[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6346998,"mediaKeyId","2246039-32dfbbdb2e8f4c8f42dfe81558480ca9","parentId",2246039,"title","Committee advances bill letting physician assistants, APRNs and chief medical officers sign death certificates","audioSeconds",1583,"startMs",1571000,"endMs",3154000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246039-32dfbbdb2e8f4c8f42dfe81558480ca9&start=1571&end=3154","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246039-32dfbbdb2e8f4c8f42dfe81558480ca9/thumbnail_1571000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346998/Colorado/Committee-advances-bill-letting-physician-assistants-APRNs-and-chief-medical-officers-sign-death-certificates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346998-5aa0a01b32504de4e6e72296f623719d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998408&Signature=f2ktFqmCGqPRbjDR9rDyjBu~hRRzpZ56S~DJSDEU~9vAOZPJUgbsiMM5oc8wFBAZdQ~OB7L95XH3FArhvVdID0dumZ1YdV8x0azefZXjCWcFdwQU-BPnQZP~IhBO-601s-yuU1RD6XSF-55s3iG6AjTQpailN2qEJPnwohI5Pw~ziEzkCS3k0ibznJOV4rjBUOkTQIWcvtVVksWNymrbWd57h9ZM3ADOX0fYTg8NrIYJtLFWDscsDEFZFcnUOvqCKNCPPtePNshNZcFKDYnbhnBqc~xSwal23a49NNzyXLL8qkfcXqASWi4PWdQJFbQFe--PywPpDFF6i2En9MILRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Colorado State Legislature","date","2025-02-03T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives advanced House Bill 10 82 to the Committee on Appropriations after witnesses, sponsors and state health staff discussed training, vendor costs and how expanded certifier access could speed issuance of death certificates.

The bill, presented by Representative Weinberg, would authorize physician assistants (PAs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and chief medical officers, in addition to physicians, to determine cause of death and sign the medical certification portion of Colorado death certificates. Weinberg said the bill \"improves the efficiency and accessibility of Colorado's death certification process by expanding the list of qualified individuals who can complete and sign medical certifications for death certificate certificates.\" The bill also requires all qualified certifiers to register with the state's electronic death registration system before signing a death certificate.

The measure's sponsors and supporters told the committee that adding trained nonphysician clinicians could reduce administrative delays and help grieving families obtain documentation sooner. Representative Brown said APRNs and PAs are already integral to Colorado primary care: \"Nurse practitioners handle 27% of our primary care visits and physician's assistants handle 15%.\" He and other witnesses said allowing these professionals to certify deaths would be especially helpful in rural areas and long-term care settings.

Witnesses speaking for the bill included Dr. Pradeep Raj Rai, chief medical officer for Care Synergy (which operates Pathways Hospice, Denver Hospice and Pikes Peak Hospice), who described how hospice teams share clinical and administrative burden and the importance of timeliness in completing death certificates. Mark Longshore, executive director of the Colorado Nurses Association, asked lawmakers to vote for the bill and noted state statutory language about primary-care signers, citing \"the current 25 dash 2 dash 1 10\" in his testimony about who should sign a certificate. Harlan David, a practicing PA in community health centers, said in his experience a PA often knows the patient's history and currently must route paperwork through a physician just to obtain a signature, which can delay funeral planning.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) explained that a vendor-built electronic death registration system will require programming changes to register and track the new certifier types; CDPHE said the fiscal note reflects those vendor development costs. CDPHE staff explained the costs are configuration and database changes to add APRNs and PAs as certifier categories and to capture licensing details during registration.

The committee adopted two stakeholder-driven amendments without objection. Amendment L002 requires APRNs and PAs to review training materials provided by CDPHE and to complete the training before signing a death certificate; the committee adopted that amendment by voice without objection. A subsequent technical, conforming amendment requested by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) was also adopted without objection. After amendment, Vice Chair Clifford moved the bill to Committee on Appropriations; Representative Bradley seconded. The committee recorded an 11–0 final vote: Bottoms Yes; Bradley Yes; Carter Yes; Espinosa Yes; Parey Yes; Froelich Yes; Block (Black) Yes; Mabry Yes; Ricks Yes; Clifford Yes; Madam Chair Yes. The bill was transmitted to Appropriations.

What the committee did not adopt or change: the bill does not alter existing statutory deadlines (witnesses noted the current law requires certification within 72 hours) and does not allow uncertified or unregistered practitioners to sign. The amendments clarified training and added technical conforming language requested by DORA.

