s_hhs_2017a_2017-01-26t13:31:09z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 01/26/2017

Location: SCR 354

02:04 PM -- SB 17-011

Senator Lambert, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-011. The bill creates a technical demonstration forum within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to review transportation needs for people with disabilities throughout the state and study how advanced technologies can improve access. The following agency directors and superintendents, or their designees, must serve on the forum:



• CDLE (chair);

• Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (vice-chair);

• Public Utilities Commission;

• Office of Information Technology;

• Department of Human Services;

• Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; and

• the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind.



The bill lists a variety of stakeholders and transportation and technology service providers that the forum is required to invite to present. A center for independent living in or near El Paso or Teller Counties is specified as the meeting place. The bill allows for the use of tele- or video-conferencing. No staff support is provided in the bill.



The forum may recommend legislation. It may also recommend that CDLE enter into a contract with a technology developer, transportation network company (e.g. Uber or Lyft), taxicab service, or other technological or transportation business solution provider to conduct a pilot program in El Paso and/or Teller County to be completed prior to December 1, 2017.



The forum must meet before July 1, 2017, and may meet as many times as deemed necessary by the chair. No later than December 31, 2017, it must publish a report of its research and findings on CDLE's website and provide copies to the Governor, the leadership of the General Assembly, and to members of the Joint Budget Committee. It repeals July 1, 2018.



Senator Lambert responded to questions from the committee and discussed Amendment L.001 (Attachment D).



170126 AttachD.pdf



02:19 PM



Committee discussion and questions continued.



02:24 PM -- Patrick Teegarden, CDLE, testified in a neutral position on the bill.





02:27 PM -- Pamela Yeager, the Independence Center, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment E). Committee questions and comments followed.



170126 AttachE.pdf



02:37 PM



Committee questions and comments continued.



02:39 PM -- Joe Cunningham, Discover Goodwill, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Cunningham responded to questions from the committee. Committee discussion followed.





02:47 PM -- Maureen Welch, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.