Senate Health & Human Services [Mar 12, 2026]

Senate Health and Human Services will come into order. Mr. Brown, please call the roll.

our first order of business today is a confirmation hearing for the Medical Services Board. The appointees for the day are William Kennard, who is remote, Amanda Jelinski, who will not be able to join us. She did get called in for patient care. Cassandra Littler and Joseph Costello. We have Chris Sykes here to introduce them.

Perfect. Thank you, Mr. Sykes. Dr. Littler, if you want to tell us a little bit about yourself and why you want to serve on this board.

Thank you, Dr. Costello. Dr. Costello, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and why you want to serve on this board.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. I'm going to add another piece of the puzzle. I'm a retired specialist in intensive care unit medicine and pulmonary medicine that brings a hospital-focused perspective to the board, but my passion is actually investing wisely and thoughtfully in ways to keep people out of the hospital. Too many years in the ICU tells you that often many of our patients who land there, upstream action might have prevented them landing in in my neighborhood it's it's very stimulating and exciting to be on the board right now i'm glad to um to do a second term and try to be of service thank you dr canard does committee

Mr. Chair, thank you for the question. We are actively recruiting from CD8. Regrettably, we had a board member pass from CD8 recently, so that position is open, and we are actively recruiting for that, and it is our hope that we would bring that nomination to you guys next year. since the terms for board members run from July 1 for four years and then end on July 30. So typically working with the governor's office, we get members and then we will have them at July 1 and then they come during the next legislative session for appointment.

Thank you, and thank you all for your willingness to serve in this capacity. I move to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation, the appointments of William Kennard, Amanda Jeklinski, Cassandra Littler, and Joseph Costello to the Medical Services Board.

Senators, Benavidez.

Bright.

Carson.

Cutter.

Doherty.

Giselle.

Judah.

Weissman.

Mr. Chair Malika.

Thank you. If there's no objection, I move that the appointments be placed on the consent calendar for confirmations.

