Date: 01/29/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1086

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachmen
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1086 to the Committee		Pass Without Objection
PASS



04:54 PM -- House Bill 09-1086

Representative McGihon presented House Bill 09-1086 which will license social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and addiction counselors. She clarified for the committee that the bill does not put an additional requirements on employers of social workers, professional counselors, or addiction counselors. Representative McGihon spoke to amendment L.001 (Attachment B). There was some discussion regarding the continuing education and the self-assessment piece of the bill.

09HouseHHS0129AttachB.pdf

05:07 PM -- Elyse Montgomery, National Association of Social Workers, Colorado Chapter, testified in support of the bill. She spoke to the continuing competency model that the bill incorporates. She stated that licensing social workers will increase safety for the various individuals that are under the care of social workers. She also stated that by licensing social workers, it will elevate social workers as competent mental health professionals.

05:16 PM -- Wendy Lou, President, Colorado Association of Marriage and Family Therapist, testified in support of the bill. She stated that licensing social workers will improve the quality of care, help promote best practices, and reduce complaints.

05:17 PM -- Dr. April Young, President, Colorado Counseling Association, licensed professional counselor (LPC), testified in support of the bill. She concurred with previous testimony. There was some discussion regarding the self-assessment piece of the bill.

05:20 PM -- Dr. Steve DeMure, Society of Addiction Counselors of Colorado, licensed professional counselor (LPC), testified in support of the bill.

05:30 PM -- Rose McCool, Director, Division of Registrations, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), testified in support of the bill. She stated that the DORA is a proponent of the continuing competency model proposed in the bill. She responded to several questions asked by committee members including current licensure fees for social workers and any new fees under the bill. She clarified the self-assessment piece of the bill. Representative Kerr asked if DORA can absorb the costs of this program. Ms. McCool stated that the department cannot absorb the cost and that the moneys collected currently go towards running the program as it is. Representative Kerr referred to the hiring freeze and Ms. McCool stated they would be asking for an exemption to hire the necessary 1.2 FTE to run the program.

05:46 PM -- Devorah Kappers, ADAPT, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill. She stated that knowledge is power. She stated that people who help with mental health should be held to the same standards that a doctor of physical health is held to.


05:49 PM

Representative McGihon spoke to prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). She provided a wrap-up to the bill.
BILL:HB09-1086
TIME: 05:52:48 PM
MOVED:McGihon
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
Gerou
Green
Kefalas
Kerr J.
McGihon
Nikkel
Primavera
Swalm
Gagliardi
Riesberg
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:HB09-1086
TIME: 05:53:16 PM
MOVED:McGihon
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1086 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 10-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Gagliardi
Excused
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS