i_jailfunding_2017a_2017-10-23t13:02:15z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 10/23/2017

Location: SCR 352

01:02 PM -- Public Testimony on Draft Legislation



Senator Coram called the committee to order and explained that the meeting would begin with testimony on all the committee's draft bills.



01:04 PM -- Shawn Day, Presiding Judge for the City of Aurora, testified against Bill 2. He discussed his concerns that the bill limits the ability of municipal courts to use monetary bail for serious charges. He explained that Aurora's municipal courts have large numbers of defendants fail to appear at court hearings. He further expressed concern with the fiscal impact of the bill. He responded to committee member questions.



01:23 PM -- Moses Gur, representing the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, testified in support of Bill 2 and Bill 8 but recommended modifications. He noted the overrepresentation of people with behavioral health disorders and addiction problems in the criminal justice system. He discussed the importance of supporting behavioral health programs within the pretrial services programs proposed in Bill 2. He further noted the need to adequately fund these services. He requested that behavioral health service providers be included in the criminal justice coordinating councils proposed in Bill 8. Mr. Gur responded to committee member questions.



01:29 PM -- Allison Daley, representing Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI), testified on CCI's priorities. She explained that a CCI subcommittee prioritized Bills 1, 3, 4, 8, and 9, as well as the resolution (Bill 10). She expressed concern with the way new money is targeted in Bill 11, noting that most of it would go to large counties, not necessarily those with the greatest needs. Ms. Daley further explained that CCI is concerned with the potential costs of Bill 2, noting that counties need more funding for pretrial services in order for the programs to succeed. She responded to committee member questions.



01:46 PM -- Meghan Dollar, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified against Bill 2. She discussed cities' concerns with money bail reform. She added that municipal courts would also like to have access to pretrial services and to be included in the programs proposed in Bills 5 and 6 (remote technology and reminder calls).