s_hhs_2017a_2017-05-03t10:35:46z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 05/03/2017

Location: SCR 354

11:09 AM - HB 17-1306



Senator Coram, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1306 and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment A). This bill authorizes the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to establish a grant program to test for lead in drinking water in public schools that receive drinking water from public water systems. CDPHE may specify testing protocols and guidelines and provide technical assistance. A grant recipient is required to contribute at least 10 percent of the grant amount toward the cost of testing the recipient's water supply. CDPHE is required to give priority to the oldest elementary schools. CDPHE may develop and apply secondary criteria established through rules promulgated by the Water Quality Control Commission. CDPHE is required to provide an annual report to the public health committees of the General Assembly and apply its best efforts to complete all testing and analysis by June 30, 2020.



170503 AttachA.pdf



A public school that receives a grant is required to either enter into a contract that requires compliance with CDPHE's testing protocols when having the testing conducted or to follow CDPHE's testing protocols and provide the test samples to CDPHE's laboratory or a laboratory certified by CDPHE. The public school is required to provide the test results to its local public health agency, its water supplier, its school board, and CDPHE.



The grant program is conditioned upon funding being available in the Water Quality Improvement Fund. The bill includes an appropriation of $300,000 for grants and $140,000 for implementing the grant program for FY 2017-18 and authorizes the same funding amounts through FY 2019-20.



10:38 AM -- Dr. Dan Nicklas, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.



10:42 AM -- Stephanie Kuhn, CDPHE, responded to questions from the committee.



10:46 AM -- Nicole Head, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



10:49 AM -- Amy Winterfeld, Colorado Public Health Association and Local Public Health Officials, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Winterfeld responded to questions.



10:55 AM -- Dianna Orf, Colorado Water Congress, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



11:00 AM -- Ron Falco, CDPHE, responded to questions from the committee.



11:07 AM -- Nicole Graziano, CDPHE, responded to questions from the committee.



11:09 AM



Mr. Falco and Ms. Graziano dialogued with the committee.



11:12 AM -- Matt Cook, Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in support of the bill.



11:15 AM



Senator Coram made closing comments.



11:17 AM



Senator Crowder distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment B).



170503 AttachB.pdf