5448104557268BB4872586DB0078CC75 Hearing Summary

Senators Moreno and Lee, co-prime sponsors, explained Senate Bill 21-273, concerning measures to increase public safety by minimizing custodial responses to low-level offenses, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. 

Committee members asked questions about risk, failure to appear (FTA) rates, the court text reminder program, and judicial discretion. 

Public Policy Director Denise Maes, representing ACLU-CO, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed differences between this bill and its predecessor Senate Bill 21-073. 

Alonzo Payne, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Sean Smith, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Adam Frank, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about no-shows, de-escalation techniques, community safety, bond hearings, crimes covered under the bill, and judicial discussion.

Further discussion ensued about personal recognizance bonds. 

Ron Sloan, representing Colorado Association of the Chief's of Police, testified in opposition to the bill.

Chief Vince Niski, representing Colorado Springs Police Department, testified in opposition to the bill.

Welling Clark, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill.

Deputy Chief Todd Reeves, representing Westminster PD - Colorado Association of the Chiefs of Police, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked questions about FTA rates, low level crimes, and public safety. 

Javier Mabrey, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Catherine Mabrey, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Apryl Alexander, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Samuel Sinyangwe, representing Campaign Zero, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment G). 

Committee members asked questions about racial disparities, mental health, and victims.     

Chief Dwight Henninger, representing Vail Police Department - Colorado Association of the Chiefs of Police, testified in opposition to the bill.

Chief Jeff Satur, representing Longmont Police Department - Colorado Association Chiefs of Police, testified in opposition to the bill.

Connie Brenton, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill.

Shari Hack, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked questions about victims, warrants, and low level cases. 

Maureen Cain, Office of the State Public Defender, testified in favor of the bill.

Yara Hanlin Zokaie, representing Latino Coalition of Weld County, testified in support of the bill.

Claire Levy, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

DA Beth McCann, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Committee discussion followed about community safety, bond conditions, FTAs, monetary bonds, and judicial discretion. 

 Meghan Dollar, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in opposition to the bill.

Chief Dave Hayes, representing Louisville Police Department- Colorado Association Chiefs of Police, testified in opposition to the bill. 

Chief Chris Heberer, representing Fountain Police Department - Colorado Association Chiefs of Police, testified in opposition to the bill.

Amanda TerrellOrr, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Alison Coombs, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Mx. Dana Steiner, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Mark Wallach, representing Boulder City Council, testified in support of the bill.

Rachel Friend, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses answered questions about over-crowded jails and survivor support services,

Mayor Mike Coffman, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill.

Judge HayDen Kane, representing City of Colorado Springs, testified in opposition to the bill.

District Attorney John Kellner, representing 18th Judicial DA's Office, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Topo Padilla, representing Crime Victims United of California, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked questions about auto theft, automatic personal recognizance bonds, and community safety. 

Further discussion continued about arrestable offenses and personal recognizance and money bonds. 

Tiffany Marsh, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Natalia Marshall, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Reverend Spencer Booker, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Colette Tvedt, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Mr David Stuckman, representing Professional Bail Agents of United States, testified in opposition to the bill.

Judge Jason Lantagne, representing Municipal Court Judge - City of Westminster; Member - CMJA Legislative Committee, testified in opposition to the bill.

Katie Biorn, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr Mark Spensieri, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill.

Eva Frickle, representing Colorado Freedom Fund, Indivisible CO, Indivisible CO7, testified in support of the bill.

Adrian Felix, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Anna Crawford, representing Women's Lobby of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Melanie Kesner, representing Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jeffrey Clayton, representing ABC, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Rob Southey, representing Bankers Insurance Co., testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr Steve Ricket, representing Express Bail Bonds, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr Randy Riggan, representing Patriot Bail Bonds, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committe members asked questions about similar laws in other states, forfeiture and collection rates for monetary bonds, and arrests made by bail bondsmen. 

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

Meghan Baker, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Will Romero, The ARC of Pikes Peak Region, testified in favor of the bill.

Mr Paolo Solorzano, representing Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Mr James Fisher, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Mr Duane Chapman, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Eric Budd, representing Bedrooms Are For People / Housing in Boulder, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jackson Galloway, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Ms Katie Farnan, representing Boulder Progressives, testified in support of the bill.

Liz Marasco, representing Boulder Showing Up for Racial Justice, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Daniel Williams, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Senior Staff Attorney & Senior Policy Counsel Rebecca Wallace, representing ACLU-CO, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. LaQunya Baker, representing Sam Cary Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.

Rachel Oliver, representing Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, testified in support of the bill.

Elisabeth Epps, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Jeri Shepherd, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Jonathan Cespedes, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

The committee engaged in a discussion about the crimes covered in the bill and asked questions about bonds. 

Written testimony about the bill is in Attachment H.

Senator Lee distribted and explained Amendent L.001 (Attachment I) regarding the effective date. 

Senator Lee made closing remarks.