Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Date:05/02/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:12:01 PM to 12:48 PM
Clapp
X
Decker
X
Place:HCR 0112
Gardner
X
Hefley
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Jahn
*
Representative Carroll T.
Judd
X
Kerr A.
X
This Report was prepared by
McGihon
*
Jennifer Moe
Witwer
X
Carroll M.
X
Carroll T.
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB06-222
HCR06-1014		Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


12:01 PM -- Senate Bill 06-222

The chairman called the committee to order. A quorum was present. Representative Hefley, prime sponsor, explained SB 06-222, which increases the loss threshold for determining the classification level of various crimes. The bill increases the misdemeanor threshold from $500 to $750 and the felony threshold will increase from $15,000 to $20,000. She indicated that the bill is a companion to SB 06-150.

The following people testified on the bill:

12:04 PM -- Mr. Dave Thomas, representing the Colorado District Attorney's Council, spoke in support of the bill. He explained that the thresholds have been changed six times since 1975, mostly to adjust for inflation. He indicated that the bill's proposed changes account for inflation since the last time the thresholds were increased in 1997.


12:08 PM

The chairman closed public testimony. No amendments were offered by the committee or the bill sponsor.









BILL:SB06-222
TIME: 12:09:31 PM
MOVED:Hefley
MOTION:Refer SB 06-222 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion carried on a vote of 10-0-1.
SECONDED:Judd
VOTE
Clapp
Yes
Decker
Yes
Gardner
Yes
Hefley
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Judd
Yes
Kerr A.
Yes
McGihon
Excused
Witwer
Yes
Carroll M.
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

After the motion was made, the committee discussed whether or not to move the bill to the Committee on Appropriations instead.


12:13 PM -- House Concurrent Resolution 06-1014

Representative Terrance Carroll, prime sponsor, explained HCR 06-1014, which addresses adult patients who are unable to provide informed consent to or refusal for medical treatment. The resolution disallows the state to restrict an adult patient's family, or legally authorized representative, from determining medical treatment for that patient. He responded to questions from the committee regarding reasons why he was bringing the resolution forward, and deferred to his witnesses regarding how the resolution intersects with current Colorado law. Discussion ensued regarding end-of-life issues and concerns, and the roles of the state, the adult patient, and/or the patient's family.

The following people testified on the resolution:

12:28 PM -- Ms. Susan Fox, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill. She described her experience as an attorney practicing nearly exclusively with end-of-life cases. She addressed questions raised earlier by the committee, and responded to questions from the committee regarding how many end-of-life decisions are made collectively and with consensus among the parties involved.

12:36 PM -- Ms. Nicola Frost, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill. She described her experience watching two family members die from terminal diseases, one in the hospital and the other at home. She responded to questions from the committee. Representative Terrance Carroll commented on the need for and scope of the bill.










12:45 PM

Representative Morgan Carroll, acting as chairman while Representative Terrance Carroll was presenting his bill, closed public testimony. No amendments were offered by the committee. Representative Terrance Carroll made closing comments on the bill.
BILL:HCR06-1014
TIME: 12:47:45 PM
MOVED:Carroll T.
MOTION:Refer HCR 06-1014 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion carried on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:McGihon
VOTE
Clapp
No
Decker
No
Gardner
No
Hefley
No
Jahn
Yes
Judd
Yes
Kerr A.
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Witwer
No
Carroll M.
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


12:48 PM

The committee adjourned.