Morgan's Bills - 2007 Legislative Session
(1)
HB 07-1074 - 527 Disclosures (M. Carroll / Tupa): 527s have been responsible for an upsurge in the volume and nastiness of negative political attack ads, funnel millions of dollars and escape significant reporting or disclosures allowing the public to follow thei dollars in and out. This bill amends Colorado's definition of Political Committee to include 527s and thereby trigger year-round reporting for all their money in and out which will be available to the public.
PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR.(2)
HB 07-1133 - Whistleblower Protection for Healthcare Workers (M. Carroll/Hagedorn): This bill would make it illegal to fire or retalliate against healthcare workers who report patient safety problems. We face some 90,000 preventable medical errors every year. Yet some healthcare workers do risk losing their jobs by addressing and advocating for patient safety. This passed with 97 / 100 votes last year but was vetoed.
PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR.
(3)
HB 07-1176 - Workers Choice of Doctor (M. Carroll / Tochtrop): The bill changes the current state mandated no-choice (1 insurance selected provider) workers comp system to provide a minimum choice for workers hurt on the job between at least 2 physicians or networks and a limited right to change physicians without having to go to Court. Colorado is lags behind most other states who recognize far greater rights for patients hurts on the job to choose or change their doctors.
PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR.(4)
HB 07-1224 - Prompt Pay Reform Health & Auto Insurance (M.Carroll): This bill standardizes the form for claim payment, redefines a "clean claim" and removes some loopholes in current prompt pay laws to provide payment of owed medical benefits within 30 days. Slow payment or non payment by insurance companies adds approximately 18% into our healthcare costs.
DEFEATED.(5)
HB 07-1234 - Public Notice Insurance Rates (All Lines) (M. Carroll / Tochtrop): This bill gives 30 days notice to the public before any insurance rate hike or upward rate revision takes effect to allow insurance commissioner to determine if rate is excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. Individual and business consumers rate inability to keep pace with insurance premiums as a top problem for personal and business finances. This bill brings transparency to insurance rates.
PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR.
(6) SB 07-191 - Sunset Review: Continuation of Regulation of Life Insurance (Kester / M. Carroll): This bill reauthorizes the insurance regulation and oversight with the Division of Insurance pertaining to life insurance in Colorado.
PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR.
(7) HB 07-1331 - Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act (M. Carroll / Tochtrop): This bill shares pertinent information with the public from the Colorado Board Medical Examiners regarding licensed physicians in the state of Colorado to allow consumers better access to information including: criminal convictions, disciplinary history, basis for discipline, malpractice verdicts, judgments and settlements.
PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR.(8) SB 07-130 - Medical "Homes" for Children (Boyd / M. Carroll): This bill addresses gaps in our current Medicaid and Children's Health Plan (CHP) programs in identifying primary care providers for children's healthcare under these programs. It is anticipated to save the State costs in delayed care and emergency room visits along with improved efficiencies in continuity of care of a child's life.
PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR.
(9) HB 07-1363 - Competency Review (M. Carroll / Tapia): This bill gives both parties the right to file a motion with the Court to determine permanent competency when so opined by the psychiatric teams. (Currently on the prosecutor can bring this motion.) This brings fairness to the picture and makes better use of bed space within existing resources.
PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR.
(10) HB 07-1371 - Expansion Military Familty Relief Fund (M. Carroll / Morse): This bill expands eiligibility for Colorado soldiers and their families for financial assistance due to financial hardship caused by deployment. This fund is available for all braches of military (active and reserve) and National Guard.
PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR.Other House Bills of Interest:
- Expanded Make My Day (Gardner: HB 1011)
- Casino Smoking Ban (McGihon: HB 1269)
- Labor Peace Act (Garcia: HB 1072)
- Implement Am. 42 Increase Minimum Wage (Marshall: HB 1001)
- Longitudinal Tracking CSAPs (Merrfield: HB 1048)
- Right to Flag Display (Todd: HB 1050)
- Prison Rape Protection (T. Carroll: HB 1090)
- Choice Home Repair Vender (Butcher: HB 1104)
- Sealing Criminal Justice Records (Cerbo: HB 1107)
- Taxicab Regulation (Frangas: HB 1114)
- Motorcycle Helmet Minors (Primavera: HB 1117)
- Military Voting Overseas (Rice: HB 1149)
- Sudan Genocide Divestment (Romanoff: HB 1184)
- Predatory Pricing Reform (Jahn/Lundberg: HB 1208)
- Selling Drugs Presence Minors, Child Abuse (King: HB 1257)
- Cold Case Unit CBI (Rice: HB 1272)
- Science-Based Sex Ed (Todd: HB 1292)
- Junk Mail Opt-Out (Gagliardi: HB 1303)
Rep. Carroll's Audits & Investigations
(1) Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Audit: This was a request for a performance audit due to various constituent complaints about wait times at the DMV. The Legislative Audit Committee approved the request and the audit was completed and the results can be found by clicking here.
(2) Probate Court Audit: This was a request for a performance audit of the probate courts who oversee Colorado's most vulnerable populations (minors, seniors, legally incompetent or severely disabled people). The Legislative Audit Committee approved the request and the audit was completed and the results can be found by clicking here.
(3) Lobbyist Enforcement Audit: Colorado received a near-failing grade from the Center for Public Integrity in part due to poor enforcement of existing lobbying laws. The Legislative Audit Committee approved the request and the audit will begin in January 2007. The results are not yet available. In the meantime, the Secretary of State has refused to make lobbying activity searchable on their web site by bill number and subject pursuant to HB 1149.
(4) Insurance Investigation: The Insurance Commissioner was asked to investigate the lack of promised rate reductions in auto insurance in the switch from no-fault to tort. Commissioner Rivera has refused to investigate any of the insurance companies who failed to reduce premiums by either the 32% promised or by at the least the 15% suggested by NCSL as minimum premiums reductions in light of the benefits lost.
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