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State Representative _y °ember of:
MELBA HASTINGS i" Agriculture, Livestock and
Rt. 1 M '„ SEQ'L COW.
Natural Resources Committee
Sterling, Colorado 80751 Health, Environment.Welfare and
Home phone: 265-4033 Institutions Committee
COLORADO Capitol phone: 866-2910
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
STATE CAPITOL
DENVER
SO2O3
March 26, 1982
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For further information contact:
State Representative Melba Hastings
D-Sterling
866-2910 or 265-4033
The only bill in this legislative session affecting cost containment of
health care costs won third reading approval on the House floor. S.B. 120
(Hamlin) repeals and reenacts the Colorado "Certificate of Public Necessity"
Act allowing major expansion of the amounts a hospital could spend before
authority is needed from a state regulatory board.
Containment of health care costs has been listed as a priority by Governor
Lamm and many organizations, including Senior Citizens.
Rep. Melba Hastings (Sterling) says, "I am not too happy with the raised
amounts for thresholds, but without this bill , Colorado has no restrictions
at all when the federal government eliminates the federal requirements, (the
current federal budget allocates no money for health planning, Colorado now
receives about $82 million). This Act requires hospitals and health care
facilities to justify the building expansion of facilities or services and
the acquiring of equipment. Anything costing under the thresholds would not
have to be approved, and I think the amounts are very high, even after taking
inflation into consideration."
S.B. 120 raises the capitol expenditure threshold for required certifica-
• tion from $164,400 to $750,000 and raises the operating expenditure threshold
820795
• For Immediate Reler""`
State Rep. Melba HasLings
March 26, 1982
Page 2
from $82,000 to $250,000. Eliminates the review of the now-clinical services
(parking lots, administrations, housekeeping, medical office buildings, land
acquisition, research and education). Eliminates predevelopment certificate
requirements. Requires the review of new tertiary services (such as open
heart surgery, radiation therapy, etc. )
S.B. 147 (Yost) was heard in the House Agriculture Committee this week.
The bill provides for a special master to be appointed by the district court
to settle a contract dispute on perishable root crops. The master shall make
a decision within fifteen days, when either party can appeal to a higher court
if not satisfied. Cost of the appointed master would be borne by both parties.
This bill came about as a result of a current beet contract dispute on the
modification of acreage. Persons testifying stated that Great Western has
mailed notices to all growers cutting their acreage by 37%. Speaking in support
of the bill was the Mountain States Beet Marketing Association, the Agriculture
Coordinating Council , the Farm Bureau and many area beet growers. Speaking in
opposition was legal counsel for Great Western Sugar.
H.B. 1173 (Fine) raises the funding ceiling for the displaced homemaker
program from $120,000 to $145,000 that may be accumulated annually. A 1980
bill established the funding, providing for a $5.00 fee to be charged for
each divorce in the state to go into this fund.
H.J.R. 1007 (Larson) urges members of the U.S. Congress to support two
bills that include hospice care (for the terminally ill ) under Medicaid.
H.B. 1065 (Winkler) appropriates the last stage of funding for acquisition
of water rights by the Division of Wildlife at Bonny Reservoir in Yuma County.
S.B. 132 (Schauer) allows for another election for a mass-transit system
r -
•
For Immediate Relea
State Rep. Melba Hastings
March 26, 1982
Page 3
in Denver, only the name is changed to a fixed guideway system.
H.B. 1216 (Underwood) prohibits the sale, offer, or expose for sale,
barter or distribution within the state of any seed beans that have not been
approved by the Department of Agriculture. Provides a fine for first and
second offenses.
S.B. 31 (Kopel ) makes failure to yield the right-of-way to a handicapped
person a Class 2 traffic offense. Defines handicapped as a person using a
cane or crutches, is assisted by a guide dog or hearing dog, is in a wheelchair
or walking with an obvious physical impairment.
S.B. 34 (Mielke) provides stiffer penalties for child sex-offenders.
Allows an offender to be classified as a habitual sex offender on the second
offense and serve a five year parole period.
S.B. 72 (Yost) would require a bond of not less than $10,000 nor more
than $500,000 before a license is issued to a grain warehouse operator. May
also require a financial statement or audit. Provides that when a warehouse
accepts grain for storage the receipt shall be a bailment, not a sale. Grain
so stored shall not be liable to seizure in a court action against the ware-
house. Remaining grain must be used to satisfy receipts of storage.
H.B. 1008 (Skaggs) increases the fees in District courts from $40 to $75
and from $30 to $40.
H.B. 1080 (Johnson) would allow the Department of Health to notify the
Attorney General ' s office to file civil suit for a fine of up to $1000 per
day for hazardous radiation control violations.
S.B. 19 (Wright) would require that mobile home furnishings be deducted
from the value of a home in whatever manner that is most advantageous to the
home owner when being assessed for taxes.
For Immediate Relea__
State Rep. Melba Hastings
March 26, 1982
Page 4
S.B. 41 (Spelts) makes a person ineligible for probation if he has previously
had two felony convictions (in state or U.S. ) and denys probation to a
person upon conviction of a second offense of a Class 1 - 2 or 3 felony
within 10 years. The OSPB says that up to 71 persons would be affected by
this bill . If the person is on probation this would cost the taxpayer
$174 per year, if in a community corrections, $25 per day, if in Department
of Corrections (prison) the cost would be $18782 per year and if he were
in county jail the cost would be $10,950 per year.
Rep. Hastings can be reached at home on weekends at Rt 1 , Sterling, phone
265-4033 or at the State Capitol during the week, phone 866-2910.
TO NEWS MEDIA:
I regret sending such a long release. Please feel free to use any part
you please, or have room for. i,' ' e
Melba Hastings
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