Date: 03/16/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1162

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Postpone House Bill 15-1162 indefinitely. The moti
Refer House Bill 15-1162 to the Committee on Appro		PASS
FAIL



04:44 PM -- HB15-1162

The committee took a brief recess.


04:51 PM

The committee returned to order. Representative Nordberg, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1162. This bill makes performing an abortion and other related actions for purposes of sex selection a class 2 felony. The bill identifies "other actions" as coercion of a sex-selection abortion, solicitation or acceptance of funds for a sex-selection abortion, or transportation of a woman into Colorado to obtain a sex-selection abortion. The bill requires the court to sentence an offender to between the minimum and twice the maximum presumptive range for a class 2 felony. Exceptions are made for saving the life or preserving the health of the unborn child, spontaneous abortion, and removing an ectopic pregnancy.

Representative Nordberg responded to questions from the committee.


05:02 PM

Committee questioning of Representative Nordberg continued.

05:04 PM -- Rebecca Messall, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Messall discussed the practice of aborting female children and coercion. She spoke about population-control policies in some countries. She indicated that sex-selection abortions disenfranchise women by reducing their numbers in the population. She responded to questions from the committee.

05:11 PM -- Kimberly Ford, representing the National Asian-Pacific-American Women's Forum, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Ford stated that the bill seeks to exploit gender issues through the reinforcement of false stereotypes about certain ethnic groups. She spoke about the doctor-patient relationship and expectations of privacy. She indicated that the bill will adversely affect low-income ethnic women. She expressed her opinion that the bill is a slippery slope. She responded to questions from the committee about the enforcement of the bill.

05:24 PM -- Randolph and Emma Licht, representing themselves, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Licht spoke about his daughter, who was adopted from an orphanage in China. Ms. Licht expressed her opinion about sex-selection abortions. Mr. Licht responded to questions from the committee.

05:30 PM -- Dr. Rebecca Cohen, representing NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Cohen stated that the bill is an attack on the right to self select when and where to have children. She expressed concerns about the effect of the bill on the doctor-patient relationship and the likelihood that it will sow distrust in the course of that relationship. She responded to questions from the committee.

05:41 PM -- Dr. Thomas Perille, representing the Protect Life Coalition, testified in support of the bill, Dr. Perille distributed a written statement and read from his prepared remarks (Attachment C). He responded to questions from the committee.

15HouseState0316AttachC.pdf15HouseState0316AttachC.pdf

05:55 PM -- Leslie Chomic, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Chomic reiterated the testimony of prior witnesses with regard to reproductive privacy. She objected to the definition of abortion in the bill. She responded to questions from the committee.

06:00 PM -- Natalie Decker, representing Colorado Family Action, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Decker distributed a written statement and supporting documentation (Attachment D). She read from her prepared remarks and explained the other materials in the information packet. She responded to questions from the committee.

15HouseState0316AttachD.pdf15HouseState0316AttachD.pdf

06:14 PM -- Corrine Fowler, representing the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Fowler expressed her opinion that the bill targets women of color and immigrant women. She stated that the bill encourages racial profiling. She commented that the bill is a thinly veiled attempt to restrict access to abortion. She addressed comments by Representative Nordberg regarding countries that ban sex-selection abortions. She responded to questions from the committee.

06:22 PM -- Matthew Niedzielski, representing Pikes Peak Citizens for Life, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Niedzielski spoke about the definition of life and gender-based discrimination.


06:25 PM

Representative Nordberg wrapped up his presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation. Members of the committee commented about their positions on the bill.
BILL:HB15-1162
TIME: 06:35:38 PM
MOVED:Humphrey
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1162 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a vote of 5-6.
SECONDED:Neville P.
VOTE
Foote
No
Humphrey
Yes
Lontine
No
Neville P.
Yes
Primavera
No
Tate
Yes
Thurlow
Yes
Tyler
No
Willett
Yes
Salazar
No
Ryden
No
YES: 5 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB15-1162
TIME: 06:36:22 PM
MOVED:Salazar
MOTION:Postpone House Bill 15-1162 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
No
Lontine
Yes
Neville P.
No
Primavera
Yes
Tate
No
Thurlow
No
Tyler
Yes
Willett
No
Salazar
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



06:36 PM

The committee adjourned.