Skip to main content
Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

S_JUD_2019A 04/30/2019 02:33:22 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Date 04/30/2019
Attendance
Cooke X
Gardner X
Rodriguez X
Gonzales *
Lee X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Time 02:33:22 PM to 03:56:35 PM
Place SCR 352
This Meeting was called to order by Senator Lee
This Report was prepared by Juliann Jenson
Hearing Items Action Taken
HB19-1215 Referred to Senate Finance
HB19-1335 Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
HB19-1064 Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
HB19-1324 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB19-1276 Referred to Senate Appropriations

HB19-1215 - Referred to Senate Finance


02:33:31 PM  

Senator Crowder explained HB 19-1215, concerning legislative recommendations for the Colorado Child Support Commission, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. 

Jeff Ball, representing the Child Support Commission, testified in favor of the bill.  He discussed the role of the Commission and the child support guideline improvements that are contained in the bill.  A copy of his testimony was distributed to committee members (Attachment A). 

Angela Arkin, representing the Child Support Commission, testified in support of the measure.  As a district court judge, she explained how the bill gives judges better directions and guidelines relating to child support. 

Larry Desbien, representing the Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in favor of the bill.  He discussed specific sections of the bill that align with federal child support requirements. 

 

02:50:09 PM  

Committee discussion followed about accrual of child support while incarcerated and securing employment thereafter. 

Senator Crowder made closing remarks. 



02:56:40 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 19-1215 to the Committee on Finance.
Moved Gonzales
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Gardner Yes
Rodriguez Yes
Gonzales Yes
Lee Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB19-1335 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar


03:03:00 PM  

Senator Lee explained HB 19-1335, concerning juvenile record expungement clean-up.  



03:03:07 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 19-1335 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Gardner
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Gardner Yes
Rodriguez Yes
Gonzales Yes
Lee Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB19-1064 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations


03:04:39 PM  

Senators Cooke and Foote explained HB 19-1064, concerning eliminating requirements that victims must opt in to effect their rights in criminal proceedings, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. 

Medha Patel, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill.  She provided an economic analysis of the bill. 

Joe Cannata, representing Voices of Victims, testified in support of the bill.  He discussed how victims are often confused by the criminal justice process.

Tim Lopez, representing himself, testified in favor of the measure.  He discussed the difficulty of keeping track of cases and distributed a victim notification letter (Attachment B).

03:14:20 PM  

Committee discussion followed about support systems and rights for victims. 

Senator Lee distributed and explained amendment L.007 (Attachment C) regarding a community crime victim's grant programs.

Senators Foote and Cooke made closing remarks. 



03:21:16 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.007
Moved Lee
Seconded
Cooke
Gardner
Rodriguez
Gonzales
Lee
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


03:22:02 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 19-1064, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Cooke
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Gardner Yes
Rodriguez Yes
Gonzales Yes
Lee Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB19-1276 - Committee Discussion Only


03:23:07 PM  

Senator Coram explained HB 19-1276, concerning a ninth grade success grant program. 

Samantha Nuechterlein, representing Education Reform Now, testified in favor of the bill. 

Krista Spurgin, representing Stand for Children, spoke in support of the measure. 

Senator Todd explained the merits of the bill.  Discussion followed about best practices and preventative measures.  Senators Todd and Coram made closing remarks.

Senator Lee delayed the vote on the measure until committee members returned from presenting other bills.   



HB19-1324 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


03:38:35 PM  

Senator Foote explained HB 19-1324, concerning motions to dismiss certain civil actions involving constitutional rights.  He explained that strategic lawsuits against public participation, otherwise known as SLAPP suits, chill free speech and cause serious harm to defendants who are often individual citizens.

Steven Zansberg, representing the Colorado Press Association, Colorado Broadcasters Association, and Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, testified in favor of the bill.

Discussion followed about First Amendment rights and support for the measure.   

Senator Foote made closing remarks. 



03:54:44 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 19-1324 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Rodriguez
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Gardner Yes
Rodriguez Yes
Gonzales Yes
Lee Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB19-1276 - Referred to Senate Appropriations


03:56:00 PM  

Senator Lee returned to HB 19-1275, heard earlier in the hearing, for a vote.  



03:56:25 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 19-1276 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Gonzales
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Gardner Yes
Rodriguez Yes
Gonzales Yes
Lee Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


03:56:35 PM   The committee adjourned.






Colorado legislature email addresses ending in @state.co.us are no longer active. Please replace @state.co.us with @coleg.gov for Colorado legislature email addresses.  Details