S_JUD_2020A 01/13/2020 11:48:52 AM Committee Summary

Representative Weissman called the meeting to order.

Chief Justice Nathan Coats and Steven Vasconcellos, State Court Administrator, provided an overview of the Judicial Branch (Attachment A).

Mr. Vasconcellos reviewed the performance plan and discussed accessbility measures, fairness, and timeliness standards.  He answered questions about access to justice, including interpretors. 

Chief Justice Coats introduced the Judicial Branch budget request regarding magistrates, probation officers, and contract management.   He first discussed the reasons behind requesting funds to hire additional magistrates.  Committee members expressed concerns about relying too heavily on magistrates to fulfill county court functions because they are not constitutional officers. 

Mr. Vasconcellos discussed the rising caseloads of probation officers and the increase in high-risk probationers.  He also covered contract management to centralize contracting, ensure stability and continuity of services, improve consistency, and ensure better compliance.  He stated that most contracts related to probation services.   He answered questions about the state procurement code.

Chief Justice Coats introduced the Judicial Branch budget request.  He first discussed the reasons behind requesting funds to hire additional magistrates.  Committee discussion followed about the potential over-use of magistrates. 

Mr. Vasconcellos further discussed the budgetary item regarding additional probation officers.  He cited rising caseloads and the increase in high-risk probationers as reasons for it.  He explained the request for contract management services  to centralize contracting, ensure stability and continuity of services, improve consistency, and improve compliance.  He stated that most contracts are related to probation services.   He answered questions about the state procurement code.

Chris Henderson, executive director, and Ashley Chase, staff attorney and legislative liaison, presented information about the Office of the Child's Representative.   Mr. Henderson discussed how the office successfully implemented recommendations from the 2019 state audit.  Mr. Henderson then reviewed SMART Act goals and accomplishments. 

Committee discussion ensued about attorney contracts, hourly rates, caseload, and juvenile delinquency cases. Questions were raised about federal loan forgiveness programs and other budgetary items. 

Stephanie Villafuerte, Child Protection Ombudsman, and Jordan Steffan, Deputy Ombudsman, presented information about the Child Protection Ombudsman of Colorado (Attachment B).  Ms. Villafuerte provided a brief history of the office and statutory charge.  She highlighted the complaint process and other services provided by the office, as well as referenced clientele.  She furthered recapped information about the number and type of calls the office receives, and covered other services and products provided by the office, such as compliance letters, investigations, and issue briefs.  She concluded her presentation with information about strategic and public policy initiatives.

Stan Hilkey, executive director of Department of Public Safety (DPS), introduced staff and provided an overview of the department's FY 2019-20 goals. The committee was provided with a packet of SMART Act related handouts (Attachment C). He highlighted several accomplishments and successes for the department over the past year. He responded to questions from the committee about criminal background checks for firearms purchases. He talked about the department's FY 2020-21 budget request and the 2020 legislative and regulatory agendas.

Chief Matthew Packard, representing the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), provided information about the CSP's mission and budget. He discussed some of the activities conducted by the patrol over the past year and CSP's operational guidelines. He focused on safety, visibility, community partnerships, and education efforts. Chief Packard explained the patrol's FY 2020-21 strategic policy initiative, which is to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. He highlighted some notable achievements and customer service initiatives. Committee members asked questions about co-responder models and mental health and certain highway patrol routes. 

John Camper, representing the Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI), explained that CBI manages statewide criminal justice information, assists with criminal investigations, conducts background checks, and operates a forensic lab.  He highlighted a strategic policy initiative regarding black market marijuana and answered questions about the size and scope of them.  He also discussed identity theft and the financial fraud unit, as well as hate crime reporting by law enforcement.

Mike Morgan, representing the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, provided an overview of the division's duties and responsibilities.  He also covered notable achievements and customer service initiatives.  The committee asked questions about fire fighting in Australia.

Kevin Klein, representing the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, provided an overview of the division, and discussed notable achievements, successes, and customer service initiatives. He also noted work on threats to the census and school safety.  He answered questions from the committee about emergency alert systems, the census, and elections. 

Joe Thome, representing the Division of Criminal Justice, provided an overview of the division, including notable achievements and successess and customer service initiatives. He answered questions from the committee about delineating between alcohol and drugs for driving under the influence and juvenile diversion and prefile. 

Susan Walker, representing the Coalition for Sexual Offense Restoration, testified about the practices of the Sex Offender Management Board. 

Attorney General Phil Weiser, representing the Department of Law, summarized a vision statement for the agency.  He identified the follwoing department priorities:  defend the rule of law; address the opioid epidemic; improve the criminal justice system and protect public safety; protect consumers; protect the state's land, air, and water;  and encourage community engagement.  He answered questions from the committee and provided an upate on recent pharmaceutical litigation.   Committee discussion followed about TABOR, staff in rural parts of the state, water management policy,  insulin prices, Safe 2 Tell, constitutional rights of sex offenders needing treatment in prison, and student loan servicers. 

Natalie Hanlon Leh, Chief Deputy Attorney General, joined Mr. Weiser at the table.  The conversation turned to sex abuse cases and the Catholic Church.  Mr. Weiser provided an update on recent agreements concerning compensation to victims.  The committee asked questions about a recent court ruling regarding defendants sentenced to both prison and probation and the impact of it.   

Stan Hilkey, chair, and Dr. Abigail Tucker, co-chair, presented information about the history of the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), its membership, charge, and related task forces and subcommittees (Attachment D).  Updates were provided about the work of various CCJJ subcommittees.   Dr. Tucker discussed care for jail detainees with acute behavioral health needs. 

The committee asked questions about sealing records, minority over-representation, and pretrial, as well as organizational and voting issues specific to the CCJJ. 

Representative Weissman made closing remarks.