Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:02/09/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:30 PM to 03:00 PM
Acree
*
Gerou
X
Place:LSB A
Green
X
Kefalas
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Kerr J.
X
Representative Riesberg
McGihon
E
Nikkel
X
This Report was prepared by
Primavera
X
Kelly Stapleton
Swalm
X
Gagliardi
X
Riesberg
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB09-1178
HB09-1188
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to Appropriations


01:31 PM -- House Bill 09-1178

Representative Green presented House Bill 09-1178 which continues a task force created in 2008 under House Bill 08-1246 to study the establishment of a registry of caregivers who are deemed to have a substantiated allegation of wrongdoing against a person with a developmental disability. Representative Green spoke to House Bill 08-1246 which required the Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS) to convene a working group to make recommendations for the development of a plan to implement a registry of caregivers who have a substantiated allegation of exploitation, mistreatment, neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse of an individual with a developmental disability. Representative Green stated that the bill continues the task force. She stated that the task force has not completed the work and would like more time in order to be able to make recommendations on legislation regarding an adult abuse registry. Representative Green spoke to amendment L.001 and L.002 which allows the members of the task for to meet voluntarily versus mandating volunteers to meet monthly (Attachments A and B respectively).

09HouseHHS0209AttachA_20090211084433.pdf09HouseHHS0209AttachB_20090211084509.pdf

01:55 PM -- Jane Ritter, Office of Legal Services, clarified a question regarding the structure of the legislation.








01:56 PM -- Darla Stuart, Executive Director, Arc Aurora, Arc Plan, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Stuart spoke to the working group's activities to date. She provided a fact sheet concerning the bill to the committee (Attachment C). She stated that the bill formalizes the General Assembly's desire to address the vulnerabilities of the developmentally disabled population.

09HouseHHS0209AttachC_20090211084546.pdf

02:05 PM --
Jeremy Schupbach, Legislative Liaison, Alliance, testified in support of the bill. He stated that approximately 26 states have implemented a type of caregiver registry. Mr. Schupbach stated that the working group has more work to do before the task force can make recommendations to the DHS.

02:12 PM --
Cami Learned, CCB Partners, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Learned stated they are concerned with the composition of the task force because of the voluntary basis of the membership. She stated that some structural issues may need to be addressed in the bill.

02:20 PM --
Sheila Hicks, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill. She stated that she would like to see the bill be more inclusive of other vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or the physically disabled. She stated there are many caregivers who move from one population to the next, or from one county to another without any abuse substantiated, and continue to provide care and take advantage of vulnerable populations.

02:26 PM

Representative Green provided a wrap-up to questions from the committee.
BILL:HB09-1178
TIME: 02:29:16 PM
MOVED:Green
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Gagliardi
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kefalas
Kerr J.
McGihon
Excused
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB09-1178
TIME: 02:29:59 PM
MOVED:Green
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Primavera
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kefalas
Kerr J.
McGihon
Excused
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

BILL:HB09-1178
TIME: 02:31:31 PM
MOVED:Green
MOTION:Moved to refer amended House Bill 09-1178 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 10-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Primavera
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
McGihon
Excused
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS








02:35 PM -- House Bill 09-1188

Representative Ryden presented House Bill 09-1188 which modifies the Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act. The Michael Skolnik Transparency Act was passed in 2007 and requires licensed medical practitioners to disclose certain information to the State Board of Medical Examiners in the Department of Regulatory Agencies whenever they renew their license.

02:40 PM --
Judy Ham, President, United Cerebral Palsy Colorado, and testifying on behalf of Patty Skolnik, mother of Michael Skolnik, and Colorado Citizens for Accountability, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hamm provided a letter from Ms. Skolnik to the committee (Attachment D).

09HouseHHS0209AttachD_20090211084627.pdf


02:40 PM --
Dr. Ben Vernon, Colorado Medical Society (CMS), testified in support of the bill. Dr. Vernon stated that CMS supports the Medical Transparency Act. He stated that the bill enhances the original legislation (House Bill 07-1331). He stated that the requirements under the original legislation with regard to various reporting requirements needs modification. Dr. Vernon stressed the urgency of moving the bill quickly as the modifications need to be in place prior to the Department of Regulatory Agencies sending out physician's license renewal information.

02:51 PM --
Rose McCool, Director, Department of Regulatory Agency, responded to questions from the committee regarding the financing of the program.

BILL:HB09-1188
TIME: 02:53:34 PM
MOVED:Gagliardi
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment E). Representative Ryden explained the amendment. The motion passed without objection.

09HouseHHS0209AttachE_20090211084717.pdf
SECONDED:Kefalas
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kefalas
Kerr J.
McGihon
Excused
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:HB09-1188
TIME: 02:54:38 PM
MOVED:Kefalas
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment F). Representative Ryden explained the amendment. The motion passed without objection.

09HouseHHS0209AttachF_20090211084747.pdf
SECONDED:Kerr J.
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kefalas
Kerr J.
McGihon
Excused
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:HB09-1188
TIME: 02:55:41 PM
MOVED:Gagliardi
MOTION:Moved to refer amended House Bill 09-1188 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 10-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
McGihon
Excused
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




02:57 PM

The committee adjourned.