Thank you, Chair and members of the committee. I'm here to present Senate Bill 60 Mental Health Training and Concussion Education, also known as Alyssa's Youth Concussion and Mental Health Protection Act, a bill that closes a critical gap in how we protect young athletes in Colorado. Alyssa was a bright, kind, and athletic 13-year-old who lived right here in Colorado in my district. Her mother, Stella, who you'll hear from later today, describes her as a natural athlete from the time she could walk, a child who loved every sport she tried. Alyssa had dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, and she worked hard every single day to make that dream a reality. Alyssa also had concussions and sports-related head injuries. As she turned 13, her family began to notice emotional shifts, changes that they couldn't quite explain. They didn't know then what we know now, that concussions can have profound effects on a young person's mental health. Alyssa died by suicide at 13 years old. Stella is here today because she wants other families to have what so many families don't, the information and the resources to recognize what they are seeing in their child and know what to do about it. That is exactly what this bill is about. The link between concussions and mental health is not widely understood, and Senate Bill 60 exists to change that, so that coaches and parents have the knowledge to recognize the signs earlier and kids can get the support they need as soon as possible. Right now, Colorado law requires coaches to recognize concussions and remove athletes from play. That's an important first step, but the law stops short. It says nothing about what happens to that young athlete's mental health after the whistle blows. The research is clear. Concussions don't just affect the body. They can trigger anxiety, depression, mood changes, and in the most serious cases have been linked to suicidal ideation. These symptoms can emerge days or even weeks after the initial injury, long after an athlete has been sent home and a coach has moved on to the next game. Senate Bill 60 addresses this in two ways. First, it requires coaches of young athletic activities at public and private middle schools, high schools, clubs, leagues, and recreation facilities to complete a biannual mental health education course covering concussions, anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, suicide prevention, and a coach's direct impact on athlete well-being. Second, when a young athlete is removed from play due to a suspected concussion, the coach or organization must notify the athlete's parent or legal guardian about the potential symptoms their child may experience. Coaches are often the first trusted adults to notice when something is wrong. They see these kids every day. This bill gives them the tools to act on what they're seeing and ensures that parents are equipped to follow up at home. I want to be clear, this bill does not create new administrative burdens or require a state appropriation. I also wanted to add that after a stakeholding, we have an amendment we're presenting later today, which I believe takes everyone who is concerned about some aspect of this bill into a neutral or supportive position. Thank you so much, committee members, and I'll turn it over to my co-prime.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to start off by thanking Senator Daugherty for asking me to be on this bill It a very important bill I proud to co 060 and I want to speak to why this legislation makes practical sense for coaches for schools, and for communities across Colorado. We already asked athletic coaches to learn how to spot a concussion. That's made a real difference, but there is a piece of the puzzle we have left out. what happens to a young athlete's mental and emotional health in the aftermath of that brain injury. The research backs this up. The American Academy of Pediatrics and leading sports medicine journals have documented the link between concussions and psychological outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and behavioral changes in youth athletes. These are not rare edge cases. They are a predictable and documented consequence of brain injury that our current coach education framework does not address. Senate Bill 60 fixes that in a targeted way. Schools, clubs, leagues, and recreation facilities must require their coaches to complete a biannual mental health education course, one that can be held in conjunction with existing concussion training programs already in place and is available for free online. and if a youth athlete is removed from play due to a suspected concussion, their parent or guardian must be notified of the potential psychological and mental health symptoms that may follow. This is not a mandate that creates new bureaucracy. There is no state appropriation required, as my co-prime mentioned. The fiscal note confirms zero cost to the state. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will see only minimal workload to update existing materials and local governments and school districts will have flexibility in how they implement these requirements. States that have already moved in this direction have seen measurable results. Between 2021 and 2023, Ohio, North Carolina, and Washington expanded coach education programs to include mental health awareness and reported higher rates of early referral to school counselors and community supports. New Jersey and Massachusetts, which integrated concussion education with mental health guidance, saw improved parent notification practices and earlier symptom monitoring. Colorado has the opportunity to build on that evidence and strength, that protection we already have in place for youth athletes.

Chair and members of the committee, my name is Wendy Buxton Andrade, and I am here representing Mental Health Colorado in support of Senate Bill 26-0. 060. Health education and prevention measures are key to making sure that young Coloradans reach adulthood in the best possible state of health. This must be our priorities as parents and families. This bill promotes greater awareness of the intersection of young people's athleticism and their mental health and well-being. This bill ensures that all coaches working with young athletes in Colorado receive mental health training and follow a consistent protocol for supporting best possible health outcomes after the young person experiences a concussion. The bill also makes a coach liable for missing signs for the poor, does not make a coach liable for missing signs of poor health outcomes. As the old saying goes, it takes a village. every village in the state loves its young athletes and shows up for them and celebrates them when they are winning and even when they are losing, especially when they both win and lose with grace and sportsmanship. This bill acknowledges that the eyes and understanding of the coaches are some of the most important eyes and ears of our young athletes in every community. When coaches recognize and respond to distress in timely ways, Young athletes heal and thrive. Many parents and coaches do not realize that a child can have life-depleting mental health consequences and even a life-threatening mental health crisis after a concussion. I was one of those parents. Until you have to sleep outside of your child's door at night and make sure you do everything you can think of to keep them safe from themselves, you can't know what that's like, and I don't wish that upon anyone. We honor Alyssa and her family, who will be sharing their story next, because we want to make sure that every family in Colorado has the best possible opportunity to support their best outcomes after a youth athlete experiences a concussion. Alyssa's act will save the lives of our young athletes and other Colorado families will be able to thank Alyssa and her family for well-supported, youthful, young athletes and for coaches who are consistently trained to prize their young athletes over all well-being and see the support signs of distress and have them too often that have been missed. Early intervention is saving lives. Thank you for your yes vote on Senate Bill 26-60, Alyssa's Act. Saving children's lives has to be a top priority of the state of Colorado. Thank you.

