Senate Democrats sought to hammer home the importance of the resolution to skeptical Republicans: Danielson read testimony from abuse victims and said one was set to file a lawsuit but was blocked by the state Supreme Court. Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Commerce City Democrat, described how she was abused as a child.

But Republican opposition — rooted in concerns about fading memories, constitutional rights and hefty future lawsuits against schools and churches — appears to have held firm.

Danielson said before Tuesday’s preliminary vote that no Republican had committed to supporting the measure. Two top Senate Republicans, Minority Leader Paul Lundeen and assistant minority leader Bob Gardner, told fellow legislators they remained opposed.

Republican Sen. Mark Baisley’s name is still listed as a co-sponsor of the resolution, but he previously said he no longer supports it.

Tuesday’s vote, which required just a simple majority, was taken by voice, and no Republican senator appeared to speak in support. A final vote in the Senate could come as early as Wednesday. If the resolution fails to clear the two-thirds threshold, it won’t advance.

“In some ways, this is the hardest vote of my legislative career,” Lundeen told fellow legislators. He said he was concerned about “miscarriages of justice” and institutions facing lawsuits for incidents from years ago. "My vote is cast in defense of the constitutional and legal principles each and every one of us, and future generations as well, rely on for protection in our civil society.”

Various insurance groups and the Colorado Catholic Conference are opposed to the bill, and some school groups have expressed concerns.

But Fields said that institutions shouldn’t be able to sweep past abuse “under the carpet.”

“I don’t think they need special protection,” she said. “I want them exposed.”

_____

©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.