Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJR 25-1007) is a commemorative resolution designating a specific segment of Interstate 25 in Colorado - southbound from mile marker 199.4 and northbound from mile marker 194.8 - as the "Firefighters Memorial Hwy in Memory of Chief Troy Jackson." It honors Troy Jackson, a 30-year firefighter with South Metro Fire Rescue who developed cancer prevention programs for first responders before passing in 2019. The resolution allows the Colorado Department of Transportation to accept donations for signage and coordinate with Arapahoe and Douglas counties for sign maintenance. As a naming resolution, it has no policy or funding changes beyond this memorial designation.

Maddy summarySJR 25-004 designates January 22 of each year as "Reproductive Rights and Justice Day" in Colorado. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or policies but commemorates the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision (January 22, 1973) and acknowledges Colorado's legislative actions to protect reproductive rights, including the Reproductive Health Equity Act and the Safe Access to Protected Health Care Package. The designation serves as a formal observance without imposing legal obligations or altering existing rights.

Maddy summaryHJR 25-1005 is a ceremonial resolution encouraging Colorado communities to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, 2025 - the 41st anniversary of the state holiday. It does not create new laws or alter existing policies but urges cities, schools, counties, and local governments to hold commemorative events. The resolution honors Dr. King’s legacy, noting Colorado’s early adoption of the holiday in 1985 and its ongoing observance through events like the annual Marade. This is a non-binding call for community engagement, not a substantive legislative change.