The bill's supporters said the change aims to reduce delays for families and distribute administrative duties among qualified clinicians; opponents' concerns (expressed initially by coroner representatives) focused on training and potential workload for coroner offices, concerns later addressed by the training amendment and stakeholder drafting.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 10 82 (as amended) — Moved to Committee on Appropriations; outcome: approved 11–0.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs [Feb 03, 2025]","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives advanced House Bill 10 82 to the Committee on Appropriations after witnesses, sponsors and state health staff discussed training, vendor costs and how expanded certifier access could speed issuance of death certificates.","taxTitle","State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Colorado","taxId",43542,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6346988,"Students and mycologists back legislation to name Agaricus julius Colorado's state mushroom; bill sent to the Committee of the Whole",2605,3813000,6418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246039-32dfbbdb2e8f4c8f42dfe81558480ca9&start=3813&end=6418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246039-32dfbbdb2e8f4c8f42dfe81558480ca9/thumbnail_3813000.jpg","/articles/6346988/Colorado/Students-and-mycologists-back-legislation-to-name-Agaricus-julius-Colorados-state-mushroom-bill-sent-to-the-Committee-of-the-Whole","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346988-b5671d78c92f6059514ca1d1161851a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998408&Signature=TlVX9GsGwBw3tWg-bcijvp960qXKEA4Vs6Gyg1Yzci2bumHxp8ywrYwpOEWQXcgxsmSnyHpFC4covDBvrhHVJQNEYDqBAj0J7C34igrHhaL6-JDF98sobP-4YrANhPeNVsRSsm9P6gRHvK~FnUb2uZIWAJe0lmlj9c60rj8LYYbL1SMgZ-0KykK1crdf~IpsUgEXiyxncuxO3zjPI3IdVaCph6~DBgsEZuIYYWRtv6ybsBIaesYnNsM6nurr~ITZHsGFevG~bmAFJci9YIEpKgdMPKjHcOojCQVO6jW7t2GtRePHOIHUagyfO4gmw6pF8D8Bcw02aEC3sOPcX4Orzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously moved House Bill 10 91 to the Committee of the Whole after students, mycologists and fungal enthusiasts testified in favor of designating Agaricus julius as Colorado's official state mushroom.

Representative Phillips introduced the measure as a civic-education project that grew from student work at Horizon High School. Greg Sanchez, a Horizon civics teacher and past president of the Colorado Mycological Society, told the committee that the effort is intended to give students real-world experience in legislative engagement and to expand state symbols to include fungi. Sanchez said the proposal would \"help emphasize the importance of participating in our democracy by working to get Colorado to declare a state mushroom as a new state symbol.\"

Multiple student witnesses testified in support and described the educational value of the project and the mushroom's cultural and ecological fit for Colorado. Student testimony emphasized outreach and civic learning; students noted Agaricus julius is visible in Colorado mountain habitats and could encourage interdisciplinary lessons connecting civics, ecology and state history.

Science witnesses included Dr. Andrew Wilson, associate curator of mycology at Denver Botanic Gardens, who described the biodiversity of mushroom-forming fungi and explained why a state fungus can help public understanding of fungi's ecological roles. Dr. Amy Honan, an ecologist and co-founder of the Crested Butte Botanic Garden, explained that Agaricus julius is saprotrophic — it breaks down dead organic matter and plays a role in nutrient cycling — and therefore has ecological relevance for Colorado forests.

Several mycological groups and enthusiasts testified in support. Hamilton Pevic of the Western Colorado Mycological Association read a short poem in praise of Agaricus julius; other supporters described the species' photogenic qualities, potential to support low-impact tourism (photography, fungus-focused nature outings), and educational value.

No fiscal note was reported for the designation. The committee had no amendments and, after sponsors' closing remarks, Vice Chair Clifford moved to send the bill to the Committee of the Whole; Representative Carter seconded. The committee recorded an 11–0 vote in favor (Bottoms Yes; Bradley Yes; Carter Yes; Espinosa Yes; Parey Yes; Froelich Yes; Luck Yes; Mabry Yes; Ricks Yes; Clifford Yes; Madam Chair Yes). The bill passed unanimously out of committee.

