Date: 04/27/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1285

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1285 to the Committee on ApproPASS



02:30 PM -- HB15-1285

Senator Roberts, chair, called the committee to order. Senator Ulibarri, co-prime sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1285, concerning the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement officers, and establishing a grant program and a study group to recommend policies on the use of body-worn cameras. Senator Ulibarri stated that body-worn cameras help create a record of events and resolve disputes between law enforcement and the public. Senator Cooke, co-prime sponsor, stated he would hold his comments for his closing remarks.

02:32 PM -- Ms. Mari Neuman, representing the Colorado Bar Association and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Neuman discussed the bi-partisan nature of the bill and the benefits of recording police actions. She stated that it would help courts to have video evidence of such interactions, and discussed specific cases that involved recordings. In response to committee questions, Ms. Neuman continued to discuss the benefits of recording, stated that citizens are accustomed to being recorded in public, and discussed privacy concerns related to recording in private homes.


02:38 PM

Senator Roberts announced the procedures that would be used for public testimony. Senator Lundberg and Ms. Neuman continued to discuss privacy concerns, including open records requests relating to body-worn cameras. Senator Cooke and the committee discussed recording in private homes.

02:43 PM -- Ms. Jeanne Smith, representing the Colorado Department of Public Safety, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Smith discussed the study group created by the bill, including funding for the group. Ms. Smith stated that the Colorado District Attorneys' Council supports the bill.

02:45 PM -- Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk Taylor, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He stated his support for the bill.

02:45 PM -- Ms. Annemarie Jensen, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jensen discussed the benefits and reasons for the task force created by the bill, and amendments she would like made to the bill concerning law enforcement policies. Senator Cooke and Ms. Jensen discussed the task force.

02:50 PM -- Mr. T.H. Mack, Sr., representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Mack stated that the bill is good for the public, and that it protects officers and members of the public. He stated that body cameras should be on at all times, and not only during selective interactions.

02:52 PM -- Brother Jeff Fard, representing Brother Jeff's Cultural Center, testified in support of the bill. Brother Jeff stated that interested parties have worked to find common ground on the bill. He stated he supports the bill because it protects both citizens and officers in cases of false accusations.

02:54 PM -- Ms. Denise Maes, representing the American Civil Liberties Union, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Maes stated that police body cameras allow the public to record the government. She stated that such recordings will promote police accountability, deter misconduct, and provide evidence to resolve complaints against the police. She further stated that the bill was structured in a way that would allow for receipt of federal grant money. Ms. Maes discussed privacy concerns and law enforcement policies. The committee and Ms. Maes discussed citizen recording of law enforcement incidents.

02:59 PM -- Mr. Greg Romberg, representing the Colorado Broadcasters Association and the Colorado Press Association, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Romberg discussed access to recordings by body-worn cameras.


03:01 PM

Senator Cooke and Senator Ulibarri each provided closing remarks on the bill.


03:03 PM

The committee recessed.


03:06 PM

Senator Roberts called the committee back to order.
BILL:HB15-1285
TIME: 03:06:44 PM
MOVED:Cooke
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1285 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 4-0, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Guzman
Excused
Merrifield
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS