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Colorado State Foster Parent Association
Public Policy Report
March 1, 2004
Submitted by Adoree Blair, Public Policy Chair
As of the first of March, please be aware of the following bills.
(Please watch this site for updates about every two weeks through February, and periodically thereafter through the first part of May.) (Some of the previous bills reported here have been omitted for various reasons, including clarity.)
House Bills:
HB 1060 by Rep. Lundberg – This brings in federal guidelines so that a child’s legal caregiver is informed of all the constitutional rights he or she has, and what rights the child has, when a child is taken from that home. I am trying to determine if this includes foster parents. This bill passed through the House floor with an amendment specifically protecting informants, and has been sent to HEWI in the Senate
HB 1108 by Rep. McFayden – This bill requires court-ordered treatment providers providing services to D&N youth to keep all statements made by the youth confidential unless such statements provide information about future misconduct. Assigned to Senate Judiciary
HB 1137 by Rep. Frangas – Makes it illegal for schools to use a signed confession by a student that could result in the student’s expulsion unless there is a parent present, or – the parent and child have signed a waiver for this requirement, or – a responsible adult acting as a parent is accompanying the child, or – the child misrepresents what is going on and the school acts in good faith despite the child’s untruthfulness. This bill is through the House, amended, through Senate Education and waiting its floor votes.
HB 1149 by Rep. Cheri Jahn – This bill requires that adoption petitions be denied to potential adoptive parents who have committed a felony (convicted of) concerning drug use, domestic violence or violation of a protection order, within the past five years at a minimum. This bill has passed through the House and awaits its Senate Judiciary hearing.
HB 1196 by S Williams and Arnold – This bill takes away the “need to know” requirements that prohibit law enforcement from releasing sex offender information to an inquiring party. On its way to its Senate Hearing.
HB 1200 by Rep. Clapp, Sen Anderson – This bill requires all agencies serving families and children with child welfare services to collaborate and share services so that we see less duplication of services, but more services available to more families. Creates an oversight board that reviews reports about how this collaborative effort is going. This bill is through the House and waits its Senate HEWI hearing.
HB 1271 by Rep. Clapp – This bill creates Dedicated Foster Homes, subject to available money. For foster children ages 6 to 18, seeks house parents who will commit to care for a group of specific children until those children reach the age of 18, and accept those children back into the home even if they have exited the system. Subject to available money, offers inducements to foster parents to do this work, including tax breaks, help with mortgages, lost wages pay-back, etc. This bill awaits its Senate HEWI hearing.
HB 1272 by Rep. T Williams – This bill creates Citizen Review Panels in each county to review findings of child abuse or neglect, at the request of the person who is allegedly responsible for the abuse/neglect. Creates authority to release the investigative paperwork and findings to this panel, if requested. This bill in House Appropriations.
HB 1277 by Hefley and Cairns – This bill changes the Child Care Commission to the School Readiness Commission and expands its duties to represent the name change.
HB 1352 by Rep. Spence – This bill brings forth more options for education for children with disabilities. This bill is in House Appropriations.
HB 1370 by Rep. Frangas – This bill creates a new program for first-time offenders of child abuse, when the abuse is deemed minor after investigation, and the person alleged to be responsible is willing to use this program. The program provides that the offender and the department come to an agreement about the way the problem can be resolved without having to file a D&N and open a case on this family. This bill awaits its House HEWI Hearing.
Senate Bills:
SB 28 by Hagedorn and Larsen – This bill mandates that the Dep.t of Health Care Policy and Financing shall seek federal approval to treat Native Americans for substance abuse. This bill is through Appropriations and has been sent to the floor for a vote.
SB 29 by Sen. Windels and Rep Jahn – This bill amends the definition of medically fragile foster children to include those on tracheotomy tubes. It also requires any planning entity working with medical homes for individuals to plan for respite care for those medically fragile individuals, and notify the caregivers of such respite plans, so they can be used in an emergency. Waiting its hearing in House HEWI.
SB 34 by Sen. Evans – This bill allows counties to designate certain streets in their areas as “play streets” and provides law enforcement authority to ticket parents who do not supervise their children when the children are utilizing those play streets. Passed through HEWI committee; 2nd reading laid over until after the session, so this is a dead bill.
SB 37 by Sens Anderson and Windels and Rep Stafford – This bill creates a legislative oversight committee that establishes a process to examine the treatment of individuals who have mental illness and are also involved in the criminal or juvenile justice system. Also creates a task force to begin examining the issues. This bill also creates a report system back to the legislature with recommended legislative changes. Passed through committee, waiting in Appropriations for a hearing.
SB 58 by Sandoval and Briggs – Creates a “Kids First” license plate for purchase in the state. Funds from this program will go to a children’s injury prevention program. This bill was killed in Appropriations.
SB 65 by Keller and Coleman – This bill extends the mental health treatment of children without filing a D&N on the parents – it extends the program begun by Sen. Keller years ago, until 2009. Passed through HEWI, waiting in Appropriations.
SB 117 by Sandoval – This bill was created for the case of the Native American infant who was taken at birth, and, if passed, will be called “The Sunshine Gates Act.” It requires that newborns not be taken from their parents without a court order by police, unless the police have a court order or unless the child tests positive for drugs or displays drug withdrawal symptoms, or the child’s parents or parent are unavailable or so mentally ill they cannot care for the child. Requires that the parents be given notice about their rights and what is going on, and that this be given in a language they can understand, even if an interpreter needs to be called in. This bill has been amended to better protect newborns, but still causes serious concerns. Will be heard in House HEWI this week.
SB 122 by Sen. Reeves and Rep Hefley – This bill repeals the duties and roles of Magistrates in family law. What it does, then, is allow magistrates to do the work of judges, which is needed with the fiscal situation. Will be heard this week in House Judiciary.
SB 137 by Johnson and Rhodes – This bill requires that foster parents receive notice about upcoming hearings concerning their foster child, and that they be able to be heard at such hearings. In addition, this bill asks that all foster parent identifying information remain confidential from adult biological relatives of foster children unless the foster parent gives consent for such information to be shared. This bill is an effort of CSFPA. Passed through Senate and on its way to the House.
SB 139 by Windels and Andrews – This bill requires health care providers to remind parents when their children are overdue for immunizations, unless there is a shortage of immunizations. Passed Senate, on its way to IT Committee in the House, which is concerning, as it should have gone to HEWI.
SB 154 by Evans and Lee: Provides for a new group of information about judges’ performance, to be used when evaluation judges for retention, expanding information about the courts. Referred to Appropriations.\
SB 177 by Senator Gordon, Rep. Hefley: This bill creates a program to treat children with autism, with Medicaid dollars. This is waiting its hearing in Appropriations, with a large fiscal note.
To find out more about these bills, or to read them, or follow their progress, go to http://www.leg.state.co.us/ HB is a House Bill, and SB is a Senate bill. If you have questions or concerns you can contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
. You may also leave questions at 303 798 3881, although please be patient, as I have a very busy phone.
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