Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-019

Date: 02/03/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-019

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Postpone Senate Bill 09-019 indefinitely. The mot	PASS

03:47 PM -- Senate Bill 09-019

Senator Betty Boyd, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-019, which establishes a pilot program to encourage local governments to change their zoning regulations to allow housing facilities for individuals who are mentally ill and who are involved with the criminal justice system. The following people testified about the bill:

03:49 PM -- Ms. Harriet Hall, representing the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System task force, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Hall explained the need for and possible cost-savings that can be realized by changing the current zoning regulations to accommodate residential housing facilities for adults with mental illness who are or have been involved in the criminal justice system. Ms. Hall said the bill will incentivize the change in zoning regulations for local governments.

04:05 PM -- Mr. Richard Doucet, representing the MACC task force, spoke in support of the bill and said access to housing is one of the largest barriers to success for the seriously mentally ill who are or have been involved in the criminal justice system.

04:08 PM -- Mr. Mike Kucero, representing the Aurora Mental Health Center, spoke in support of the bill and spoke about recidivism rates.

04:11 PM -- Ms. Gina Shimeall, representing the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System task force, spoke in support of the bill and explained the need for housing. Ms. Shimeall addressed a question about what is being done in other states to meet the housing needs of the mentally ill in the criminal justice system.

04:20 PM -- Mr. Steven Kopanos, representing Mental Health America of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. He explained that his organization supports the bill because it believes that the seriously mentally ill population is best served in its home community.

04:22 PM -- Commissioner Bob Gaiser, representing the City and County of Broomfield, spoke in support of the bill. Commissioner Gaiser addressed a question about why state legislation is needed when zoning regulations are a local control issue.

04:28 PM -- Mr. Terry Rogers, representing Lost and Found, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Rogers explained his organization's experiences with trying to relocate to a new facility. Discussion ensued about incentives for changing zoning regulations.

04:41 PM -- Ms. Karen Yarberry, representing Jefferson Hills, spoke in support of the bill and explained her experiences with zoning changes.

04:45 PM -- Mr. Howard Shiffman, representing Griffith Centers for Children, spoke in support the bill. Mr. Shiffman expressed his concern with the current system and said it is difficult to establish and maintain group homes in communities due to strict zoning regulations.

04:52 PM

Senator Boyd made some concluding remarks about the bill. She asked that the bill be postponed indefinitely because of its fiscal impact and the current economic climate. Discussion ensued. Discussion turned to the possibility of laying the bill over for future consideration.


BILL:	SB09-019
TIME:	05:03:55 PM
MOVED:	Hodge
MOTION:	Postpone Senate Bill 09-019 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Kester	Excused
	Lundberg	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Foster	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS