Bill Summary for Bill Number HB05-1157

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB05-1157

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes:

Action Taken:

Refer the bill to the Committee of the Whole. The

PASS

02:31 PM -- House Bill 05-1157

Representative Riesberg, sponsor, presented the bill regarding supplemental evaluations related to the allocation of parental responsibilities in domestic relations proceedings. He answered questions about the bests interests of the child and current law.

The following persons testified.

02:35 PM -- Dr. Dana Cogan, citizen, discussed his work in human services, custody evaluations, special advocacy, and crafting prior legislation. He discussed the responsibilities of special advocates and the financial and psychological costs of parental responsibility evaluations.

02:43 PM -- Judge Jane Tidball, district court judge, stated the bill would apply to very few cases but would also provide an important option for judges deciding custody issues.

02:46 PM -- Mary Avery Moses, Colorado Bar Association, spoke in support of the bill.

02:48 PM -- Mike Baran, citizen, distributed a document to members (Attachment G). He discussed concerns with "court helpers" and his experience with special advocates. He answered questions about the appointment and qualifications of court evaluators and special advocates.

03:02 PM -- Judy Schure, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill and distributed a document to members (Attachment H). She discussed concerns with the effectiveness of court evaluations.

03:06 PM -- Dr. Cogan discussed the costs of court evaluations.

03:08 PM -- Judge Tidball discussed court appointments of evaluators and special advocates.

03:09 PM

Representative Riesberg answered questions about the qualifications of court evaluators and special advocates.


BILL:	HB05-1157
TIME:	03:11:49 PM
MOVED:	Riesberg
MOTION:	Refer the bill to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 13-0.
SECONDED:	McGihon
		VOTE
	Berens	Yes
	Clapp	Yes
	Cloer	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	McGihon	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Stafford	Yes
	Sullivan	Yes
	Weissmann	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Boyd	Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:12 PM

The committee recessed.