Date: 03/02/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1347

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment I). Th
Refer House Bill 06-1347, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS


03:25 PM -- House Bill 06-1347

Representative McGihon, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-1347 concerning the creation of the Identity Theft and Financial Fraud Deterrence Act. The bill creates the Identity Theft and Financial Fraud Deterrence Board and a task force to provide statewide support to law enforcement agencies in addressing identity theft and financial fraud crimes. It also directs the board to make policy decisions for the task force and states that the board consists of 7 members, 4 of whom are appointed by the governor. The bill requires the task force to provide the board with a comprehensive plan for addressing issues concerning identity theft and fraudulent fraud crime. The legislation would sunset in five years.

03:32 PM -- Don Childers, Colorado Bankers Association, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Childers views identity theft as a pervasive problem for consumers and retailers. It is something that affects large numbers of individuals and is damaging to the banking industry. Fraud is the number one priority for the Colorado Bankers Association. Mr. Childers envisions this task force as a working unit that produces results about identity theft and how best to investigate and prosecute it. He responded to questions from the committee regarding fees that will fund the task force. Mr. Childers listed several groups that support the creation of a task force. He wrapped up by pointing out that this is a self-funding program.

03:42 PM -- Don Quick, District Attorney for 17th Judicial District, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Quick discussed three main points. First, the identity theft rings that are working Colorado are very large. Second, methamphetamine and identity theft are intimately entwined and a collaborative effort is a positive idea. Finally, identity theft is something that eventually affects everyone in Colorado.

03:45 PM -- Scott Storey, District Attorney for the 1st Judicial District, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Storey discussed the interaction of this bill with House Bill 06-1326. The combination would create a statute that will target identity thieves and provide law enforcement with tools and resources to address the problem. Mr. Storey discussed the collaboration between police departments and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

03:49 PM -- Bob Brown, Complex Crimes Unit of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Brown spoke about the pervasiveness of identity theft crimes in regards to gaming in Colorado. He provided details of several identity theft rings that worked in western Colorado and the losses incurred because of those rings.

03:53 PM -- Cameron Graham, AARP, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Graham discussed the vulnerable elderly population that is affected by the crime of identity theft. He provided details of his personal experience with identity theft and financial fraud.

03:59 PM -- John Stoffel, Alliance for Retired Americans, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Stoffel reiterated the testimony of prior witnesses with regards to protection of vulnerable populations.

04:02 PM -- Rex Wilmouth, COPIRG, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Wilmouth raised the issue addressing identity theft before a crime actually occurs.
BILL:HB06-1347
TIME: 04:04:44 PM
MOVED:McGihon
MOTION:Moved prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment I). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Judd
VOTE
Boyd
Clapp
Decker
Gardner
Hefley
Jahn
Judd
McGihon
Witwer
Carroll M.
Carroll T.
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:HB06-1347
TIME: 04:07:16 PM
MOVED:McGihon
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1347, as amended, to the Committee on Finance with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Witwer
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Clapp
Yes
Decker
Yes
Gardner
Yes
Hefley
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Judd
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Witwer
Yes
Carroll M.
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



04:05 PM

The committee adjourned.