Date: 03/05/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-072

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-072 to the CommitteePASS


01:35 PM

Representative Bradford, committee chair, called the meeting to order.


01:35 PM -- Senate Bill 12-072

Representative Stephens, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-072, concerning the Colorado Mounted Rangers. Representative Stephens explained that the Colorado Mounted Rangers are unpaid volunteers that are available to statewide and local law enforcement in the event of a disaster. She explained that the bill allows the Colorado Mounted Rangers to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a state agency, county sheriff, local government, or an emergency planning committee to provide assistance as required. The bill also adds a variety of events that may include assistance from the Colorado Mounted Rangers and extends governmental immunity to the rangers and to any other volunteer organizations lending assistance under an MOU.


01:38 PM

Ronald Abramson, representing the Colorado Mounted Rangers, testified in support of the bill and talked about the history of the Colorado Mounted Rangers. Mr. Abramson talked about the need to assist local law enforcement agencies with emergency disasters, parades, prisoner escapes, and search and rescue efforts. Mr. Abramson discussed the need for the Colorado Mounted Rangers to enter into MOUs with local law enforcement agencies and addressed questions from the committee concerning the need for the Mounted Rangers to be certified by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board.


01:45 PM

Colonel Robert DeVega, Statewide Commander, Colorado Mounted Rangers, testified in support of the bill and discussed the types of support that the rangers provide to local law enforcement agencies. Colonel DeVega addressed questions from the committee concerning the history of the rangers and the need to extend governmental immunity to the rangers and other volunteers currently covered by an MOU.


01:54 PM

Chief Jacob Shirk, Monument Police Department, testified in support in the bill and talked about the need for police chiefs to have assistance from the rangers and other volunteer organization during large community events. He responded to questions from the committee and discussed language in the bill concerning liability insurance for volunteer organizations lending assistance under an MOU.


01:58 PM

Chief Kieth Moreland, Palmer Lake Police Department, testified in support of the bill and discussed the need for assistance from volunteer organizations, like the rangers, for large community events like the Fourth of July.


02:01 PM

Mr. Abramson responded to questions from the committee concerning MOUs and liability insurance for the rangers.


02:03 PM

Representative Stephens made closing comments on the bill.
BILL:SB12-072
TIME: 02:03:24 PM
MOVED:Szabo
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-072 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Conti
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Conti
Yes
Fields
Yes
Gardner B.
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Lee
Yes
Pace
Yes
Soper
Yes
Swerdfeger
Yes
Szabo
Yes
Bradford
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS