H_BUS_2016A 02/11/2016 Committee Summary

01:31 PM -- HB 16-1151



Representative Pabon, sponsor, introduced House Bill 16-1151. Under current law, when a licensee or a licensee's employee sells alcohol to a minor during a law enforcement compliance check, state and local licensing authorities must consider a licensee's responsible alcohol beverage vendor training as a mitigating factor. Under the bill, responsible vendor training must be considered as a mitigating factor for other violations of the state's liquor laws, including sales to minors, sales to visibly intoxicated patrons, and other violations approved by future rulemaking in the Department of Revenue.



01:35 PM -- David Reitz, Tavern League of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



01:38 PM -- Mark Berzins, owner of the Little Pub Company, testified in support of the bill.



01:40 PM -- Nick Hoover, Colorado Restaurant Association (CRA), testified in support of the bill.



01:41 PM -- Patrick Maroney, Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division in the Department of Revenue, responded to questions from the committee.



01:45 PM -- Sophia SanMiguel, representing herself, testified on the bill.





01:47 PM



Representative Pabon made closing remarks on the bill.

01:52 PM



The committee took a brief recess.



01:57 PM



The committee reconvened.



01:57 PM -- HB 16-1007



Representative Joshi, sponsor, introduced House Bill 16-1007. The bill allows for additional charges to be filed if any crime committed is the proximate cause of injury or death to an unborn child.



Representative Joshi responded to questions from the committee.





02:08 PM



Committee members discussed the motion made by Representative Sias to move the bill to Judiciary.

02:12 PM



Rep. Joshi continued to respond to questions from the committee.



02:15 PM



Rep. Williams explained the process that will be used for witness testimony.



02:16 PM -- Yvonne Williams, Care Net, testified in support of the bill.



02:18 PM -- Ed Hanks, Colorado Right to Life, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hanks responded to questions from the committee.



02:28 PM -- Dan May, District Attorney for the 4th Judicial District, testified in support of the bill.



02:31 PM -- Leslie Chomic, League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.



02:33 PM -- Melinda Quiat, Anti-Defamation League, testified in opposition to the bill.



02:35 PM -- Kevin Paul, Planned Parenthood, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Paul responded to questions from the committee.









02:43 PM -- Dr. Aaron Lazorwitz, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Lazorwitz provided the committee with a copy of his testimony (Attachment A). Mr. Lazorwitz responded to questions from the committee.



160211 AttachA.pdf



02:48 PM -- Christina Aguilar, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), testified in opposition to the bill.



02:51 PM -- Reverand Greg Garland, Colorado Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, testified in opposition to the bill.



02:53 PM -- Rabbi Birdie Becker, Colorado Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, testified in opposition to the bill. Rabbi Becker provided the committee with a copy of her testimony (Attachment B). Rabbi Becker responded to questions from the committee.



160211 AttachB.pdf



02:57 PM -- Stephen Meswarb, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Meswarb responded to questions from the committee.



03:01 PM -- Sophia SanMiguel, representing herself, testified on the bill.



03:04 PM -- Nathan Fletcher, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:06 PM -- Karen Middleton, NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.



03:09 PM



The committee took a brief recess.



03:37 PM



The committee reconvened.





03:38 PM



Representative Joshi and committee members made closing remarks on the bill.

03:40 PM



The committee adjourned.