S_JUD_2024A 02/07/2024 01:33:59 PM Committee Summary

Senators Coleman and Gonzales, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-012, concerning the creation of a reentry workforce development cash assistance pilot program for persons who were incarcerated.   The sponsors requested the bill be postponed indefinitely.

Senators Coleman and Rich, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-063, concerning the confidentiality of discussions in a peer support setting.  They explained the privacy protections outlined in the bill. 

Ms. Jenna Reed, representing Mesa County Sheriff's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jason Bailey, representing Mesa County Sheriff's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Ross Young, representing Mesa County Sheriff's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Committee discussion ensued about confidentiality protections.

Mr. John Seward, representing EMS Assocsation of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Jack Digliani, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing comments.

Senator Mullica, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 24-064, concerning requiring the Judicial Department to make residential eviction-related information available to the public.  He discussed the importance and need to collect eviction case data. 

Senator Mullica distributed and explained Amendment L.001 to clarify requests for data (Attachment A). 

He next distributed and explained Amendment L.002 to amend the previous amendment,, followed by Amendments L.004 and L.005 for technical changes (Attachments B, C, and D). 

Committee members asked questions about SMART Act reporting requirements, as outlined in the bill. Further questions were asked about other publically available eviction data. 

Kinsey Hasstedt, representing Enterprise Community Partners, testified in support of the bill.

Aubrey Wilde, representing Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Brian Rossbert, representing Housing Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions about drilling down to individual case levels.

Mr. TJ Weese, representing Colorado Landlord Legislative Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Amber Kelley, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Ealasha Vaughner, representing Clayton Early Learning, testified in support of the bill.

Melissa Mejia, representing Community Economic Defense Project, testified in support of the bill.

Sarah Barnes, representing Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jack Regenbogen, representing Colorado Poverty Law Project, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Written testimony about the bill may be found in Attachment E.

Senator Mullica recapped the amendments distributed earlier in the hearing. 

Committee members asked questions about the amendments.

The bill sponsor made closing remarks. 

Committee members made closing remarks. 

Senators Danielson and Fields, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Concurrent Resolution 24-001, submitting to the registered electors of the state of Colorado an amendment to the Colorado Constitution concerning allowing Colorado lawmakers to pass laws that permit victims of childhood sexual abuse to bring a civil claim for the sexual abuse regardless of when the sexual abuse occurred.

The bill sponsors explained the need for the bill and the state constitution prohibition on retrospective legislation.

Committee members asked questions about applicable cases, survivor benefits, statute of limitations, and the recent Colorado Supreme Court decision on retroactive application. 

Further discussion followed about the resolution's application, retroactivity, and previous legislation on this topic.

Kathryn Robb, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jill Brogdon, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Yesenia Landeros, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Michael Stano, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jeb Barrett, representing the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Angie Witt, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Susan Leighnor, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Caitlin Lynch, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Paul Quinn, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Evie Hudak, representing Colorado PTA, testified in support of the bill.

Ray Desser, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Raven Payment, representing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Task Force of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Onnastasia Cole, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill.

Jean McAllister, representing WINGS Foundation, Inc, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kallie Leyba, representing American Federation of Teachers, Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Kenneth Power, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Jennifer Wetzler, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Joel Moore, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Jennifer Stith, representing Wings, supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, testified in support of the bill.

Monycka Snowbird, representing Haseya Advocate Program, testified in support of the bill.

Ms.KellyGrace Price, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. She read testimony from Susan Shotts.

Ms. Val Nosler Beck, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. She read testimony from Kathleen Van Voorhis.

Ms. Elizabeth Newman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Kelly Campbell, representing American Property Casualty Insurance, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Douglas Tumminello, representing Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in opposition to the bill.

Trey Rogers, representing Colordo Catholic Conference, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Michael Essma, representing American Tort Reform Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked questions about revival laws, insurance, associated costs, and retroactive provisions in the state constitution. 

Craig Hein, representing CO School District Self Insurance Pool, CO Assoc of School Executives, CO Assoc of School Boards, CO Rural Schools Alliance, CO League of Charter Schools, testified to amend the bill.

Committee discussion followed about records management and related claim costs.  Further questions were raised about criminal liability for organizations. 

Michael Nimmo, representing themself, was available to answer committee questions.

Committee members asked questions about due process, statute of limitations, costs, court cases, and how similar matters are handled in other states.

Marlo Greer, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  Ms. Greene's daughter spoke about a teacher/school incident.

Written testimony about the bill may be found in Attachment F.

Senator Gardner distributed Amendment L.002 (Attachment G). 

The bill sponsors opposed the amendment. 

Senator Gardner distributed and explained Amendment L.001 (Attachment H).  

The bill sponsors urged a no vote on the amendment.

Committee discussion ensued about the amendment and the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing comments. 

Committee members made closing comments.