On January 24, 2012, Rep. Cheri Gerou and Sen. Mary Hodge introduced HB 12-1177 – Concerning a Grant Program to Provide Home Care Allowance Benefits to Certain Eligible Individuals, and, In Connection Therewith, Making and Reducing Appropriations. This summary is published here courtesy of the Colorado Bar Association’s e-Legislative Report.

Joint Budget Committee bill

Effective January 1, 2012, persons were prohibited from receiving both home care allowance benefits and benefits under a home- and community-based waiver. The bill establishes a new grant program in the department of human services to provide to certain individuals with developmental disabilities receiving benefits under either the home- and community-based supported living services or the children’s extensive support waiver a home care allowance benefit consistent with benefits received by persons under the home care allowance program. The grants may be made retroactive to January 1, 2012. The bill authorizes the state board of human services to adopt rules to implement the program.

The bill directs the department to submit a written report to certain committees of the general assembly on the program and to solicit feedback from individuals receiving grants under the program and from their families. The program is repealed, effective July 1, 2017, unless extended by the general assembly. The bill reduces the appropriation for home health care and appropriates the same amount for the new grant program. With amendments, the bill has cleared both houses; the bill currently sits on the House Calendar awaiting consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill.

Summaries of other featured bills can be found here.