h_hie_2016a_2016-02-18t13:35:08z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/18/2016

01:35 PM -- HB 16-1185



Representative Moreno, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1185. The bill creates the 2016 Birth Certificate Modernization Act. The act requires the state registrar within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to issue new birth certificates to any person born in Colorado who has a gender different from the gender denoted on that person's birth certificate. To do so, the state registrar must receive:

• a written request, signed under penalty of law, from the person, or the person's parents, guardian, or legal representative if he or she is a minor; and
• a statement, signed under penalty of law, from a medical or mental health care provider licensed in good standing stating that the person has undergone surgical, hormonal, or other treatment for the purpose of gender transition or that the person has an intersex condition. This statement must also specify that in the provider's professional opinion the person's gender designation should be changed. The state registrar may contact the medical or mental health care provider to verify the statement.

If a new birth certificate is issued, the certificate must reflect any legal name change that had been made before, simultaneous to, or after the change in gender designation. The state registrar may not disclose information relating to a gender correction unless required in order to conduct official business. Any new birth certificate issued by the state registrar will supercede the original birth certificate and will not be marked as amended. Persons who currently reside in Colorado but who were born in another state or in a foreign jurisdiction may request a decree from a court in Colorado if such a decree is required to issue an amended birth certificate in the place of their birth.



01:40 PM



Representative Moreno answered questions from the committee. Representative Klingenschmitt provided a handout (Attachment A) to the committee.



160218 AttachA.pdf



01:44 PM -- Brad Bergford, representing himself, testified in opposition of the bill. He provided a handout (Attachment B) to the committee. Mr. Bergford answered questions from the committee.



160218 AttachB.pdf



01:50 PM



Representative Moreno answered to questions from the committee. Mr. Bergford answered questions from the committee.



02:04 PM



Committee discussion with Mr. Bergford ensued.



02:18 PM



Representative Moreno answered questions from the committee.



02:24 PM -- Rebecca Messal, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Messal and Representative Moreno answered questions from the committee.



02:34 PM -- Stephen Ong, Reformation Baptist Church, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Ong answered questions from the committee.



02:39 PM -- Sara Connell, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Connell answered questions from the committee.



02:44 PM -- Ben Taylor, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Taylor answered questions from the committee.



02:48 PM -- Dana Erpeldiy, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Erpeldiy answered questions from the committee.



02:56 PM -- Todd Garrity, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Garrity answered questions from the committee.



03:01 PM -- Dr. Anna Wegleitner, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Wegleitner answered questions from the committee.



03:09 PM -- Jenna Clinchard, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



03:11 PM -- Jude Clinchard, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



03:13 PM



The committee members made comments.



03:16 PM -- Eric Kluzek, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:21 PM -- Shari Zabel, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



03:25 PM -- Lara MacWaters, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



03:29 PM -- Frankie Tritch, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:32 PM -- Dave Montez, One Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



03:35 PM



Representative Moreno discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment C). Representative McCann stated that the committee would wait to vote on amendment L.001 until the missing committee members returned. Representative Moreno provided closing remarks about the bill.



160218 AttachC.pdf



03:38 PM



Committee members made comments about the bill.

03:45 PM



Committee members made comments about the bill.

03:47 PM



Representative McCann recessed the committee.