Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology (04/27/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY

Date:	04/27/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:03 PM to 02:16 PM	Foster	X
		Harvey	X
Place:	SCR 354	Mitchell	*
		Scheffel	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Tochtrop	X
	Senator Veiga	Heath	X
		Veiga	X
This Report was prepared by
	Hillary Smith
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1338		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

02:03 PM -- House Bill 09-1338

Senator Bacon presented House Bill 09-1338, concerning modifications to state insurance laws to comply with recently enacted federal laws. The applicable laws are:

Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008—includes language that clarifies that small group policies are required to provide a specified level of coverage for mental illness and that large group plans are to provide coverage comparable to that provided for physical illness.

Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act—expands the protections that prevent genetic information from being used to deny access to insurance coverage.
Michelle’s Law—provides for continued eligibility for health coverage for a dependent under age 25 enrolled in post-secondary education, who leaves school due to a medical condition.
Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009—expands the definition of late enrollee to allow an individual who becomes eligible for premium assistance to enroll in a group health benefit plan within 60 days. This also allows an individual who becomes ineligible for Medicaid or the state Children's Basic Health Plan to enroll in a group health plan.

Senator Bacon explained that Colorado risks the loss of federal funds and the pre-emption of its state laws if the laws do not comply with the new federal laws. He stated that the changes provided for in the bill need to be enacted this year. Senator Bacon distributed prepared Amendments L.001 and L.002 (Attachments A and B, respectively) and spoke about their effects.

The following individuals testified regarding the bill:

02:05 PM -- Peg Brown, representing the Division of Insurance, Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified in favor of the bill. She explained the bill's necessity and described the federal laws the bill is complying with and their effective dates.

02:10 PM -- Jim Hall, representing the American Council of Life Insurers, testified in favor of the bill.

02:11 PM -- Rich Gebhardt, representing America's Heath Insurance Plans (AHIP), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Gebhardt distributed a letter from Dianne Bricker, Regional Director of AHIP, concerning the bill and making suggestions to clarify it (Attachment C). He explained AHIP's position on the bill and expressed a desire to work with the sponsor to clarify the bill. Responding to questions from Senator Foster, Senator Bacon said that he had just received the letter and would discuss its suggestions with Mr. Gebhardt and the Division of Insurance.

02:13 PM

Senator Bacon provided closing remarks and responded to questions from Senator Scheffel regarding the amendments.


BILL:	HB09-1338
TIME:	02:13:59 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Moved prepared Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Foster
	Harvey
	Mitchell
	Scheffel
	Tochtrop
	Heath
	Veiga

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1338
TIME:	02:15:23 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Moved prepared Amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Foster
	Harvey
	Mitchell
	Scheffel
	Tochtrop
	Heath
	Veiga

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1338
TIME:	02:15:35 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1338, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Foster	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Scheffel	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Veiga	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:16 PM

The committee adjourned.