H_JUD_2022A 05/03/2022 02:41:11 PM Committee Summary

The committee was called to order.  A quorum was present.  Representatives Carver and Weissman, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-201, concerning independent oversight of matters concerning judicial discipline.  Representative Carver explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need.  Representative Weissman provided additional input on the merits of the legislation.

Letitia Maxfield, representing the Legislative Policy Committee of the Colorado Bar Association, testified on SB 22-201 from a neutral position.

Marilyn Chappell, representing the Colorado Judicial Institute, testified on the bill from an "amend" position.

Robin Austin, representing Families Against Court Embezzlement Unethical Standards, testified against the bill.

Chris Forsyth, representing the Judicial Integrity Project, testified in opposition to the bill.

Jenni Dees, representing herself, testified in support of SB 22-201.

Emma Garrison, representing the Colorado Women's Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.

Elizabeth Espinosa Krupa, representing the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, testified in support of the bill.

Steven Vasconcellos, representing Colorado Courts, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Espinosa Krupa responded to questions regarding funding for the Commission on Judicial Discipline. Mr. Vasconcellos responded to questions regarding how the bill would affect funding for the commission. Discussion ensued regarding staffing for the commission under the bill, and information sharing between the Judicial Branch and the commission. Discussion followed regarding the work of the commission, including the complaint process.

Maralee McLean, representing Moms Fight Back, testified in opposition to SB 22-201.

Luanne Fleming, representing Families Against Court Embezzlement Unethical Standards, testified in opposition to the bill.

Rosemary Van Gorder, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Representative Carver explained the effect of amendments L.022 (Attachment A) and L.023 (Attachment B). Representative Weissman provided additional input on the effect of the amendments. Discussion ensued regarding staffing for the Commission on Judicial Discipline.

Representative Carver explained the effect of amendment L.024 (Attachment C).

Representative Weissman explained some clean-up amendments that he will offer to the bill on second reading. Representatives Carver and Weissman provided closing remarks in support of SB 22-201. Discussion ensued regarding the merits of the bill.

Representatives Will and A. Valdez, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-145, concerning measures to provide resources to increase community safety.  Representative Valdez explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative Will provided additional input on the merits of the bill. Discussion ensued regarding how grant making under the bill will impact rural areas, and uses for grant money in accordance with the bill. Discussion followed regarding how the bill addresses criminal justice-related problems identified by certain communities, and provisions in the bill that allow grant moneys to be used to pay law enforcement officers. Discussion turned to grant making to increase law enforcement diversity under the bill.

Jeffy Demmer, representing One Step Forward, testified in support of SB 22-145.

Michael Honn, representing the Colorado State Patrol, testified in support of the bill.

Sandra Solin, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, testified on the bill from an "amend" position.

Joe Thome, representing the Division of Criminal Justice within the Department of Public Safety, testified in support of the bill. He addressed questions raised during earlier discussion.

Katharina Booth, representing the Twentieth Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Director Thome responded to questions regarding costs for tuition reimbursement under the bill. Discussion ensued regarding certain community-oriented requirements in the grant programs created by the bill, and drivers of recidivism. Discussion returned to tuition reimbursement under the bill.

The committee recessed.

The committee returned to order. Representative Benavidez explained the effect of amendment L.019 (Attachment D). Discussion ensued regarding the merits of the amendment.

Representative Bacon explained the effect of amendment L.020 (Attachment E). Discussion ensued regarding the merits of the amendment.

Representatives Valdez and Will provided closing remarks in support of SB 22-145. Representatives Bacon and Benavidez discussed their positions on the bill.

Representatives Roberts and Woog, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-005, concerning the increase of available funds for law enforcement agency peace officer supportive services. Representative Roberts explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative Woog provided additional input on the merits of the bill.

Jeff Riester, Representing the Department of Law, testified in support of SB 22-005. Mr. Riester responded to questions regarding what types of programming the grant moneys enabled by the bill would be used for.

No amendments were offered to SB 22-005. The bill sponsors provided closing remarks in support of the bill.

The committee recessed.

The committee returned to order. Representatives Lindsay and Gonzales-Gutierrez, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-204, concerning repealing the requirement that the federal government confirm certain persons' statuses before issuance of an identification document. Representative Lindsay explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez further explained the effect of the bill.

Joy Athanasiou, representing herself, testified in support of SB 22-204.

No amendments were offered to SB 22-204. The bill sponsors provided closing remarks in support of the bill.

Representatives Benavidez and Bacon, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-196, concerning supporting the health needs of persons who may be involved with the criminal justice system. Representative Benavidez explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative Bacon provided additional input on the merits of the legislation.

Terri Hurst, representing the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, testified in support of SB 22-196.

Perry May, representing the Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Meghan MacKillop, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill.

Elizabeth Owens, representing the Behavioral Health Administration, testified in support of SB 22-196.

Joe Thome, representing the Division of Criminal Justice within the Department of Public Safety, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Bacon explained the effect of amendment L.009 (Attachment  F). Representative Bacon responded to questions regarding certain reporting requirements in the amendment.

Representative Bacon explained the effect of amendment L.010 (Attachment G). Representative Benavidez provided additional input on the effect of the amendment. Discussion ensued regarding the merits of the amendment.

Discussion ensued regarding severing the amendment, designating severed sections.

Representative Bacon explained the effect of amendment L.011 (Attachment H). Discussion ensued regarding certain language in the amendment that may be restrictive of counties, and money allocated to diversion programs by the amendment. Discussion followed regarding certain reporting requirements implicated by the amendment.

Representatives Benavidez and Bacon provided closing remarks in support of SB 22-196. Various committee members provided their positions on the bill.