CCFCBFBB4BDADEF8872583E0006DE838 Hearing Summary

Senator Rodriguez, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1267.  Under current law, an employer convicted of intentionally refusing to pay a wage claim, falsely denying a wage claim with the intent to not pay, or underpaying the claim to harass or defraud the person owed the wage is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor.  An employer convicted of paying less than the minimum wage is also guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor.  This bill classifies these crimes as theft which can be a petty offense, misdemeanor, or felony depending on the amount of wages withheld or underpaid.

Maria Trujillo, Department of Public Safety, testified in support of the bill.

Christian Gardner-Wood, Colorado District Attorneys' Council  and Boulder District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Andrew Turner, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Fields recessed the meeting.

Senator Fields reconvened the meeting.

Diego Prados, El Centro Humanitario, testified in support of the bill.

Miz Cordero, Chamber of Commerce, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Hannah Bernick, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

David Seligman, Towards Justice, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions.