h_jud_2017a_2017-04-20t13:40:03z4 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/20/2017

Location: RM 271

06:17 PM -- HB17-1326



The committee came back to order. Representative Lee, sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1326, concerning creation of the justice reinvestment crime prevention initiative. The bill makes several changes to the procedures surrounding parole and creates the Justice Reinvestment Crime Prevention Initiative in the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). The bill also changes the parole revocation terms and conditions for cases where a parolee violates any condition of parole not involving the commission of a crime; reduces the maximum time a revoked parolee can be held in the preparole release and revocation facility from 180 days to 90 days; and requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to conduct a parole plan investigation prior to the parole hearing and allows the Parole Board to table the parole decision if a parole plan is inadequate. On and after July 1, 2017, DOLA must develop and implement the initiative to expand small business lending in the target communities. On or before August 1, 2017, it must issue a request for participation and select one or more nondepository community development financial institution loan funds to participate in the initiative. The bill also requires DOLA to develop and implement a grant program to provide funding to eligible entities for programs, projects, or direct services aimed at reducing crime in the target communities of north Aurora and southeast Colorado Springs. The program sunsets in September 2020.



06:23 PM -- Ms. Christie Donner, Executive Director, Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, testified in support of the bill and distributed a position paper in support of the bill (Attachment C).



17HouseJud0420AttachC.pdf



06:31 PM -- Mr. Roger Przybylski, RKC Group, testified in support of the bill and discussed parole reform and the reduction of recidivism. Mr. Pryzbylski also discussed caps on the time of incarceration after a parole violation. Mr. Pryzbylski responded to questions from the committee regarding the grant program created in the bill and how similar programs have operated in other areas.





06:52 PM



Ms. Donner responded to questions from the committee regarding technical parole violations and the compensation of parolees. Ms. Donner responded to questions regarding the amount of parolees in the state. Representative Lee also responded to questions regarding the bill. Committee discussion ensued.



07:03 PM -- Mr. Hassan Latif, Second Chance Center, testified in support of the bill and discussed the benefits that the Second Chance Center provides to parolees. Mr. Latif responded to questions from the committee regarding the work of the Second Chance Center and how the bill would help his organization. He also explained how his organization is funded, noting that most of the funding comes from grants and community donations. He also explained the differences between community correction facilities and the Second Chance Center.



07:27 PM -- Mr. Richard Morales, Latino Coalition for Community Leadership, testified in support of the bill and discussed community, faith-based organizations and their impact on communities. Mr. Morales responded to questions regarding the proposal process that community organizations go through in order to receive funding.



07:34 PM -- Ms. Sharletta Evans, representing the Victim Offender Mitigation Initiative, testified in support of the bill.



07:37 PM -- Mr. Justin Cooper, Colorado Justice Reform Coalition, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Cooper responded to questions from the committee regarding effective services that can reduce crime, such as access to housing and opportunities for community advancement.



07:48 PM -- Reverend Tammy Garrett-Williams, representing the ABOVE Waters Project, testified in support of the bill.



07:52 PM -- Bishop Jerry Demmer, representing the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, testified in support of the bill.



07:55 PM -- Pastor Taj Stokes, Thrive! Colorado Springs, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



08:06 PM -- Mr. Jeriah Walker, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



08:08 PM -- Mr. Anthony Perez, representing the Colorado Springs Hispanic Business Council, testified in support of the bill.



08:14 PM -- Ms. Jeannie Orozco, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



08:16 PM -- Ms. Mina Liebert, El Paso County Public Health, testified in support of the bill.



08:21 PM -- Ms. Gwen Bonilla, Accion, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding the loans her organization issues to community organizations.



08:24 PM -- Ms. Alex Wise, Community Enterprise Development Services, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding the loans her organization issues to community organizations.



08:48 PM -- Mr. Christiano Sosa, Director of Capacity Building and Collective Philanthropy, Denver Foundation, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



08:57 PM -- Mr. Jim Freeman, Grassroots Action Support Team, testified in support of the bill and distributed statistics regarding mass incarceration in the state (Attachment D). Mr. Freeman responded to questions from the committee regarding similar legislation in other states.



17HouseJud0420AttachD.pdf



09:11 PM



Representative Lee moved and explained Amendment L.001 (Attachment E).



17HouseJud0420AttachE.pdf

Rep. Lee moved and explained Amendment L.002 (Attachment F).



17HouseJud0420AttachF.pdf



09:12 PM



Ms. Amanda Hayden, Legislative Council Staff, explained Amendment L.002 and responded to questions from the committee regarding the amendment. Representative Lee also responded to questions from the committee regarding the amendment. Committee discussion ensued.

09:26 PM



Representative Lee made concluding comments on the bill and committee discussion ensued.

09:51 PM



The committee recessed.