F4B0943D17915436872583D1006FBD06 Hearing Summary

The committee recessed briefly.

The committee came back to order.

Representatives Van Winkle and Singer introduced House Bill 19-1235 concerning dispatch radio communications by governmental entities. The bill requires state, city, city and county, and special district governments (governental entities) to broadcast dispatch radio communication without encryption so that communications may be monitored by commercially available radio receivers and scanners or online.  However, a governmental entity may encrypt tactical or investigative radio communication to preserve the integrity of an operation, protect the safety of law enforcement and emergency responders, or prevent destruction of property.  The bill does not restrict encryption for the radio communications of the Department of Corrections or the Division of Youth Services.  The sponsors also talked about amendments L.001 (Attachment A), L.002 (Attachment B), and L.003 (Attachment C).

The committee questioned the bill sponsors about amendments.

Mitchell Byers, representing the Colorado Press Association, testified in support of the bill.

Matt Sebastian, representing the Denver Post, testified in support of the bill.

Patrick Potyondy, representing Colorado Common Cause, testified in support of the bill.

Shane Anthony, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Holly Nicholson-Kluth, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mike Borrego, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mark Smith, representing the Colorado Springs Police Department, testified in opposition to the bill.

Chris Noeller, representing the Pueblo Police Department, testified in opposition to the bill.

The committee questioned the witnesses about amendments, local decisions, encryption standards, emergency notifications to the public, and requests to review radio transmissions.

Jill Farschman, representing the Colorado Press Association, testified in support of the bill.

Curt Mann, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Ryan Hazelwood, representing the Colorado Broadcasters Association, testified in support of the bill.

Justin Sasso, representing the Colorado Broadcasters Association, testified in support of the bill.

The committee questioned the witnesses about listening to scanners for reporting purposes and rural areas.

Michael Phibbs, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, testified in opposition to the bill.

Kim Barron, representing the Westminster Police Department, testified in opposition to the bill.

Herb Atchison, representing the City of Westminster and the Colorado Municipal League, testified in opposition to the bill.

The committee questioned the witnesses about the proposed amendments.

Robert Wareham, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

The committee questioned the witness about support of the amendments.

The committee questioned the witness about technical requirements for encryption, as well as costs.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks about the bill.

The committee made closing remarks about the bill.