Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-030

Date: 02/05/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-030

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 09-030 to the Committee of the W	PASS

01:33 PM -- Senate Bill 09-030

Senator Keller introduced Senate Bill 09-030. The bill concerns the Child Mental Health Treatment Act. A fact sheet concerning the bill was distributed to the committee (Attachment A). Senator Keller explained the provisions of the Child Mental Health Treatment Act which allows families to access residential treatment services for their child without requiring that the children be declared dependent or neglected. The bill extends the repeal of the act to July 1, 2019, and clarifies certain reporting requirements. Senator Keller responded to questions from Senator Lundberg regarding the funding for the act.

01:39 PM -- Bill Bane, Colorado Department of Human Services, described the Child Mental Health Treatment Act, stating that prior to the act, families could usually access residential treatment services for their children only through a dependency and neglect action. He described how services are accessed through the provisions of the act, depending upon whether or not the child is Medicaid-eligible. Services are also paid through private insurance, parental payments, and Supplemental Security Income payments. He stated that if a child is requesting residential care under the act and the request is denied, the family may appeal the decision, both at the provider level and at that department level. He stated that Senate Bill 07-230 improved the program by allowing children to receive intensive services pursuant to the act while remaining in their family home.

01:46 PM -- Todd Marendino, Colorado Department of Human Services, described the bill's requirement for Behavioral Health Organizations serving children receiving Medicaid to report certain information to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which must forward the information to the Department of Human Services. Senator Keller responded to questions from Senator Schultheis regarding whether children who qualify for services pursuant to the act are Medicaid-eligible. Senator Keller explained that the bill is not expanding the program, but rather continuing it for 10 more years.

01:51 PM -- Margie Grimsley, Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health - Colorado Chapter, stated that residential care is sometimes required for severely mentally ill children. She stated services through the act were not available, services would be still be provided, but through the child welfare system or the juvenile justice system. She emphasized that children served under the act have a very high need for services. She responded to questions from Senator Newell regarding whether there is a waiting list for the program.

01:57 PM -- Amanda Callahan, Mental Health America of Colorado, stated the organization has helped families access services through the act.

01:59 PM -- Marlene Fish, National Alliance on Mental Illness, testified regarding her family's experiences with mental illness.

02:01 PM -- Dr. Skip Barber, Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, testified regarding the services provided through the act. He stated that the acuity of the children served through the act's provisions is high, and that a number of families have benefitted from the program. He stated that the program is family-friendly. Dr. Barber responded to questions from Senator Schultheis regarding community-based care for children.

02:09 PM -- Sheryle Hutter, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

02:10 PM

Senator Keller gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	SB09-030
TIME:	02:10:29 PM
MOVED:	Boyd
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-030 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Excused
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

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