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Public Policy Report February, 2003
Submitted by Adoree Blair, Public Policy Chair
Activities concerning children and family bills through January-February (Please see the last month’s report): (New legislative action is typed in bold.)
HB 1024 by Rep Jahn “…Making Modifications to Certain Statutes Affecting Child Placement Agencies…” This bill had tremendous bi-partisan support, which brought counties and the state to the table to come up with solutions concerning standards and oversight of county foster care. The result is a very good bill. Rep. Jahn kept us all in the loop and helped us become part of the solutions. This bill has gone to Appropriations, because or its original fiscal note. All parties are working to see that note disappear.
HB 1037, “Concerning the Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect.” By Rep Romanoff and Senator Arnold: This bill clarifies in statute that social workers and other persons licensed to care for children are mandated reporters. This bill is out of committee and on the floor.
HB1004 by Rep. Rhodes, “…Amendment of the Crime of Child Abuse to Include Actions Related to the Manufacture of a Controlled Substance in the Presence of a Child, and Making an Appropriation…” This bill increases the penalty for manufacturing controlled substances or possession of methamphetamine precursors with the intent to manufacture in the presence of a child to a class 3 Felony. This bill had great support and is through committee and in Appropriations.
HB 1081 by Rep. Coleman and Sen. Takis, “Limiting Foster Care Abuses” – This bill requires that any relative of any county department cannot operate a foster home licensed by that county; requires that no person who is a relative of any officer, governing board member, or employee of a CPA cannot operate a foster home licensed by that CPA; requires that no board member, officer, owner, employee, etc., of a CPA cannot own any shares or interest in any property that will operate as a foster care home for that CPA; gives the state authority to deny, revoke or suspend the licenses of any CPA or county that violates this law. Allows counties to receive monies back from CPAs that have violated the terms of this law. This bill has been amended to enable waivers, but they are very tight, so it is still a good bill. It is going through the House floor.
SB 23 by Keller and Hefley, “Concerning the Creation of Time Lines for Terminating the Parent-Child Legal Relationship of Certain Children.” This bill requires that cases that are being terminated under EPP time lines be set for hearing within 90 days of the motion for termination. The fiscal note may drive this time-line back to 120 days, but Senator Keller is keeping it as tight as possible. This bill was amended back to 120 days in Senate Judiciary, and passed readings on the Senate floor. It has been introduced into the house and is awaiting House hearing.
(HB 1144 by Rep. Groff, “The Exemption of Two-Point Lap Belt Restraint systems From certain Certain Child Restraint System Requirements.” This bill amends the law to take effect in Aug, 2003, that required children less than 55 inches tall and less than 6 years of age (more than four) to sit in both an approved safety seat and lap belt, to require just the lap belt. This bill passed through the House unamended and is waiting its hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee.
HB 1149 by Rep. Cloer, “…Making False Statements…Regarding the Dependency or Neglect of a Child.” This bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor if any employee of human services makes a statement or writes a statement they know is false, concerning the D&N case of a child, whether in a meeting, in paperwork, or in the court. This bill was amended to conform with criminal statutes. It is on the House Floor.
HB 1169 – “Meth Lab/Child Abuse” by Rep. Jahn, Sen. Arnold: This bill makes it a crime of child abuse to manufacture methamphetamines in a residence where a child resides, or to possess the precursors for such manufacturing within a house where a child resides. This bill just passed third reading on the House Floor and is on its way to the Senate.
HB 1172 by Rep. Clapp and Sen. Dyer – “Prohibiting Schools from Recommending Drugs” – This bill requires each school board to promulgate rules requiring school personnel to refrain from either recommending or requiring children to take psychotropic drugs. This bill passed through HEWI committee and is waiting for its second reading on the House floor.
HB1176 By Rep. Lee and Sen. Evans – Requires the courts to report to the Colo. Dep’t. of Education any school employee who is convicted of domestic violence, incest when the child victim is under age 10, or felony of such employee. This bill passed through Education committee, amended and is in Appropriations.
HB 1177 by Rep. Williams and Sen. Tapia – Requires that each school district provide a kindergarten program. This bill was killed in Committee.
HJR 1006 (House Joint Resolution) “Foster Child’s Bill of Rights” by Rep. Borodkin and Sen. Takis. The contents of the draft of this resolution were sent to the CSFPA Board for comment and input before the session began. Only some of this commentary was incorporated into the resolution. The resolution will not become law, but will be sent to Marva Livingston Hammons, county department directors, and Peg Long, director of CAFCA. This resolution is waiting for its hearing before House HEWI.
SB 72 By Sen. Arnold, Rep. Marshall – “Sex Offender Information through Schools” – Requires each school in the state, at the beginning of the year, to give parents information about how to access the sex offender registry in their area. Directs the state sex offenders Management Board to develop materials to educate parents, and give them to the school board so that they can be available at the schools. This bill has passed through the Senate and has been introduced into the House, to the Education committee.
SB 82 by Sen. Linkhart, Rep. Stafford “…Child Placement in D&N Actions” – This is a bill we’ve brought for three years to the legislature. It addresses children’s attachment issues and touts upfront kinship provider care, but brings children’s attachment issues to the fore at the end of the case, and prevents children’s attachments being broken, and subsequent damage. This bill was passed with amendments through the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee and is in Appropriations (although its fiscal note has been removed.)
SB 83 by Sens. Keller and Arnold, and Rep. Romanoff – “Intermediate Care for Children” – this bill extends the program created by SB 116 years ago that provides mental health care to adopted children, so that they don’t have to be relinquished in order to receive mental health care. This bill is waiting for its Senate hearing before HEWI. Unfortunately, it has a fiscal note.
You can follow legislation by going to the General Assembly web site at http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/stateleg.html Or you can call me with questions or email me at 303 798 3881 or
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