h_jud_2017a_2017-04-13t14:19:42z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/13/2017

Location: HCR 0112

02:40 PM -- HB17-1288



Representatives Saine and Foote, co-prime sponsors, explained HB17-1288 concerning penalties for felony DUI offenders. The bill requires the court to to choose certain sentencing options if an individual is charged with a fourth or subsequent DUI. The bill also outlines the conditions of probation if a court imposes that sentence instead. The sponsors discussed that this bill should only impact about 8% of individuals in the criminal justice system, but a better and more just sentencing scheme is needed for this population.



The bill sponsors presented a fact sheet regarding DUI penalties (Attachment B) and Amendment L.002 (Attachment C).



17HouseJud0413AttachB.pdf 17HouseJud0413AttachC.pdf



02:43 PM -- Peg Ackerman, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, spoke in opposition to the bill. She discussed over-crowding in county jails and reiterated that this bill would further backlog jails with individuals who should be serving sentences in state prisons.



02:45 PM -- Fran Lancer, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. He stressed that county jails and problem-solving courts provide treatment options for individual charged with multiple DUIs.



02:47 PM -- Bruce Brown, representing Colorado's Fifth Judicial District, testified in support of the measure. He relayed the need for more consistent sentences in multiple DUI cases and answered questions about mandatory minimums.