S_HHS_2019A 04/03/2019 10:54:38 AM Committee Summary

Senator Danielson and Senator Ginal presented Senate Bill 18-172 and distributed a handout (Attachment A). Under current law, a person who commits caretaker neglect against an at-risk person commits a class 1 misdemeanor. This bill increases the penalty for caretaker neglect to a class 6 felony and expands crimes against an at-risk person by creating new offenses for unlawfully abandoning or confining an at-risk person.

Committee questions and discussion followed.

Maggie Conboy, Denver District Attorney, testified in support of the bill.

Tim Lane, Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.

Chris Merkle, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Deborah Hogfeldt, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Susan Pringle, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Cary Johnson, First Judicial District, testified in support of the bill.

Christiano Sosa, The Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Dawn Howard, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Maureen Welch, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Luanne Fleming, representing herself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Tristan Gorman, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment B).

Arlene Miles, Colorado Health Care Association, testified in support of the bill if amended.

Kris Zumalt, Colorado Bar Association, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Senator Danielson distributed and discussed amendment L.002 (Attachment C).

Tim Lane return to the table to respond to committee concerns about the amendment. Committee discussion followed.

Senator Ginal made closing comments.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Senator Fields and Senator Gardner presented House Bill 18-1208.  This bill adds a licensed physical therapist to the definition of "health care provider" for the purposes of the required head trauma guidelines.  This allows a licensed physical therapist to evaluate a concussed youth athlete and provide clearance for the athlete to return to play.

Cameron MacDonald, Colorado Physical Therapist Association, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Nicole Miranda, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

David Bruton, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Kenda Fuller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 19-195 on March 21, 2019.  Public testimony was heard and the bill was amended and referred to the Appropriations Committee at that meeting.  The Appropriations Committee referred the bill back to the Health and Human Services Committee on March 29, 2019, for further amendments.



Senator Fields and Senator Gardner, bill sponsors, discussed amendment L.002 (Attachment D).  

 

Senator Fields, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1095 and distributed amendment L.013 (Attachment E).  The bill modifies supervision requirements for physician assistants.  It also modifies physician assistant representation on the Colorado Medical Board and its licensing panel.

Peggy Walsh, Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants, testified in support of the bill.

Alice Steiner, Colorado Community Health Network, testified in support of the bill.

Alyn Welch read the testimony of Dr. Todd Sweeny in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Christa Hobbs, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Kelly Erb, Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.