Alyssa Peterson. Chair and members of the committee. My name is Stella DeLongchamp. I an Arvada Colorado resident and parent of Alyssa Peterson a young athlete who lost her life after suffering several concussions Thank you for listening to my testimony in support of Alyssa Act Senate Bill 60 Alyssa was a bright, compassionate, and athletic young girl who loved the outdoors, loved sports. She skied competitively, played soccer year-round, and had dreams of one day playing at the highest level and eventually becoming a coach. She was also incredibly kind. Thank you. The kind of child that notices when another child is left out. In November 2019, we lost Alyssa to suicide. She was only 13 years old. After her death, our family began searching for answers. As I reviewed Alyssa's medical history and reflected on her entire childhood, I began to wonder whether repeated concussions from years of youth sports and outdoor activities may have affected her brain and her mental health in ways we did not understand at the time. Like many families, we didn't always recognize the signs of a concussion. Sometimes the symptoms seem small. Sometimes Alyssa just wanted to keep playing. What I have since learned is that concussions can accumulate and affect mood, emotional regulation, and mental health, especially in young athletes whose brains are still developing. I will never know exactly what Alyssa was experiencing in those final months. Suicide is complex, and there is rarely a single cause. But what I do know is that families, coaches, and schools need better awareness of how concussions and brain injuries can impact a young person's mental health. That is why Alyssa's act is so important. This legislation helps ensure that when a young athlete experiences a concussion, families are informed about the possible mental health impacts, and coaches receive education about how brain injuries can affect emotional well-being. My younger daughter Emily is here today as well. She continues to play competitive soccer, and Alyssa's story has shaped how she thinks about concussions and supporting other athletes. It takes a lot of courage for her to be here today and share her perspective as both a student athlete and Alyssa's sister. No law can bring Alyssa back. But if her story helps another family recognize the signs earlier or helps a child receive the support they need, then her life will continue to make a difference. On behalf of Alyssa, my daughter Emily, and families across Colorado, I respectfully ask for your support of Alyssa's Act, Senate Bill 60. Thank you for your time.

My name is Emily Peterson, and good afternoon, Chair and members of the committee. My name is Emily Peterson, and I'm a junior and student athlete at Rasta Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado. I also play club soccer for the Colorado Rapids Select One Team. I here today to testify in support of Alyssa Act Senate Bill 60 for my older sister Alyssa Alyssa was someone I always looked up to She loved sports she was competitive determined and always pushed herself to keep going Over time, she experienced several concussions that never were fully recognized or treated. In 2019, we lost Alyssa to suicide. I was 10 years old, and she was 13. As a younger sister, that loss changed my life forever. Still today, I play soccer and understand the pressure many athletes feel to push through injuries and keep playing. But concussions are different. Sometimes the symptoms aren't as obvious, and as students may not understand what they are experiencing. That's why legislation, like Alyssa's act, matters. This bill helps strengthen awareness around concussions and mental health. and it supports students as they return not just to sports but to their everyday lives. Students deserve support when they are recovering from concussions. I share Alyssa's story because I hope it helps protect other young athletes across Colorado. Thank you for listening and for considering this legislation. I urge you to support Alyssa's Act, Senate Bill 60. My stepdad, Dennis, will also share a few words about why this legislation matters to our family.

