A95AD26BA4228413872583D1005CEC9B Hearing Summary

Senator Danielson and Senator Ginal presented Senate Bill 18-172 and distributed a handout (Attachment A). Under current law, a person who commits caretaker neglect against an at-risk person commits a class 1 misdemeanor. This bill increases the penalty for caretaker neglect to a class 6 felony and expands crimes against an at-risk person by creating new offenses for unlawfully abandoning or confining an at-risk person.

Committee questions and discussion followed.

Maggie Conboy, Denver District Attorney, testified in support of the bill.

Tim Lane, Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.

Chris Merkle, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Deborah Hogfeldt, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Susan Pringle, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Cary Johnson, First Judicial District, testified in support of the bill.

Christiano Sosa, The Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Dawn Howard, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Maureen Welch, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Luanne Fleming, representing herself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Tristan Gorman, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment B).

Arlene Miles, Colorado Health Care Association, testified in support of the bill if amended.

Kris Zumalt, Colorado Bar Association, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Senator Danielson distributed and discussed amendment L.002 (Attachment C).

Tim Lane return to the table to respond to committee concerns about the amendment. Committee discussion followed.

Senator Ginal made closing comments.

Committee members commented on the bill.