S_JUD_2024A 05/01/2024 11:29:00 AM Committee Summary

Senator Gardner, sponsor, presented House Bill 24-1455, concerning the effective date of the twenty-third judicial district.

 

Written testimony submitted about the bill is in Attachment A.

Senator Michaelson Jenet, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 24-1432, concerning eliminating the requirement for a defendant to pay the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for costs related to sealing criminal justice records in the Bureau's custody, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing an appropriation. 

Ms. Brianna Buentello, representing Stand for Children Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsor made closing remarks.

Senator Gonzales, sponsor, presented House Bil 24-1433, concerning removing the governor's approval requirement in early parole decisions for participants in a specialized program for offenders who committed an offense when under twenty-one years of age.

Courtney Sutton, representing Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in opposition to the bill.

Travis Sides, representing District Attorney for the 13th Judicial District, testified in opposition to the bill.

Tom Raynes, representing Colorado District Attorneys Council, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Adrienne Sanchez, representing Colorado Department of Corrections, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about the number of applicable cases and the time involved to review them.  Committee discussion ensued about timelines and victim notification. 

The bill sponsor and committee members made closing remarks.

Senator Gonzales, sponsor, presented House Bill 24-1461, concerning an exemption from the limit on earned time for earned time awarded to nonviolent offenders who complete an accredited higher education program.

Senator Roberts, co-prime sponsor, presented House Bill 24-1135, concerning offenses to requirements for operating a vehicle, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. 

Committee members asked questions about the possibility of the Transportation Legislation Review Committee studying careless driving provisions. Discussion ensued about the bill and provisions in House Bill 21-271, the misdemeanor reform bill.

 

 

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

Greg Fulton, representing Colorado Motor Carriers Association, testified in support of the bill.

It was noted for the record that the Colorado District Attorneys' Council supported the bill.

The committee reconvened.

Senator Buckner presented House Bill 24-1452, airport accessibility requirements.

Committee members asked questions about what jurisdiction has the authority to regulate airports for accessibility. 

An overview about the bill was distributed (Attachment B).

Kerry Tipper, representing City and County of Denver, testified to amend the bill.

Jack Johnson, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about the state's authority to regulate an airport.  Discussion ensued about the removal of private right of action provisions in the bill. 

 

Ms. Barbara Niederhoff, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dawn Howard, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Hillary Jorgensen, representing Colorado Cross Disability Coaliton, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Meredith Henry, representing The Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Craig Towler, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Anthony Brown, representing Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Michael Neil, representing Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Written testimony and a video in support of the bill may be found in Attachment C.

Senator Buckner distributed and explained Amendment L.006 (Attachment D). 

 

Senator Buckner made closing comments.

Senator Fields, sponsor, presented House Bill 24-1034, concerning adult competency to stand trial.

Jack Johnson, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jonathan Singer, representing Boulder Chamber, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jagruti Shah, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, was available to answer committee questions.

Ryan Templeton , representing Behavioral Health Administration, was available to answer committee questions.

Dr. Katherine Reis, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, was available to answer committee questions.

Committee members asked questions about the fiscal note.

Senator Fields distributed Amendment  L.008 (Attachment E).

The bill sponsor made closing remarks.

Senators Michaelson Jenet and Gardner, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1355, concerning adult competency to stand trial.  

The bill sponsors distributed Amendment L.005 (Attachment F). 

 

Ms. Patti Tobias, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jagruti Shah, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked how the bill would decrease the competency waitlist.  Discussion ensued about diversion programs, eligibility, and cost savings. 

 

Mr. James Katbach, representing Colorado State Public Defenders Office, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jori Dovey, representing Bridges of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Discussion returned to costs savings and evidence-based models of competency diversion programs.  The committee discussed the chain of events in competency cases.

 

 

Committee members asked the panel questions about program eligibility requirements and the number of applicable cases. 

Mr. Brian Johnson, representing Office of the State Public Defender, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Maureen Cain, representing Office of the State Public Defender, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Damian Cucinell, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Lauren Snyder, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kristen Ham, representing Colorado State Public Defender, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Todd Pomeroy , representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Misty Pankratz, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Becca Butler-Dines, representing Colorado State Public Defender, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jonathan Singer, representing Boulder Chamber, testified in support of the bill.

Ryan Templeton, representing Behavioral Health Administration, was available to answer committee questions.

The bill sponsors revisited Amendment L.005 (Attachment F) .  Shelby Ross, Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained the amendment and its relationship to the previous bill (House Bill 24-1034).

The bill sponsors and committee members made closing remarks. 

Senator Fields and Michaelson Jenet, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1437, concerning prohibiting a municipality from using specified payment structures for indigent defense services under certain circumstances. 

Ms. Soledad Diaz, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Jess Jones, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members raised questions about jurisdictions that employ flat fees for indigent defense.

 

Eve Primus, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Casey Krizman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about how flat fees work.  Discussion ensued about domestic violence cases in municipal court. 

 

Ms. Jessica Campbell-Swanson, representing Arapahoe County, testified to amend the bill.

Mr. Jonathan Jourdane, representing Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Roshan Kalantar, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Rebecca Wallace , representing Colorado Freedom Fund, testified in support of the bill.

Further discussion ensued about domestic violence cases in municipal courts.

Written testimony submitted about the bill is in Attachment G.

The bill sponsors made closing comments.

Committee members made closing comments.