457BB5ED9C21DA1887258ADE006BFCF4 Hearing Summary

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Representatives Duran and Winter, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-035, concerning strengthening the enforcement of human trafficking for servitude. Representative Duran explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative Winter provided additional input on the merits of the legislation.  Public comment on SB 24-035 may be found at Attachment A.

Alicia Archuleta, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Soledad Diaz, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of SB 24-035. Ms. Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Ms. ReJeania Tolliver, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

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

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

Donna LaBelle, representing themself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

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

Discussion ensued regarding amendment L.004 (Attachment B).

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

Ms. Maggie Conboy, representing Office of Denver DA, testified in support of the bill.

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

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

D.A. McCann responded to questions regarding circumstances under which her office files charges for human trafficking. Discussion ensued regarding where to insert certain human trafficking-related measures in statute, and affirmative defense issues. Discussion followed regarding prosecutorial discretion in the area of human trafficking, and investigations of human trafficking. Discussion turned to the fiscal impact of the bill. Aaron Carpenter, Legislative Council Staff, provided input on this issue.

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

Ms. Shanna Michael, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Kristy Neeley, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Discussion ensued regarding investigations of human trafficking.

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

Mr. Darren Weekly, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

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

Diana Goldberg, representing Colorado Children's Alliance - SungateKids Child Advocacy Center, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kelsey Harbert, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Ashley Morgan, representing Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Ashley Lewis, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Maria Trujillo, representing Colorado Human Trafficking Council, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Reiko Anderson Williams, representing Cultural Development and Wellness Center (formerly Asian Pacific Development Center) at Aurora Mental Health and Recovery, testified in support of the bill. Discussion ensued regarding the various criminal charges that fall under the crime of human trafficking, and the fiscal impact of the bill. Discussion followed regarding the potential impact of the bill's change to the statute of limitations for human trafficking.

Ms. Brooke Byrd, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Shannon Johnson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

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

Viridiana Flores Delgado, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

The committee recessed.

The committee returned to order. Representative Duran explained the effect of amendment L.004. Discussion ensued regarding the source and merits of the amendment. Representative Weissman explained the effect of amendment L.005 (Attachment C).

Discussion returned to amendment L.004.

Representatives Duran and Winter provided closing remarks in support of SB 24-035. Various committee members provided their positions on the bill.