S_SA_2021A 04/27/2021 02:02:53 PM Committee Summary

Senator Gardner and President Garcia, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1016 to the committee. The bill allows a veteran defendant to petition that their case be transferred to a jurisdiction with a veteran’s specialty court, if such a court is unavailable in their jurisdiction.

Senator Gonzales proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Arnold Hanuman, representing Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill. Anthony Archer, representing Veteran Sheepdogs of America, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions.

District Attorney John Kellner, representing 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill. Brian Mason, representing 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors gave closing remarks on the bill.

Senator Liston and President Garcia, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1116 to the committee. The bill grants free access to state parks and recreation areas to Colorado residents who are Purple Heart recipients.

Anthony Archer, representing VFW and Stefan Sheepdogs of America, testified in support of the bill. Glen Cooper, representing Military Order of the Purple Heart, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Phil Treglia, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Alexander Winter, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill. Christina Walker, representing Clayton Early Learning, testified in support of the bill. Nicole Riehl, representing Executives Partnering to Invest in Children, testified in support of the bill.

Kathryn Kuhlenberg, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Jeanne McQueeney, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Stacey Carpenter, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Carin Rosa, representing Office of Early Childhood, Department of Human Services, was available to answer committee questions.

The bill sponsor gave closing remarks on the bill.

Senator Bridges and Senator Fields, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1231 to the committee. The bill adds "Space National Guard" to provisions in state statute that mention the Colorado Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, and "Space Force" to provisions in statute that list the branches of the United States armed forces.

Brigadier General Laura Clellan, representing Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, testified in support of the bill. Colonel Michael Lockette, representing Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors gave closing remarks on the bill.

Senator Coram and Senator Fields, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1212 to the committee. The bill requires the Governor to consider geographic and demographic diversity when making appointments to certain boards, commissions, committees, or task forces beginning January 1, 2022.

Don Suppes, representing Delta County, testified in support of the bill. Richard Orf, representing Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Director Kevin Klein, representing DHSEM, testified in opposition to the bill.

Senator Gonzales and Senator Rodriguez, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1117 to the committee. The bill clarifies that the state prohibition on local rent control laws is not applicable to local laws that restrict rents on newly constructed or redeveloped housing so long as the local regulation provides options to the property owner or land developer, and creates alternatives to the construction of new affordable housing on the building site.

Councilwoman Robin Kniech, representing self, testified to amend the bill. Meghan Dollar, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill. Kinsey Hasstedt, representing Enterprise Community Partners, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Brizai Gomez Cortes, representing Metro Caring, testified in support of the bill. Melanie Kesner, representing Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Andrea Stojsavljevic, representing Healthier Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Tawny Peyton, representing Rocky Mountain Home Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Annemarie Sunde, representing Colorado Landlord Legislative Coalition, testified in opposition to the bill.

Bruce Eisenhauer, representing Department of Local Affairs, testified in support of the bill. Brian Connolly, representing Colorado Housing Affordability Project, testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Kayla Marcella, representing Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI), testified in support of the bill.

Kelly McNicholas Kury, representing Pitkin County and Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the bill. Anna DeWitt, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Michael Neil, representing Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill. George Marlin, representing self, testified in support of the bill.

Caitlin Quander, representing NAIOP Colorado, testified to amend the bill. Andrew Harick, representing Colorado Apartment Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Amendments L.007 and L.008 were distributed (Attachments H and I).

Tawny Peyton, representing Rocky Mountain Home Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Annemarie Sunde, representing Colorado Landlord Legislative Coalition, testified in opposition to the bill.

Bruce Eisenhauer, representing Department of Local Affairs, testified in support of the bill. Sheena Kadi, representing Metro Caring, testified in support of the bill. Melanie Kesner, representing Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Andrew Hamrick, representing Colorado Apartment Association, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Jason Hopfer, Colorado Association of Realtors, testified regarding the bill.

The bill sponsor gave closing remarks on the bill.