment B. Discussion ensued regarding the opt-in/opt-out provision, and the 2007 versus 2010 effective date. The committee settled on allowing one or both of the birth parents to opt-in for release of the birth certificate, and if one of the parents chooses not to opt in, the birth certificate would only list the name of the consenting parent. Along with that, one or both birth parents could opt in for providing their contact preferences. Also, the bill would take effect in 2007 instead of 2010.
BILL:
HB05-1287
TIME:
12:58:05 PM
MOVED:
Coleman
MOTION:
Move the conference committee report: conceptual changes to the draft version of Amendment L.002. The motion carried on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
Harvey
VOTE
Lindstrom
Yes
Tapia
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Kester
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Coleman
Yes
Final YES:
6
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
Prior to the vote, Ms. Haskins clarified the conceptual amendment: an opt-in provision for a birth certificate and consent form with contact information and a 2007 effective date.
The bill sponsor invited Ms. Fuffie Mendez, representing the Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, to the table to comment on the conceptual amendment. Ms. Mendez stated support for the 2007 effective date with an opt-in provision.
01:06 PM
The conference committee adjourned.