In this week’s Legislative Video Update, it still seems relatively quiet around the Capitol. There were a few exceptions, including the Senate sending the Juvenile Direct File Limitations bill to the Governor for signing, and an update on the CBA LPC-opposed fetal-homicide measure. As expected, the Budget Bill was introduced and is moving to the House this week.
From the CBA Legislative Policy Committee
The Legislative Policy Committee did not meet on Friday, April 6.
From the Capitol
The week that was April 2 was relatively quiet but for a few exceptions.
On Monday, April 2, the Senate Judiciary Committee took three hours of testimony on HB 12-1130 – Concerning offenses against an unborn child. Then, the bill’s sponsor requested that the bill be taken off the table in order for the sponsor to find language that can satisfy the concerns raised by a majority of the Judiciary Committee members. The CBA LPC voted to oppose the legislation at the request of the Civil Rights committee. A quick check of the Senate Judiciary calendar does not have the bill scheduled in the coming week.
As expected, the Long Bill or Budget Bill (HB 12–1335) was introduced on Wednesday, April 4. The Appropriations Committee, the bill’s committee of reference, approved the bill on Thursday, April 5 and sent the bill to the floor of the House for consideration on 2nd Reading. The routine schedule for the Long Bill was altered somewhat when both the House and the Senate took a long weekend by recessing early on Thursday afternoon. The next step in the life of the Long Bill is two days of separated “caucusing” by both sides of the House on the numerous bill sections separated by the various departments of state government. The caucus process allows the 62 House members who did not participate in the preparation of the Long Bill an opportunity to learn about the budget, ask questions, and propose amendments to the bill. Second reading on the Long Bill is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11.
On Thursday, before a three-day weekend break, the Senate gave final approval to HB 12-1271 – Concerning charging of juveniles by direct file of information or indictment in district court. The final tally in the Senate was 22-13 to move the bill to the Governor for signature. The bill proceeds directly to the Governor’s desk since no amendments were added to the bill in the Senate. Amendments were the subject of great debate on 2nd Reading and a rare substantive amendment offered on 3rd Reading on Thursday. In the end, all amendments to the bill were rejected by the proponents of the bill and the Senate. The CBA LPC authorized the Juvenile Law Section to support the bill in the name of the section alone.
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