Supporters framed the bill as a low-cost, pro-education initiative that recognizes Colorado's fungal diversity, helps complete representation of biological kingdoms among state symbols, and provides civic learning opportunities for students. Several witnesses volunteered to participate in public-education events if the designation is enacted.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 10 91 — Moved to the Committee of the Whole; outcome: approved 11–0.","House Bill 10 91, sponsored by Representative Phillips, designates Agaricus julius (the mushroom formerly identified as Agaricus augustus) as Colorado's official state mushroom; the committee heard extensive testimony from high school students, mycologists and community groups and advanced the bill unanimously to the Committee of the Whole.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6346993,"Committee advances bill extending 3-year driver's license renewal extension to dependents of deployed service members",1994,1925000,3919000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246039-32dfbbdb2e8f4c8f42dfe81558480ca9&start=1925&end=3919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246039-32dfbbdb2e8f4c8f42dfe81558480ca9/thumbnail_1925000.jpg","/articles/6346993/Colorado/Committee-advances-bill-extending-3-year-drivers-license-renewal-extension-to-dependents-of-deployed-service-members","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346993-d63e2a31c0f94dcc3cf6a711b0fced77/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998408&Signature=CHT0Wvi5y8WWVE6J~IdSiyrp9ljOmwoDb7XZhJpqKzppjivlXqXQHbWNi~uk50hDSP1F5zCTT7S8EQXcIWwCRoWRzeivcrCO4tSmZ9TBi~ruwznwv82Gt7C1CWDS-OmutWmAEYlgmJS5vH5yow273KnXgDskzmvjswQkBG4azPDi6i6vMwIht7mamDiG0o9I7Kh9gLnf9Q57SsVQDKbvZr1Q5R-jiRLJtU6KwX8eHcI8BpfOpgU8nhTGgnhOOF1QLlGOD~vVOsuk3f8p2L8luWnUX8danjJCSCn-GjyoITVRWuBpZFOsxIe9iMddTHas7DbJ7hIrAKx7Hvq62WHSNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee advanced House Bill 10 83 to the Committee on Appropriations after sponsors and military and veterans advocates testified in support of extending a three-year driver's license expiration extension to dependents of deployed service members.

Representative Hamrick, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the change \"seeks to fix this gap by extending the same 3 year license renewal extension to dependents of deployed service personnel.\" He said the bill aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for military families and support readiness by ensuring family members accompanying a deployed service member do not have to renew licenses while stationed out of state or overseas.

Witnesses urging passage included Michelle Richard, Midwest region liaison for the Department of Defense State Liaison Office, who said such policies help military families overseas where mail and in-person services can be delayed; and Bob McLaughlin, executive director of the Mount Carmel Veterans Service Center and a veteran, who described the provision as a way to reduce stress on families and encouraged committee support.

Questions to witnesses covered documentation and administrative implementation. Michelle Richard said military dependents do receive dependent identification cards and that dependents (including aging parents who meet dependency criteria) can be documented similarly to spouses and children. Sponsor Representative Hamrick introduced amendment L001 to change the bill's effective date (moved the effective date to July 2026/2027 in testimony) to reduce the fiscal note; the committee adopted L001 without objection.

With the amendment adopted, Vice Chair Clifford moved House Bill 10 83 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations; Representative Ricks seconded. The committee recorded an 11–0 vote in favor (Bottoms Yes; Bradley Yes; Carter Yes; Espinosa Yes; Parey Yes; Froelich Yes; Luck Yes; Mabry Yes; Ricks Yes; Clifford Yes; Madam Chair Yes). The measure now goes to Appropriations.

Key details from testimony: the extension matches an existing three-year extension already available to deployed service members; the bill's language covers dependents including spouses, children, and individuals for whom a service member provided more than half the individual's support for at least 180 days prior to license expiration; the sponsor said an effective-date amendment substantially reduced the fiscal note (to approximately $7,000 as described in testimony). CDOR (Department of Revenue) staff were available for questions but did not provide additional objections on the record.

Supporters characterized the measure as low cost and pro-military; no opposition was recorded in committee testimony. The committee adopted the amendment and advanced the bill 11–0 to Appropriations.","The committee sent House Bill 10 83 to Appropriations after sponsors and Department of Defense and veterans-service witnesses said the measure closes a gap by giving dependents the same three-year license renewal extension currently provided to deployed service members; an amendment changing the effective date reduced the fiscal note.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill letting physician assistants, APRNs and chief medical officers sign death certificates

Students and mycologists back legislation to name Agaricus julius Colorado's state mushroom; bill sent to the Committee of the Whole

Committee advances bill extending 3-year driver's license renewal extension to dependents of deployed service members