Chair, members of the committee, thank you for allowing our family to be here today. My name is Dennis DeLongchamp. I'm a resident of Arvada, Colorado, and I'm here today with my wife, Stella, and my daughter, Emily, to testify in support of the LISCIS Act, Senate Bill 60. I never had a chance to meet Alyssa, but she's a part of our family every single day. Her photos are in our home, we talk about her often, and her story continues to shape our lives. When you love someone who has lost a child, you see the weight of that loss every day, but you also see the strength it takes to turn that grief into something that might help others. I've watched Stella work tirelessly to honor Alyssa's life and bring awareness to the connection between brain injuries and mental health in young athletes and I've also watched Emily step forward in a really brave way to share her own perspective as a student athlete and Alyssa's sister as a parent I spend a lot of time on the sidelines watching Emily do what she loves Emily continues to play competitive soccer and like every parent here I want to know that young athletes have the best protections possible. Sports give kids confidence, friendships, and opportunities that are incredibly valuable, but they also come with responsibility for all of us, parents, coaches, and schools, to make sure young athletes are protected. What we understand much better today is that concussions can affect more than just physical health. They can affect how young people feel, think, and behave. Alyssa's act is about making sure families and coaches have better awareness of those risks so young athletes can receive the support they need. Our family cannot change what happened to Alyssa, but if her story and Emily's voice helped protect other young athletes in Colorado, then her life will continue to make a difference. I urge you to support Alyssa's act, Senate Bill 60, and thank you for the opportunity to be here today.

and I just wanted to tell you thank you so much for presenting today, and you know I followed your story. And my heart is with you. I do want to ask, how did you know that, how did you come to the conclusion that this was maybe a concussion?

So I've been grieving for six years, and every single morning I have asked the question, why did my daughter take her life at just 13 years old? I looked into everything imaginable. I lifted every stone until every stone was uncovered. I wrote a book, and at the end of the book, I still as a mom couldn't get behind that my daughter just slowly suffered from mental health. I went, I looked at her medical records, I reviewed every activity that I've ever done with my daughter, and I realized there were many undiagnosed concussions that she lived through because I didn't know how to recognize them, but for sure they were. And when I put that two together, I honestly felt like it was the first time Alyssa was right next to me. I've since poured myself into trying to understand more about concussions. I'm now the chair of the advisory board at large for a national board called Concussion and CTE Foundation. And I have just continued to move forward in that direction, and I believe this is what my daughter would want me to do.

I don't have a question, but I also thank you.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you. Thank you.

Good afternoon, Chair and members of the committee. My name is Monte Ball. I am testifying in support of Senate Bill 60. And I am here representing Game Plan Life Foundation and someone who has lived through What happens when we do not understand brain injuries? My foundation works with schools and youth athletes to bring real conversations about mental health into sports. We help athletes, coaches, and families understand that the brain is the most important part of the body to protect. I played football for 20 years of my life. I was fortunate enough to play at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League. During that time, I had five documented concussions, three of those leaving me unconscious. But if I'm being honest with you today, the number that keeps me up at night is not five. It's hundreds. hundreds of undocumented hits to the head hits where I saw stars hits where the world spun for a few seconds and I just lined back up because that is what all athletes are taught to do when coaches aren't aware of the serious consequences of concussions. Over time something started to happen to me that no one understood. I had constant headaches my personality began to change. I became distant from the people who loved me most. My relationship suffered. I struggled with emotional connection and intimacy. And I felt confused in my own mind. So my family saw it before I did. They knew something was wrong with their son, their brother, but they did not know what they were looking at. and of course they did not know what to do. Eventually I began drinking heavily just to quiet my mind. Alcohol became my best friend, and the only way I knew how to cope with the pain, the confusion, and the person I was slowly becoming. It got so bad that I had to enter intensive mental health treatment just to get my life back. looking back the hardest part for me is knowing my family watched me slowly change and had no roadmap for how to help that is why this bill matters because when coaches understand the mental health impact of brain injuries they become the first people who can recognize that something deeper may be happening to the young athlete and when we give coaches that knowledge We are not just protecting players. We are protecting families from the fear and confusion my family lived through. And the pain and confusion Alyssa's family is living with. Thank you for your time and consideration. I urge you to vote yes for Senate Bill 60.

