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H_SA_2017A 01/25/2017 Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Date: 01/25/2017
ATTENDANCE
Time: 01:33 PM to 06:27 PM
Benavidez
X
Hooton
X
Place: LSB A
Humphrey
X
Leonard
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Melton
X
Representative Foote
Weissman
X
Williams D.
X
This Report was prepared by
Lontine
X
Amanda King
Foote
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB17-1013

HB17-1014
Postponed Indefinitely

Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole





01:33 PM -- HB17-1013



Representative Humphrey and Representative Williams, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 17-1013. The bill prevents any state action that may burden a person's exercise of religion, unless it is demonstrated that applying the burden is:

      • essential to furthering a compelling governmental interest; and
      • the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.



State action includes state and local laws, ordinances, policies, rules, regulations, or other actions by a state or local government, political subdivision, or public official. People whose exercise of religion is burdened, or likely to be burdened, may assert this violation as a claim or defense in court. The bill authorizes various remedies, including damages, injunctions, costs, and attorney fees.





01:43 PM



Representative Williams and Representative Humphrey answered questions from the committee.



02:05 PM --
Theresa Sidebotham, Christian Legal Society, testified in support of the bill. She provided an informational packet to the committee (Attachment A). Ms. Sidebotham answered questions from the committee.



17HouseState0125AttachA.pdf17HouseState0125AttachA.pdf















02:48 PM --
Jacki Melmed, Office of the Governor, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Melmed answered questions from the committee.



02:57 PM --
Rachel Swalley, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Swalley answered questions from the committee.



03:01 PM --
Kelly Brough, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill. She provided a handout to the committee (Attachment B).



17HouseState0125AttachB.pdf17HouseState0125AttachB.pdf



03:06 PM --
Rabbi Brian Immerman, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.



03:10 PM --
Reverend Laura Rossbert, Interfaith Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill.



03:12 PM --
Dilpreet Jammu, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.





03:16 PM



Reverend Rossbert, Mr. Jammu, and Rabbi Immerman answered questions from the committee.



03:17 PM --
Reverend Philip Eberhart, Colorado Family Action, testified in support of the bill.



03:21 PM --
Danny DeZayas, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. DeZayas answered questions from the committee.





03:30 PM



The committee recessed.





03:37 PM



The committee came back to order. Mr. DeZayas continued answering questions from the committee.



03:39 PM --
Robin Coran, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



03:42 PM --
Tracy deCharme, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



























03:46 PM --
Jay Ledbetter, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He provided written statements from Brad Bergford (Attachment C), Preston J. Branaugh (Attachment D), and Bryan Neihart (Attachment E). Mr. Ledbetter answered questions from the committee.



17HouseState0125AttachC.pdf17HouseState0125AttachC.pdf 17HouseState0125AttachD.pdf17HouseState0125AttachD.pdf



17HouseState0125AttachE.pdf17HouseState0125AttachE.pdf



03:55 PM --
Barry Roseman, Colorado Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Roseman answered questions from the committee.



04:00 PM --
Dr. Dix Winston, Crosspoint Community Church, testified in support of the bill. He answered questions from the committee.



04:06 PM --
Melissa Hart, Colorado LGBT Bar Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hart answered questions from the committee.



04:12 PM --
Bishop John Brannon, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



04:16 PM --
Shirley Leow, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:20 PM --
Robert Fox, The Patriot League, testified in support of the bill. He read a statement from Aaron Robertson.



04:24 PM --
Cindy Vigesaa, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:27 PM --
Jenna Ellis, Centennial Institute, testified in support of the bill. She read a statement from the Centennial Institute. Ms. Ellis answered questions from the committee.



04:44 PM --
Sylvia Herring, representing herself, testified in a neutral capacity.



04:50 PM --
Carolyn Martin, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



04:53 PM --
Thomas Perille, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



04:57 PM --
Randy Mills, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.





























05:01 PM



Representative Leonard presented amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The committee discussed amendment L.001.



17HouseState0125AttachF.pdf17HouseState0125AttachF.pdf

BILL: HB17-1013
TIME: 05:07:16 PM
MOVED: Leonard
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The motion failed on a vote of 3-6.
SECONDED: Williams D.
VOTE
Benavidez
No
Hooton
No
Humphrey
Yes
Leonard
Yes
Melton
No
Weissman
No
Williams D.
Yes
Lontine
No
Foote
No
YES: 3 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL





















































05:09 PM



Representative Williams presented amendment L.002 (Attachment G). The committee discussed amendment L.002.



