S_JUD_2024A 02/21/2024 03:31:06 PM Committee Summary

Senators Fields and Pelton B, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-035, concerning strengthening the enforcement of human trafficking for servitude. They distributed a fact sheet and explained the bill makes human trafficking a crime of violence and extends the statutes of limitations (Attachment A). 

Senator Pelton B distributed and explained Amendment L.001 (Attachment B). 

Ms. Jessica Dotter, representing Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jenelle Goodrich, representing From Silenced to Saved, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kelly Dore, representing themself, was available to answer committee questions.

Committee discussion ensued about other state laws and statutes of limitations.

Ms. Rebekah Layton, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. James Karbach, representing Colorado public defender office, testified in opposition to the bill.

The panel answered committee questions about the proposed amendment.

Ms. Beth McCann, representing Denver District Attorney, testified in support of this bill.

Ms. Ashley Morgan, representing Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Travis Sides, representing District Attorney, 13th Judicial District, testified in support of the bill.

Jennifer Sisk, representing 17th Judicial District, testified in support of the bill.

The panel answered questions about increased protections for child and adult victims, in addition to tthose about the proposed amendments. 

Mr. Lloyd Benes, representing themself, testified to amend the bil.  He distributed a handout of his remarks (Attachment C).

Dr. Matthew Fritz-Mauer, representing Denver Auditor's Office, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Jared Sonnenberg, representing Sterling Fire and Police and Pastor, LeRoy Community Church, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Patricia Medige, representing Colorado Legal Services, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Committee members asked questions about prosecutions, citizenship cases, and the bill's relationship to federal laws.

Denise Gomez, representing themself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Ms. Audrey Keen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Joseph DeAngelo, representing Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Alicia Archuleta, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Sofia Solano, representing Colorado Jobs with Justice, testified in support of the bill.

Mark Fitzgerald, representing Colorado Children's Alliance - Better Tomorrow Child Advocacy Center, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Alma Sanchez, representing Denver Police Department, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Committee discussion followed about inadvertently criminalizing victims in human trafficking. 

Major-JP Burt, representing CDPS-Colorado State Patrol, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kristy Neeley, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Written testimony about the bill may be found in Attachment D.

The bill sponsors recapped Amendment L.001 (Attachment B).

Committee members asked questions about the amendment.

The bill sponsors made closing comments.

Senators Cutter and Winter, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-011, concerning measures to increase protection from harm caused through the use of technology. 

The bill sponsors distributed a series of amendments prior to testimony, including L.001, L.003,  L.004, L.005, L.006, L.007, L.008 (Attachments E through K). 

Committee members asked the bill sponsors questions about the bill. 

Ms. Anne-Marie Kopek, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Amy Aldridge, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Vanessa Newport, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Fawn Mcgaughey, representing CCASA, testified in support of the bill.

Laura Patlan, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Aimee Resnick, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill.

Mark Fitzgerald, representing Colorado Children's Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jessica Dotter, representing Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Soledad Diaz, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Sonia Russo, representing Colorado Women's Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Ami Prichard, representing Colorado PTA , testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about consumer protection and criminal and civil remedies. 

Written testimony about the bill may be read in Attachment L.

The bill sponsors explained Amendment L.001 to add a legislative declaration (Attachment E).

The bill sponsors explained Amendment L.003 to remove treble damages (Attachment F). 

Committee members asked questions about the amendment's application to non-economic damages.

The bill sponsors explained Amendment L.004 about tracking devices (Attachment G).

Committee members asked questions about tracking devices.

The bill sponsors explained Amendment L.005 about artificial intelligence and digitally altered images (Attachment H).

The bill sponsors explained Amendment L.006 about the defintion of harassment (Attachment I).

Committee members asked questions about the definition and its scope, as outlined in the amendment.  

Conrad Imel, representing Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions about the amendment. 

The bill sponsors explained Amendment L.007 to clarify timelines (Amendment J). 

Committee members asked questions about the amendment.

The bill sponsors explained Amendment L.008 clarifying the process of submitting the safety plans (Attachment K).

The commitee took a brief recess.

The committee reconvened and laid the bill over until a later date.