Date: 02/12/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1122

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E). The motion p
Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment F). The motion p
Refer House Bill 15-1122, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



05:40 PM -- HB15-1122

Representative Fields, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1122, concerning limiting eligibility for parole, and, in connection therewith, amending certain provisions concerning the revocation of parole for certain inmates. Discussion ensued regarding some forthcoming amendments to the bill. Representative Fields explained the effect of the bill, including the amendments, and discussed its need. The following persons testified regarding the bill:

05:44 PM -- Ms. Christie Donner, representing the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, testified regarding the bill. Ms. Donner expressed certain concerns with the bill, some of which are addressed by a forthcoming amendment.

05:53 PM -- Mr. Hassan Latif, representing the Second Chance Center, testified regarding the bill. Mr. Latif explained the frustrations expressed by those who self-revoke their parole. Discussion ensued regarding Mr. Latif's organization.

05:56 PM -- Ms. Christina Everist, representing the State Board of Parole, testified in support of HB 15-112. Committee members received a handout concerning Code of Penal Discipline infractions (Attachment C). Ms. Everist provided background on the duties of the board, and explained how the bill clarifies some ambiguities in statute.

15HouseJud0212AttachC.pdf15HouseJud0212AttachC.pdf

06:05 PM -- Mr. Joe Cannata, representing Voices of Victims and the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Cannata discussed his experiences in attending parole hearings, and explained how the bill will make for a more efficient parole process.

06:08 PM -- Mr. Ray Harlan, Ms. Tammy Anckner, and Ms. Didi Raizen, representing Colorado Victims for Justice, testified in support of the bill. Committee members received a fact sheet about the bill, prepared by Colorado Victims For Justice (Attachment D). Mr. Harlan explained how certain actions undertaken, or violations committed, by offenders eligible for parole may lead to parole revocation. He outlined the information contained in Attachment D. Ms. Anckner discussed a criminal situation in her family, and resulting parole eligibility, that impacted her son. She explained that, had the bill been enacted previously, some of this impact would have not occurred.

15HouseJud0212AttachD.pdf15HouseJud0212AttachD.pdf

06:29 PM

Mr. Harlan discussed a provision in the bill that closes a loophole that allowed an offender to be prematurely eligible for parole. Ms. Raizen discussed the facts of this case, and the history of the offender's parole hearing schedule. Ms. Raizen explained how the bill would close the loophole.

06:36 PM -- Ms. Leanna Stoufer, representing Colorado Victims for Justice, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Stoufer discussed the parole hearing schedule of an offender that victimized her, and explained how this schedule further traumatized her.


06:40 PM

Representative Lee explained the effect of prepared amendment L.004 (Attachment E).

15HouseJud0212AttachE.pdf15HouseJud0212AttachE.pdf
BILL:HB15-1122
TIME: 06:40:20 PM
MOVED:Lee
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Court
VOTE
Buckner
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


06:42 PM

Representative Lee explained the effect of prepared amendment L.005 (Attachment F).

15HouseJud0212AttachF.pdf15HouseJud0212AttachF.pdf
BILL:HB15-1122
TIME: 06:42:49 PM
MOVED:Lee
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Court
VOTE
Buckner
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


06:43 PM

Representative Fields provided closing remarks in support of HB 15-1122.
BILL:HB15-1122
TIME: 06:44:07 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1122, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Lee
VOTE
Buckner
Yes
Carver
Yes
Court
Yes
Dore
Yes
Foote
Excused
Lawrence
Yes
Lundeen
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Salazar
Yes
Van Winkle
Yes
Willett
Excused
Lee
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS