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S_HHS_2025A 02/20/2025 01:37:45 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date 02/20/2025
Attendance
Bright X
Carson X
Cutter X
Daugherty X
Frizell X
Jodeh X
Weissman X
Michaelson Jenet X
Mullica X
Time 01:37:45 PM to 05:45:13 PM
Place Old Supreme Court
This Meeting was called to order by Mullica
This Report was prepared by Jerard Brown
Hearing Items Action Taken
Sunset Hearing - Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee
Sunset Hearing - Dental Practice Act
Sunset Hearing - Community Integrated Health Care Service Agencies
HB25-1002 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
SB25-121 Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
SB25-150 Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations

Sunset Hearing - Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee -


01:37:54 PM  
Brian Tobias, representing
the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), provided an overview
of DORA's sunset review process.



Shelby Ross, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided
an overview of the General Assembly's sunset review process.



Mr. Tobias presented the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory
Committee sunset review report. All sunset review reports can be found
on DORA's website -https://coprrr.colorado.gov/archive-of-reviews.
01:49:49 PM  
Alexandra Haas, representing
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, was available to
answer committee questions.



Francile Beights,
representing Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, was
available to answer committee questions.


01:51:05 PM
 Motion Not introduce the bill as drafted.
Moved Michaelson Jenet
Seconded
Bright
Carson
Cutter
Daugherty
Frizell
Jodeh
Weissman
Michaelson Jenet
Mullica
Final YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection



Sunset Hearing - Dental Practice Act -


01:51:07 PM  
Ginny Brown, representing
DORA, presented the Dental Practice Act sunset review report. All sunset
review reports can be found on DORA's website -https://coprrr.colorado.gov/archive-of-reviews.
02:19:34 PM  
Alyssa Aberle, representing
Colorado Dental Hygienists' Association, testified to amend the bill. Laurie
Ghigleri, representing Colorado Dental Hygienist's Association, testified
to amend the bill. Dr. Jillian Stacey, representing themself, testified
to amend the bill. Dr. Kevin Patterson, representing themself, testified
to amend the bill.
02:28:29 PM  
Dr. Jeff Kahl, representing
themself, testified to amend the bill. Irina Nekhenzon, representing Delta
Dental of Colorado, testified to amend the bill. Courtney Justice, representing
Colorado Dental Hygienists Association, testified in support of the bill.
Dr. Stacey Robben, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.
Dr. Jesus Machado, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.
02:40:47 PM  
Ms. Sarah Tanner,
representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Dr. Krithika Baskaran,
representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Lisa Westhoff, representing
CO Dental Hygienists’ Association, testified to amend the bill. Dr. Rick
Mediavilla, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Dr. Jeff
Lodl, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.
02:52:00 PM  
Dr. Shaheen Moezzi,
representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Dr. Karen Foster, representing
themself, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Danielle Ford, representing
Colorado Dental Hygienists' Association, testified in support of the bill.
Dr. Ken Peters, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Dr.
Leah Schulz, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.
03:01:16 PM  
Dr. Rebecca Facy,
representing CSOMS, testified to amend the bill. Susan  Lontine, representing
Immunize Colorado, testified to amend the bill. Dr. Sam Delp, representing
Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions and Occupations,
was available to answer committee questions.
03:01:17 PM  
Senator Michaelson
Jenet explained amendment #1 (Attachment A).


03:09:41 PM
 Motion Move amendment #1 (Attachment A) as the bill.
Moved Michaelson Jenet
Seconded
Bright
Carson
Cutter
Daugherty
Frizell
Jodeh
Weissman
Michaelson Jenet
Mullica
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


03:10:41 PM
 Motion Introduce the bill as amended.
Moved Michaelson Jenet
Seconded
Bright Yes
Carson Yes
Cutter Yes
Daugherty Yes
Frizell Yes
Jodeh Excused
Weissman Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Mullica Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
03:10:42 PM  
Senators Mullica
and Michaelson Jenet were added as the primary bill sponsors.
03:11:05 PM  
Senators Cutter and
Frizell were added as co-sponsors.
03:11:06 PM  
Ms. Ross was approved
to make technical amendments.



Sunset Hearing - Community Integrated Health Care Service Agencies -


03:13:32 PM  
Ginny Brown, deputy
executive director, representing DORA, presented the Community Integrated
Health Care Service Agencies sunset review report. All sunset review reports
can be found on DORA's website -https://coprrr.colorado.gov/archive-of-reviews.
03:21:19 PM  
Jennifer Berman,
representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, was available to
answer committee questions.
03:22:36 PM  
Mr. Reuben Farnsworth,
representing Delta County Ambulance District, testified to amend the bill.
Mr. Todd Heinl, representing West Metro Fire Rescue, testified in support
of the bill. James McLaughlin, representing EMSAC, testified in support
of the bill. Ms. Annie Dorchak, representing Evergreen Fire and Rescue,
testified in support of the bill.
03:33:53 PM  
Timothy Dienst, representing
Ute Pass Regional Health Service District, testified in support of the
bill. Mr. John Seward, representing EMS Association of Colorado, testified
to amend the bill. Alice Harvey, representing Eagle County Paramedic Services,
testified in support of the bill. Dr. Jeremy DeWall, representing themself,
testified to amend the bill. Michelle Reese, representing Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment, was available to answer committee questions.


