Date: 04/24/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-174

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-174 to the Committee on ApproPASS



04:41 PM -- SB14-174

The committee recessed.


04:50 PM

The committee came back to order. Representative McLachlan and Representative Pabon, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 14-174. The bill creates a prosecution fellowship program. Committee members received a fact sheet prepared by both of Colorado's law schools and the Colorado District Attorneys' Council (CDAC) (Attachment G), and a collection of letters expressing support for the bill (Attachment H). Representative Pabon spoke about a program in Denver that is similar to the program established by the bill. Representative McLachlan spoke about his experience working as an assistant district attorney in Durango. Representative McLachlan responded to questions regarding the source of the law students for the program.

14HseJud0424AttachG.pdf14HseJud0424AttachG.pdf 14HseJud0424AttachH.pdf14HseJud0424AttachH.pdf

04:58 PM

The following persons testified regarding Senate Bill 14-174:

04:58 PM -- Mr. Martin Katz, Dean of the University of Denver School of Law, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Katz discussed the benefits of creating a fellowship program for district attorneys' offices. Mr. Katz also suggested that the fellowship program could become a model for other states, and explained that the bill offers an opportunity for both of Colorado's law schools to work together.

05:04 PM -- Mr. Jeff Chostner, Mr. Jim Bullock, and Ms. Heidi McCollum, representing the 10th Judicial District, the 16th Judicial District, and the 5th Judicial District respectively, as well as the CDAC, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Bullock discussed the number of traffic offenses prosecuted in his county, and the need for his office to take on additional assistance. Mr. Bullock explained how the fellowship program created by the bill would assist in this regard. Ms. McCollum explained how the fellowship program would benefit certain counties in her judicial district, and discussed her office's need for personnel that understand certain aspects about living in the mountains. She also discussed the need for these personnel to cover a wide territory. Mr. Chostner discussed the potential for the bill to draw talented law students away from the Front Range to more rural judicial districts. Mr. Chostner also discussed certain benefits that would accrue to the fellows under the bill.


05:15 PM

Discussion ensued regarding the potential for quantifying the benefits of Senate Bill 14-174, and the potential for amending the bill to create a reporting requirement pertaining to the program's benefits.


05:19 PM

Representative McLachlan noted the contents of Attachment H. No amendments were offered to Senate Bill 14-174. Representative Pabon provided additional closing remarks in support of the bill.
BILL:SB14-174
TIME: 05:27:43 PM
MOVED:McLachlan
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-174 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-1.
SECONDED:Lee
VOTE
Buckner
Yes
Court
Yes
Gardner
Yes
Lawrence
No
McLachlan
Yes
Murray
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Salazar
Yes
Waller
Yes
Lee
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS