905381FE56240FC2872586AF006B5DCF Hearing Summary

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Representatives Ortiz and Lynch, prime sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1016, concerning the authority to transfer jurisdiction of a veteran defendant's case to a jurisdiction with a veteran's specialty court. Testimony was taken on the bill at the committee's March 16, 2021, meeting. Representative Ortiz provided background on the bill and stakeholder process. Representative Lynch provided further input on the function of the legislation and its merits. The committee considered amendment L.002 (Attachment A), a strike-below amendment.

The following persons testified regarding HB 21-1016:

John Kellner, representing the Eighteenth Judicial District, testified in support of the bill.

Brian Mason, representing the Seventeenth Judicial District, testified in support of the bill.

Michael Allen, representing the Fourth Judicial District, testified in support of the bill.

Discussion ensued regarding the treatment enabled by the bill for those veterans who do not live near a particular veterans treatment court.

The prime sponsors of HB 21-1016 provided closing remarks in support of the bill. Various committee members discussed the merits of the amended bill.