A220B5FAE5DABAFE8725893C005B18A9 Hearing Summary

Senator Gonzales made opening remarks about the agenda:   https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/final_january_19_2023_smart_agenda_0.pdf.  She also announced that the Joint Judiciary hearing cancelled because of the snow day is  rescheduled to February 1. 

Members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) presented agency budget requests.   The JBC Staff Budget Summary for FY 2023-24 may be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/publications/fy-2023-24-staff-budget-briefing-summary

Representative Bockenfeld discussed the budget for the Department of Corrections.  Committee members asked questions about federal funds, infrastructure, salaries, and staffing.  Discussion followed about levels of custody and bed space,

Committee members asked questions about reentry housing.  Further discussion ensued about the aging prison population, the Take TWO Reentry program,  and costs of housing inmates in county jails.  Conversation returned to staffing and high costs of inflation. 

Representative Sirota presented the Judicial Department budget and highlighted staffing and workforce issues.  The committee discussed salary surveys and pay rates for attorneys in other state agencies. 

Representative Sirota proceeded to discuss the budget for the Office of Respondent Parents' Counsel, the Child Protection Ombudsman, and other judicial-related quasi independent agencies.  Questions were raised about memorandums of understanding and administrative support. 

Representative Bockenfeld presented the Department of Law proposed budget and discussed priorities. 

Representative Bockenfeld presented the Department of  Public Safety (DPS) budget. 

Discussion folowed about one-tme funds and grant programs.  The JBC members explained supplemental budget requests.