FAEE33025244CA538725851A0070F5E3 Hearing Summary

Senator Lee made opening remarks and laid over Senate Bill 20-169, concerning housing mentors in youthful offender facility, until March 2, 2020. 

Senator Gardner, co-prime sponsor, explained House Bill 20-1148, concerning punishments related to offenses committed against a deceased human body.  He distributed a fact sheet about the bill (Attachment A) and a memo about abuse of corpse laws in other states (Attachment B). 

The following people testified remotely from Colorado Mesa University in Montrose:

Debra Schum, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed body brokering. 

Erin Smith, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed body brokering and the Sunset Mesa Funeral Home.

Christine Bergraff, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She discussed a personal experience at Sunset Mesa Funeral Home.  

Alena Holloman, representing herself, testified in favor of the measure.

Rick Neuendorf, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill. He expressed concerns about the lack of regulation concerning body brockering in Colorado. He read a statement from his daughter in support of the bill, Chrissy Hartman.

Debra Schum returned to the table and spoke on behalf of Jennifer Mitchell, another victim of the Sunset Mesa Funeral Home. 

The following people testified remotely from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. 

Judy Cressler, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She discussed body brokering. 

Edna Benson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. 

Lisa Wabel, representing herself, testified in favor of the measure.

Senator Gardner acknowledged the witnesses.  Senator Fields, co-prime sponsor, joined the committee and thanked the witnesses for sharing difficult stories. 

Jennifer Wilmeth, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Arnold Hanuman, representing Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the measure. He answered questions from the committee about statutes of limitations. 

Senators Gardner and Fields made closing remarks.