Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force (08/18/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY POVERTY REDUCTION TASK FORCE

Date:	08/18/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:03 AM to 03:43 PM	Boyd	*
		Gagliardi	X
Place:	LSB A	Hudak	*
		Kagan	*
This Meeting was called to order by		Scheffel	E
	Representative Kefalas	Summers	E
		Waller	X
This Report was prepared by		White	X
		Sandoval	X
		Kefalas	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Opening Remarks Leg Council Presentation Department of Human Services Department of Health Care Policy and Financing Department of Public Health and Environment Department of Higher Education Department of Education Department of Labor and Employment Public Testimony Closing Remarks		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

09:03 AM -- Opening Remarks

The task force was called to order. Representative Kefalas, chair, made opening remarks regarding the day's order of business, and certain objectives of the task force. Representative Kefalas also updated the task force on progress made by the task force and its subcommittees.

09:09 AM -- Legislative Council Staff Presentation on Department Surveys

Mr. Bo Pogue, Legislative Council Staff, described the memorandum summarizing state programs that serve to alleviate poverty or provide economic opportunity for low-income Coloradans (a copy is on file with Legislative Council Staff). The memorandum and copies of the department surveys were distributed to the members of the task force. Mr. Pogue discussed the survey and the organization of the memorandum, and indicated how programs were selected for inclusion. He thanked the departments for their help compiling the memorandum. Mr. Pogue responded to questions from Senator Sandoval regarding the tables in the memorandum. Representative Kefalas asked for information on the rate of response from departments and on follow-up steps taken by Legislative Council Staff. Discussion continued regarding the Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

09:19 AM -- Department of Human Services

Representative Kefalas provided remarks regarding the information the task force was seeking to address during the departmental presentations. Ms. Karen Beye, Executive Director, and Ms. Sara Marsh, Legislative and Fiscal Analyst for the Colorado Works Program, Department of Human Services, briefed the committee on the department's programs that address poverty and economic opportunity issues. Committee members received a briefing document summarizing the programs (Attachment A). Ms. Beye walked the task force through the briefing document, discussing the department's offices and programs, including programs providing assistance in the area of home heating, refugee services, and youth corrections.

09:29 AM

Ms. Beye continued to brief the committee on programs administered by the Department of Human Services, including programs that serve youth, those with behavioral health issues, and those in need of assistance with housing. Ms. Beye also discussed the mission and objectives of the department and its programs as it seeks to serve certain populations, and discussed certain issues facing low-income persons. Ms. Beye then discussed how certain programs, such as the food stamp program, serve vulnerable populations.

09:40 AM

Ms. Beye continued to brief the task force on the economic opportunity and poverty alleviation programs administered by the Department of Human Services, focusing on collaborative efforts between the department and other entities. Ms. Beye responded to questions regarding plans on the part of the department to address proposed state budget cuts, including a proposal by the Governor to institute furlough days for state employees. Ms. Beye responded to further questions regarding the proposed closures of or curtailment of services at a number of department-administered institutions that provide mental health services.

09:51 AM

Discussion continued regarding the potential closure of a number of mental health institutions. Ms. Beye responded to questions regarding the number of programs administered by the Department of Human Services, and the amount of funding committed to the programs. Ms. Beye responded to further questions regarding the impact of Referendum C, passed during the 2005 election, on the department's budget. Ms. Beye returned to briefing the committee on the department's programs, including Colorado Works/TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).

10:03 AM

Ms. Beye continued to brief the task force on Colorado Works/TANF, and then discussed other programs administered by the department in conjunction with other entities through the Strategic Use Fund. Ms. Beye also discussed the issues of the use of metrics to measure poverty, how to measure the success rates of programs, and the need for collaboration between entities that address poverty. Ms. Beye responded to questions regarding the education-related programs administered by the Department of Human Resources, and the subject of meaningful data reporting as it relates to serving low-income children. Ms. Beye responded to further questions regarding programs administered by multiple agencies that target the same populations and issues.

10:14 AM

Ms. Beye responded to questions regarding programs administered by the department that target teen pregnancy, and past and current efforts to evaluate program successes, including TANF. Discussion ensued regarding the potential for collaboration between the City and County of Denver and the Department of Human Services. Discussion followed regarding the status of efforts to improve the Colorado Benefits Management System. Discussion turned to the self-sufficiency standard and its use in conjunction with the TANF Program.

10:25 AM

Discussion continued regarding the use of the self-sufficiency standard to measure program success, and the potential for using the standard to more efficiently use poverty reduction resources. Discussion followed regarding the ability to track TANF clients to measure program success.

10:32 AM

The committee recessed.

10:46 AM -- Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Ms. Joan Henneberry, Director, and Ms. Nancy Dolson, manager of safety net programs, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, briefed the committee on the economic opportunity and poverty reduction programs administered by the department. Committee members received a packet providing background on the department and its activities (Attachment B), an update on health care reform (Attachment C), and two documents providing information on certain state programs and how to apply for them (Attachments D and E). Ms. Henneberry provided background on the nexus between the department's functions and poverty reduction, and the department's functions overall. Ms. Henneberry also discussed departmental efforts to streamline its operations and assist clients in navigating its provider systems. Ms. Henneberry responded to questions regarding the department's plans for responding to potential state budget cuts, and the impact of the cuts on the populations served by the department.

10:58 AM

Discussion continued regarding the potential impact of state budget cuts on departmental programs, including Medicaid. Ms. Henneberry responded to questions regarding collaboration between the departments of Health Care Policy and Financing and Human Services, and waivers granted by the federal government for the Medicaid program. Discussion followed regarding the federal waiver process.

11:09 AM

Discussion ensued regarding the Colorado Benefits Management System, and the ability of multiple agencies and clients to interface with the system. Discussion followed regarding the impact of potential state budget cuts on the programs administered by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, and the department's plan to mitigate these cuts.

11:19 AM

Discussion continued regarding departmental efforts to mitigate potential state budget cuts, and budgeting for certain programs that provide health care coverage such as Medicaid and Children Health Plan Plus (CHP+). The discussion included efforts to provide coverage for additional members of the uninsured population. Ms. Henneberry responded to questions regarding the populations covered by the Medicaid and CHP+ programs. Discussion followed regarding efforts to improve program efficiencies, and the importance of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing in combatting poverty.

11:33 AM -- Department of Public Health and Environment

Dr. Ned Calonge, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Public Health and Environment, briefed the committee on the programs administered by the department that serve to alleviate poverty and provide economic opportunities for low-income persons. Dr. Calonge explained how the programs address these issues. Dr. Calonge responded to questions regarding the nexus between smoking and poverty, and efforts to evaluate the success rate of programs such as the Health Disparities Grant Program.

11:44 AM

Dr. Calonge responded to questions regarding populations served by the department's grant programs, and current and potential collaborations between the department and other entities in administering the Health Disparities Grant Program. Discussion ensued regarding success evaluation and collaboration pertaining to the Nurse Home Visitor Program. Dr. Calonge responded to questions regarding the factors used to measure the Nurse Home Visitor Program, and the benefits of using such a program to serve a wider population.

11:55 AM

Discussion continued regarding the efficacy of the Nurse Home Visitor Program. Discussion followed regarding funding priorities for preventive care programs. Discussion ensued regarding services provided under the Refugee Services Program. Discussion followed regarding a federal program that serves health care needs in urban neighborhoods, and the need to use available resources efficiently.

12:03 AM

The task force recessed for lunch.

01:11 PM -- Department of Higher Education

The task force returned to order. Mr. Andrew Carlson, Budget and Financial Aid Director, Department of Higher Education, Mr. Scott Mendelsberg, Executive Director of Colorado GEAR UP, and Mr. Kett Winsor, Lamar Community College, briefed the task force on the programs administered within the department and higher education institutions that help to alleviate poverty and promote economic opportunity for low-income Coloradans. Task force members received a one-page handout detailing certain key information pertaining to higher education in the state (Attachment F), and a packet of presentation slides regarding the TRiO programs (Attachment G). Mr. Carlson discussed higher education in Colorado and its impact on poverty reduction. Mr. Carlson responded to questions regarding the median income in the state, and how the department tracks graduation rates.

01:22 PM

Discussion continued regarding the college graduation rate in Colorado, and the ability to measure the success rates of higher education institutions, along with consideration of funding invested in financial aid. Mr. Mendelsberg provided background on the Colorado GEAR UP Program, its mission, its successes, and its challenges.

01:34 PM

Mr. Mendelsberg continued to brief the task force on the GEAR UP program, and efforts to apply the program to beneficial work force outcomes. Mr. Mendelsberg responded to questions regarding the applicability of GEAR UP to private schools and home schooling, and the scope of the program both geographically and population-wise. Mr. Mendelsberg responded to further questions regarding the history of the program, and the potential continuation of the program in Colorado. Mr. Winsor briefed the task force on the TRiO programs, based on the slides in Attachment G, with an emphasis on the conduct of the program at Lamar Community College.

01:44 PM

Mr. Winsor continued to brief the task force on the TRiO programs. Mr. Winsor responded to questions regarding the ways in which Lamar Community College measures the effectiveness of the TRiO programs. Mr. Mendelsberg responded to questions regarding the eligibility criteria for GEAR UP, and the effectiveness of the P-20 Council in transitioning students to college.

01:51 PM -- Department of Education

Dr. Jeanette Cornier, Assistant Commissioner, and Ms. Dana Scott, Coordinator for the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Program., both of the Department of Education, briefed the task force on the poverty alleviation and economic opportunity programs administered by the department. Committee members received a packet of presentation slides (Attachment H), and the department's 2009 Forward Thinking Progress Report (Attachment I). Dr. Cornier first discussed the department's mission and goals. Dr. Cornier responded to questions regarding the need to remediate students at the post-secondary level when students are not ready for college.

02:01 PM

Dr. Cornier continued to brief the committee on the Department of Education's mission and goals, and how the department addresses poverty. Dr. Cornier responded to questions regarding how the department addresses students who are not meeting baseline scholastic requirements, and how individual schools are held accountable for lack of student performance. Discussion ensued regarding the options available for holding schools accountable.

02:11 PM

Discussion continued regarding school accountability for underachieving students, and the resources available to failing schools. Dr. Cornier responded to questions regarding flexibility at the federal level for addressing failing schools. Dr. Cornier then continued with the task force briefing, including a discussion of pending education reforms under the federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. Discussion ensued regarding future plans for the state's alternative education campuses.

02:22 PM

Ms. Scott discussed particular poverty reduction-related programs administered by the Department of Education, including the Title 1, preschool, school nutrition, and McKinney Vento programs. Ms. Scott responded to questions regarding the ability to track successes in alleviating homelessness through the McKinney Vento Program, and the potential for tracking homeless students as they progress through the education system.

02:32 PM

Ms. Scott continued to brief the task force on department-administered programs and efforts, including dropout prevention, closing the achievement gap, the Expelled and At-risk Student Services Grant Program, and the School Counselor Corps Grant Program.

02:36 PM -- Department of Labor and Employment

Ms. Alice Johnson, Mr. Bob Summers, Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, and Ms. Kathryn Otten, Director of Workforce Programs, Department of Labor and Employment, briefed the task force on the programs administered by the department that serve to alleviate poverty and promote economic opportunity. Task Force members received a packet of slides detailing the department's programs and activities (Attachment J), and the 2007 Workforce Investment Act annual report for Colorado (Attachment K). Mr. Summers first briefed the task force on Colorado's workers' compensation system. Ms. Johnson then briefed the task force on the state's unemployment insurance system.

02:47 PM

Ms. Johnson continued to brief the task force on unemployment insurance. Ms. Johnson responded to questions regarding a preference on the part of clients for the unemployment insurance benefits delivery system in place prior to recent changes, and the use of Chase Bank for benefits delivery. Discussion ensued regarding client dissatisfaction with unemployment benefits delivery. Ms. Otten briefed the committee on the state's work force development programs. Ms. Otten responded to questions regarding the level at which those served by the Workforce Investment Act found employment in the last year. Ms. Otten responded to further questions regarding the definition of "livable wage" used by the Department of Labor and Employment.

02:58 PM

Ms. Otten responded to questions regarding the use of the self-sufficiency standard at workforce centers, and how self-sufficiency is measured. Ms. Otten also explained certain performance measures used by the department as they pertain to child educational development. Discussion ensued regarding the ability of the Department of Labor and Employment to help those trapped in inter-generational poverty to attain employment, and the programs administered by the department that serve those with limited employment backgrounds.

03:10 PM

Discussion continued regarding services available to the chronically unemployed, and how the department attracts this population to such services. Ms. Otten returned to briefing the task force on work force programs administered by the department, including programs that serve the corrections population. Ms. Otten responded to questions regarding the continuation of the Stop the Revolving Door Program once the current funding source is depleted.

03:20 PM

Ms. Otten briefed the committee on the department's veterans programs and the Trade Adjustment Act Program.

03:23 PM -- Public Testimony

The following persons testified before the task force:

03:23 PM -- Ms. Susana Avelar-Recinos, representing the Denver Center for Crime Victims, presented information concerning economic issues affecting crime victims. She discussed funding provided to crime victims and described clients served by her organization. Ms. Avelar-Recinos described victimizations that can lead to the loss of public benefits, as well as victimizations that occur due to a lack of adequate benefits. The organization also provides services to individuals attempting to leave a violent relationship who may require financial assistance. Responding to questions from Representative Kagan, Ms. Avelar-Recinos described the Denver Center for Crime Victims, a nonprofit organization, and its relationships with existing state programs. Responding to questions from Representative Waller, Ms. Avelar-Recinos discussed funding sources for her organization and steps taken to protect against fraud.

03:32 PM

Ms. Avelar-Recinos responded to questions from Representative Kefalas concerning measures of success. Representative Kagan asked about a state crime victims organization fund. Ms Avelar-Recinos indicated that the fund exists but is run by judicial districts. Discussion continued between Representative Kagan and Ms. Avelar-Recinos.

03:35 PM -- Ms. Tammy Bellofatto-Sundberg, who represented the Free Coalition before its funding was cut in January 2009, discussed her experiences as a felon in the workforce. Ms. Bellofatto-Sundberg addressed the use of background checks by employers. She offered the following recommendations:

change how people outside of law enforcement see a Colorado Bureau of Investigation report, and only show convictions;
change the laws that make businesses liable for the actions of their employees, holding people accountable for their own actions. This will open up a lot of jobs for convicted felons; and
make the tax credit for hiring convicted felons easier to apply for. Most companies spend more than the $2,400 tax credit in filling out forms. One possibility is to raise the amount of the tax credit to that of the TANF tax credit, spreading it out over a couple of years of employment.

Ms. Bellafatos-Sundberg responded to questions from Senator Hudak regarding job searches for felons. Representative Kefalas made additional comments.

03:42 PM -- Closing Remarks

Representative Kefalas thanked everyone for their participation. He indicated that the focus for the next meeting, September 8th, will be business. He encouraged committee members to provide input on the agenda.

03:43 PM

The committee adjourned.