272D163011C5C84787258ACA007BC047 Hearing 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.