2006 Legislative Analyses

Bill or issue	What it concerns	Health District Board action	Date considered
Proposed Changes to the Fort Collins Smoking Ordinance	The Fort Collins City Council is considering changes to the clean indoor air ordinance that might allow the continued existence of hookah bars and the establishment of similar businesses.	The Board voted to support indoor smoking laws that allow no exceptions for any public establishments.	Oct. 2
Potential Change in Special District Elections	Legislation may be filed next session to move special district elections from May to November. The Special District Association and others may do some lobbying this fall and winter in anticipation of such an occurrence.	Analysis prepared for informational purposes. No action taken.	June 27
SB 208 Summary	Health Care Reform Committee Bill	The Board voted to support the bill.	April 12
HB 1145 Summary	Concerning the Development of a Comprehensive Response to the Methamphetamine Problem in Colorado	The Board voted to support the bill.	April 12
SB 192 Summary	Concerning a Task Force on Drunk Driving	The Board voted to support the bill.	April 12
HB 1171	Concerning Alcohol- and Drug-Related Driving Offenses	The Board voted to support the bill.	April 12
SB 145	Concerning the Authority of a Local Government to Impose a Fee on Certain Medical Providers for Purposes of Obtaining Federal Financial Participation Under Medicaid for Unreimbursed Medicaid Costs “Healthy Cities”	SB 145 creates a mechanism for home health agencies and non-governmental hospitals to recoup unreimbursed Medicaid costs. Additional funding for these agencies and hospitals could encourage greater participation in the Medicaid program. For this reason, the Health District Board of Directors voted to support SB 145.	March 28
SB 44	Concerning the Provision of Health Care Services to Specified Low-Income Adults	SB 44 provides approximately $30 million in funding for the provision of health care to uninsured, indigent adults. The Health District recognizes the need for comprehensive health care coverage including access to specialists and prescription drugs for this population of adults. In the absence of a mechanism to provide truly comprehensive health care coverage for low-income adults, the bill provides additional revenue for community health centers. The Health District hopes that the community health centers will use the additional revenue to expand capacity and also encourages hospital emergency departments to refer and connect people to the community health centers for their primary care needs. For these reasons, the Health District Board of Directors voted to support SB 44.	March 28
HB 1270	Concerning the Authority of Public School Personnel to Make Determinations of Eligibility for Certain Public Medical Benefits	HB06-1270 would make it easier for families to enroll their children in Medicaid or CHP+ by allowing them to apply through schools, which will help us move towards achieving an important goal of institutionalizing enrollment in CHP+. For this reason, the Health District Board of Directors voted to strongly support HB06-1270.	March 28
SB 090	Staff presented an overview of SB06 090 to the Board of Directors. A piece of this bill requires a police officer, local official, or local government employee who has probable cause to believe that a person is not legally present in the United States to report the person to the federal immigration and customs enforcement office. The Board noted that this would hinder local governments' ability to protect the health of the public as those with preventable communicable diseases may not seek treatment for fear of being deported. The Board would like to see this bill limited to law enforcement officers only.	The Board voted to strongly oppose the bill.	March 1
HB 1175	Concerning Enactment of the “Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act”, and, in connection therewith, Prohibiting Smoking in Indoor Enclosed Areas, Including Places of Employment	The Board voted to strongly support the bill as written as of Feb. 15, 2006. The Board will not support the bill if bars and taverns are exempted.	Feb. 15
HB 1125	Concerning the Enforcement of an offense involving failure to use an appropriate motor vehicle restraining device.	An amendment to this bill was made upon second reading which states that the driver of a motor vehicle cannot be cited unless the driver was stopped by a law enforcement officer "who, prior to the stop, clearly observed the violation and is able to articulate that the restraining device was unfastened." The Board voted to strongly support the bill, but only without the inclusion of the new amendment stated above. Since Feb. 15, further analysis and communication with a representative of the Colorado State Patrol were conducted. The Colorado State Patrol feels that the amendment that was added (noted above) would not deter officers from enforcing this bill and are very supportive of the bill with the amendment. Based on this new information, the Board amended their position to strongly support with the inclusion of the amendment stated above.	Feb. 15
SB 67	Concerning Suicidal Behavior among Students in Higher Education	The Board voted to support the bill.	Feb. 15
SB 005	Concerning Mental Health Services Coverage Under Health Benefit Plans	The Board noted that although this bill will not solve the problem of providing services for the many people who are uninsured, it will help remove a potential barrier for some of those who have health coverage. The Board voted to strongly support the bill.	Feb. 15
HB 1070	Concerning Demonstration Programs for Juvenile Justice Mental Health Family Advocates	The Board noted that while the demonstration projects sound worthwhile, there remain many gaps in mental health and substance abuse funding that could potentially be higher priorities given the current extreme funding limitations. The Board voted to monitor the bill.	Feb. 15
SB 099	Concerning Prohibition Against Certain Vaccines Containing Mercury	The Board voted to strongly oppose the bill.	Feb. 15