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0F2AD4D43E68E0DB87258C510063B0D4 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB25-062

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Date Mar 18, 2025      
Location HCR 0107



SB25-062 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole
12:09:01 PM  
The committee recessed.
12:10:36 PM  
The committee returned
to order.  Representatives Carter and Gilchrest, prime sponsors, presented
Senate Bill 25-062.  The bill prohibits municipalities form making
failure to appear to municipal court a crime.  Representative Carter
explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need.  Representative
Gilchrest further discussed the merits of the legislation.  Discussion
ensued regarding contempt of court when a defendant fails to appear, and
certain jurisdictions that are not treating failure-to-appear issues the
same as others.
12:28:27 PM  
Ms. Carla Sikes,
representing City of Pueblo, testified in opposition to the bill. Jeremy
Schupbach, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified to amend the
bill.  Mr. Pete Schulte, representing City of Aurora, testified in
opposition to the bill.  Judge Sean Day, representing themself, testified
in opposition to SB 25-062.



Judge Day responded to questions regarding costs associated with failure-to-appear
events, and statistics associated with failure-to-appear cases.  Ms.
Sikes responded to questions regarding how contempt charges for failure-to-appear
events are administered.  Discussion returned to statistics associated
with failure-to-appear cases, and the machinations of failure-to-appear
events.  Ms. Sikes responded to questions regarding the potential
impact of the bill on victims.
01:09:59 PM  
Mx. Dana Steiner,
representing Colorado Freedom Fund, testified in support of the bill.  Anaya
Robinson, representing ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
 Mr. Jonathan Jourdane, representing Office of the Alternate Defense
Counsel, testified in support of the bill.  Natasha Berwick, representing
ACLU Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Dr. Michael Neil,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  Mr. Jourdane
responded to questions regarding the types of offenses heard in municipal
courts.



Discussion ensued regarding how municipal courts resolve failure-to-appear
cases, and handling of such cases at various levels of government.  Discussion
followed regarding failure-to-appear charges as an add-on, and certain
constitutional issues associated with this.
01:37:54 PM  
No amendments were
offered to SB 25-062.  Representatives Carter and Gilchrest provided
closing remarks in support of the bill.  Various committee members
provided their positions on the bill.


01:57:51 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-062 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Carter
Seconded Bacon
Armagost No
Bacon Yes
Caldwell No
Clifford Yes
Espenoza Yes
Garcia Yes
Keltie No
Soper No
Zokaie Yes
Carter Yes
Mabrey Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS