Date: 04/30/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-124

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment J.008 (Attachment F). The motion p
Adopt amendment L.008 (Attachment E). The motion p
Refer Senate Bill 15-124, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



03:16 PM

The committee recessed.


03:23 PM -- SB15-124

The committee returned to order. Representative Lee, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-124, concerning the use of evidence-based practices in response to technical violations of parole. Representative Lee explained the effect of the bill and discussed its benefits. Representative Lee responded to questions regarding potential opposition to the bill.


03:31 PM

The following persons testified regarding SB 15-124:

03:31 PM -- Ms. Christina Everist, representing the Department of Corrections (DOC), testified in support of the bill. Ms. Everist discussed efforts undertaken by the DOC to reduce technical parole violations, and provided an overview of the department's "Sure and Swift" program. Ms. Everist explained that SB 15-124 codifies that program.

03:34 PM -- Ms. Peg Ackerman, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Ackerman discussed evidence supporting the success of the Sure and Swift program, and noted a provision in the bill that allows counties flexibility in conducting the program based on jail space availability.

03:37 PM -- Mr. Richard Morales, representing the Latino Coalition for Community, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Morales discussed collaborative efforts to conduct offender reentry programs, and spoke to the merits of the bill.

03:39 PM -- Mr. Hassan Latif, representing the Second Chance Center, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Latif discussed the programs conducted by his organization, and explained how the bill will assist with offender reentry programs.

03:42 PM -- Ms. Christie Donner, representing the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, testified in support SB 15-124. Ms. Donner discussed the recidivism rate in Colorado, and explained that programs such as those supported by the bill have shown to be effective in assisting with reentry. Ms. Donner discussed savings that may be realized under the bill.

03:46 PM -- Mr. Jim Brandon, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brandon supported expanding the scope of the bill's programming to probation violations, and recounted an instance of a probation violation. Mr. Brandon discussed the impact of this violation, and the impact of such probation violations in general. He discussed the costs associated with heavily policing probation violations, and urged the adoption of a bill to address the issue.


03:53 PM

Representative Lee explained the effect of prepared amendment L.008 (Attachment E).

15HouseJud0430AttachE.pdf15HouseJud0430AttachE.pdf
BILL:SB15-124
TIME: 03:54:19 PM
MOVED:Lee
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.008 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Salazar
VOTE
Becker K.
Carver
Court
Dore
Foote
Lawrence
Lundeen
Pettersen
Salazar
Van Winkle
Willett
Lee
Kagan
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


04:00 PM

Representative Lee explained the effect of prepared amendment J.008 (Attachment F). Ms. Donner returned to provide clarification on the amendment.

15HouseJud0430AttachF.pdf15HouseJud0430AttachF.pdf
BILL:SB15-124
TIME: 04:00:55 PM
MOVED:Lee
MOTION:Adopt amendment J.008 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Salazar
VOTE
Becker K.
Carver
Court
Dore
Foote
Lawrence
Lundeen
Pettersen
Salazar
Van Winkle
Willett
Lee
Kagan
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


04:01 PM
BILL:SB15-124
TIME: 04:01:44 PM
MOVED:Lee
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-124, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0.
SECONDED:Salazar
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Carver
Yes
Court
Excused
Dore
Yes
Foote
Yes
Lawrence
Yes
Lundeen
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Salazar
Yes
Van Winkle
Yes
Willett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS