h_hie_2016a_2016-02-25t13:34:47z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/25/2016

02:19 PM -- HB 16-1164



Representative Pabon, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1164. Under current law, all students attending school or university in Colorado must provide documentation that they have received all mandatory vaccinations, unless the student is otherwise exempt from the requirement due to a medical condition or religious or personal belief. Exemption forms currently must be submitted to the student's school.



This bill requires that the exemption documents instead be submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Under the bill, the CDPHE must develop exemption forms and track vaccination rates for schools. In addition, the bill removes the authority of the State Board of Health to provide additional exemptions through regulations. The bill also makes several conforming amendments and technical updates to state statutes governing mandatory vaccinations.



02:25 PM



Representative Pabon answered questions from the committee.



02:49 PM



Committee discussion with Representative Pabon ensued.



02:52 PM -- Cyndy Odenwald, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Odenwald answered questions from the committee.



02:58 PM -- Rachel Metcalf, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Metcalf answered questions from the committee.



03:10 PM -- Dr. Matt Dorighi, Colorado Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Dorighi answered questions from the committee.



03:13 PM -- Pam Long, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. She read a statement from her son, Josh Long. Ms. Long answered questions from the committee.



03:28 PM -- Nicole Rogers, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



03:32 PM -- Caroline Marrow, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Marrow answered questions from the committee.



03:41 PM



Representative Pabon answered questions from the committee.



04:04 PM -- Dr. Larry Wolk, CDPHE, testified in support of the bill.



04:07 PM -- Diana Herrero, CDPHE, testified in support of the bill.



04:10 PM



Dr. Wolk and Ms. Herrero answered questions from the committee.



04:30 PM



Committee discussion and questions continued regarding the merits of the bill.



04:40 PM



The committee continued to engage Dr. Wolk and Ms. Herrero in discussion about the provisions of the bill and the current practices of CDPHE regarding the collection of immunization data.



04:50 PM -- Liz Clark, Colorado Association of School Nurses, testified in support of the bill.



04:55 PM -- Brittany Kuhns, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



05:00 PM -- Dr. Jeff McCloskey, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.



05:06 PM -- Sharon Anable, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



05:15 PM -- Dr. John Douglas, Tri-County Health Department and the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Douglas answered questions from the committee.



05:23 PM -- Alexandra Fickenscher, Voices for Vaccines, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Fickenscher answered questions from the committee.



05:28 PM



Representative Pabon answered questions from the committee.



05:28 PM -- Holly Sperry Calvert, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. She provided a handout (Attachment B) to the committee.



160225 AttachB.pdf



05:35 PM -- Sarah Carrasco, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. She provided a handout (Attachment C) to the committee. Ms. Carrasco answered questions from the committee.



160225 AttachC.pdf



05:47 PM -- Jonna Levine, Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.



05:50 PM -- Yael Cohen, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



05:55 PM -- Doug Aden, American Constitution Party, testified in opposition to the bill.



05:57 PM -- Denice Dirks, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



06:01 PM -- Lynette Kilpatrick, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



06:02 PM -- Theresa Wrangham, National Vaccine Information Center, testified in opposition to the bill. She provided two handouts (Attachments D and E) to the committee. Ms. Wrangham answered questions from the committee.



160225 AttachD.pdf160225 AttachE.pdf



06:12 PM



Representative Pabon addressed questions from the committee.



06:15 PM



Ms. Wrangham answered questions from the committee.



06:19 PM -- Steve Craig, Christian Home Educators of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Craig answered questions from the committee.



06:27 PM -- Peter Bockenthien, representing himself, testified in opposition to this bill.



06:31 PM -- Missy Winefeldt, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Winefeldt answered questions from the committee.



06:37 PM -- Heather Grooms, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



06:41 PM -- Samantha Franzen, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. She provided a handout (Attachment F) to the committee.



160225 AttachF.pdf



06:46 PM



Representative Pabon answered questions from the committee. Ms. Herrero returned to the table to respond to questions from the committee.



06:51 PM



Ms. Franzen made further comments to the committee.



06:52 PM -- Phil Silberman, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. He provided a written statement (Attachment G) to the committee.



160225 AttachG.pdf



06:57 PM -- Francis Sincere, Colorado Coalition for Vaccine Choice, testified in opposition to the bill. He provided a handout (Attachment H) to the committee. Mr. Sincere answered questions from the committee.



160225 AttachH.pdf



07:06 PM -- Kathy Sincere, Colorado Coalition for Vaccine Choice, testified in opposition to the bill. She provided two handouts (Attachments I and J) to the committee.



160225 AttachI.pdf160225 AttachJ.pdf



07:10 PM -- Vesta Insam, Colorado Coalition for Vaccine Choice, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Insam answered questions from the committee.



07:14 PM -- Jennifer Pieroni, Colorado Coalition for Vaccine Choice, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Pieroni answered questions from the committee.



07:18 PM -- Nathan Wenneker, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.



07:23 PM -- Mary Hendrick, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



07:28 PM -- Joan Van Dewater, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



07:33 PM -- Mike Finnicum, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.



07:38 PM



Representative Joshi made comments.



07:38 PM -- Michael Nicoletti, CDPHE, testified in support of the bill. He read a statement from Colorado Association of School Boards. Mr. Nicoletti answered questions from the committee.



07:45 PM



Kristen Forrestal, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from the committee.



07:46 PM



Mr. Nicoletti answered questions from the committee.



07:56 PM



Committee discussion with Mr. Nicoletti ensued.



08:09 PM



Ms. Herrero returned to the table to respond to questions.



08:17 PM



Mr. Nicoletti responded to additional questions from the committee.



08:19 PM



Representative Pabon made additional comments.



08:20 PM



Representative Klingenschmitt discussed amendment L.008 (Attachment K). Representative Pabon made comments about amendment L.008.



160225 AttachK.pdf

08:22 PM



Representative Joshi explained amendment L.004 (Attachment L). Representative Pabon commented on amendment L.004. The committee discussed amendment L.004. Representative Ryden requested a title ruling on the amendment.



160225 AttachL.pdf

08:29 PM



Representative Klingenschmitt explained amendment L.006 (Attachment M). The committee discussed amendment L.006. Representative Ryden requested a title ruling on the amendment. The chair determined that amendment fit under the bill's title. Committee discussion about amendment L.006 continued.



160225 AttachM.pdf

08:36 PM



Representative Pabon explained amendment L.001 (Attachment N).



160225 AttachN.pdf

08:39 PM



Committee members made comments about the bill.



08:44 PM



Representative Pabon made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee member made comments about the bill.

08:54 PM



The committee adjourned.