Date: 03/24/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1203

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion p
Refer House Bill 15-1203, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



02:54 PM -- HB15-1203

The committee recessed.


03:04 PM

The committee returned to order. Representative Rosenthal, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1203, concerning earned time for certain offenders serving life sentences as habitual offenders. Representative Rosenthal explained the effect of the bill, and discussed the merits of the legislation. Representative Rosenthal discussed the offender population covered by the bill, and the effect of the bill on offender release. Representative Rosenthal explained the effect of a forthcoming amendment. The following persons testified regarding HB 15-1203:

03:10 PM -- Mr. Doug Wilson, representing the Colorado Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Wilson provided background on the issue addressed by the bill, and discussed the fiscal impact of the bill. Mr. Wilson responded to questions regarding the benefits of granting earned time to the population covered by the bill, and the types of sentences being served by this population. Discussion ensued regarding potential opposition to retroactively changing the terms of sentences for certain individuals.


03:22 PM

Mr. Wilson explained why the group of offenders affected by HB 15-1203 are not eligible for earned time. Representative Rosenthal discussed the schedule of possible paroles that would be triggered by the bill. Mr. Wilson addressed the issue of the legislature's inability to legislatively alter a criminal sentence. Mr. Wilson responded to questions regarding how earned time will be accounted for the affected population under HB 15-1203. Discussion returned to the parole schedule for certain offenders that may result under the bill, and the types of programs that trigger earned time accrual.


03:33 PM

Mr. Wilson responded to questions regarding the earned time that the offenders affected by the bill may earn retroactively. Discussion ensued regarding the parole process

03:43 PM -- Ms. Diana Tramutola-Lawson, representing Colorado CURE, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Tramutola-Lawson discussed the genesis of HB 15-1203, and a former student of hers that would be affected by the bill.


03:46 PM

Representative Rosenthal explained the effect of amendment L.002 (Attachment B).

15HouseJud0324AttachB.pdf15HouseJud0324AttachB.pdf
BILL:HB15-1203
TIME: 03:47:36 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Salazar
VOTE
Buckner
Carver
Court
DelGrosso
Dore
Foote
Lundeen
Pettersen
Salazar
Van Winkle
Willett
Lee
Kagan
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


03:49 PM
BILL:HB15-1203
TIME: 03:49:14 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1203, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Salazar
VOTE
Buckner
Excused
Carver
Yes
Court
Yes
DelGrosso
Yes
Dore
Yes
Foote
Yes
Lundeen
Yes
Pettersen
Excused
Salazar
Yes
Van Winkle
Yes
Willett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:50 PM

The committee adjourned.