Bethany Pray, CCLP’s Chief Legal and Policy Officer, provided testimony in support of House Bill 24-1133, Criminal Record Sealing & Expungement Changes. CCLP is in support of HB24-1133, as it is one of our priority bills.
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CCLP testifies in support of Necessary Document Program updates
Charlie Kestler, one of CCLP’s Policy Fellows, provided testimony in support of Senate Bill 24-211, Adjustments to the Necessary Document Program. CCLP is in support of SB24-211, as it is one of our priority bills.
CCLP testifies in support of protections for DNC drivers
Charles Brennan provided testimony in support of House Bill 24-1129, Protections for Delivery Network Company Drivers. CCLP is in support of HB24-1129.
CCLP testifies in support of TANF grant rule change
CCLP's Emeritus Advisor, Chaer Robert, provided written testimony in support of the CDHS rule on the COLA increase for TANF recipients. If the rule is adopted, the cost of living increase would go into effect on July 1, 2024.
A win for Medicaid recipients in Talevski
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indiana v. Talevski. Talevski involved a nursing home resident who was given a high dose of psychotropic medications against his will and was repeatedly transferred to facilities far away from his family. The family sued the nursing facility by relying on 42 U.S.C. § 1983 – a federal law that allows individuals to sue state actors for civil rights or federal statutory violations.
Section 1983 has consistently been used to ensure that state actors comply with constitutional provisions and federal statutes, including the Medicaid Act. Such a safeguard is needed for Coloradans with disabilities and low-income Coloradans who rely on Medicaid for preventative, acute, long-term, and other forms of health care that are otherwise out of their financial reach. The reality is that state and local agencies sometimes fail to meet federal requirements of the Medicaid program, and when that happens, the intended beneficiaries must be able to turn to the courts for protection against ongoing harm.
Given the impact this case would have had on Coloradan beneficiaries and CCLP’s ability to enforce public assistance laws, CCLP joined the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) and forty-two other non-profit organizations in a “friend of the court” – or amicus curiae – brief to explain why the Court should not depart from precedent. We also released a statement before oral arguments, sharing concerns about the Court’s decision to hear this case given the well-established law.
The court heard arguments on November 8, 2022, which left advocates hopeful after republican appointees like Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh expressed hesitancy about overruling precedent. Fortunately, the Court surprised us all and ruled 7-2 in favor of Mr. Talevski’s estate, upholding the rights of beneficiaries to seek legal recourse when state officials violate their rights under the Medicaid Act. This is a victory not only for Medicaid recipients but also for those who depend on states to implement federal laws regarding housing, nutrition, education, disability, and various other safety net programs. Advocates for low-income individuals are relieved that the Court has affirmed this right.