Bill Summary for Bill Number SB14-123

Date: 04/02/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-123

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-123 to the Committee on Appro	PASS

03:41 PM -- SB14-123

Representative Kagan came to the table and presented Senate Bill 14-123. He stated that Colorado is one of six states that does not require ongoing education and training for certified peace officers. He explained that the bill authorizes the Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Board to promulgate rules for:

certification of inspectors of vehicle identification numbers;

annual in-service training requirements for certified peace officers; and

any rules necessary to carry out the functions of the P.O.S.T. Board.

He added that the bill allows the P.O.S.T. Board to increase its certification fees from $125 to $150. The bill also allows the P.O.S.T. Board to expand the entities to whom it may make grants by including nonprofit organizations. The P.O.S.T. Board may deny certification to any person who is convicted of a municipal violation that is the equivalent of any of the state law violations that permit denial of certification. Finally, the registration fee (P.O.S.T. fee) paid by owners of Class A, B, or C vehicles will increase from $0.60 to $1.00. Representative Kagan responded to questions on which nonprofit organizations might receive grants under the bill and whether companies in the state that employ peace officers have ongoing requirements for education and training.

03:52 PM -- Chief John Jackson, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, spoke in favor of the bill. He responded to a question on the need for ongoing training for peace officers in Colorado, and highlighted the importance of additional training. He outlined the situations that could arise from a lack of additional training for peace officers.

03:56 PM

Representative Kagan and Chief Jackson responded to questions on P.O.S.T. Board fee increases laid out in the bill, how the bill would affect the ongoing training of peace officers, and the sources of funding for the bill and the P.O.S.T. Board. Committee discussion ensued.

04:15 PM -- Nancy Lewis, representing the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA), spoke in favor of the bill. She stated that in her role as the Executive Director of COVA, she has seen first hand how important adequate training for peace officers can be.

04:18 PM -- Matthew Durkin, representing the Attorney General's Office, spoke in favor of the bill. He said that there is no profession in the state that is in more need of ongoing training than peace officers, and that such training will translate into saved lives. He responded to questions on the effectiveness of ongoing training requirements and how funding for the P.O.S.T. Board could affect the level of training of peace officers in the state. Committee discussion ensued.

04:30 PM

Representative Kagan made his closing comments on the bill, and stated that all counties in the state deserve to have a highly trained and professional police force protecting them. The committee discussed the merits of the bill.

BILL: SB14-123

TIME: 04:36:31 PM

MOVED: Kagan

MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 14-123 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-6.

SECONDED: Court

VOTE

Becker
Yes

DelGrosso
No

Foote
Yes

Joshi
No

Kagan
Yes

Melton
Yes

Pabon
Yes

Priola
No

Saine
No

Swalm
No

Wilson
No

Labuda
Yes

Court
Yes

YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:37 PM

The committee was adjourned.


BILL:	SB14-123
TIME:	04:36:31 PM
MOVED:	Kagan
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-123 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-6.
SECONDED:	Court
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	DelGrosso	No
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Kagan	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	No
	Saine	No
	Swalm	No
	Wilson	No
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS