Second Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 24-0065.02 Brita Darling x2241
SENATE BILL 24-042
Senate Committees House Committees
Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE CREATION OF THE ARIE P. TAYLOR SICKLE CELL101
DISEASE OUTREACH PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO102
INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE .103
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill creates the Arie P. Taylor sickle cell disease outreach
program (outreach program) in the department of public health and
environment (department). To implement the outreach program, the bill
requires the department, subject to available appropriations, to contract
with one or more community-based nonprofit organizations (outreach
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Buckner and Fields, Coleman, Exum
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
English, Bacon, Herod
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. organizations) to provide outreach and support services in the community
to individuals living with sickle cell disease and their families.
The department shall contract with a third-party entity
(administrator) to solicit applicants and administer the outreach program.
On or before January 1, 2025, the department shall select one or more
outreach organizations to implement the outreach program and shall give
priority to community organizations with experience in providing services
and support to the sickle cell community and that meet other criteria in
the bill.
The outreach program may include informal counseling and health
guidance, direction and support to individuals and their families in
locating and accessing services in the community, outreach concerning
activities and programs available to individuals and families living with
sickle cell disease, peer support and referrals, advocacy regarding the
interests of the sickle cell disease community, referrals for screening, and
other services and support identified by the department.
The department shall approve the services provided through a
contract and may consult with the university of Colorado school of
medicine's sickle-cell anemia treatment and research center to identify
needed services and supports.
Prior to the expiration of a contract, the outreach organization, in
conjunction with the administrator, shall prepare and submit a written
report to the department describing the impact of the outreach program
provided under the contract, and the department shall provide the report
to certain committees of the general assembly.
The bill repeals the outreach program after 5 years.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 25-1.5-121 as2
follows:3
25-1.5-121. Arie P. Taylor sickle cell disease outreach program4
- contracts - administration - report - legislative declaration -5
definitions - repeal. (1) T
HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES6
THAT:7
(a) S
ICKLE-CELL ANEMIA IS A GENETIC DISORDER OF THE8
HEMOGLOBIN IN RED BLOOD CELLS THAT CAUSES RED BLOOD CELLS THAT9
CARRY OXYGEN TO STICK TOGETHER AFTER THE OXYGEN IS RELEASED ,10
SB24-042-2- CAUSING BLOCKAGES IN THE SMALL BLOOD VESSELS ;1
(b) T
HE MAIN SYMPTOMS OF SICKLE -CELL ANEMIA ARE ANEMIA2
AND EPISODES OF SEVERE PAIN CAUSED BY THE BLOCKAGES IN THE SMALL3
BLOOD VESSELS; OVER TIME, PEOPLE WITH SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA ARE4
INCREASINGLY AT RISK OF OTHER HEALTH COMPLICATIONS , AND THE5
DISORDER DAMAGES THEIR ORGANS ;6
(c) A
CCORDING TO THE 2022-23 "COLORADO SICKLE CELL STATE7
A
CTION PLAN" PREPARED BY THE COLORADO SICKLE CELL TREATMENT8
AND RESEARCH CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF9
MEDICINE, APPROXIMATELY FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY PEOPLE IN COLORADO10
ARE LIVING WITH SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA, ALTHOUGH THIS NUMBER LIKELY11
UNDERCOUNTS THE POPULATION LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE ;12
(d) D
UE TO THE EFFECTS OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE , INCLUDING13
EPISODES OF DEBILITATING PAIN , MANY INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH14
SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA AND THEIR FAMILIES NEED SERVICES AND SUPPORT15
IN THE COMMUNITY TO MANAGE THEIR HEALTH CONDITION AND DAILY16
LIVES;17
(e) A
RIE PARKS TAYLOR WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN18
WOMAN TO SERVE AS A WOMEN IN THE AIR FORCE, "WAF", CLASSROOM19
INSTRUCTOR AND OFFICER; TO BE ELECTED TO SERVE IN THE HOUSE OF20
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY ; TO SERVE AS21
THE CLERK AND RECORDER FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER OR22
ANY COUNTY IN COLORADO; AND TO SERVE AS THE CHIEF CLERK OF THE23
D
ENVER ELECTION COMMISSION ;24
(f) P
ASSIONATE ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING25
WITH SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA, DURING HER TIME IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY26
REPRESENTATIVE TAYLOR SPONSORED LEGISLATION THAT CREATED THE27
SB24-042
-3- SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA TREATMENT AND RESEARCH CENTER AT THE1
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE , WHICH PROVIDES2
SUPPORT AND TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE3
AND CONDUCTS RESEARCH RELATING TO SICKLE CELL DISEASE ; AND4
(g) C
REATING AN OUTREACH PROGRAM BY PARTNERING WITH ONE5
OR MORE COMMUNITY -BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE6
SERVICES AND SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY FOR INDIVI DUALS WITH SICKLE7
CELL DISEASE AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL HELP ENSURE A BETTER QUALITY8
OF LIFE FOR THESE COLORADANS.9
(2) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE10
REQUIRES:11
(a) "A
DMINISTRATOR" MEANS THE THIRD -PARTY ENTITY12
CONTRACTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO ADMINISTER THE OUTREACH13
PROGRAM PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (3)(b) OF THIS SECTION.14
(b) "O
UTREACH PROGRAM" MEANS THE ARIE P. TAYLOR SICKLE15
CELL DISEASE OUTREACH PROGRAM CREATED IN SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS16
SECTION.17
(3) (a) T
HERE IS CREATED IN THE DEPARTMENT THE ARIE P.18
T
AYLOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE OUTREACH PROGRAM . THE PURPOSE OF THE19
OUTREACH PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUPPORT IN THE20
COMMUNITY TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND21
THEIR FAMILIES.22
