BDB5BCD12774BF028725895700715AAC Hearing Summary

Representatives Evans and Duran, prime sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1108, concerning the creation of a task force to study victim and survivor awareness and responsiveness . Representative Evans explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need.

Mr. Carl Roberts, representing Colorado Resilience, testified in opposition to HB 23-1108. Committee members received a handout opposing the bill (Attachment A).

Mr. Robert Barnes, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Carolyn MacCloud, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Katie Rubano, representing Colorado Parental Alienation Support Group, testified in opposition to the bill.

Sean Murphy, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Claudia Ovalles, representing Servicemembers and Veterans for Children's Rights, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Aubrey Keller, representing Rebuild Your Mind Initiative, testified on HB 23-1108 from an "amend" perspective.

Ms. Marylin Willison, representing herself, testified to amend the bill.

Tristan Gorman, representing Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, testified on the bill from an "amend" perspective.

Mr. James Karbach, representing the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, testified to amend the bill. Discussion ensued regarding potential bias in the training that falls under the scope of the bill, and the potential for augmenting the membership of the task force created by the bill with a member who has been accused of domestic violence. Ms. Gorman responded to questions regarding the amendment to the bill that she favors. Discussion followed regarding the potential for the bill to be found unconstitutional,

Terry Scanlon, representing Colorado Courts, testified on HB 23-1108 from an "amend" position.

Rael LaPenta, representing MACA- Mothers Against Child Abuse, testified on the bill from an "amend" position.

Mr. Scanlon responded to questions regarding the amendments that the Judicial Branch favors for the bill, and training on domestic violence provided to judges.

Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Committee members received a handout supporting the bill (Attachment B). Roshan Kalantar, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Kazi Houston, representing Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Eileen Fitzsimmons-Rafferty, representing herself, testified in support of HB 23-1108.

Ms. Ashlee Guthrie, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Erica Laue, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Shannon Tyson-Poletti, representing themself, testified in support of HB 23-1108.

Mrs. Beth Goldman, representing Zero Child Abuse, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Andrea Reitzel, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Courtney Sutton, representing Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill. Rebecca Zimmerman, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Zimmerman responded to questions regarding her desired outcomes from the task force created by the bill. Ms. Sutton responded to questions regarding detrimental effects of the lack of preparation or understanding by the Judicial Branch on crime victims. Discussion ensued regarding the rate of domestic abuse and other victimization among incarcerated women, and what the task force can learn about this population.

Representative Duran explained the effect of amendment L.001 (Attachment C). Representative Evans explained the effect of amendment L.002 (Attachment D). Representative Duran explained the effect of amendment L.003 (Attachment E).

Representatives Duran and Evans responded to questions regarding the interplay between HB 23-1108 and HB 23-1178, as well as the amendments to HB 23-1108 presently before the committee.

Representatives Duran and Evans provided closing remarks in support of HB 23-1108. Various committee members provided their positions on the bill.