h_sa_2016a_2016-03-14t13:29:53z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/14/2016

01:33 PM -- SB16-034



Representatives Fields and Lawrence, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 16-034 to the committee. This bill creates a new crime of tampering with a deceased human body. This offense occurs if a person acts without legal authority and with the belief that an official proceeding is pending or in progress and willfully destroys, conceals, or alters a human body with the intent to impair its appearance or availability for an official proceeding. The bill classifies tampering with a deceased human body as a class 3 felony. The bill excludes human remains from the definition of physical evidence, with regard to the existing offense of tampering with physical evidence.



Representative Fields answered questions from the committee.



01:40 PM -- Carrie Thompson, representing the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, testified against the bill.



01:43 PM -- Arnold Hanuman, representing the Colorado Districts Attorney's Council, testified in support of the bill and responded to committee questions.



01:50 PM -- Raymond Harlan, representing Colorado Victims for Justice, testified in support of the bill.



01:54 PM -- Laura Saxton, representing Colorado Victims for Justice, testified in support of the bill.



02:00 PM -- Bev Sanburg, representing Colorado Victims for Justice, testified in support of the bill.



02:02 PM -- Elaine Hall, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



02:05 PM -- Kathy Oatis, representing the Colorado Coroners Association, testified in support of the bill.



Representatives Lawrence and Fields read letters of support for the bill (Attachments A and B).



16HouseState0314AttachA.pdf 16HouseState0314AttachB.pdf



02:21 PM



Representatives Fields and Lawrence responded to committee questions and wrapped up their presentation of the bill.