Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-068

Date: 03/25/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-068

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 09-068 to the Committee on Appro	PASS

10:45 AM -- Senate Bill 09-068 - Concerning Funding to Support Domestic Abuse Services

Representative McCann, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of the bill and distributed a handout on the Colorado Domestic Violence Program (Attachment A). She continued by saying that Senate Bill 09-068 increases the fees for petitions and responses in divorce proceedings by $10 each (from $220 and $106 respectively) and specifies that $5 each shall be deposited in the Colorado Domestic Abuse Program Fund and the Family Violence Justice Fund. In addition, the bill increases the marriage license fee by $20 and specifies that the money shall be deposited into the Colorado Domestic Abuse Program Fund. Fifty percent of the moneys collected are to be used for grants to organizations that provide services to current and former members of the military and their families. Representative McCann closed by saying that even with the fee increases in the bill, Colorado has some of the lowest fees for petitions and responses in divorce proceedings in the nation.

The committee discussed the moneys that fund the Domestic Violence Program and the question of whether the military funds a portion of the program. After a brief committee discussion on fees, the committee heard testimony.

The following persons testified:

10:57 AM -- Ms. Amy Miller, Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, testified in favor of the bill. Ms. Miller provided input on the rate of domestic violence among military service members and their families. Ms. Miller discussed the funding landscape for domestic violence services in Colorado, and the benefits of increasing funding levels for such services. Ms. Miller also discussed the need among military families for domestic abuse services, and the effect of the bill on other populations. Ms. Miller then discussed how increased surcharges on marriage and divorce filings were selected for revenue sources to fund increased domestic abuse services, and explained how such funding is used in Colorado. Ms. Miller responded to questions regarding the comparative rates of domestic violence between married and non-married couples in Colorado. She continued by saying that 49 persons died in 2009 from domestic violence. Since the downturn of the economy, programs to help domestic abuse victims have been stressed and have turned away clients. She closed by saying that confidentiality is the linchpin of assistance for victims.

The committee discussed the basis for directing a portion of the moneys raised under Senate Bill 09-068 to services for military service members and their families. The discussion included the rate of domestic violence among families with military service members, and the stereotyping of violence among such populations. Ms. Miller responded by saying that the coalition does not receive any support from the military. The committee continued the discussion on the confidentiality issue within domestic violence programs in Colorado.

The committee discussed the costs of domestic violence. Ms. Miller discussed the impact of domestic violence on health care costs, lost productivity at the workplace, and overall costs to society. Ms. Miller continued by saying that communities spend about $2 million to process a homicide case resulting from domestic violence.

11:35 AM -- Ms. Marie Avery Moses, Colorado Bar Association, testified in opposition toward the bill saying that the fee increase may impede the divorce process. Ms. Moses noted that the fee for filing a divorce has a disparate impact on lower income individuals.

11:42 AM -- Ms. Siobhan Halderson, Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, testified in support of the bill and discussed her personal experience with domestic violence. She urged the committee to support the bill.

11:56 AM -- Ms. Michelle Fuller, Safehouse Denver, testified in favor of the bill. Ms. Fuller addressed the issue of the nexus between increased fees for marriage and divorce processing and the funding of increased domestic abuse services. Ms. Fuller then read from a series of letters addressed to the committee from residents of Safehouse Denver. Ms. Fuller closed by distributing a packet of letters and documents from victims of domestic violence (Attachment B).

11:58 AM -- Mr. Scott Shields, Family Tree, testified in favor of Senate Bill 09-068. Mr. Shields discussed the services provided by Family Tree, and the need for additional funding to maintain services. Mr. Shields then discussed the sources of funding available to domestic abuse service providers, and the populations that rely on the services provided by Family Tree. Mr. Shields responded to questions regarding the types of services that would be provided with the increased funding mandated by the bill. Discussion ensued regarding the proper source of funding for increasing the level of domestic violence services. Mr. Shields responded to further questions regarding the veterans and military families that are served by Family Tree. In closing, Mr. Shields distributed a brochure outlining Family Tree's military family assistance program (Attachment C).

12:05 PM

Recess.

The committee continued to hear testimony.

01:31 PM -- Ms. Beth Anderson, representing herself, and as a former attorney who provided legal services to indigent spouses who were victims of domestic violence, testified in support of the bill and spoke to her personal circumstances regarding domestic abuse. She spoke to the fee increase in the bill saying that the fee increase is minimal and asked the committee to support the legislation.

01:44 PM -- Ms. Dawn Okeefe, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and spoke to her personal experiences related to domestic violence. Ms. Okeefe spoke to the societal costs of domestic violence and closed by urging the committee to support the bill.

01:52 PM -- Ms. Jane Shoemaker, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and spoke to her personal experiences related to domestic violence.

01:55 PM -- Ms. Sheryle Hutter, Equal Justice Foundation, representing herself, testified in opposition toward the bill and spoke to the fee increase and need to come up with real solutions to the problem of domestic violence.

02:09 PM -- Mr. Nate Gorman, United Veterans Committee, testified regarding the bill from a neutral position. Mr. Gorman discussed certain language in the bill that directs a portion of the funding raised by the bill to military veterans and service members.

02:28 PM -- Ms. Ruth Glenn, Colorado Department of Human Services, responded to committee questions regarding Attachment A.

The committee continued the discussion on the loss of funding for domestic violence programs during the last recession. Ms. Glenn spoke to the funding sources that made money available for domestic violence programs.

02:43 PM


BILL:	SB09-068
TIME:	02:44:01 PM
MOVED:	Frangas
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-068 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 6-5 vote.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Apuan	Yes
	Benefield	Yes
	Gerou	No
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Lambert	No
	Roberts	No
	Summers	No
	Swalm	No
	Frangas	Yes
	Judd	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:58 PM

Adjourn.