Date: 04/22/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-217

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 15-217 to the Committee on ApproPASS



02:40 PM -- SB15-217

The committee returned from recess.

Representative Williams presented and summarized Senate Bill 15-217 concerning police shooting data collection. The bill creates a process for public reporting of specified data concerning officer-involved shootings that occur within certain law enforcement agencies, including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Colorado State Patrol, county sheriff's offices, municipal police departments, the Division of Parks and Wildlife within the Department of Natural Resources, and town marshal's offices. For incidents that occurred between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2015, each named law enforcement agency is required to submit its data to the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) within the Department of Public Safety by September 1, 2015. The data from this historical review is to be compiled into a report by March 1, 2016. For each successive fiscal year through FY 2019-20, the covered law enforcement agencies are also required to report their information by September 1 of the following fiscal year, and the Department of Public Safety is required to submit its report by March 1 of the following fiscal year. All reports are to be provided to the judiciary committees of the General Assembly and posted on the Division of Criminal Justice's website.

Representative Williams answered questions regarding current statistics on shootings and racial profiling by law enforcement officials.

She also discussed the potential uses of the data collected.

02:50 PM -- Chief John Jackson, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, spoke in favor of the bill. He said that collecting data can provide important information for the law enforcement. Chief Jackson shared his opinion that all peace officers should be held to the same standards and should provide the same information.

Chief Jackson answered questions from the committee regarding the use of data collected to allow agencies to make informed decisions. He also discussed using information to strengthening community relations and law enforcement training.

03:02 PM -- Peg Ackerman, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, spoke in favor of the bill. She said that the data collected will provide important information for addressing issues in all areas of Colorado.

03:06 PM -- Pastor Terrence Hughes, Denver Metro Alliance, spoke in favor of the bill. He said that factual information is needed to enact proper change in law enforcement and communities. Pastor Hughes discussed previous shootings and the importance of addressing the issues.

Pastor Hughes answered questions from the committee regarding the goals of data collection and the potential use of the information.

03:10 PM -- Peggy Harper, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill. She expressed her opinion that a lack of accountability is creating tension between the community and local police departments.

Ms. Harper answered questions regarding recent events and impacts on the Denver community.

03:16 PM -- Robert Lopez, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill. He spoke on the need to collect data to better understand the issues.

03:19 PM -- Alex Landau, representing the Colorado Progressive Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill. He spoke on the need to collect data in order to address a variety of community needs. Mr. Landau spoke on recent shootings and the importance of having information in to address issues and concerns.

03:24 PM -- Jeanette Baust, representing Together Colorado, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the need to collect data to take proper action to address the issues. Ms. Baust answered previous questions from the community regarding the impact of current events and the use of data in order to enact changes.

Ms. Baust answered questions from the committee regarding the impact of antidotal evidence.


03:33 PM

Ms. Baust continued to answer questions regarding the use of data.

Representative Williams read a letter of support from the Delta County Sheriff.


03:38 PM

Representative Williams provided closing comments on the bill.

The committee members discussed the bill.

BILL:SB15-217
TIME: 03:43:37 PM
MOVED:Danielson
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-217 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Saine
VOTE
Arndt
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Keyser
Yes
Klingenschmitt
Yes
Navarro
Yes
Ransom
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Saine
Yes
Singer
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Fields
Yes
YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:45 PM

The committee adjourned.