03:49:10 PM
 Motion Introduce the bill as drafted.
Moved Michaelson Jenet
Seconded
Bright Excused
Carson Yes
Cutter Excused
Daugherty Excused
Frizell Yes
Jodeh Yes
Weissman Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Mullica Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 0   EXC: 3   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
03:49:12 PM  
Senators Daugherty
and Jodeh were added as primary bill sponsors.
03:49:49 PM  
Senator Michaelson
Jenet was added as a co-sponsor.
03:50:14 PM  
Ms. Berman was approved for technical amendments.



HB25-1002 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
03:53:09 PM  
Senators Amabile and Pelton B. primary bill sponsors, presented House Bill 25-1002, which codifies and clarifies mental health parity requirements in state law. Specifically, the bill codifies the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act into state law; clarifies existing state law around mental health parity; and requires the use of clinical standards from select national organizations to ensure parity.
03:57:35 PM  
Alexis Alltop, representing
Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Wendy Bux, representing
Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Jake Swanton,
representing Inseparable, testified in support of the bill.
04:06:25 PM  
Jared Sonnenberg,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Lori Darnel, representing
National Association of Social Work, testified in support of the bill.
Dr. Ryan Burkhart, representing Colorado Counseling Association, testified
in support of the bill.
04:17:32 PM  
Dr. Mona Abaza, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Holly Winters, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Kate Rawlinson, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.
04:31:40 PM  
Dr. Beau Carubia,
representing Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the
bill. Evie Hudak, representing Colorado PTA, testified in support of the
bill.
04:38:01 PM  
Senator Pelton explained
amendment L.018 (Attachment B).
04:38:43 PM  
The committee discussed the amendment.


04:40:37 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.018 (Attachment B).
Moved Cutter
Seconded
Bright
Carson
Cutter
Daugherty
Frizell
Jodeh
Weissman
Michaelson Jenet
Mullica
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
04:41:05 PM  
The primary bill sponsors provided closing remarks.
04:43:58 PM  
Committee members provided closing remarks.


04:45:03 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1002, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Mullica
Seconded
Bright Yes
Carson Yes
Cutter Yes
Daugherty Yes
Frizell Yes
Jodeh Yes
Weissman Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Mullica Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB25-121 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
04:46:07 PM  
Senators Jodeh and Mullica, primary bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 25-121, which requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to reimburse health care facilities that provide vagus nerve stimulation therapy.
04:53:44 PM  
Adela Flores-Brennan, representing Colorado Health Care Policy and Financing Department, testified in opposition to the bill.
04:53:53 PM  
Timothy Sweeney,
representing Livanova, PLC, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Sara
Yerkey, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Aaron
Geller, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Marcee
Aude, representing Epilepsy Foundation of CO & WY, testified in support
of the bill.
05:05:19 PM  
Ms. Larissa Hill, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
05:09:06 PM  
Senator Jodeh explained
amendment L.002 (Attachment C).


05:09:37 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C).
Moved Jodeh
Seconded
Bright
Carson
Cutter
Daugherty
Frizell
Jodeh
Weissman
Michaelson Jenet
Mullica
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:09:38 PM  
The primary bill sponsors provided closing remarks.
05:11:22 PM  
Committee members provided closing remarks.


05:15:19 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-121, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Jodeh
Seconded
Bright No
Carson No
Cutter Yes
Daugherty Yes
Frizell No
Jodeh Yes
Weissman Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Mullica Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB25-150 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations

05:15:26 PM  
Senator Michaelson
Jenet, primary bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 25-150, which creates
the Fostering Success Pilot Program to increase graduation rates for youth
in foster care in the Department of Human Services.



Senator Michaelson
Jenet provided a memorandum to the committee (Attachment D).
05:23:36 PM  
Tori Shuler, representing
themself, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Tillie Elvrum, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Katie Wilberding-Cross,
representing Bridging The Gap, testified in support of the bill. Mr. John
Farnam, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
05:31:40 PM  
D'borah  Israel,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Roweena Naidoo,
representing Mile High United Way, testified in support of the bill. DJ
Summers, representing Common Sense Institute, testified in a neutral position
on the bill. Trevor Williams, representing Colorado Department of Human
Services, was available to answer committee questions.



Additional written
testimony was provided to the committee (Attachment E).
05:41:37 PM  
Senator Michaelson
Jenet explained amendment L.001 (Attachment F).


05:42:17 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment F).
Moved Michaelson Jenet
Seconded
Bright
Carson
Cutter
Daugherty
Frizell
Jodeh
Weissman
Michaelson Jenet
Mullica
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:42:18 PM  
Senator Michaelson Jenet provided closing remarks.
05:42:53 PM  
Committee members provided closing remarks.


05:45:08 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-150, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Michaelson Jenet
Seconded
Bright No
Carson No
Cutter Yes
Daugherty Yes
Frizell No
Jodeh Yes
Weissman Yes
Michaelson Jenet Yes
Mullica Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


05:45:13 PM   The committee adjourned.






The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 6, 2025, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 7, 2025 (unless otherwise specified). Details

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