Colorado Background Check Law Broken: HB21-1214

[fixcoloradolaws]

Please help this go viral like the Black Plague in the Dark Ages. Everyone should be aware of what's going on.

There is a huge background check problem in Colorado, and Rep Mike Weissman has a bill HB21-1214, found here: Record Sealing Collateral Consequenes Reduction | Colorado General Assembly to deal with background checks.

The problem is his bill is weak and doesn't even begin to fix the issue.

When this bill makes it to the Senate the Senate will have it's own hearing to make the changes. Please call even if you don't live in Colorado.

I am advocating for the following changes:

1. The bill applies to all state agencies, not just the CBI
2. The bill applies to non-arrest, non-conviction, dismissed and vacated records.
3. The bill applies to all courts, civil and criminal.

As it stands,

1. DOZENS of State Agencies in Colorado collect and maintain Criminal Code Records and Accusations. These state agencies are exempt from the functions of this bill, many of them do NOT have comparable regulations, and that's wrong. This includes Schools, Larger Government Departments, Fire Departments, etc...
2. The bill only assists those who are guilty enough to be arrested, and completely ignores those who are so innocent they were never arrested.
3. Civil Courts maintain Criminal Code Accusations that are UNREGULATED by the CBI. It has been ruled these Criminal Accusations are NOT covered by the language “Criminal Justice Records” (CJRs are only in Criminal Court). As a result, Civil Court Cases NEED to be covered by this as well.

People who are arrested should NOT have more rights than those who were NEVER arrested, because the authorities determined the facts either didn't support the allegations or determined the allegations were false. Same goes for those whose civil cases were dismissed or withdrawn!

Names of primary Legislators involved:

Rep. Mike Weissman –

• 303-866-2942
• [email protected]
• Mike Weissman | Colorado General Assembly

Sen. Pete Lee –

• 303-866-6364
• [email protected]
• Pete Lee | Colorado General Assembly

Sen. James Coleman –

• 303-866-4864
• [email protected]
• James Coleman | Colorado General Assembly

The Judiciary Committee can be found here: Judiciary | Colorado General Assembly

If you want to see discussions the Civil Rules Committee has had on abuse of Background Checks, you can find them in numerous agenda packets found here: Colorado Judicial Branch - Supreme Court - Committees - Civil Rules Committee


Sample Phone Script
Here is a Phone script you can use. Please tell your beliefs, your personal stories, and advocate for the changes mentioned above:

1. Give your name and number.
2. "There is a bill being proposed in the House of Representatives to seal and expunge false criminal accusations from background checks. It is proposed by Mike Weissman, Sponsored by Senators Lee and Coleman, and labeled HB21-1214.

This bill ONLY supports the rights of those who have been arrested, and does NOTHING for people who were accused of a crime which never happened. This includes claims made in a non Law Enforcement State Agency or Civil Court that is NOT regulated by the CBI. Such false criminal accusations can still exist within the State Agency or Public Records Check. Yes, this means I can go to a civil court, accuse you of threatening me with a handgun without providing evidence, then drop it before an evidentiary hearing. I would be protected form perjury but YOU would have assault with a deadly weapon on YOUR Public Record FOREVER! This is WRONG!
Please fix this bill. It can be fixed with three simple changes:
*. Extend it to ALL State Agencies, NOT JUST the CBI
*. Extend it to NON-ARRESTS and NON CONVICTIONS, Including Dismissed and Vacated
*. Extend it to ALL Courts - Civil and Criminal
If someone LIED about you robbing a bank, you should NEVER have Bank Robbery on your Public Record's background check!
If someone LIED about you threatening them with a gun, and you NEVER owned a gun, you should NEVER have Assault with a Deadly Weapon on your Public Records background check!
Both of the above are HAPPENING RIGHT NOW! THIS IS WRONG!
Please Fix this Law!"