House panel advances fix to QMAP definition to avoid mass retraining costs

House lawmakers on the House Committee on Health & Human Services moved House Bill 25-1022 forward on a unanimous voice roll call after sponsors said the bill corrects a drafting error in last year’s law about qualified medication administration personnel.

Committee members heard that the omission narrowed who would qualify as portable, prior training under Senate Bill 24-167 and could have forced employers to pay for retraining. “If we don't fix the statute so that it contains the full definition, employers will have to pay as much as $500 for each employee to retrain several 100 workers,” Representative Briana Espinosa said, citing industry estimates. She added retraining could require “16 or more hours” per worker.

The bill’s sponsors said the original Senate bill was meant to make certain non-site-specific trainings portable between assisted-living facilities and to let employers accept prior training proofs or require competency testing. Janet Cornell, president of the Colorado Assisted Living Association, testified in support and said the error was three missing words in the statute and that the state Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) supports the correction. Alexandra Hawes, policy advisor at the CDPHE division that oversees QMAPs, was on hand to answer technical questions.

Committee discussion touched on verification procedures for workers who have been out of the field for years. Witnesses said a state registry can be checked to confirm a QMAP certificate and that the registry “doesn't really expire,” according to Cornell. Sponsors emphasized that employers already may observe and re-evaluate an employee’s competency when assigning medication duties.

After sponsor wrap-ups from Representative McCormick and Rep. Espinosa urging an I (in committee) vote, Rep. Chaddun called the roll. Rep. McCormick moved the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; the motion carried. The clerk announced, “That bill passes 130,” during the committee’s recorded tally.

The measure now proceeds to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Supporters said the bill is narrowly tailored to restore the portable-training intent of last year’s statute and avoid unnecessary retraining costs for employers and workers.