Bill Summary for Bill Number SB14-002

Date: 04/29/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-002

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-002 to the Committee on Finan	PASS

01:35 PM -- SB14-002

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Speaker Ferrandino, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 14-002, concerning transferring the Safe2tell program to the Department of Law. Speaker Ferrandino provided background on the Safe2tell program, and explained the effect of the bill. The following persons testified regarding Senate Bill 14-002:

01:38 PM -- Ms. Susan Payne, representing the Safe2tell program, testified in support of the bill. Committee members received the 2013 Safe2tell annual report (Attachment A). Ms. Payne discussed studies on prior knowledge of impending violence in schools, and noted the "veil of silence" in schools. Ms. Payne discussed information sharing among schools, and efforts undertaken to reduce barriers to accessing information from students. Ms. Payne discussed efforts undertaken to improve the usage of a telephone hotline and other communications devices instituted under the Safe2tell program to allow students to report potential impending violent situations. Ms. Payne discussed trends in the use of these communications devices, and the types of incidents that have been reported. She discussed the various institutions that have collaborated to implement and improve the Safe2tell program.

14HseJud0429AttachA.pdf

01:49 PM

Ms. Payne explained how the Safe2tell program operates, providing examples of its operation. Ms. Payne responded to questions regarding the transition of the Safe2tell program from administration by a private, nonprofit organization to one administered under the Department of Law. Discussion ensued regarding the funding source for administering the Safe2tell program.

01:55 PM -- Mr. John McDonald, representing Jefferson County Schools, testified in support of the bill. Mr. McDonald discussed efforts undertaken to protect schools from violence since the Columbine incident, and trends in the use of messaging systems established under the Safe2tell program.

01:58 PM -- Mr. Michael McGuire, representing himself, testified in support of Senate Bill 14-002. Mr. McGuire discussed the threat of violence in schools, and the benefits of the Safe2tell program in helping to curb such violence through information sharing. Mr. McGuire spoke in favor of sustaining the program.

02:01 PM -- Mr. John Giardino, representing the Colorado Parent-Teacher Organization, testified in support of the bill. He discussed efforts undertaken by his organization to curb school violence, and spoke to the merits of the Safe2tell program.

02:06 PM -- Ms. Cynthia Coffman, representing the Department of Law, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Coffman explained how her department may be able to improve the reach of the Safe2tell program. Ms. Coffman responded to questions regarding the potential for creating an advisory group to provide oversight of and maintain fundraising for the Safe2tell program once it migrates to the Department of Law.

02:13 PM

No amendments were offered to Senate Bill 14-002.


BILL:	SB14-002
TIME:	02:13:58 PM
MOVED:	Salazar
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-002 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:	Buckner
		VOTE
	Buckner	Yes
	Court	Excused
	Gardner	Excused
	Lawrence	Excused
	McLachlan	Excused
	Murray	Yes
	Pettersen	Yes
	Salazar	Yes
	Waller	Excused
	Lee	Yes
	Kagan	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 5 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS