Date: 03/12/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-030

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 15-030 to the Committee of the WPASS



01:48 PM -- SB15-030

Representative Foote, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-030, concerning removing cupability for prostitution for a victim of human trafficking. Committee members received a fact sheet on human trafficking (Attachment A). Representative Foote provided background on the issue of human trafficking. He also explained the effect of the bill and discussed its need. The following persons testified regarding the bill:

15HouseJud0312AttachA.pdf15HouseJud0312AttachA.pdf

01:52 PM -- Ms. Karen Moldovan, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Moldovan discussed the abuse of sexual trafficking and its impact on the victims, and explained how the criminal justice system may exacerbate the victimization. She discussed efforts to address prosecutions for victims of human trafficking in other jurisdictions.

01:55 PM -- Mr. Claude d'Estree, representing the Human Trafficking Center, testified in support of the bill. Mr. d'Estree discussed the work of his center, and cited a report by the City University of New York on criminalizing human trafficking victims. Mr. d'Estree discussed the prosecution of victims of human trafficking for prostitution, and the impact of such prosecution. Mr. d'Estree raised certain issues about the bill, including: (1) the age restriction for records expungement in the bill; (2) reporting requirements under the bill; and (3) the potential for allowing crimes associated with prostitution by human trafficking victims to be vacated. Mr. d'Estree responded to questions regarding the scope of SB 15-030, and the need for resources to assist the victims of human trafficking.

02:04 PM -- Mr. Rex Hamaker, representing the Human Trafficking Center, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hamaker discussed the limited scope of the legislation, and legislative efforts to address child sex trafficking in recent years, while failing to robustly address labor trafficking. Mr. Hamaker then discussed the merits of SB 15-030. Discussion ensued regarding other pending legislation concerning human trafficking.

02:10 PM -- Ms. Monica Petersen, representing the Human Trafficking Center, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Petersen made some suggestions about how to improve and implement the bill.

02:14 PM -- Ms. Billie McIntire, representing the Social Wellness Advocacy Network Colorado, testified in support of SB 15-030. Ms. McIntire discussed her work with victims of human trafficking, and the impact of criminalizing the activities of human trafficking victims. Committee members received a letter of support for the bill from Ms. Patricia McIntire (Attachment B).

15HouseJud0312AttachB.pdf15HouseJud0312AttachB.pdf

02:18 PM

No amendments were offered to SB 15-030. Representative Foote provided closing remarks in support of the bill. Various committee members provided input on the bill.


02:23 PM

The committee recessed.


02:26 PM

The committee returned to order.
BILL:SB15-030
TIME: 02:21:30 PM
MOVED:Foote
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-030 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Lundeen
VOTE
Buckner
Yes
Carver
Yes
Court
Yes
Dore
Yes
Foote
Yes
Lawrence
Yes
Lundeen
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Salazar
Yes
Van Winkle
Yes
Willett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS