Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON
JUDICIARY
Date:
02/15/2005
ATTENDANCE
Time:
11:27 AM
to
11:58 AM
Boyd
*
Brophy
X
Place:
HCR 0112
Decker
X
Harvey
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Hefley
X
Representative
Carroll T.
Jahn
*
Judd
X
This Report was prepared by
Kerr
X
Jennifer Moe
McGihon
X
Carroll M.
X
Carroll T.
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed:
Action Taken:
HB05-1202
HB05-1188
Amended and Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
11:27 AM -- House Bill 05-1202
The committee came to order. A quorum was present. The chairman announced that HB 05-1109 would not be heard today. Representative Borodkin, the prime sponsor of HB 05-1202, Concerning Liability for Reporting Animal Cruelty, spoke about Amendment L.001 (Attachment A), with the chair's permission. She briefly described the connection between abuse of animals and violence toward other humans, and summarized the bill's provisions. She responded to questions and comments from the committee.
The following people testified on the bill:
11:32 AM --
Dr. John Young, representing the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, spoke in support of the bill.
11:33 AM --
Mr. Scot Dutcher, representing the Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions about the link between abusive behavior toward animals and humans, and the definition of cruelty. The chairman noted that the definition is included in Section 18-9-202, C.R.S. There was some discussion about the application of this definition to specific scenarios. Mr. Dutcher stated that the bill will expedite reports of animal cruelty because many people are afraid to report these types of cases. He stated that recently 514 cases were reported and investigated by his division alone in just one month. He explained that some problems are addressed through education and others are prosecuted.
11:43 AM --
Dr. Meredith Silverstein, representing the American Humane Association, the Denver Dumb Friends League, and the Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed studies that show a direct link between the behaviors of animal cruelty and domestic violence, and between childhood acts of animal cruelty and violent adult offenses. She answered questions from the committee about the bill's potential to increase reports of animal cruelty and prevent child abuse or domestic violence.
11:49 AM --
Ms. Kim Robbins, representing the Colorado District Attorney's Council, spoke about the bill.
11:50 AM
The chairman closed the public testimony portion of the hearing, and the committee began considering amendments.
BILL:
HB05-1202
TIME:
11:51:16 AM
MOVED:
Judd
MOTION:
Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
Carroll M.
VOTE
Boyd
Brophy
Decker
Harvey
Hefley
Jahn
Judd
Kerr
McGihon
Carroll M.
Carroll T.
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
2
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
BILL:
HB05-1202
TIME:
11:52:33 AM
MOVED:
McGihon
MOTION:
Refer HB 05-1202, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion carried unanimously on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:
Carroll M.
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Brophy
Yes
Decker
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Hefley
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Judd
Yes
Kerr
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Carroll M.
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Final YES:
11
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
11:53 AM -- House Bill 05-1188
Representing McKinley, the prime sponsor of HB 05-1188, Concerning the Crime of Abuse of a Corpse, described how the bill came forward and summarized the bill's provisions. He responded to questions from the committee. No witnesses signed up to testify on the bill, and no amendments were offered by the committee members or the bill sponsor.
BILL:
HB05-1188
TIME:
11:56:47 AM
MOVED:
Carroll M.
MOTION:
Refer HB 05-1188 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion carried on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:
Judd
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Brophy
Yes
Decker
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Hefley
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Judd
Yes
Kerr
Yes
McGihon
Yes
Carroll M.
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Final YES:
11
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
11:57 AM
The committee adjourned.