|
Public Policy Report
Second (Combined) Report for January, 2003
(Submitted by Adoree Blair, Public Policy Chair)
The following are bills of which foster parents should be aware:
HB 1024 by Rep Jahn “…Making Modifications to Certain Statutes Affecting Child Placement Agencies…” This bill makes “clean up” of old statute needing that, but it also does something very important, in that it asks that county foster home licensing processes undergo the same scrutiny and oversight that CPA agencies currently and historically have undergone. This is very important, to assure quality foster care in all of our state’s homes. This bill is up before House HEWI on the 22nd of the month, upon adjournment (which could be as early as 9:30 a.m. or as late as 1 in the afternoon or later.) This hearing time may change as the 22nd gets nearer.
HB 1037, “Concerning the Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect.” By Rep Romanoff and Senator Arnold: This bill clarifies in statute that workers in CPAs, workers in RCCFs, workers in guest child care facilities, workers in secure residential treatment facilities, and workers in specialized group facilities are all mandated reporters.
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 adds manufacturing of controlled substances or possession of methamphetamine precursors with the intent to manufacture in the presence of a child to the crime of child abuse, as a class 3 Felony.
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.
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 is due to be heard in Senate Judiciary at 1:30 on Wednesday, January 15.
(SB 23, Sen. Moe Keller’s “EPP TPR Bill,” passed Senate Judiciary Committee on 1-15 by a vote of 9-0 with one amendment, that the termination hearing be set back from 90 to 120 days for TPR hearings, as this eased the fiscal note.)
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.
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.
HB 1151 by Rep. Boyd, “Authorizes the State Board of Human Services to Promulgate Rules to regulate the operation of Out of Home Placement Provider Consortia. Specifies that the regulation shall not include licensure.
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.
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.
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.
HB 1177 by Rep. Williams and Sen. Tapia – Requires that each school district provide a kindergarten program.
HJR 1006 (House Joint Resolution) 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Adoree Blair
CSFPA Public Policy Chair
|
