Date: 04/29/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1341

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 09-1341 to the Committee of the WPASS



10:47 AM -- House Bill 09-1341

Senator Tapia introduced House Bill 09-1341. The bill continues the licensing and regulation of psychiatric technicians by the State Board of Nursing until July 1, 2019. He stated that the licensing program for psychiatric technicians has been valuable and that psychiatric technicians are specially trained to administer medicine and work with a population that has severe mental health needs. He described the educational and training process for psychiatric technicians.

10:52 AM -- Dr. John DeQuardo, Superintendent of the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, testified that psychiatric technicians are vital to the health care team at the hospital. He stated that psychiatric technicians are able to develop a therapeutic relationship with patients, which only comes as a result of significant training. He responded to questions from Senator Lundberg regarding the necessity of licensing psychiatric technicians. Senator Tochtrop commented on the licensing of psychiatric technicians. A fact sheet concerning the bill was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).

09SenateHHS0429AttachA.pdf

11:02 AM -- Gidget Kern, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the work of psychiatric technicians.

11:05 AM -- Paul Barela, representing the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, described his employment as a psychiatric technician, including the administration of medications.

11:07 AM -- Bill Ortiz, representing the Colorado Psychiatric Technicians Association, described the use of psychiatric technicians at the Pueblo Mental Health Institute. He spoke in support of the continued licensing of psychiatric technicians, and stated that Colorado has high standards of care for individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities. He responded to questions from Senator Lundberg regarding how individuals become licensed as psychiatric technicians.


11:13 AM

Senator Tapia gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:HB09-1341
TIME: 11:15:10 AM
MOVED:Tochtrop
MOTION:Refer House Bill 09-1341 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 5-2 roll call vote, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Carroll M.
Yes
Lundberg
No
Mitchell
Excused
Morse
Yes
Newell
Yes
Schultheis
No
Tochtrop
Yes
Boyd
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS