S_JUD_2022A 03/24/2022 03:19:16 PM Committee Summary

Senator Danielson, bill sponsor, explained Senate Bill 22-150, concerning responding to the missing indigenous persons crisis, and, in connection therewith, establishing the office of liaison for missing and murdered indigenous relatives.  She discussed missing and murdered indigenous relatives (MMIR), the related office and staff created in the bill, and the stakeholder process.  

Vice Chairman Ramona Eagle, representing Southern Ute Indian Tribe, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed law enforcement response times.  

Daisy Bluestar, representing the Southern Ute Tribe/ innovative action for indigenous relatives, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed unresolved cold cases.

Committee members asked questions about state boundaries and other jurisdictional-related questions. 

Discussion ensued about lack of news coverage for MMIR cases and the benefits of an alert system. 

Tanski Chrisjohn, representing self, testified in support of the bill. She provided statistics about violence and murder rates of indigenous women.

Danielle SeeWalker, representing self, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the long history of MMIR cases.  

Lynette Greybull, representing Not Our Native Daughters, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about other state responses to MMIR. 

Chairman Jordan Dresser, representing Northern Arapahoe Business Council, testified in support of the bill.

Isabella Snowbird, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Monycka Snowbird, representing Haseya Advocate Program, testified in support of the bill. She discussed misclassified or misidentified victims.

Raven Payment, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Donna Chrisjohn, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about the cycle of violence and trauma.  Discussion followed about how the new office, as proposed in the bill, could transform trauma into healing.  Further questions were raised about cultural competency, misidentification protocols, and educational resources and training for law enforcement.   

Mrs. Jennifer Wolf, representing self, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed racial misclassification, data, and hotspot identification. 

Mr. Rick Williams, representing self, testified in support of the bill. He discussed multi-tribal communities and mobility. 

Mrs. Christine Sage, representing MMIR Task Force, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Gina Lopez, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Amanda Finger, representing Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, testified in support of the bill.

Misha White, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Discussion followed about the relationship between human trafficking and MMIR.

Rachel Gomez, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Nellie Mattole, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Emma Ragona, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Hon. Joseph Salazar, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Michelle Fix-Westall, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Shaina Oliver, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Nathaniel Brown, representing the Navajo Nation, testified in support of the bill. He answered questions from the committee.

Mrs. Renee Millard Chacon, representing Womxn from the Mountain, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Danielson read a statement in support of the bill from Deb Haaland, the United States Secretary of the Interior. 

Executive Director Stan Hilkey, representing Colorado Department of Public Safety, testified to amend the bill.  He recommended that the office, as proposed in the bill, be a part of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to better maximize resources, among other reasons.  

Director John Camper, representing Colorado Bureau of Investigation - Department of Public Safety, testified to amend the bill. He made himself available for questions.

Committee members asked questions about the differences between active and cold cases and the frequency of misidentification.  Further questions were raised about structure and where the proposed office should be housed. 

Committee discussion followed about staffing, the sunrise process, and criminal investigations. 

The bill sponsor discussed negotiations with the Department of Public Safety and committed to continue discussions about where to house the proposed MMIR office. 

Senator Danielson discussed and presented Amendment L. 001 about reporting requirements (Attachment A). 

The bill sponsor and committee members made closing comments.

Senators Cooke and Bridges, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-005, concerning the increase of available funds for law enforcement agency peace officer services.  They discussed law enforcement and mental health.  They asked the bill be laid over to work on amendments.  

Dan Brite, representing self, testified in support of the bill. He discussed mental health advocates for first responders. 

Committee members asked questions about overcoming stigma and cultural competency. 

Ms Rebecca Allanson, representing Colorado Peace Officer Foundation, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed increased access to behavioral health clinical services for peace officers.

Jeff Riester, representing Department of Law, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors asked that the bill be laid over for additional amendments. 

Senators Jaquez Lewis and Cooke explained HB22-1226,concerning the continuation of licensing requirements for massage therapists, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations of the 2021 sunset report by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). 

They discussed the DORA recommendations included in the bill.

Senate Bill 22-1228, concerning the continuation of the regulation of preneed funeral contracts, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations contained in the 2021 sunset report by DORA was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.