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h_jud_2017a_2017-03-07t11:47:10z4 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/07/2017

Location: HCR 0112

Final

BILL SUMMARY for HB17-1172



HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY


Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 17-1172 to the Committee on Appro PASS







06:05 PM -- HB17-1172



The committee recessed.





06:18 PM



The committee returned to order. Representatives Carver and Navarro, prime sponsors, presented House Bill 17-1172, concerning criminal penalties for persons who commit human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude. Representative Navarro discussed the need for the legislation, and Representative Carver explained the effect of the bill. Representative Carver responded to questions regarding the rate at which those involved in human trafficking receive probation, and the intent of HB 17-1172. The following persons testified regarding HB 17-1172:



06:30 PM -- Ms. Carrie Thompson, representing the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Thompson discussed sentences handed down to child sex traffickers in recent years, and spoke against mandatory minimum sentences. Discussion ensued regarding the statistics cited by Ms. Thompson, and the potential for the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to review the issues addressed by HB 17-1172. Discussion followed regarding sentencing for the crimes covered by the bill.



06:52 PM -- Ms. Jennifer Viehman and Ms. Jennifer Darby, representing the El Paso County District Attorney's Office, testified in support of HB 17-1172. Ms. Viehman discussed mandatory sentencing for sex trafficking in jurisdictions other than Colorado, and the penalties facing those convicted of these crimes in Colorado. Ms. Viehman responded to questions regarding sentences typically meted out for sex trafficking crimes in Colorado, and laws governing these crimes. Ms. Viehman responded to questions regarding sex trafficking activity in the state. Ms. Darby discussed the impact of sex trafficking on its victims, providing an account of a particular case. Discussion ensued regarding the need for the legislation based on this account.



07:18 PM -- Mr. Scott Turner, representing the Attorney General's Office, and Ms. Alexis King, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office and the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill. Ms. King discussed the implications of legislation recently adopted by the General Assembly concerning sex trafficking, and the process by which child sex trafficking charges are brought. Ms. King discussed a particular sex trafficking case.





07:23 PM



Mr. Turner responded to questions regarding oversight of mandatory minimum sentencing legislation by the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. Ms. King addressed questions raised during earlier testimony. Mr. Turner discussed the involvement of organized crime in sex trafficking, and explained how the bill would mitigate this. Discussion ensued regarding the potential for those involved in human trafficking to receive probation.



07:32 PM --
Mr. Timothy Lane, representing the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, testified in support of the bill.



07:33 PM --
Mr. Phil Ross, representing himself, testified in support of HB 17-1172. Mr. Ross read a statement about the nature of child sex trafficking crimes, and supported increased penalties for the crime.





07:37 PM



Representatives Carver and Navarro provided closing remarks in support of HB 17-1172. Committee members received testimony in support of the bill from Roger Patrizio of the Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado (Attachment J). Various committee members provided their positions on the bill.



17HouseJudiciary0307AttachJ.pdf17HouseJudiciary0307AttachJ.pdf

BILL: HB17-1172
TIME: 07:40:19 PM
MOVED: Carver
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1172 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-4.
SECONDED: Lundeen
VOTE
Benavidez
No
Carver
Yes
Foote
Yes
Herod
No
Lundeen
Yes
McKean
Yes
Melton
No
Weissman
Yes
Willett
Yes
Salazar
Yes
Lee
No
Final YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS







07:55 PM



The committee recessed.








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