Date: 02/04/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1081

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Postpone House Bill 15-1081 indefinitely. The moti
Refer House Bill 15-1081 to the Committee of the W		PASS
FAIL



12:48 PM -- HB15-1081

The committee returned to order.

Representative Ransom, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1081. Under current law, it is unlawful to deny the full and equal use of a place of public accommodation on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or ancestry. An exception is provided in current statute, as a person may restrict admission to individuals of one sex in a place of public accommodation if the restriction has a bona fide relationship to the services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of the place. Places of public accommodation include educational institutions, public transportation, recreational facilities, hospitals, any public building, and any restaurant or business offering goods or services to the public.

This bill provides an additional exception to the public accommodation statute, permitting the restricted admission for sex-segregated locker rooms.

12:51 PM -- Michael Norton, representing the Alliance Defending Freedom, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Norton submitted written testimony and read from his prepared remarks (Attachment C).

15HouseState0204AttachC.pdf15HouseState0204AttachC.pdf

12:56 PM -- Al Stafford, representing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Stafford expressed his opinion that the bill discriminates against transgendered individuals and would also prohibit young children from entering a locker room with their opposite gender parent. He spoke about his personal experience as a transgendered individual.

01:00 PM -- Kendal Unruh, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Unruh spoke about people who "game the system" to prey on other people in locker rooms. She discussed the importance of boundaries that will stop sexual predators.

01:05 PM -- Patti O'Rourke, representing One Colorado, testified in opposition of the bill. Ms. O'Rourke spoke about her son's experience as a transgendered individual. She expressed her opinion that the bill is discriminatory.

01:09 PM -- Don Stensrud, representing Fairview High School, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Stensrud spoke about his experience as a middle school and high school principal. He reiterated testimony of prior witnesses about the potential for discrimination under the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

01:15 PM -- Jennifer McPherson, representing the Colorado Civil Rights Division of the Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. McPherson spoke about ambiguities in the bill that would make enforcement difficult.

01:19 PM -- Denise Maes, representing the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Maes commented that there are criminal penalties for sexual assault. She discussed the harassment of transgendered individuals.

01:22 PM -- Dave Montez, representing One Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Montez read a statement from the owner of a fitness club. A copy of the statement was not available for the record.


01:25 PM

Representative Ransom wrapped up her presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.
BILL:HB15-1081
TIME: 01:27:22 PM
MOVED:Humphrey
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1081 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 4-7.
SECONDED:Neville P.
VOTE
Foote
No
Humphrey
Yes
Lontine
No
Neville P.
Yes
Primavera
No
Tate
No
Thurlow
Yes
Tyler
No
Willett
Yes
Salazar
No
Ryden
No
YES: 4 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB15-1081
TIME: 01:30:55 PM
MOVED:Salazar
MOTION:Postpone House Bill 15-1081 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



01:31 PM

The committee adjourned.