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Committee approves opt-in electronic service and e-filing provision for CDHS appeals
Summary
House Bill 1343, amended to leave a single section on electronic service and e-filing, was advanced unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee (one member excused). Supporters said opt-in e-service would cut paper, staff time and costs for the Department of Human Services.
Senator Marchman told the Senate Judiciary Committee that House Bill 1343 would modernize service and filing procedures for state administrative adjudications by allowing electronic service and e-filing when a party consents. After sponsors removed earlier sections and any appropriation, the committee adopted an amendment leaving only the e-service/e-filing provision and voted the bill out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
Leah Ignayan, an administrative law judge with the Office of Appeals at the Colorado Department of Human Services, testified that the office processes about 1,600 appeals a year and that each appeal requires, at minimum, four pieces of mailed correspondence. "We process approximately 1,600 appeals every year," Ignayan said, adding that mandatory paper mailing forces staff to print and mail documents parties have already received electronically, and leads to about 450 pieces of mail returned annually.
Ignayan told the committee the office seeks an opt-in electronic service model so that parties who prefer mail would not be left behind, while those who consent to electronic service would no longer receive redundant paper mailings. She estimated the change would reduce physical mail volume by at least 50% for her office and avoid about $40,000 annually in costs for paper, postage and staff time at CDHS; larger agencies could see greater savings.
Senator Marchman confirmed that the current amendment (L1) strikes sections 1 and 3 and leaves only section 2, eliminating the appropriation language. Senator Wallace moved the amended bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; the clerk polled the committee and the motion passed unanimously among voting members, with one senator excused. Senator Wallace asked that the bill be placed on the consent calendar; another senator objected, so it will be placed on general orders.
The bill now goes to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.
