H_JUD_2021A 03/09/2021 10:43:46 AM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGHOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY Date 03/09/2021 Attendance Bacon X Benavidez X Bockenfeld X Carver * Daugherty X Luck * Lynch X Roberts X Woodrow X Tipper X Weissman X Time 10:43:46 AM to 01:19:43 PM Place HCR 0107 This Meeting was called to order by Weissman This Report was prepared by Bo Pogue Hearing Items Action Taken hSB21-068 Referred to the Committee of the Whole hHB21-1060 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole SB21-068 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole 10:44:24 AM The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Representatives Snyder and Soper, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 21-068, concerning the enactment of the Colorado Revised Statutes 2020 as the positive and statutory law of the state of Colorado. The prime sponsors explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. No witnesses appeared before the committee on the bill, and no amendments were offered. 10:48:46 AM Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-068 to the Committee of the Whole. Moved Daugherty Seconded Benavidez Bacon Yes Benavidez Yes Bockenfeld Yes Carver Yes Daugherty Yes Luck Excused Lynch Yes Roberts Yes Woodrow Yes Tipper Yes Weissman Yes Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS HB21-1060 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole 10:48:57 AM The committee recessed. 10:52:29 AM The committee returned to order. Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez and Jodeh, prime sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1060, concerning the certification process for the purpose of application for U nonimmigrant status. Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative Jodeh provided additional input on the merits of the bill, and stakeholder work on the bill. Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez explained the effect of amendments L.001 and L.002. 11:04:31 AM Discussion ensued regarding whether the scope of HB 21-1060 includes witnesses, and the number of U visas granted by the United States annually. 11:06:40 AM The following persons testified regarding HB 21-1060: Ms. Ashley Harrington, representing the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy network, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Harrington responded to questions regarding the lack of uniformity among law enforcement agencies with regard to certifying U visa requests, and the impact of delays in the U visa process on victims. Ms. Harrington responded to further questions regarding the types of crimes involved in the U visa process, and the paperwork involved in this process. Discussion ensued regarding the various requirements for being eligible for a U visa, and difficulties encountered in acquiring the visa. 11:42:24 AM Arnold Hanuman, representing the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in opposition to the bill, noting that his organization could change its position on the bill if it were amended. Juan Silva, representing the Second Judicial District, made himself available to explain the U visa process. Mr. Silva responded to questions regarding how he prioritizes U visa applications, and the impact of his U visa responsibilities on his overall workload. Discussion ensued regarding potential amendments to the bill. Mr. Silva responded to questions regarding the U visa appeals process. 12:04:32 PM Patricia Medige, representing Colorado Legal Services, testified on the bill from a neutral position. Ms. Medige addressed questions raised during earlier testimony. Sterling Harris, representing the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill. Alejandra Cardona Lamas, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Salvador Hernandez, representing Mi Familia Vota, testified in support of the bill. 12:21:24 PM Michelle Carey, representing the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice, testified in support of HB 21-1060. Ashley Chase, representing the Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Chase responded to questions regarding the frequency with which children are involved in the U visa application process. 12:29:41 PM Alyssa Reed, representing herself, testified in support of HB 21-1060. Claudia Aguilar, representing the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Melanie Kesner, representing the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, read the testimony of Kathleen VanVoorhis in support of the bill. Lydia Waligorski, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Eric Pavri, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Reed responded to questions regarding the standard in HB 21-1060 for "helpfulness." 01:02:55 PM AMENDMENT: L.001 - Private M: Tipper S: Woodrow 01:03:19 PM Motion Conceptual to L.001 Moved Tipper Seconded Woodrow Bacon Benavidez Bockenfeld Carver Daugherty Luck Lynch Roberts Woodrow Tipper Weissman YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 01:03:40 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.001 Moved Tipper Seconded Woodrow Bacon Benavidez Bockenfeld Carver Daugherty Luck Lynch Roberts Woodrow Tipper Weissman YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 01:04:01 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.002 Moved Tipper Seconded Woodrow Bacon Benavidez Bockenfeld Carver Daugherty Luck Lynch Roberts Woodrow Tipper Weissman YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 01:04:04 PM The bill sponsors provided closing remarks in support of HB 21-1060. Various committee members provided their positions on the bill. 01:19:13 PM Motion Refer House Bill 21-1060, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Moved Tipper Seconded Benavidez Bacon Yes Benavidez Yes Bockenfeld No Carver No Daugherty Yes Luck No Lynch Yes Roberts Yes Woodrow Yes Tipper Yes Weissman Yes Final YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS 01:19:43 PM The committee adjourned.