(b) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONTRACT WITH A THIRD -PARTY23
ENTITY TO ADMINISTER THE OUTREACH PROGRAM .24
(4) (a) T
HE ADMINISTRATOR SHALL SOLICIT APPLICATIONS FROM25
COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF26
IMPLEMENTING THE OUTREACH PROGRAM AND SHALL PRESENT QUALIFIED27
SB24-042
-4- APPLICANTS TO THE DEPARTMENT .1
(b) S
UBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS , ON OR BEFORE2
J
ANUARY 1, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE3
COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PRESENTED BY THE4
ADMINISTRATOR TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY -BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORT5
TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND THEIR FAMILIES .6
(c) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETERMINE THE INITIAL TERM OF A7
CONTRACT, NOT TO EXCEED TWO YEARS , AND SHALL APPROVE THE8
SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO BE INCLUDED IN A CONTRACT .9
(d) I
N AWARDING A CONTRACT , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL GIVE10
PRIORITY TO A COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT :11
(I) H
AS A MINIMUM OF TEN YEARS ' EXPERIENCE IN PROVIDING12
SERVICES AND SUPPORT IN COLORADO TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH13
SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND THEIR FAMILIES, SPECIFICALLY IN THE DENVER14
METROPOLITAN AREA OR COLORADO SPRINGS, WHICH AREAS OF THE15
STATE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SICKLE16
CELL DISEASE IN COLORADO;17
(II) H
AS EXPERIENCE PROVIDING THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT18
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (5)(a) OF THIS SECTION; AND19
(III) I
S ENGAGED IN FUNDRAISING FOR AND RAISING AWARENESS20
OF THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND21
THEIR FAMILIES AND MAINTAINS A NETWORK OF PERSONS ABLE TO22
PROVIDE PEER ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS .23
(5) (a) D
EPENDING UPON THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE24
APPROPRIATIONS AND THE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED THR OUGH A25
CONTRACT, THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORT PROVIDED26
THROUGH THE OUTREACH PROGRAM MAY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING27
SB24-042
-5- SERVICES AND SUPPORT PROVIDED BY A COMMUNITY -BASED NONPROFIT1
ORGANIZATION OR BY COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS OR SOCIAL2
WORKERS EMPLOYED BY THE COMMUNITY -BASED NONPROFIT3
ORGANIZATION:4
(I) C
ULTURALLY APPROPRIATE HEALTH EDUCATION AND5
INFORMATION CONCERNING SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND LIVING WITH SICKLE6
CELL DISEASE;7
(II) I
NFORMAL COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE ON HEALTH8
BEHAVIORS;9
(III) D
IRECTION AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR10
FAMILIES IN LOCATING AND ACCESSING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY TO11
ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS, INCLUDING NONMEDICAL NEEDS SUCH AS HOUSING ,12
FOOD, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT, LEGAL SERVICES,13
AND OTHER SUPPORT;14
(IV) O
UTREACH TO THE SICKLE CELL DISEASE COMMUNITY15
CONCERNING ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS16
LIVING WITH THE EFFECTS OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND THEIR FAMILIES ;17
(V) P
EER SUPPORT SERVICES AND REFERRALS FOR INDIVIDUALS18
AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN THE LOCAL19
COMMUNITY;20
(VI) A
DVOCACY REGARDING THE INTERESTS OF THE SICKLE CELL21
DISEASE COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE GENERAL22
PUBLIC, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES , HEALTH-CARE23
PROVIDERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY -BASED ORGANIZATIONS;24
(VII) R
EFERRALS FOR SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA SCREENING; AND25
(VIII) A
NY OTHER SERVICES AND SUPPORT AS DETERMINED BY THE26
DEPARTMENT.27
SB24-042
-6- (b) IN DETERMINING THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT INCLUDED IN A1
CONTRACT, THE DEPARTMENT MAY CONSULT WITH THE SICKLE -CELL2
ANEMIA TREATMENT AND RESEARCH CENTER , CREATED IN SECTION3
23-21-203,
TO IDENTIFY THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORT4
THAT IS LIKELY TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUALS AND5
FAMILIES SERVED THROUGH THE OUTREACH PROGRAM GIVEN THE AM OUNT6
AND DURATION OF THE CONTRACT .7
(6) (a) P
RIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF A CONTRACT , A8
COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTING THE9
OUTREACH PROGRAM SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT , IN CONJUNCTION WITH10
THE ADMINISTRATOR , A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT11
DESCRIBING:12
(I) T
HE TYPE AND AMOUNT OF SERVICES AND SUPPORT PROVIDED13
TO THE COMMUNITY PURSUANT TO THE OUTREACH PROGRAM ;14
(II) T
HE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED15
THROUGH THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT ;16
(III) T
HE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING17
SERVICES AND SUPPORT, INCLUDING WHETHER THE SERVICES OR SUPPORT18
WAS PROVIDED TO ADULTS OR CHILDREN WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE OR19
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS , BUT EXCLUDING PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING20
INFORMATION REGARDING THE INDIVIDUALS ; AND21
(IV) T
HE LOCATION WHERE THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT WAS22
PROVIDED.23
(b) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE THE REPORT TO THE HOUSE24
OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HUMAN25
SERVICES COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES26
COMMITTEE, OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES. THE DEPARTMENT MAY27
SB24-042
-7- INCLUDE WITH THE REPORT INFORMATION KNOWN TO THE DEPARTMENT1
CONCERNING THE OUTCOMES OF THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT PROVIDED ,2
AS WELL AS OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE IMPACT OF3
THE OUTREACH PROGRAM ON INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL4
DISEASE AND THEIR FAMILIES.5
(7) T
HIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2030.6
SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,7
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate8
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for9
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state10
institutions.11
SB24-042
-8-