FA10F0DD88DB0832872586AF0071F462 Hearing Summary

Representative Froelich,
bill sponsor, introduced HB21-1228.

Beginning on January 1, 2022, the bill requires child and family investigators
(CFIs) and parental responsibility evaluators (PREs) to have training related
to domestic violence and its effect on children, adults and families.  Training
must be provided by recognized sources with expertise in domestic violence
and the traumatic effects of domestic violence, and must include six hours
of training for both domestic violence and child abuse, as well as four
hours of subsequent training every two years.  The bill also requires
legal representatives of children to comply with these provisions, and
requires that reports related to domestic violence, submitted to a court
by an investigator, evaluator or child’s legal representative, be considered
when determining parenting time and responsibilities.




The bill also requires that the Office of the State Court Administrator
maintain an eligibility roster for CFIs and PREs, and that a complaints
process relating to both CFIs and PREs be established.  The bill specifies
that a Chief Justice Directive be created to implement these requirements.

Committee members asked questions of the bill sponsor.

Committee members continued to ask questions of the bill sponsor.

Ms. Maralee Mclean, representing Moms Fight Back, testified in support of the bill. Amelia Lobo, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Judy Schure, representing Moms Fight Back, testified in support of the bill.

Christine McGinley, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Beth Goldman, representing Mothers Fight Back, testified in support of the bill. Witnesses responded to questions from committee members.

Mr. Bennett Poletti, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Kimberly Chambers, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Andrea Fuller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Rebecca Zimmerman, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Lydia Waligorski, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Froelich answered questions from committee members.

Kimberly Phillips, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment C.

Committee members made final comments on the bill.