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Senate hearing on transit‑worker assault bill draws operator testimony and legal concerns; committee lays measure over
Summary
Sponsors and transit workers urged passage of House Bill 12‑90 to create a transit‑worker assault charge and make RTD safety officers eligible for certain training funds. The Office of the State Public Defender warned the proposed criminal language largely duplicates existing statutes; the committee laid the bill over for further work.
Senators and witnesses differed sharply over the best way to address rising assaults on transit workers during a lengthy Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on House Bill 12‑90.
Sponsor Senator Mullica described the bill as a targeted measure to protect transit operators and to create a new charge for assault on a transit worker, classed as a class 1 misdemeanor aligned with existing third‑degree assault penalties. Mullica also said the bill contains permissive language allowing the Regional Transportation District (RTD) to receive certain Proposition 130 funds in some circumstances and would authorize RTD safety officers as potential recipients of training and support funding.
A large group of transit employees and advocates testified in support. Light‑rail operator Jason Buckley, commuter‑rail engineer Kurt Hartnett, operator Stacy McConnell and others described repeated threats and assaults — including being spat on, chased, struck, and threatened with knives — and urged legal and enforcement changes. Michael Davies, government…
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