Date: 04/01/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1275

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Reconsider the previous motion to refer House Bill
Refer House Bill 09-1275 to the Committee on Finan
Refer House Bill 09-1275 to the Committee on Finan
Pass Without Objection
FAIL
PASS



10:51 AM -- House Bill 09-1275

Senator Morse introduced House Bill 09-1275. The bill allows the Department of Public Health and Environment to issue provisional certifications for emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Senator Morse explained that a fingerprint-based criminal history records check is required for certification as an EMT, and the bill will allow the issuance of provisional certification for 90 days while the records check is being processed. He explained that a name-based criminal history record check is still required for provisional certification. Senator Morse noted that the bill will allow individuals from outside of the state to quickly fill jobs. He responded to questions from Senator Tochtrop regarding whether the bill applies to paramedics.

10:57 AM --
Chris Howes, representing the Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

10:58 AM --
Howard Paul, Executive Director, Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill, noting that large employers of EMTs receive many of their applications from out-of-state individuals. He stated that there is currently a shortage of qualified personnel to fill EMT positions in Colorado, and that the fingerprint-based records check causes backlogs in the processing of EMT certifications.

11:02 AM --
Rosemary Singer, Human Resources Manager for Metro Ambulance, testified that her organization has experienced difficulty filling positions for EMT services and that many applications for these positions come from out of state.

11:05 AM --
James Manson, Denver Health Paramedic Division, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the current certification situation puts Colorado at a competitive disadvantage recruiting paramedics compared with other states.


11:07 AM

Senator Morse gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:HB09-1275
TIME: 11:07:31 AM
MOVED:Morse
MOTION:Refer House Bill 09-1275 to the Committee on Finance. The motion failed on a 1-7 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Carroll M.
No
Lundberg
No
Mitchell
No
Morse
Yes
Newell
No
Schultheis
No
Tochtrop
No
Boyd
No
Not Final YES: 1 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB09-1275
TIME: 11:08:32 AM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Reconsider the previous motion to refer House Bill 09-1275 to the Committee on Finance. 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:HB09-1275
TIME: 11:08:41 AM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Refer House Bill 09-1275 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a 8-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Carroll M.
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Morse
Yes
Newell
Yes
Schultheis
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Boyd
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



11:09 AM

Senator Boyd made announcements related to the committee's schedule. The committee recessed.