Senate panel advances bill to move deaf, hard-of-hearing services into enterprise to stabilize funding

House Bill 11‑54, which would move the state’s disabled telephone users fee-funded programs into an enterprise to stabilize funding for services to people who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf‑blind, advanced out of the Colorado Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee on a 4–3 vote.

Sponsors and advocates told the committee the change would keep “lifeline” programs running — including telephone relay service, a rural communication access program that helps provide interpreters, and specialized supports for people who are deaf‑blind — even when the cash fund fluctuates.

The bill’s sponsors said the fee will continue to be collected by the Public Utilities Commission and that the measure does not create or expand services; rather, it reclassifies the existing fund and establishes an enterprise structure to manage fee revenue and avoid mid‑year service interruptions. Dr. Katie Q, deputy director of the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf‑Blind, described programs that support early hearing detection, orientation and mobility training, support service providers for deaf‑blind adults and rural interpreter access. She cited instances in which high equipment costs — a single device for a deaf‑blind person can cost more than $7,000 — make the programs crucial for participation in daily life.

Advocates from Disability Law Colorado and the Colorado Cross‑Disability Coalition testified in favor, saying the fund ran out of money last year and the Joint Budget Committee provided an $800,000 supplemental to keep services going. Jack Johnson of Disability Law Colorado and the coalition’s witnesses said consolidating administration under an enterprise would allow the state to hold fees low while ensuring dollars are directed to core services. Cindy Vaughn, a Deaf‑Blind Colorado resident, described how support service providers enable independence and court participation in a family tragedy, illustrating the practical importance of the services.

Sponsors offered a package of technical amendments (L5–L9) that the committee adopted. Those amendments recreated cash‑fund accounts to permit the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Revenue to retain portions of the surcharge to cover administrative costs, clarified payer definitions, defined the enterprise board size and terms, and clarified appropriation authority for the commission. Senator Judah moved the bill, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation.

Committee roll call on the motion recorded the following votes: Senator Bazely — no; Senator Catlin — no; Senator Judah — yes; Senator Liston — no; Senator Winter — yes; Senator Henrikson — yes; Madam Chair — yes. The motion carried 4–3.

The measure was forwarded to the Committee on Appropriations for further consideration.