H_HI_2021A 02/24/2021 01:35:26 PM Committee Summary

Representative Ricks, bill sponsor, introduced House Bill 21-1033.  The bill adds health maintenance organizations (HMOs) as members of the Colorado Life and Health Insurance Protection Association.  It requires the board of the association to develop a methodology to allocate assessments for long-term care insurance written by an impaired or insolvent insurer between health insurance and life insurance companies.  The size of the board is increased from a minimum of five to a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine to a maximum of eleven members.  The bill makes the collection of a surcharge on health insurance premiums to recoup assessments voluntary rather than mandatory.  Representative Ricks requested the committee postpone HB21-1033 indefinitely.

Representative Froelich, bill sponsor, introduced HB21-1022.  This bill creates the Colorado Surrogacy Agreement Act to govern surrogacy agreements.  Specifically, the act:

• creates eligibility requirements to execute an agreement;
• defines the duties for parties of the agreement;
• specifies the process for creating a surrogacy agreement, the content of such agreements, and parties’ right to legal representation;
• establishes how agreements may be changed as a result of death or a change in marital status;
• outlines the process and obligation of parties when terminating an agreement; and
• authorizes the court to issue orders recognizing or enforcing surrogacy agreements, and to determine parentage.

Submitted written testimony on the bill can be found in Attachment A.

The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee.

Jennifer Ayotte, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Althea O'Shaughnessy, representing Colorado Fertility Advocates, testified in support of the bill.

The witness responded to questions from the committee.

Judy Beccera, representing herself, testified in favor of bill.

Ms. Beccera responded to questions from the committee.

Laura Koupal, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She responded to committee questions.

Shanna Shushereba, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Amy McDevitt, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Leea DiPentino, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Judith Hoechst, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Christina Ewoldt, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Mary Sheohart, representing herself, testified about the bill.

Committee members made comments about public testimony.

Representative Froelich made closing comments on the bill.

Representative Mullica, bill co-sponsor, introduced House Bill 21-1005. The bill creates the Health Care Services Reserve Corps Task Force in the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the creation of a Colorado Health Care Services Reserve Corps program.  The purpose of the program is to cross-train medical professionals to serve during emergencies and disasters.  The task force will include representatives from certain state agencies and governor-appointed representatives of health professions, the public health field, and related fields.  The task force will also explore offering student loan debt relief as a benefit for program participants.  Task force members serve without compensation, beginning in the fall of 2021, and the task force’s first progress report to the legislature is due in January 2023.

Representative Caraveo, bill co-sponsor, made opening remarks on HB21-1005.

Submitted written testimony on the bill can be found in Attachment C.

Amber Burkhart, representing Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of the bill.

Colleen Casper, representing Colorado Nurses Association, testified in support of the bill.

Andrea Stojsavljevic, representing Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Kay Rosenthal, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Judith Burke, representing Colorado Nurses Association, testified in support of the bill.

Greg Hill, representing Colorado Dental Association, testified to amend the bill. The witness responded to questions from the committee.

Jennifer Goodrum, representing Colorado Dental Association, answered questions from the committee.

Representative Mullica introduced and described amendment L.001 (Attachment D).

Representative Caraveo introduced and described amendment L.002 (Attachment E).

Representative Mullica introduced and explained amendment L.003 (Attachment F).

The bill sponsors provided closing remarks on the bill.

Committee members provided closing remarks on the bill.

Representative Lontine, bill sponsor, introduced HB21-1063. This bill updates the Credit for Reinsurance Model Act in Colorado insurance law to be consistent with the laws of other states.  The bill specifies the conditions under which a credit is allowed when reinsurance is ceded to an assuming insurer and requires the Commissioner of Insurance in the Department of Regulatory Agencies to create and publish a list of reciprocal jurisdictions and assuming insurers.  

 

Submitted written testimony on the bill can be found in Attachment G.

Michael Conway, Commissioner of Insurance, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Lontine provided closing remarks on the bill.