h_hie_2017a_2017-02-09t13:36:18z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/09/2017

Location: RM 271

07:03 PM -- HB 17-1085



Representative Neville presented House Bill 17-1085 to the committee. The bill requires all abortion clinics in the state to register with the Attorney General within 30 days of the effective date of this bill. Abortion clinics are defined as any non-hospital facility that performs three or more abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy in any month or any abortions in the second or third trimesters. Registrations are valid for one year and must be renewed annually. The bill also requires the Attorney General to conduct an initial on-site visit to each facility filing a registration, and then conduct at least one inspection annually thereafter.



The bill requires abortion clinics to provide certain information about the number of abortions performed, the methods used, the number of infants born alive at the clinic, and transportation of women and born-alive infants to hospitals. The bill requires the Attorney General to establish policies and procedures for annual inspections, which must include a determination of whether an abortion clinic is conducting abortions after 20 weeks gestation; a review of medical equipment, hazardous waste disposal, and sanitation procedures; and a check on compliance with medical privacy laws. The Attorney General is also required to develop a procedure for receiving and investigating complaints received from the public. All registration records are public records and available for inspection under the Colorado Open Records Act.



The Attorney General is authorized to levy civil penalties on clinics that do not operate in a medically safe manner, fail to have appropriate equipment, fail to transport born-alive infants to the hospital, or violate any other provision of law. The Attorney General may also order that a clinic be closed if violations are found. Civil penalties may be imposed up to $5,000, and the bill specifies the factors that must be considered by the Attorney General when determining whether to fine or close an abortion clinic. The Attorney General and local district attorneys may institute a legal action to enforce the collection of civil penalties, and women or infants injured by the actions of an abortion clinic may file a civil suit to recover damages.





07:14 PM -- Sheryll Bolton, representing Life Choices, testified in support of the bill and presented a handout (Attachment I).



170209 AttachI.pdf



07:19 PM -- Denise Maes, representing the Americans for Civil Liberties Union, testified against the bill.



07:34 PM -- Wendy Smith, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and presented a handout (Attachment J).



170209 AttachJ.pdf



07:50 PM -- Dr. Emily Schneider, representing herself, testified against the bill.



08:07 PM -- Kristi Brown, representing the Charlotte Lozier Institute, testified in support of the bill.



08:17 PM -- Anna Crawford, representing herself, testified against the bill.



08:22 PM -- Gigi Owen, representing Life Choices, testified in support of the bill.



08:25 PM -- Debra Burton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



08:30 PM -- Katie Mills read the testimony of Peg Perl against the bill.



08:33 PM -- Joyce Zounis Brown read the testimony of Eileen Martin Marie Smith in support of the bill.



08:35 PM -- Karla Gonzales Garcia, representing Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, testified against the bill.



08:48 PM -- Yvonne Williams, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



08:50 PM -- Karen Middleton, representing NARAL Colorado, testified against the bill.



08:54 PM -- Sadie Squier, representing herself, testified against the bill.



08:57 PM -- Amy Rosette, representing Abortion Story Project, testified against the bill.



08:59 PM -- Matt Niedzielski, representing Pikes Peak Citizens for Life, testified in support of the bill.



09:02 PM -- Eleanor Cabell, representing herself, testified against the bill.



09:05 PM -- Nancy Duplan, representing herself, testified against the bill.



09:10 PM -- Dr. Thomas Perille, representing the Protect Life Coalition, testified in support of the bill and presented a handout (Attachment K).



170209 AttachK.pdf



09:18 PM -- Scott Horak, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



09:22 PM -- Dr. Aaron Lazorwitz, representing himself, testified against the bill.



09:24 PM -- Former Representative JoAnn Windholz, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



09:28 PM -- Denise Archuleta, representing Democrats for Life, testified in support of the bill.