Good afternoon, chair and members of the committee. My name is Alex Perales. I am a high school freshman and a student athlete here in Colorado. I've been playing soccer since I was in preschool, and it's always been a big part of my life. It's where I've learned teamwork, discipline, and how to support my friends. The truth is a lot of kids are going through things that are hard to talk about They might have stress from school pressure from sports problems at home or just feel overwhelmed by life And they don always know how to ask for help or they afraid to say something Last year, I had a teammate who was struggling. He would often get angry on the field and walk away from practices and games. Our coach did not know how to respond and eventually the player quit the team. I wish our coach had recognized this as a call for help and a sign that my teammate needed support. That's why I think Senate Bill 60 is important. This bill helps make sure coaches are trained to notice when something might be wrong with one of their players and know how to get them the help they need. I know most coaches aren't doctors or therapists, but they can be the adults who notice when a kid is struggling. As athletes, we are taught to look out for each other, both on and off the field. This bill helps make sure our coaches are reminded to look out for us, too. Please support Senate Bill 60. Thank you for listening.

Good afternoon, Senators, and thank you very much for this opportunity to speak. My name is Dr. Mark Allen, and I'm a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist practicing here in Denver. And I specialize in sports psychiatry and athlete mental health. I also serve as the chairman of the American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry. Over the course of my career, I've worked with athletes at many levels. from youth and collegiate athletes to professional organizations such as the Denver Broncos, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the WWE. I'm here today to express my strong support for Senate Bill 2660, Alyssa's Youth Concussion Mental Health Protection Act. Youth sports are one of the most powerful environments we have for healthy development. They teach teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and resilience. For many young people, sports are also where they find identity, mentorship, and community. But we also know that young athletes face real mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, performance pressure, and the psychological effects of injury. Coaches are the first responders in sport. They are often the first adults to notice changes in an athlete's behavior, mood, or functioning. In my clinical work, I frequently see athletes whose struggles were first noticed by a coach or teammate. For example, I've worked with young athletes who developed anxiety, mood changes, and sleep problems after a concussion. Families are often surprised because these symptoms don't always look like what they would traditionally think of as a sports injury. We increasingly understand that brain injuries do not only affect balance or memory, but they can affect mood, sleep, and emotional regulation as well. When coaches and parents understand what to look for, they're much more likely to recognize those changes early and to help connect athletes to appropriate care. In many areas of safety, we recognize the importance of basic training. Most people are familiar with CPR or the Heimlich Maneuver, and coaches are often trained in AED use. Expanding that awareness to include mental health and concussion awareness is a natural extension of protecting young athletes. In many ways, this type of education functions as mental health first aid for youth sports. Consistency and shared understanding also matter. When coaches across communities have access to similar education and resources, it helps ensure that student-athletes receive thoughtful and informed support no matter where they play. Mental health is also fundamentally a safety issue. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young people. Building a culture of prevention means equipping the adults closest to athletes with the awareness to recognize distress and respond appropriately. Importantly, this kind of education is brief but powerful. Just a few hours can give coaches insights and tools that benefit athletes for years to come Early recognition of these signs and symptoms can prevent crises reduce emergency interventions and preserve the potential of young people Coaches are also powerful culture setters. When they feel comfortable talking about mental health and encouraging help-seeking, it reduces stigma and strengthens entire teams and communities. Colorado is uniquely positioned to lead in this space. You have the USOPC down the road on I-25. You have multiple D1 athletic programs, successful professional teams, and organizations like the Aspen Institute's Project Play, which promotes youth sports participation nationally. This legislation presents an important step towards creating a safer, healthier, and more supportive environment for Colorado student-athletes, and I beg you to please pass it. Thank you.

Hi, I'm Sophia Yonkerman, and I'm here representing Mental Health Colorado. I'm a senior in high school. Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for being here today. My first high school track meet was supposed to be the start of my season. Instead, it was the end. I suffered a concussion, and everything changed overnight. At first, the focus was on my physical symptoms, headaches, dizziness, and neck pain. But what no one prepared me and my family for was how much it would affect my mental health. My world went from 100 miles a minute to zero. I had a hard time retaining information. I'd come home from school and couldn't recall what I learned that day. Imagine everything you knew as life got switched up in one second. I had to retrain not only my body, but my brain, how to get back to normal. Almost two months post-concussion, I had not returned to normal. I was exhibiting physical as well as mental symptoms. I went to see a concussion specialist who diagnosed me with post-concussion syndrome. If my mom didn't advocate for me, who knows how long my struggles would have gone on for. This bill matters because concussions are not only physical injuries, they are brain injuries. They can change mood, behavior, emotional stability, especially in young athletes. Yet most youth sports coaches are only trained to recognize the physical injury, not the mental health warning signs. Parents are often told their child has a concussion, but not that it can increase the risk of anxiety and depression. My coach did not recognize the symptoms of my concussion when I got it. He didn't say anything to my parents when I was exhibiting immediate symptoms afterwards. And so we didn't know I got a concussion until a couple days after, and that changed the course of my treatment. This bill would require mental health training for youth sports coaches to ensure that parents and coaches are informed of the possible mental health risks associated with concussions. That knowledge could help families recognize problems sooner and get the right help before things get worse. Concussions not only silently damage a young person's mental health, this bill provides athletes education by making mental health part of injury care, not an afterthought. Thank you for being here today, and I urge you to support Senate Bill 60. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The question is for Dr. Allen, right? In your experience working in the coaching network, do you feel that coaches, I know they're difficult to find sometimes and they're varying quality, but do you think that they will be receptive to this training? Dr. Allen?

Any further questions for these witnesses? Senator Weissman.

I will echo that as well. Mr. Ball, thank you for using your platform as a former professional athlete. I think it's important to see that you've started an organization advocating for something that you have personal experience with that I think is obviously extremely important and we're hearing about today. And so thank you for that. And I mean, I have to say go Broncos as well. Yeah, so thank you for being here. Thank you all for being here and sharing your stories today. I know that we do have some folks on the list who maybe have decided to submit written testimony, but I'm still just going to call off names if we have them online or if this person, if they want to testify and not do written testimony. Ashley Perales. Max Karpinski. Dr. Aaron Harrop Ethan Andrade Gil Lucero Melissa McConnell Patrick Starkey and Catherine Daly While that's coming up, I will just remind Dr. Allen, if you don't mind just signing up in the back of the room before you leave. Ms. Daly, if you want to unmute yourself, state your name and who you represent, and you will have three minutes to testify.

Thank you, Ms. Daly. Does this committee have any questions for this witness? And I can't see the name. Gil Lucero, if you want to unmute yourself, state your name and who you represent. You'll have three minutes to testify. Start when you're ready.

Thank you, Mr. Lucero. Does the committee have any questions for these witnesses? Seeing none, really appreciate you both being here. Thank you so much. That exhausts the witness list before me. Is there anyone online or in person who wishes to testify on Senate Bill 60? Seeing none, the witness phase is closed. An amendment has been passed out to the committee. Senator Doherty?

Senator Doherty, can you move the amendment for me?

We have L1 before us, Senator Doherty?

Perfect. Thank you. Tell us about Amendment L1. Thank you.

Perfect. Thank you, Senator Doherty. Does the committee have any questions on Amendment L1? Any opposition to Amendment L1? Seeing none, Amendment L1 is adopted. Any further amendments from the sponsors? Any amendments from the committee? Seeing none, the amendment phase is closed. Who wants to wrap us up?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Senate Bill 60 is a practical low-cost update to a framework Colorado already has invested in. We have existing concussion education requirements. we have existing return-to-play protocols. This bill adds to one component that is currently missing, the mental health piece. This bill is straightforward. It is evidence-based, and it builds on work Colorado has already done. And I want to just add one more thing. Visiting with the Dateline Camps, the father, he says, do you have a connection with this? I don't have a personal connection, but one of my son-in-laws is a chiropractor. He has a young son, seven years old, very rambunctious, very athletic. He says he will never play football because of just what we're talking about today. So I think this is a great bill. I hate that it came to us in the way that it did, but maybe this will help bring some awareness and prevent some tragedy in the future. So with that, I urge a yes vote. Thank you, Senator Pelton. Any closing remarks from the committee?

Any further closing remarks? I would like to say something to Senator Judah.

Any further remarks? I would like to say something

Senatorial 5 to check. We have a committee member that is presenting another bill seeing if she wants to come back and vote on this bill. as well. Thank you. Thank you. Senator Doherty, the proper motion would be to the Committee of the Whole as amended.

That is a proper motion. Mr. Brown, please call the roll.

Yes. Right. Aye.

Doherty. Yes.

Weissman. Yes. Mr. Jaramolka.

Senator Doherty. I move for Senate Bill 60 to be added to the consent calendar.

I think this is your first time this year in health, and so welcome. Do you want to start us off? Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the opportunity and apologize for making you all wait. I was over at the Joint Budget Committee.

Why don't you start us off? Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks for your flexibility. My co-prime sponsor, Senator Roberts, is chairing ag at the moment. I'm in the middle of testimony, another bill that I've got up in local gov, so lots of moving parts at this time in session, but I appreciate your time. I am happy to be here in front of you for House Bill 1142 on child advocacy centers. I had the opportunity to tour the child advocacy center near me in Denver this summer and was really blown away by the great work that they do. in offering victim services in Colorado that extends statewide to almost 400,000, uh, children and abuse prevention education to almost 1.5 million people. Uh, but unlike 42 states, uh, we have not put them in statute and, uh, all we have in statute is a very loose definition. And, uh, no explanation of what these organizations do and the important work that they do for our communities. So House Bill 1142 fixes that. It creates a much stronger statutory definition so that the advocacy centers are clearly recognized as child-focused trauma-informed centers that coordinate services for children who experience abuse and neglect. You'll hear from some witnesses who can go into more detail, answer any questions about these really wonderful organizations that benefit our community and protect kids from harm. But I encourage an aye vote so that we can recognize all these bodies statewide for the great work that they do and give them some statutory protection.

Diana Goldberg

David Carnes perfect Ms. Jellison we will start off with you if you want to state your name and who you represent

Thank you Mr. Chair and members of the committee for the opportunity to share our support position on House Bill 1142 with you My name is Ashley Jellison and I am the Executive Director of the Colorado Children's Alliance, the statewide nonprofit that supports Colorado's Child Advocacy Centers, or CACs, and the professionals who work every day to keep children safe from abuse. CACs provide critical wraparound services when children are victims of abuse and maltreatment. In Colorado, CACs serve nearly 6,000 victims every single year, the majority of which are victims of child sexual abuse. Thanks to CACs, children have all the services they need to begin healing. This legislation is critical to protecting CACs and the children they serve. The definition in Colorado statutes was written at a time when CACs were still in their infancy nationwide, and since then, they have grown drastically and have developed to serve victims of any type of child maltreatment, be it sexual abuse, trafficking, online exploitation, or anything in between. This legislation brings Colorado's statutes in line with several other states that have updated their own to reflect changing CACs. Importantly this legislation also will introduce key protections for CACs in their work which ultimately helps improve the response to child abuse statewide CACs work with local teams comprising law enforcement prosecutors DHS caseworkers medical providers, and mental health clinicians. Information sharing is a critical component of these teams and something that will be explicitly protected through this legislation. When teams can share information with each other, children benefit from better, faster, coordinated services. Finally, this bill will protect the professionals doing this heavy work by providing limited civil immunity when they are acting within the scope of their positions. CACs work on the front lines of protecting vulnerable children, and limited civil immunity ensures they can make timely, good-faith decisions within the scope of their duties without fear of personal liability. I urge your strong support of this important legislation that will strengthen CACs and help maintain a coordinated, multidisciplinary response that prioritizes child safety in Colorado.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, members of the committee, for this opportunity to appear before you today. My name is Diana Goldberg. I'm the Executive Director of Sungate Kids Child Advocacy Center, serving Colorado's 18th Judicial District. I'm here today to express my strong support for House Bill 1142. This bill provides a clear and concise definition of child advocacy centers. But you may be wondering why, if child advocacy centers are already defined in statute, this bill is even necessary. It is necessary because the previous definition is outdated and does not provide our centers with the protection that we need. Child advocacy centers are held to strict accreditation requirements that include extensive training in research-based trauma-informed modalities. in everything that we do, from forensic interviews to victim advocacy to mental and medical health services. Our systems and services must meet current best practice standards to maintain accredited status and good standing status and membership in our state organization, the Colorado Children's Alliance. This matters. We work with child victims of abuse and their families. This is a population that is already dealing with trauma. trauma, our focus is always on providing support and services that do not further traumatize them. And the only way that happens is by maintaining our own standards and training requirements And it matters to our agency partners When we assist with an investigation by providing forensic interview services when we testify in court when we provide therapeutic services it is critical that our partners know that we are maintaining best practices Their credibility is on the line as is ours The other critical aspect of this bill is that it provides limited civil liability for CACs when they are acting within the scope of their jobs. Many years ago, Sungate Kids was named in an entirely frivolous lawsuit. Again, it was frivolous, and yet it took an inordinate amount of time, energy, and resources to address it, and it took a heavy toll on our agency and on all of us who were subject to the suit. It also took years for the trauma of that experience to fade for my staff. Of course, if someone acts outside of the scope of their duties or in a bad faith manner, then a lawsuit is appropriate. But limited civil liability is important for us to be able to do our jobs without fear. So I urge you to pass HB 1142 for the safety, security, and health of the children and families we serve.

Thank you very much. Chair and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is David Carnes, and I'm the public policy specialist of Violence Free Colorado, the state's anti-domestic violence coalition. Violence Free Colorado supports community-based programs across the state that work every day with survivors and their children. Prior to this role, I worked in direct service with families navigating violence, trauma, housing instability, and complex systems. I'm here today in support of HB 261142. In domestic violence work, we know that children are deeply affected by trauma. Whether they experience abuse or live in homes marked by fear, instability, coercion, or violence, trauma can affect how children communicate, how they process what's happened to them, how they respond to adults, and what they need in order to feel safe. That's why child-focused, trauma-informed responses matter so much. I appreciate that this bill starts from that understanding. The legislative declaration recognizes that children who are the victim of child maltreatment and children who've witnessed violent crimes deserve a coordinated, trauma-informed response that prioritizes their safety, well-being, and healing. HB 261142 also strengthens the role of child advocacy centers by defining them in statute as independent child trauma centers that coordinate with law enforcement CPS prosecutors mental health professionals medical professionals and victim advocacy groups That kind of coordination matters because when systems are fragmented, children and non-abusing caregivers often bear the burden. When systems work well together, children are more likely to receive a response that supports healing rather than adding more confusion and harm. We also appreciate that victims advocates are explicitly included as part of the multidisciplinary team and that the bill creates a framework for information sharing that's tied to child protection while still recognizing the importance of confidentiality. For families impacted by violence, privacy and safety are essential to building trust in any response. This bill is a meaningful step forward toward a more consistent, collaborative, and healing-centered response for Colorado children and families. For those reasons, Violence Free Colorado respectfully urges a yes vote. Thank you.

No, Mr. Chair.

Good bill. Vote yes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Senator Ball, for bringing this important piece of legislation. I'll be a yes vote, supportive of this fully, and would also add that next time ask me to be a co-prime on this stuff. This is awesome. Thank you.

Thank you. I move House Bill 1142 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.

Senators, Benavidez.

Wright.

Carson.

Cutter.

Doherty.

Frizzell.

Judah.

Weissman.

Mr. Chair Malga.

Yes, congratulations, that passes unanimously. Senator Weissman.

Seeing no objection, House Bill 1142 will be placed on the consent calendar. Members, that concludes Senate Health and Human Services' business for the day. We are adjourned.