h_sa_2017a_2017-03-22t14:16:32z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/22/2017

Location: RM 271

02:16 PM -- SB17-005



Representative Neville, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-005. Under current law, persons with a permit to carry a concealed handgun (permittees) are not permitted to carry a concealed handgun on public school premises, with exceptions made for school security officers and handguns that remain in locked vehicles. Under the reengrossed bill, a permittee may carry a concealed handgun onto the grounds of a public school if:



• the permittee completes a school employee handgun safety course provided by a county sheriff;

• the local school district board of education or state Charter School Institute (CSI) has approved the safety course curriculum;

• the permittee receives permission from the local board of education, charter school board, or CSI to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds; and

• the permittee has notified the school administration that he or she may be carrying a concealed handgun on school grounds.



The bill allows a county sheriff to provide a handgun safety training course to any employee of a public school who has a permit to carry a concealed handgun. The sheriff must consult with each board of education in the county to establish the curriculum, which must consider the district's school response framework and satisfy the insurability standards for armed school employees set by the school district self-insurance pool. The sheriff may charge a fee to course participants to cover the costs incurred in providing the course, and must also:



• provide a certificate of completion, which includes certain information, to each person who completes the course;

• set a uniform time frame for expiration or renewal of certificates;

• ensure that a person satisfies requalification requirements for armed school employees, as set by the school district self-insurance pool.



The bill allows local school district boards of education or the CSI to approve a safety course curriculum and allow a permittee who has completed the above requirements to carry a handgun on school grounds. Each school district or charter school board, or the CSI, may establish a maximum number of employees who may carry a concealed handgun in each school. Should school districts adopt these policies, they must incorporate them into the district's safe school plan. In addition, the bill specifies that any records personally identifying employees who are authorized to carry a concealed handgun on school premises are not subject to the Colorado Open Records Act.



Representative Neville answered questions from the committee.



02:27 PM -- Dan Murphy, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Murphy answered questions from the committee.



02:30 PM -- Alana Smart, Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence, testified in opposition to the bill.



02:34 PM -- Laura Carno, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Carno answered questions from the committee.



02:51 PM -- Jane Dougherty, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. She provided the committee with a written statement from Carly Dougherty in opposition to the bill (Attachment A).



17HouseState0322AttachA.pdf



02:55 PM -- Travis Couture-Lovelady, National Rifle Association, testified in support of the bill.



02:56 PM -- Ken Toltz, Safe Campus Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Toltz answered questions from the committee.



03:04 PM -- Robert Edmiston, Firearms Coalition of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment B).



17HouseState0322AttachB.pdf



03:06 PM -- Marnie Kamensky, Colorado Ceasefire, testified in opposition to the bill.



03:11 PM -- Bob Kaser, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment C). Mr. Kaser answered questions from the committee.



17HouseState0322AttachC.pdf



03:26 PM -- Amie Baca-Oehlert, Colorado Education Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Baca-Oehlert answered questions from the committee.



03:36 PM -- Phil Ross, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:40 PM -- Linda Foreman, League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.



03:43 PM -- Evie Hudak, Colorado PTA, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Hudak answered questions from the committee.



03:54 PM -- Tom Mauser, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:00 PM -- Michael McGuire, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. He provided two handouts to the committee (Attachments D and E). Mr. McGuire answered questions from the committee.



17HouseState0322AttachD.pdf 17HouseState0322AttachE.pdf



04:08 PM -- Tom Sullivan, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Sullivan responded to comments from the committee.



04:12 PM -- Don Macalady, Hunters Against Gun Violence, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:15 PM -- Bruce Glenn, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:17 PM -- Rachel Barnes, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:20 PM -- Jacqui Shumway, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:23 PM -- Joan Bradt, Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Bradt answered questions from the committee.



04:30 PM -- Ellie Cabell, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:33 PM -- Gene Drumm, Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:36 PM -- Barbara Gal, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Gal answered questions from the committee.



04:39 PM -- Harold Koch, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, testified in opposition to the bill.





04:48 PM



Representative Weissman read comments from Theresa Clark in opposition to Senate Bill 17-005, Senate Bill 17-006, and Senate Bill 17-007 (Attachment F).



17HouseState0322AttachF.pdf



04:49 PM



Representative Neville made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members made comments about the bill.

05:06 PM



The committee took a recess.