A67ED5D2130596D787258C3C006B6EA4 Hearing Summary

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For HB25-1188

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date Feb 25, 2025
Location HCR 0112

HB25-1188 - Referred to House Appropriations

Attachment Tag

File Name

Attachment C

Attachment C.pdf

Attachment D

Attachment D - Combined.pdf

12:33:28 PM

The primary bill
sponsor, Representative Froelich, introduced House Bill 25-1188 to the
House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill makes changes to the
reporting requirements for child abuse and neglect. The bill specifies
that child abuse or neglect must not be based solely on a parentâs or
childâs indigence, unavailability of accessible services, unhoused status,
or disability. It also modifies requirements for mandatory reporters, including
requiring reports to be submitted as soon as possible and within 24 hours,
except for reports involving dating violence or sexual assault to youth,
which must be made within 72 hours; not requiring reports when information
is received outside of a personâs professional capacity or when they are
connected to an attorney representing the party involved in a child abuse
or neglect case; removing victim advocates from the list of mandatory reporters;
prohibiting reports based solely on a familyâs race, ethnicity, socioeconomic
status, or disability; and prohibiting delegation of reporting to someone
without firsthand knowledge of the suspected child abuse or neglect. For
entities that employ a mandatory reporter, the bill allows them to develop
reporting protocols, as long as they comply with state law and regulations.
It also prohibits them from deterring or preventing a person from filing
a report.

12:43:23 PM

The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee.

12:50:10 PM

Jordan Steffen, representing
Child Protection Ombudsman's Office, testified in support of the bill.
Stephanie Villafuerte, representing Child Protection Ombudsman's Office,
testified in support of the bill. Ashley Chase, representing Office of
the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill. Jennifer
Eyl, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

01:01:35 PM

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

01:12:54 PM

Kathy Underhill,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ida Drury, representing
Kempe Foundation, testified in support of the bill. Jill Cohen, representing
Office of Respondent Parents' Counsel, testified in support of the bill.

01:20:36 PM

Dr. Heather Thompson,
representing Elephant Circle, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Lauren Smith,
representing Soul 2 Soul Sisters, testified to amend the bill. April Jenkins,
representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified to amend
the bill. Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual
Assault, testified to amend the bill. Riti Chikkerur, representing Our
Children Matter Most Inc., testified to amend the bill.

01:33:02 PM

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

01:40:16 PM

Courtney Sutton,
representing Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified to
amend the bill. Ms. Jessica Dotter, representing Colorado District Attorneys'
Council, testified to amend the bill. Carl Roberts, representing Colorado
Resilience, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Kenneth Stelman, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

A handout was
provided to the committee (Attachment C).

01:50:42 PM

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

01:53:49 PM

Dr. Donna Wilson,
representing Chapin Hall, testified in support of the bill.

01:57:07 PM

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

02:02:48 PM

Roshan Kalantar,
representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Additional written
testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment D).

02:06:08 PM

The bill sponsor provided closing comments on the bill.

02:10:11 PM

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.

02:15:45 PM	Motion	Refer House Bill 25-1188 to the Committee on Appropriations.
	Moved	Lieder
	Seconded	Gilchrist

	Bradley	No
	Brooks	No
	English	Yes
	Feret	Yes
	Garcia Sander	No
	Gilchrist	Yes
	Hamrick	Yes
	Johnson	No
	McCormick	Yes
	Rydin	Yes
	Stewart K.	Yes
	Lieder	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Final	YES: 9 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

HB25-1188 - Referred to House Appropriations

Colorado General Assembly