Sen. Linda Newell (D-Littleton) is sponsoring the bill which will reform Colorado's child protective services.

Alize's neighbor, Maryann Hartmann, had remained anonymous until Thursday. She reported the abuse and neglect to El Paso County Human Services in May 2007.

Alize died in October of that year - from head injuries.

"DHS (Department of Human Services) did not believe me. I kept telling them, 'She's going to kill the little girl, she will kill her,' and they still did not believe me," Hartmann told state lawmakers. "I waited for that child to be removed from that house and it never happened. Five months later and Alize Vick is dead. I failed to save Alize Vick and that is why I'm here today to support the ombudsman bill."

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved the bill 7-0 late Thursday afternoon.

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