Date: 04/08/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1149

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1149 to the Committee on ApproPASS



01:30 PM

Senator Roberts, chair, called the committee to order.


01:31 PM -- HB15-1149

Senator Lambert, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1149, concerning the Office of the Respondent Parents' Counsel. Senator Lambert distributed a Joint Budget Committee information sheet on the bill (Attachment A). Senator Lambert discussed the provisions of the bill and the fiscal impact of the bill.

15SenateJud0408AttachA.pdf15SenateJud0408AttachA.pdf

01:34 PM -- Ms. Amy Hendrickson, representing the Office of the State Court Administrator, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hendrickson discussed the role of the Office of the Respondent Parents' Counsel (ORPC), and a recent working group that made recommendations regarding the ORPC. Ms. Hendrickson discussed the recommendations of the working group, which are included in HB 15-1149.

Senator Lambert noted the independence of the ORPC, and discussed prior legislation concerning payment for various functions in the judicial department.

01:39 PM -- Ms. Dorothy Macias, representing the Office of the Child's Representative (OCR), testified in support of the bill. Ms. Macias discussed the OCR and child welfare, generally. Ms. Macias discussed representation for parents in the child welfare process, and how the bill aids parents. In response to a question, Ms. Macias discussed how parents' individual interests are represented in court proceedings, including whether parents were represented jointly or individually.


01:48 PM

Senator Lambert provided closing remarks on the bill and asked for the committee's support. Senator Roberts commented on the bill.
BILL:HB15-1149
TIME: 01:50:17 PM
MOVED:Guzman
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1149 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Guzman
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS