Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:04/01/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:10:24 AM to 11:11 AM
Carroll M.
X
Lundberg
X
Place:SCR 356
Mitchell
X
Morse
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Newell
*
Senator Boyd
Schultheis
*
Tochtrop
X
This Report was prepared by
Boyd
X
Elizabeth Burger
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB09-252
HB09-1086
HB09-1275
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to Appropriations
Referred to Finance


10:24 AM -- Senate Bill 09-252

Senator Boyd introduced Senate Bill 09-252. The bill authorizes a Medicaid client to receive prescription drugs through mail-order pharmacies if the client has third-party insurance that allows maintenance medications to be obtained through mail-order.
BILL:SB09-252
TIME: 10:27:06 AM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 09-252 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that the bill be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a 8-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Carroll M.
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Morse
Yes
Newell
Yes
Schultheis
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Boyd
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




10:27 AM -- House Bill 09-1086

Senator Boyd introduced House Bill 09-1086. The bill sets requirements for the renewal of licenses or certifications for social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and addiction counselors. For each profession, the applicable state Board of Examiners in the Department of Regulatory Agencies must adopt rules for a program ensuring the mental health professional's continued competency. Beginning January 1, 2011, mental health professionals must satisfy the continued competency requirements in order to renew or reinstate their license to practice. Senator Boyd responded to questions from Senator Schultheis regarding the need for the bill.

10:38 AM --
Richard Morales, representing the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), responded to questions from Senator Schultheis and Senator Mitchell regarding the impetus for the bill and DORA's position on the bill.

10:43 AM --
Lorie Bohm Klumb, representing the National Association of Social Workers, testified regarding the need for social workers to continually update their training. She testified that if there isn't a requirement that professionals update their training, most will not voluntarily do it.

10:47 AM --
Jeff Thormodsgaard, representing the Society of Addiction Counselors of Colorado and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, referred the committee to a fact sheet in support of the bill (Attachment A).

09SenateHHS0401AttachA.pdf

10:48 AM

Senator Boyd gave concluding remarks regarding the bill. She responded to questions from Senator Newell regarding documentation of continuing competency. Senator Lundberg commented on the bill.
BILL:HB09-1086
TIME: 10:50:58 AM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Refer House Bill 09-1086 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 5-3 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Carroll M.
Yes
Lundberg
No
Mitchell
No
Morse
Yes
Newell
Yes
Schultheis
No
Tochtrop
Yes
Boyd
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
.



10:51 AM -- House Bill 09-1275

Senator Morse introduced House Bill 09-1275. The bill allows the Department of Public Health and Environment to issue provisional certifications for emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Senator Morse explained that a fingerprint-based criminal history records check is required for certification as an EMT, and the bill will allow the issuance of provisional certification for 90 days while the records check is being processed. He explained that a name-based criminal history record check is still required for provisional certification. Senator Morse noted that the bill will allow individuals from outside of the state to quickly fill jobs. He responded to questions from Senator Tochtrop regarding whether the bill applies to paramedics.

10:57 AM --
Chris Howes, representing the Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

10:58 AM --
Howard Paul, Executive Director, Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill, noting that large employers of EMTs receive many of their applications from out-of-state individuals. He stated that there is currently a shortage of qualified personnel to fill EMT positions in Colorado, and that the fingerprint-based records check causes backlogs in the processing of EMT certifications.

11:02 AM --
Rosemary Singer, Human Resources Manager for Metro Ambulance, testified that her organization has experienced difficulty filling positions for EMT services and that many applications for these positions come from out of state.

11:05 AM --
James Manson, Denver Health Paramedic Division, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the current certification situation puts Colorado at a competitive disadvantage recruiting paramedics compared with other states.


11:07 AM

Senator Morse gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:HB09-1275
TIME: 11:07:31 AM
MOVED:Morse
MOTION:Refer House Bill 09-1275 to the Committee on Finance. The motion failed on a 1-7 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Carroll M.
No
Lundberg
No
Mitchell
No
Morse
Yes
Newell
No
Schultheis
No
Tochtrop
No
Boyd
No
Not Final YES: 1 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB09-1275
TIME: 11:08:32 AM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Reconsider the previous motion to refer House Bill 09-1275 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Carroll M.
Lundberg
Mitchell
Morse
Newell
Schultheis
Tochtrop
Boyd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB09-1275
TIME: 11:08:41 AM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Refer House Bill 09-1275 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a 8-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Carroll M.
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Morse
Yes
Newell
Yes
Schultheis
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Boyd
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


11:09 AM

Senator Boyd made announcements related to the committee's schedule. The committee recessed.