H_SA_2021A 04/08/2021 10:43:37 AM Committee Summary

Representative Jodeh, bill sponsor, introduced House Bill 21-1150 to the committee. The bill creates the Office of New Americans in the Department of Labor and Employment and transfers the Refugee Services Program to the new office.

Committee members asked question to the bill sponsor.

Victoria Francis, representing International Rescue Committee in Denver , testified in support of the bill. Kit Taintor, representing the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, was available for questions. Members of the committee asked questions to both witnesses.

Mathew Mengesha, representing Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning; Ms. Jordan Enger, representing International Rescue Committee, testified in support of the bill; Dr. Ki'i Powell, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified to amend the bill.

Bill Zepernick, Legislative Council Staff, answered questions from the committee about the fiscal note.

Representative Jodeh introduced amendment L.002 (Attachment A).

Representative Jodeh offered closing remarks. Members of the committee also provided remarks in closing.

Representatives Tipper and Ortiz, bill sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 21-153. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to operate a program to assist offenders with acquiring state-issued identification cards and to post program information to its website.

Andrea Stojsavljevic, representing Healthier Colorado; Debbie Stafford, representing the Colorado Behavioral Health Care Council, testified in support of the bill. Members of the committee asked questions to Ms. Stafford.

Mr. Aaron Greco, representing Colorado Department of Corrections; Lindsay Saunders-Velez, representing the Colorado Justice Advocacy Network, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors, and members of the committee, offered closing remarks to Senate Bill 21-153.

Representatives Carver and Ortiz, bill sponsors, introduced House Bill 21-1065. The bill allows a private employer to adopt a hiring policy showing preference to hiring a military veteran, or the spouse of a disabled veteran or service member killed in the line of duty.

Lloyd Lewis, representing arc Thrift Stores, and Matthew Oelrich, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Members of the committee asked questions to the witnesses.

Aaron Termain, representing Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center; Joe Rice, representing Lockheed Martin; and Past Department Commander Terri Clinton, representing The American Legion/ Women Veterans, testified in support of the bill.

Leanne Wheeler, representing herself; Izzy Abbass, representing Mountain State Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America, testified in support of the bill.

Gregory Barnett, representing TREA: The Enlisted Association; COL (retired) Robert Redding, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Greg Dorman, representing Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Mr. Steve Kjonaas, representing Veterans of Foreign Wars Colo HQ, testified in support of the bill. Members of the committee asked questions to Mr. Dorman.

Dr. Michelle Martin Barnett, representing herself, testified in support of the bill; Donald Maloy, representing WarriorNow, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors introduced amendment L.010 (Attachment B).

Representative Kennedy introduced amendment L.015 (Attachment C). Members of the committee and the bill sponsors discussed the amendment.

Representative Bacon introduced amendment L.014 (Attachment D). Members of the committee discussed the amendment with the bill sponsors.

Rep. Carver introduced amendment L.012 (Attachment E)

The bill sponsors, and committee members, offered closing remarks on House Bill 21-1065.