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B42F5B518D113025872582520004A1E7 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For HB18-1243

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Date Mar 15, 2018      
Location HCR 0112



HB18-1243 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


06:50:42 PM  

Representatives Foote and Wist, prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1243, concerning enactment of a civil rape shield law. Representative Foote provided background on the issues addressed by the bill, and explained the need for the bill. Representative Wist provided input on the bill's merits.

06:58:33 PM  

Ms. Pamela Maass, representing herself, and Ms. Jane Klingensmith, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Maass explained the function of rape shield laws, and discussed the need to extend the law in Colorado to civil suits. Ms. Maass responded to questions regarding civil cases in Colorado where the rape shield law was necessary. Committee members received a letter from the Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center in support of the bill (Attachment F). Ms. Klingensmith recounted her experiences as a sexual assault victim subjected to tactics in court that would have been precluded by a rape shield law.

07:09:06 PM  
Ms. Anna Crawford, representing the Colorado Women's Lobby, and Ms. Medha Gudavalli, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of HB 18-1243. Ms. Crawford cited some data on sexual assault, and discussed the need for the legislation. Ms. Gudavalli discussed reasons why sexual assault victims avoid reporting crimes, and pressure facing those who report the crimes. She discussed the merits of the legislation. Discussion ensued regarding the rate at which rapes are reported to the police and prosecuted.
07:15:44 PM  
Ms. Jennifer Anderson, representing the Department of Law, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Anderson explained why the department supports the bill.
07:16:46 PM  

No amendments were offered to HB 18-1243. Various committee members, and the co-prime sponsors, provided closing remarks on the bill.



07:22:38 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 18-1243 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Foote
Seconded Wist
Benavidez Yes
Carver Yes
Foote Yes
Herod Yes
Lundeen Yes
Melton Yes
Weissman Yes
Willett Excused
Wist Yes
Salazar Yes
Lee Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS






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