J_MICJS_2019A 08/22/2019 01:05:07 PM Committee Summary

Senator Rodriguez called the meeting to order.  An agenda was distributed to committe members (Attachment A).  Moses Gur, Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems Task Force (task force), Chair, and Ashley Tunstall, Co-Chair, discussed the task force's legislative recommendations with the committee.

Maureen Cain, Office of the State Public Defender, discussed a recommendation regarding the juvenile sex offender registry and distributed a handout (Attachment B).  She noted that juvenile sex offender registry recommendation was discussed by the committee last year.  Ms. Cain explained that the recommendation includes changes to juvenile adjudications in statute, requirements for juvenile registry, and public access to the juvenile sex offender registry.  

Amanda Gall, Colorado District Attorneys' Council, and Sterling Harris, Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, described the stakeholder engagement process for the juvenile sex offender registry recommendation and their respective organizations' support for the recommendation.  Gina Shimeall, task force member, and other panelists responded to committee questions regarding the task force's statutory charge, the work of the Colorado Commission of Criminal and Juvenile Justice on the juvenile sex offender registry, and public access to the juvenile sex offender registry.

Jen Longtin, task force member, discussed the recommendation of the housing subcommittee and distribued handouts (Attachments C and D).  She defined tenancy support services for the committee and provided data on homelessness in Colorado.  Ms. Longtin described policies to prevent homelessness including use of grants, networking and engagement, and technical support.  She provided examples of supportive housing services and noted the cost savings through use of services.  Ms. Longtin described the gaps in homelessness services across the state and discussed barriers to community provision of services.  She provided data on the cost of treating mental health disorders in jails and prisons and for those on parole.

Ms. Longtin continued her presentation and discussed collecting and sharing data across the state on homelessness resources and increasing education and capacity building for supportive services for homelessness.  Ms. Shimeall described research in support of the recommendation and the cross-department support for the recommendation.  She further discussed providing funding for: grants and a tool kit to communities, tenancy supportive services, and homelessness prevention.

Kristin Toombs, Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), discussed eligibility and restrictions for DOLA housing  programs and opportunities for expansion.  She described various funding sources in DOLA for housing for justice-involved persons.  Jeri Erickson, Volunteers of Amerca, described the Rapid Rehousing program.  Ben Harris, task force member, described the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing home- and community-based support services.    

The panelists responded to committee questions regarding the funding source and amount for the recommendation, rapid re-housing client requirements, and Section 8 housing requirements.   

Sergeant Attila Denes, task force member, discussed recommendations related to diversion.  He discussed 911 services, the Colorado Crisis Services system, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for peace officers, and outcome data on CIT interactions.  Sergeant Denes described early intervention efforts when a 911 call is received to the time an officer arrives on the scene.  He recommended that a stakeholder group be convened to discuss training for 911 call receivers and to develop best practices for call takers.

Athena Butler, Denver 911 Center, Daryl Branson, Public Utilities Commission, and Sergeant Denes responded to committee questions regarding the necessity of a stakeholder group coordinated by the state and work by other committees studying the 911 system. 

Peggy Heil, task force member, presented information regarding a recommendation from the data sharing subcommittee and distributed a packet (Attachment E).  She discussed the gaps in available psychiatric beds in the state and the release of prisoners with mental health disorders.  She described different data systems in the criminal justice system and other state agencies, and the opportunity to connect these data systems.  She discussed possible benefits of the data sharing recommendation and stakeholder involvement.

Ms. Tunstall described the compelling language in the recommendation.  Ms. Heil responded to questions regarding previous federal grant requests that were denied, the Enterprise Service Bus, state health information networks, and data privacy concerns.

Mr. Gur discussed authorization of the MHDCJS task force and oversight committee and distributed a packet (Attachment F).  Ms. Tunstall provided updated statistics related to mental health in the criminal justice system.  Sergeant Denes discussed his involvement in the criminal justice system and explained that the task force represents an effective collaboration between various agencies and private citizens.  Gina Shimell voiced her support for the task force and discussed the unique aspects of it.  She discussed the need for administrative support for the task force.

Mr. Gur discussed updated statutory declaration language and expansion of the task force's focus to include persons at risk of criminal justice involvement.  He described a name change for the task force and responded to questions.  Mr. Gur discussed other recommended statutory changes, including oversight committee requirements, task member decision-making authority, and task force representation.  He described updated issues for study for the task force, including a focus on persons at risk of criminal justice involvement, additional statutory duties, and additional staff support.

Mr. Gur and Ms. Tunstall  responded to questions regarding task force analysis of other state legislation, changes to the task force issues for study and task force representatives.  

Jane Ritter, Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained the process for moving forward with bill draft requests.

Senator Rodriguez recessed the committee.

Senator Rodriguez called the committee back to order.

The committee discussed the development of bill drafts and future meeting dates.