H_JUD_2024A 03/12/2024 01:39:19 PM Committee Summary

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Representatives Duran and Winter, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-035, concerning strengthening the enforcement of human trafficking for servitude. Representative Duran explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative Winter provided additional input on the merits of the legislation.  Public comment on SB 24-035 may be found at Attachment A.

Alicia Archuleta, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Soledad Diaz, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of SB 24-035. Ms. Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Ms. ReJeania Tolliver, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Alma Sanchez, representing Denver Police Department, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Ms. Rebekah Layton, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Donna LaBelle, representing themself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Ms. Denise Gomez, representing herself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Discussion ensued regarding amendment L.004 (Attachment B).

Ms. Beth McCann, representing Denver District Attorney, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Maggie Conboy, representing Office of Denver DA, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Joseph DeAngelo, representing Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jessica Dotter, representing Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill.

D.A. McCann responded to questions regarding circumstances under which her office files charges for human trafficking. Discussion ensued regarding where to insert certain human trafficking-related measures in statute, and affirmative defense issues. Discussion followed regarding prosecutorial discretion in the area of human trafficking, and investigations of human trafficking. Discussion turned to the fiscal impact of the bill. Aaron Carpenter, Legislative Council Staff, provided input on this issue.

Ms. Jenelle Goodrich, representing From Silenced To Saved, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Shanna Michael, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Kristy Neeley, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Discussion ensued regarding investigations of human trafficking.

Ms. Audrey Keen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Darren Weekly, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Major-JP Burt, representing CDPS-Colorado State Patrol, testified in support of the bill.

Diana Goldberg, representing Colorado Children's Alliance - SungateKids Child Advocacy Center, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kelsey Harbert, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Ashley Morgan, representing Denver District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Ashley Lewis, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Maria Trujillo, representing Colorado Human Trafficking Council, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Reiko Anderson Williams, representing Cultural Development and Wellness Center (formerly Asian Pacific Development Center) at Aurora Mental Health and Recovery, testified in support of the bill. Discussion ensued regarding the various criminal charges that fall under the crime of human trafficking, and the fiscal impact of the bill. Discussion followed regarding the potential impact of the bill's change to the statute of limitations for human trafficking.

Ms. Brooke Byrd, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Shannon Johnson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Viridiana Flores Delgado, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

The committee recessed.

The committee returned to order. Representative Duran explained the effect of amendment L.004. Discussion ensued regarding the source and merits of the amendment. Representative Weissman explained the effect of amendment L.005 (Attachment C).

Discussion returned to amendment L.004.

Representatives Duran and Winter provided closing remarks in support of SB 24-035. Various committee members provided their positions on the bill.

Representative Froelich, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 24-1350, concerning concerning standards related to court proceedings for allocation of parental responsibilities to keep children safe. Representative Froelich explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative Story provided additional input on the merits of the bill via remote access.  Public comment on HB 24-1350 may be found at Attachment D.

Ms. Kathleen Melendy, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

M. Bechtel, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Rebecca Zimmerman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Courtney Sutton, representing Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Maralee Mclean, representing Moms Fight Back, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kaela Zihlman, representing Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section, testified in opposition to the bill.

Carolyn MacCloud, representing National Parents Organization, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mx. Julie Grayson JD CFM, representing Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children CO/ Executive Director - Family Preservation Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Bruce Bernstein CFI, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Terry Scanlon, representing Colorado Judicial, testified to amend the bill.

Mr. Joel Borgman, representing Judicial Branch, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Jaime Watman, representing Judicial, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Christine McGinley, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Dina Schurer, representing Moms Fight Back, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Sybil Cummin, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Reo Leslie, representing Colorado American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Caitie Coyle, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Katie Rubano, representing The National Parents Organization-Colorado Affiliate, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Peter A Garin, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Carl Roberts, representing Colorado Resilience, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Roberts responded to questions regarding provisions in HB 24-1350 concerning allegations.

Ms. CINDY HAYEK, representing herself, testified to amend the bill.

Mr. Andrew Tidrick, representing himself, testified to amend the bill.

Angela Arkin, representing the Colorado Chapter of American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, testified to amend the bill.

Valerie Savoie, representing herself, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Arkin responded to questions regarding her perspective as a former judge on certain elements impacted by HB 24-1350. Ms. Hayek responded to questions regarding potential amendments to the bill. Ms. Arkin responded to further questions.

Caitlyn Bepristis, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kelley Treadway, representing Moms Fight Back, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Judy Schure, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Angela Rangel, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Discussion ensued regarding the problems to be addressed by HB 24-1350.

Mr. Mark Schmitz, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Danielle Pollack, representing National Family Violence Law Center at GW, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Catherine MacWillie, representing Custody Calculations, Calendars & Orders, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Petra Deeter, representing Victim To Hero Institute, The Hero's Circle, Mothers Against Child Abuse, self, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Allison Rager, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. SANDY HAN, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Charles Murphy, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Discussion ensued regarding parental alienation syndrome, and cultural differences in family law.

Ms. Chelsea Augelli, representing themself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Aidan Hodges, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Ms. Jeanette Troncoso, representing herself, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Evelyn Sullivan, representing herself, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Andrea Reitzel, representing Moms Fight Back, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jennifer Oatman-Dominguez, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. A Fuller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Megan Jakusz, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Rabbi Bellinsky, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Kate Lewis, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Christine Garcia, representing Moms Fight Back, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Lauren May Woodruff, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Rhonda Woodruff, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Shannon Tyson-Poletti, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Beth Goldman, representing Zero Child Abuse, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Tyson-Poletti responded to questions concerning parental alienation syndrome.

Representative Froelich requested that HB 24-1350 be laid over for action at a future date. Representative Story made additional remarks about the bill and the legislative process. Representative Weissman laid over HB 24-1350 for action only.

Representatives Mabrey and Snyder, prime sponsors, presented House Bill 24-1101, concerning empowering victims by enhancing access to restorative justice in criminal cases. Representative Mabrey explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. Representative Snyder provided additional input on the merits of the bill, and summarized some forthcoming amendments. Discussion ensued regarding the plan to amend the bill at a future date. Discussion followed regarding the fiscal impact of the bill, and the funding source for the bill's programming. Aaron Carpenter, Legislative Council Staff, addressed questions regarding the bill's fiscal impact. Discussion returned to the plan to amend HB 24-1101.

Mr. Pete Lee, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Committee members received a fact sheet supporting the bill (Attachment E). Ms. Cindy Stepp, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Anaya Robinson, representing ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Nathan Eagan, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Don Streufert, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Frenanda Rosenblatt, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Lynn Branham, representing herself, testified in support of HB 24-1101. Dr. Rosenblatt responded to questions regarding the potential for restorative justice to revictimize victims. Mr. Lee responded to questions regarding organizations that support the bill, and the operation of a restorative justice circle. Mr. Lee responded to further questions regarding the prioritization of restorative justice.

Ms. Jessica Dotter, representing Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Deborah Meissner, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Andrea Bradbury, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Jessica Fann, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Diana Goldberg, representing Colorado Children's Alliance - SungateKids Child Advocacy Center, testified in opposition to the bill.

Discussion ensued regarding potential coercion of victims through restorative justice. Ms. Dotter responded to questions regarding certain provisions in HB 24-1101 pertaining to alternative sentencing options. Discussion followed regarding the inclusion of certain crimes within the restorative justice framework under the bill, and the position of victims groups on the bill. Ms. Dotter responded to questions regarding studies on sex crimes and restorative justice. Discussion followed regarding the source of funding for the bill's programming.

Ms. Soledad Diaz, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

Jamie Ray, representing Legislation Inside, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Erin Gazelka, representing herself, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Sharletta Evens, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Alexis King, representing District Attorney for the 1st Judicial District, testified to amend the bill.

Dr. Abby Ferber, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Shannon Johnson, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified to amend the bill. Ashley Jellison, representing Colorado Children's Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Michael Dougherty, representing Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance and Colorado District Attorney Council, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Jocelyn Rhymer, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving, testified in opposition to the bill. Courtney Sutton, representing Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Nancy Lewis, representing North Star Victim and Community Services, testified in opposition to the bill. Ash Williams, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Newman clarified her position on the bill and some forthcoming amendments.

Representative Weissman laid over HB 24-1101 to a future date for action only.