Colorado’s Citizen Legislature – July 2020

By Doris Beaver ~

Colorado’s legislature adjourned on June 15th, 2020. As covered in the June column, the later than statute-set adjournment date (May 6th this year) was allowed by the Colorado Supreme Court ruling.

This July column provides what happened or did not happen to the legislation written about in the February through May columns. 

House Bill 20-1060:

HB 1060 was the bill titled “Conversion of Human Remains to Basic Elements Within A Container Using an Accelerated Process.” The bill was postponed indefinitely on March 12th. (Readers most likely recall, “postponed indefinitely” is also known as “killed,” no pun intended.)

Senate Bill 033:

SB 033would have helped Medicaid recipients with expenses who become ineligible for the program due to age or other reasons. The legislative declaration stated, “ . . . until such time as working adults with disabilities who meet certain criteria are eligible to continue receiving Medicaid benefits under federal law with federal matching dollars, it is necessary to the lives and independence of working adults with disabilities to allow these adults to continue participating in the state Medicaid buy-in program without federal financial participation through the payment of premiums and use of state-only dollars.”

SB 033 passed its third reading on June 10th (laid over daily on June 8th and June 9th). No further action was taken by adjournment date, and thus the bill was “Deemed Lost.”

House Bill 20-1140: 

 HB 1140 concerned direct primary care service for Medicaid recipients. Current law provides, “health care providers that treat Medicaid clients are prohibited by state and federal law from accepting payment from Medicaid clients outside of the terms set by the Medicaid program.” HB 1140, if passed, would have made an exception to this prohibition for Medicaid clients who choose to purchase direct primary care services or enter into a direct primary care agreement with a provider. HB was postponed indefinitely on March 12th. 

House Bill 20-1197:  

HB 1197 concerned an annual grant to the Colorado 2-1-1 collaborative, a number approved in 2002 in recognition of the need to promote effective access to human  services in Colorado. The 211 human services referral service is dedicated to providing individuals and families with referral information to obtain non-emergency services for those in need – assistance in paying rental and utility bills, food and clothing banks, mental health assistance, GED and English as a second language classes, to name a few. HB 1197 passed third reading, but no further action was taken prior to the June 15th legislature adjournment. Thus, it was “Deemed Lost.”

House Bill 20-1190: 

HB 1190 concerned exemption from payment of vehicle ownership taxes and registration fee by veterans with qualifying disabilities for only one vehicle owned by the veteran. Except for a committee report, no action was taken on the bill after it was introduced so it was “Deemed Lost” when the legislature adjourned on June 15th.

Senate Bill 20-182: 

SB 182 would have renamed lifesaver programs to wanderer recovery programs and expanded the current grant program administered by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Participants receive an electronic device that can be used to assist in locating the participants in cases where they are missing, or generally utilized for individuals with developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s and other mental impairments. SB 182 was postponed indefinitely on June 10th. 

House Bill 20-1331: 

HB 1331 concerned transportation for persons who are enrolled in a Medicaid waiver program that included services for:

• elderly, blind and disabled; 
• individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
• community mental health supports; 
• brain injury;
• children with autism;
• children’s home and community bases services; and
• spinal cord injury.

HB 1331 had a committee report on March 12th, but no further action was taken prior to adjournment of the legislature. Thus, the bill went down as “Deemed Lost.”

Today is a wrap for what can only be described as a most unusual legislative session. We can hope that by the time the 2021 session begins, the COVID-19 will again be on the way to oblivion.  

Doris BeaverDoris Beaver is a free lance journalist who writes from her home high in the Colorado Rocky Mountains on senior issues, politics, ethics and environmental issues. Visit her website www.dorisbeaver.com, or e-mail her at doris@dorisbeaver.com.