Date: 01/23/2008

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB08-1018

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 08-1018 to the Committee of the WPASS



10:52 AM -- House Bill 08-1018

Representative Primavera, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 08-1018 concerning allowing nonadjacent judicial districts to establish a volunteer court-appointed special advocate program. The bill permits judicial districts that are not adjacent to establish a volunteer court-appointed special advocate (CASA) program.

10:54 AM --
Lori Burkey, Colorado CASA, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Burkey discussed the CASA program and how volunteers are appointed. She talked about the philosophy. There are 14 nonprofit CASA organizations in Colorado serving 15 judicial districts. Colorado CASA is processing the addition of three new rural and remote judicial districts. She stated her belief that this legislation is necessary in order to serve more remote areas of the state. Representative Stafford asked if there will be any difficulty in recruiting volunteers and gathering resources to make the new programs as successful as they are in other parts of the state. Ms. Burkey stated that she does not anticipate a problem.

10:59 AM --
Renee Manke, private citizen, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Manke is a former foster youth. She expressed her appreciation for her CASA representative. She discussed her time in foster care and the need for individuals to help children through the system.
BILL:HB08-1018
TIME: 11:01:44 AM
MOVED:Carroll M.
MOTION:Refer House Bill 08-1018 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 10-1, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:Kerr A.
VOTE
Carroll M.
Yes
Gardner B.
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Kerr A.
Yes
King
Yes
Levy
Excused
Marshall
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Stephens
Yes
Stafford
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS