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Colorado bill would create restricted database and tighter oversight for host homes serving people with IDD
Summary
Supporters say the statewide database in House Bill 26‑11‑147 would help families vet host‑home providers and focus oversight where risk is highest. Providers and counties pressed for privacy limits, costs and fire‑safety fixes; the committee moved the amended bill to appropriations 8–5.
Representative David Brown, sponsor of House Bill 26‑11‑147, told the Health and Human Services Committee the bill would create a statewide database to make ‘‘essential provider information’’ available to consumers and authorized providers so families can make informed host‑home placement decisions. He said the strike‑below amendment L001 narrows the bill to focus on transparency and oversight while addressing privacy and fiscal concerns.
Multiple witnesses from provider groups, state agencies and advocacy organizations said they support stronger transparency but warned of unintended consequences. Ellen Genzhi, public policy director for Alliance, said about 3,500 host homes serve roughly 4,000 Coloradans and that mandating sprinkler retrofits would ‘‘significantly undermine this model’’ by making placements unaffordable. Colin Laughlin of the Office of Community Living at HCPF said the amended bill ‘‘does a great job’’ addressing privacy and risk‑based oversight while preserving a path for CDPHE field follow‑up when surveys validate problems.
Family caregivers and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities described personal experiences that sponsors said illustrate the need for improved accountability. Speaker Pro Tem Basinecker read a constituent email that recounted property loss, isolation and other harms a family member said were never resolved through agency channels.
Committee members asked whether pending or unsubstantiated complaints would influence any risk rating. Sponsors said the amendments removed earlier complaint‑centric provisions and that pending complaints had been addressed in L001. Representative McCormick pressed on fiscal effects; Representative Brown said sponsors had worked with agencies and hoped the fiscal note could be reduced to zero.
The committee approved a package of amendments (L001, L002 and related strike‑below language) and voted 8–5 to send the amended bill to the Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation. The motion on the floor was recorded as: “I move HB 26‑11‑147 to the committee on appropriations as amended with a favorable recommendation.”
What’s next: The bill will go to Appropriations, where staff will finalize fiscal estimates and sponsors have said they will continue stakeholder conversations on fire‑code language and county concerns.
