Legislative Roundup #4: What We’re Watching

With the introduction of the long appropriations bill in the House this week, legislators are in the thick of budget discussions. The bill heads to the Senate next week, where legislators will continue their debate over the proposed state budget package.

Our legislative blog next week will provide a detailed breakdown of what this year’s proposed budget will mean for health and health care in Colorado. In the meantime, our team at CHI continues to track the progress and introduction of health-related legislation.  Here are bills that we are watching.

Bills New to Our Roundup (see our last roundup for other bill summaries):

House Bill 14-1257: Performance Audit Health Benefit Exchange
Sponsors: Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R), Rep. Dan Nordberg (R), Sen. David Balmer (R), Sen. Steve King (R)
Status: Failed Senate Health and Human Services Committee

• This bill would have granted the Office of the State Auditor the authority to conduct a full performance audit of Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s health insurance market. Now, only a limited audit is allowed.

House Bill 14-1336: Long Appropriations Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Crisanta Duran (D), Sen. Pat Steadman (D)
Status: Passed House second reading, amended

• Annual legislation to set the budget for the State of Colorado and agencies within its executive, legislative and judiciary branches.

Updated Status on Bills We’ve Been Watching:

House Bill 14-1045: Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment
Sponsors: Rep. Dianne Primavera (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D), Sen. Larry Crowder (R)
Status: Passed House Appropriations, referred amended to House floor

House Bill 14-1051: Developmental Disability Services Strategic Plan
Sponsors: Rep. Sue Schafer (D), Rep. Lois Landgraf (R), Sen. John Kefalas (D), Sen. Larry Crowder (R)
Status: Signed by governor

House Bill 14-1108: Copayments for Physical Rehabilitation Services
Sponsors: Rep. Dianne Primavera (D), Sen. Lois Tochtrop (D)
Status: Sent to governor

House Bill 14-1253: Recommendations Civil Commitment Review Task Force
Sponsors: Rep. Beth McCann (D), Sen. Linda Newell (D)
Status: Passed House committee, referred amended to House floor

House Bill 14-1263: Tobacco Products to Persons Under Twenty-One Years
Sponsors: Rep. Cheri Gerou (R), Rep. Beth McCann (D), Sen. John Kefalas (D), Sen. Steve King (R)
Status: Failed House Finance Committee

House Bill 14-1288: Student Immunizations Prior to School Attendance
Sponsors: Rep. Dan Pabon (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D)
Status: Passed House, assigned to Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee

House Bill 14-1301: Safe Routes to School Program State Funding
Sponsors: Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush (D), Andrew Kerr (D)
Status: Passed House committee, referred amended to House Appropriations

Senate Bill 14-016: CDPHE Regulate Freestanding Emergency Centers
Sponsors: Rep. Dominick Moreno (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D)
Status: Passed Senate committee, referred amended to Senate floor

Senate Bill 14-032: Alternative Health Care Providers Treat Children
Sponsor: Rep. Lori Saine (R), Sen. Kevin Lundberg (R)
Status: Passed Senate, assigned to House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee

Senate Bill 14-050: Financial Assistance in Colorado Hospitals
Sponsors: Rep. Dominick Moreno (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D)
Status: Passed Senate committee, referred amended to Senate Appropriations

Senate Bill 14-144: Family Medicine Residency Programs in Rural Areas
Sponsors: Rep. Joann Ginal (D), Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D), Sen. Irene Aguilar (D)
Status: Passed Senate committee, referred to Senate Appropriations

Senate Bill 14-151: Nursing Home Innovations
Sponsors: Rep. Dave Young (D), Sen. Lois Tochtrop (D)
Status: Passed Senate Appropriations, referred to Senate Finance Committee

We will continue to monitor the progress of these and other bills. Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @CHI_butcherk for more updates from the Capitol this session.