Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (04/29/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Date:	04/29/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:47 AM to 11:34 AM	Carroll M.	*
		Lundberg	X
Place:	SCR 356	Mitchell	*
		Morse	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Newell	X
	Senator Boyd	Schultheis	X
		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:
HB09-1341 HB09-1349		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

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).

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

11:18 AM -- House Bill 09-1349

Senator Heath introduced House Bill 09-1349. The bill provides a special election period to certain individuals who were involuntarily terminated from employment between September 1, 2008, and February 16, 2009, to choose health insurance continuation coverage. The bill also extends by one day the eligibility period for enrollment in CoverColorado. Senator Heath distributed amendment L.002 (Attachment B).

11:19 AM -- Dayle Axman, representing the Division of Insurance, noted that the recent federal stimulus bill made several changes to laws for workers covered by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). She explained that House Bill 09-1349 allows employees of group health plans subject to state continuation laws to receive the same benefits as provided by the stimulus act, specifically the opportunity to choose continuation coverage during a special enrollment period, and to receive a subsidy towards the cost of the coverage. Ms. Axman responded to questions from Senator Lundberg regarding how the subsidy is funded.

11:24 AM -- Kelly Shanahan, representing the Colorado Consumer Health Institute, testified in support of the bill, stating that the bill levels the playing field for employers of all sizes. She stated that the bill will help families better weather the economic downturn. Ms. Axman returned to the table to respond to questions from Senator Schultheis regarding how long the subsidy will last.

11:29 AM -- Linda Meric, 9 to 5, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the bill will allow the state to utilize federal support during the economic crisis. She stated that the bill will provide support for unemployed workers and their families, and will also help the state's economy.


BILL:	HB09-1349
TIME:	11:31:01 AM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment B). 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:	HB09-1349
TIME:	11:32:33 AM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1349, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 7-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:33 AM

The committee recessed.