Hello everyone,
It’s almost over! It is looking like the 2021 legislative session will likely end on Wednesday. The General Assembly is constitutionally required to adjourn sine die no later than 11:59 pm on Saturday, June 12th. [“Sine die” is Latin for “without day.” When the General Assembly adjourns sine die it is adjourning indefinitely for that particular legislative session.] Both the House and Senate took Saturday and Sunday off this weekend, although the House worked until 11:00 pm on Friday. The two days off were a nice break before the last big push before sine die.
On Thursday, the Senate passed HB 1250 concerning measures to address law enforcement accountability on second reading. The Senate still needs to pass the bill on third reading, likely on Monday, before it goes back to the House for consideration of the Senate amendments. I anticipate that the House will reject the Senate amendments and request a conference committee. During a conference committee, three representatives and three senators will try to work out a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Each chamber will then vote on whether to accept that compromise and pass the compromise version of the bill. As one of the sponsors indicated on second reading, there is still a lot of work left to be done on the bill.
As expected, the House debated SB 174 concerning peace officer credibility disclosures on second reading on Wednesday and on Thursday gave the bill final approval on third reading on a vote of 61 to 1. Also on Thursday, the Senate concurred with the House amendments and repassed the bill unanimously sending the bill to Governor Polis for his consideration. The final version of the bill establishes a committee to develop a statewide model for peace officer credibility disclosure notifications and requires each law enforcement agency and district attorney’s office to adopt and implement written policies and procedures consistent with that statewide model by January 1, 2022. Only 5 days until the General Assembly is required to adjourn sine die.
Bill Skewes
Lobbyist