Senate Committee on Judiciary (04/15/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Date:	04/15/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:06 PM to 02:59 PM	Hudak	X
		King K.	X
Place:	SCR 352	Lundberg	X
		Newell	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Renfroe	E
	Senator Morse	Carroll M.	X
		Morse	X
This Report was prepared by
	Sara McPhee
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB09-284		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

02:06 PM -- Senate Bill 09-284

Senator Newell, bill sponsor, presented SB 09-284 concerning the authority of a law enforcement officer under specified circumstances to prevent a person from communicating with someone other than a peace officer by blocking communications. She distributed Amendment L.002 (Attachment A). Senator Newell explained that the bill updates the current statutes concerning blocking communications when there is a hostage situation to include Internet and cellular communications. She also explained that the amendment changes some of the wording in the bill at the request of representatives from the communications industry. The committee asked about how the bill will be implemented to include cell phones and Internet technologies.

02:18 PM

The committee discussed the specifics of the bill and whether or not it should include the provision that enables law enforcement to block calls if an individual does not have a hostage and is only a danger to him or herself.

02:21 PM -- David Fisher, representing the Denver Police Department, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the current law and the changes that this bill would make to current law. Chief Fisher explained situations where law enforcement officials have to negotiate with individuals who also have access to the Internet and cellular communications. He also described specific scenarios with hostages that demonstrate the need to update the existing statute to include these technologies.

02:31 PM

The committee discussed with the witness why there is a need to stop outgoing calls when there is no hostage situation. Chief Fisher discussed a specific incident with a law enforcement officer who was suicidal and how that situation was resolved by finding the officer through his cell phone.

02:41 PM -- Mark Randall, representing the Colorado District Attorneys Council, spoke in support of the bill. He noted that district attorneys often serve as legal advisors to the police when these types of situations occur.

02:48 PM -- Greg Romberg, representing Sprint, spoke about the bill. He explained that his organization had concerns about the introduced bill, but with Amendment L.002 they are in support of the bill.

02:53 PM -- Peg Ackerman, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.
02:54 PM -- Amy Miller, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, spoke in support of the bill.


BILL:	SB09-284
TIME:	02:57:46 PM
MOVED:	Newell
MOTION:	Adopt prepared Amendment L.002 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hudak
	King K.
	Lundberg
	Newell
	Renfroe	Excused
	Carroll M.
	Morse

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-284
TIME:	02:58:18 PM
MOVED:	Newell
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-284, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 6-0 roll call vote
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hudak	Yes
	King K.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Renfroe	Excused
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Morse	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:59 PM

The committee adjourned.