17HouseState0125AttachG.pdf17HouseState0125AttachG.pdf

BILL: HB17-1013
TIME: 05:10:27 PM
MOVED: Williams D.
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment G). The motion failed on a vote of 3-6.
SECONDED: Humphrey
VOTE
Benavidez
No
Hooton
No
Humphrey
Yes
Leonard
Yes
Melton
No
Weissman
No
Williams D.
Yes
Lontine
No
Foote
No
YES: 3 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL





















































05:11 PM



Representative Williams presented amendment L.003 (Attachment H). The committee discussed amendment L.003.



17HouseState0125AttachH.pdf17HouseState0125AttachH.pdf

BILL: HB17-1013
TIME: 05:12:52 PM
MOVED: Williams D.
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment H). The motion failed on a vote of 3-6.
SECONDED: Humphrey
VOTE
Benavidez
No
Hooton
No
Humphrey
Yes
Leonard
Yes
Melton
No
Weissman
No
Williams D.
Yes
Lontine
No
Foote
No
YES: 3 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL





















































05:15 PM



Representative Williams presented amendment L.004 (Attachment I). The committee discussed amendment L.004.



17HouseState0125AttachI.pdf17HouseState0125AttachI.pdf

BILL: HB17-1013
TIME: 05:16:20 PM
MOVED: Williams D.
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment I). The motion failed on a vote of 3-6.
SECONDED: Humphrey
VOTE
Benavidez
No
Hooton
No
Humphrey
Yes
Leonard
Yes
Melton
No
Weissman
No
Williams D.
Yes
Lontine
No
Foote
No
YES: 3 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL





















































05:18 PM



Representative Humphrey made concluding remarks about House Bill 17-1013. Committee members made comments about the bill.

BILL: HB17-1013
TIME: 05:33:37 PM
MOVED: Humphrey
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1013 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 3-6.
SECONDED: Leonard
VOTE
Benavidez
No
Hooton
No
Humphrey
Yes
Leonard
Yes
Melton
No
Weissman
No
Williams D.
Yes
Lontine
No
Foote
No
YES: 3 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL: HB17-1013
TIME: 05:34:42 PM
MOVED: Melton
MOTION: Postpone House Bill 17-1013 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 6-3.
SECONDED: Lontine
VOTE
Benavidez
Yes
Hooton
Yes
Humphrey
No
Leonard
No
Melton
Yes
Weissman
Yes
Williams D.
No
Lontine
Yes
Foote
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





05:35 PM



The committee recessed.





























































05:45 PM -- HB17-1014



The committee came back to order.



Representative Rosenthal and Representative Williams, co-prime bill sponsors, presented House Bill 17-1404. Under current law, a voter that shows his or her completed ballot in a manner that discloses its contents commits a misdemeanor offense. This bill allows a voter to disclose the contents of his or her completed ballot by showing it to any other person or by making an image available through electronic means (social media). The bill also authorizes municipal and county clerks to place reasonable restrictions on the use of photography or other activities at a polling place or other location in which votes are tabulated. Lastly, the bill makes the trading of a vote or offering to trade a vote a misdemeanor and clarifies that it is a misdemeanor to take a picture of another person's completed ballot.



05:54 PM --
Suzanne Staiert, Secretary of State's Office, testified on the bill. Ms. Staiert answered questions from the committee.



06:04 PM -- Ryan Parsell, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's Office, testified in support of the bill.



06:07 PM -- Colin Phipps, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



06:11 PM -- Scott Romano, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



06:14 PM --
Denise Maes, American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.





06:18 PM



Representative Rosenthal presented amendment L.001 (Attachment J).



17HouseState0125AttachJ.pdf17HouseState0125AttachJ.pdf










































BILL: HB17-1014
TIME: 06:19:49 PM
MOVED: Williams D.
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment J). The motion passed on a vote of 7-2.
SECONDED: Weissman
VOTE
Benavidez
Yes
Hooton
Yes
Humphrey
No
Leonard
No
Melton
Yes
Weissman
Yes
Williams D.
Yes
Lontine
Yes
Foote
Yes
YES: 7 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS









































































06:20 PM



Representative Williams made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

BILL: HB17-1014
TIME: 06:26:51 PM
MOVED: Williams D.
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1014, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 8-1.
SECONDED: Melton
VOTE
Benavidez
Yes
Hooton
Yes
Humphrey
Yes
Leonard
No
Melton
Yes
Weissman
Yes
Williams D.
Yes
Lontine
Yes
Foote
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





06:27 PM



The committee adjourned.


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