Date: 03/23/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1314

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1314 to the CommitteePASS



01:31 PM -- House Bill 09-1314

Representative Judd presented House Bill 09-1314 which allows the State Board of Human Services to promulgate rules related to standards for security in youth day treatment centers.

01:35 PM -- Roger Esquibel, Division of Child Care, Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Esquibel described situations in which a day treatment center would have the need to use locked quiet rooms. He also explained the criteria a facility would have to meet in order to use locked quiet rooms, such as certain lighting requirements in the room, the presence of a window in the room, and the amount of time a child may be left in a locked room. He stated there are several oversight requirements a facility must meet in order to use locked quiet rooms.

01:42 PM -- Annie Green, Deputy Director, and Johanna Wohl, resident psychologist, Laradon Hall , spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Green described the population that Laradon Hall serves and stated that the facility is licensed by the Department of Human Services as a day treatment center. She stated that the facility closed the residential treatment center last year, but kept the day treatment center active. She stated that the facility received a waiver from the department to continue to use locked quiet rooms. Ms. Green stated that last spring, the department informed her that the facility would no longer be able to use the locked quiet rooms at the facility.

01:45 PM -- Ms. Wohl, resident psychologist, Laradon Hall, provided information to the committee regarding the population at Laradon Hall. She stated that most of the individuals attending the facility have very low cognitive abilities. She stated that with this particular population, locked quiet rooms are a better way to calm a child due to their sensitivity to too much stimulus. She stated that a physical hold or restraint does not help the child to self-soothe, and can actually elevate and worsen the situation. She also commented on the increase level of injuries to staff since discontinuing the use of locked quiet rooms.

01:49 PM -- Ms. Green stated that Laradon Hall has developed an action plan with regard to implementing locked quiet rooms and looks forward to continuing its relationship with the department.
BILL:HB09-1314
TIME: 01:52:13 PM
MOVED:Kefalas
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1314 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS