s_sa_2017a_2017-03-22t13:34:53z6 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/22/2017

Location: SCR 357

02:20 PM -- HB17-1156



Senator Fenberg, sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1156 to the committee. The bill prohibits physicians specializing in psychiatry and licensed or registered mental health professionals from engaging in conversion therapy with patients under 18 years of age. The bill defines "conversion therapy" as practices that seek to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction to individuals of the same sex. Violations of this prohibition are addressed through the disciplinary processes for these regulated professionals. Certain psychotherapies are exempted from the definition of conversion therapy if they provide acceptance, support, and understanding for the facilitation of an individual's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development. Sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices are also permitted, so long as they do not seek to change the patient's sexual orientation or gender identity. Therapies are also allowed to assist a person undergoing gender transition.



Committee members discussed the bill with Senator Fenberg.



02:40 PM -- Dr. Apryl Alexander, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



02:44 PM -- Jacob Schuler, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He provided a petition collected in support of the bill from students at the Colorado School of Mines (Attachment B).



17SenateState0322AttachB.pdf



02:46 PM -- Amanda Henderson, representing the Interfaith Alliance, testified in support of the bill and responded to committee member questions.



02:51 PM -- Judah Ruscha, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



02:53 PM -- Liz Marr, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



02:56 PM -- Noah McQueen, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



02:59 PM -- Blake Jones, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:02 PM -- Rachel Catt, representing the Colorado LGBT Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.



03:05 PM -- Dr. Jody Ryan, representing the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill.





03:10 PM



Dr. Ryan and Ms. Catt responded to committee member questions.



03:22 PM -- William Cook, representing the Human Rights Campaign, testified in support of the bill.



03:26 PM -- Martha Kaegel, representing One Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



03:29 PM -- Dr. Charlotte Lippolis, representing the Colorado Psychiatric Society, the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society, and the Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Lippolis responded to committee member questions.



03:39 PM -- Moses Gur, representing the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of the bill.



03:41 PM -- Sheri Proctor, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



03:45 PM -- Brad Allen, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:49 PM -- Eleanor Cabell, representing Indivisible Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



03:52 PM -- Jason Pranaitis, representing himself, testified against the bill.



03:57 PM -- Mindy Miller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and responded to committee member questions.



04:02 PM -- Susan Kerkhoff, representing herself, testified against the bill.



04:06 PM -- Betty Becker, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



04:08 PM -- Carolyn Martin, representing Christian Home Educators of Colorado, testified against the bill.



04:12 PM -- Bishop John Brannon, representing himself, testified against the bill.



04:16 PM -- David DeJiacomo, representing himself, testified against the bill.



04:19 PM -- Michael J. Norton, representing the Colorado Freedom Institute and Colorado Family Action, testified against the bill. He distributed copies of his testimony (Attachment C).



17SenateState0322AttachC.pdf



04:23 PM



Bishop Brannon responded to committee member questions.



04:26 PM -- Dr. Reo Leslie, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment D).



17SenateState0322AttachD.pdf



04:30 PM -- Robin Goodspeed, representing herself, testified against the bill.



04:33 PM -- Scott Irvin, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and responded to committee member questions.



04:37 PM -- Jeff Johnston, representing himself, testified against the bill. He distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment E).



17SenateState0322AttachE.pdf



04:41 PM -- Dr. Robin Patterson, representing herself, testified against the bill.



04:45 PM -- Megan Malinaric, representing herself, testified against the bill.



04:50 PM -- Drew Patterson, representing himself, testified against the bill.



04:54 PM -- Matt Miller, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



04:56 PM -- Laura Richards, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:02 PM -- Janice Magid, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She provided a letter of support from Dr. Kesson Magid to the committee (Attachment F).



17SenateState0322AttachF.pdf



05:06 PM -- Tangi Lancaster, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:09 PM -- Ericka Salerno, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



05:16 PM -- Becky Benedict, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and provided a written copy of her testimony (Attachment G).



17SenateState0322AttachG.pdf



05:22 PM -- Rosina Kovar, representing herself, testified against the bill and provided a written copy of her testimony (Attachment H).



17SenateState0322AttachH.pdf



05:26 PM -- Euell Santistevan, Jr., representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



05:28 PM -- Carol Caudill, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.





05:31 PM



Committee members received additional petitions in support of the bill (Attachment I).



17SenateState0322AttachI.pdf



Senator Fenberg wrapped up his presentation of the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

05:48 PM



The committee adjourned.