The act allows a health-care provider (applicant) who possesses a license, certificate, registration, or other approval as a health-care provider in another state (out-of-state credential) to provide health-care services through telehealth to patients located in Colorado if the applicant registers with the regulator that regulates the health-care services the applicant will provide (regulator). An applicant is eligible for registration if: The applicant submits an application in a manner prescribed by the division of professions and occupations (division) in the department of regulatory agencies (department) and pays the applicable fee; The applicant possesses an out-of-state credential issued by a governmental authority in another state, the District of Columbia, or a possession or territory of the United States that is active and unencumbered, that has educational and supervisory standards equivalent to or exceeding the educational and supervisory standards required for the equivalent credential in this state or the interstate compacft license for the applicable credential type, and that entitles the applicant to perform health-care services that are substantially similar to health-care services that may be performed by a licensee, certificate holder, or registrant in this state; The applicant designates an agent upon whom service of process may be made in Colorado; The applicant has not been subject to any disciplinary action relating to the applicant's out-of-state credential during the 5-year period immediately preceding the submission of the applicant's application that has resulted in the applicant's out-of-state credential being limited, suspended, or revoked, unless the disciplinary action pertains to an action, behavior, or treatment permitted under Colorado law; and The applicant demonstrates passage of a jurisprudence examination administered by the division if passage of a jurisprudence examination is required for substantially similar credentialing in this state. An applicant who has been registered to provide health-care services through telehealth to patients located in Colorado (registered provider) shall: Provide health-care services in compliance with the professional practice standards for health-care services in this state; In the event of an emergency situation, make a good faith effort to contact and coordinate with emergency services located near the originating site, or facilitate contact with the appropriate local mental and behavioral health services, and remain on a synchronous connection with the patient, if the emergency arises during a synchronous connection, until emergency services have reached the originating site or the situation is resolved in the registered provider's clinical judgment; Maintain a written emergency protocol that is appropriate to the applicable standard of care for Colorado; Notify the applicable regulator of restrictions placed on the registered provider's out-of-state credential in any state or jurisdiction or of any disciplinary action taken or pending against the registered provider in any state or jurisdiction; Maintain and have in effect a form of financial responsibility that covers services provided to patients in this state as required by the applicable regulator; Disclose to the patient that the registered provider does not have a physical location in Colorado and disclose the location of the registered provider; and Not open an office in this state and shall not provide in-person health-care services to patients located in this state unless the health-care provider obtains the license, certification, or registration that the applicable regulator requires for the performance of the relevant health-care services in this state. The act also allows the division or the regulator to take disciplinary action against a registered provider under specified conditions. The department may notify other states in which the registered provider is licensed, registered, or certified to practice of any disciplinary actions taken against the registered provider in this state. A registered provider is prohibited from prescribing a controlled substance. APPROVED by Governor June 7, 2024 EFFECTIVE June 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires a firearms dealer (dealer), beginning July 1, 2025, to obtain a state firearms dealer permit (state permit) in order to engage in the business of dealing in firearms other than destructive devices in Colorado. Engaging in the business of dealing in firearms other than destructive devices without a permit is an unclassified felony, punishable by a fine of up to $250,000. In order to be issued a state permit, the dealer must hold a federal firearms license; not have had a federal, state, or local license to deal firearms or ammunition revoked, suspended, or denied within the prior 3 years; and not have violated any state or federal law concerning the possession, purchase, or sale of firearms in the 3 years before applying for the state permit. The department of revenue (department) is responsible for issuing state permits. The fee for issuing a permit is $400, which may be adjusted annually by the department. A state permit is valid for 3 years. The department, subject to available appropriations, is required to conduct an on-site inspection of a random selection of 10% of state permit holders each year and, additionally, may conduct periodic unannounced dealer inspections. The department shall revoke a dealer's state permit if the dealer: No longer holds a valid federal firearms license; Does not permit a required inspection of the dealer's business or a required record; or Is convicted of obtaining a firearm for or transferring a firearm to a person who is ineligible to possess a firearm, transferring a firearm prior to receiving the results of a background check, trafficking in firearms, or unlawfully selling or transferring a firearm component or accessory. If the department finds that a dealer failed to post a required notice, make a report about unlawful purchase, or make a required record; transferred a firearm without a locking device; or violated other federal, state, or local laws concerning the sale of firearms or firearm components, the department shall: For a first offense, issue a warning; and For a second offense, issue a warning, suspend the dealer's permit, or revoke the dealer's state permit. The denial or revocation of a permit is subject to the requirements of the "State Administrative Procedure Act". The act requires a dealer and each employee of a dealer who, in the course of the employee's duties, handles or otherwise has access to firearms or processes firearm sales, loans, or transfers (position that involves handling firearms) to annually complete a training course developed or approved by the department. The act requires a dealer to: Secure each firearm in a manner that prevents a customer or other member of the public from accessing or using the firearm, except when the firearm is being shown to a customer, repaired, or otherwise worked on; Report to law enforcement when the dealer knows or suspects that an employee is involved in the theft of a firearm from the dealer's business; and Report to law enforcement when the dealer reasonably believes, knows or should know, or becomes aware after a transfer, that the transfer was a straw purchase. The act prohibits a dealer from selling or transferring a firearm outside of the dealer's posted business hours or to a person who the dealer knows or suspects is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. The act prohibits a dealer from employing a person in a position that involves handling firearms who is prohibited from possessing a weapon or who has been convicted of a misdemeanor within the 5 previous years that would result in the person being denied transfer of a firearm following a criminal history record check. The act requires a dealer's employees to submit to a criminal history record check once every 3 years. If a dealer knowingly employs a person in violation of the act, including employing a person without conducting a required background check, the department shall, for a first offense, issue a warning and for a second offense, issue a warning, suspend the dealer's permit, or revoke the dealer's state permit. The act appropriates $618,973 to the department of revenue to implement the act, which includes $64,010 that is reappropriated to the department of law for legal services. APPROVED by Governor June 7, 2024 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE June 7, 2024 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE July 1, 2025(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current law requires an applicant for massage therapist licensure to attain a degree, obtain a diploma, or otherwise successfully complete a massage therapy program that consists of at least 500 total hours of coursework and clinical work from an approved massage school. The act increases the coursework and clinical work minimum requirement to 650 total hours starting July 1, 2024. APPROVED by Governor June 7, 2024 EFFECTIVE June 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Beginning July 1, 2025, the act requires a municipality that prosecutes an act of domestic violence and that contracts directly with one or more defense attorneys to provide counsel to indigent defendants to ensure that the municipality's contract does not use a fixed or flat-fee payment structure for indigent defense services. The act requires the municipal court to instead use the same payment structure and rates that are paid by the state of Colorado to attorneys or other interdisciplinary team members under contract with the office of alternate defense counsel and consistent with chief justice directive 04-04. APPROVED by Governor June 6, 2024 EFFECTIVE July 1, 2025(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act creates the bridges wraparound care program (wraparound program) in the office of bridges of Colorado (bridges of Colorado) to increase the success of eligible individuals referred from the criminal justice system by connecting the individuals to necessary wraparound care coordination services, resulting in case dismissal, continuity of care, and increased social stability. The act requires each judicial district to develop a process to identify and refer eligible individuals to the wraparound program as a community-based alternative to competency proceedings. The chief judge of each judicial district is required to enter into a memorandum of understanding with multiple entities within the judicial district to develop and implement a referral process to deflect individuals who are likely to be found incompetent to proceed from competency proceedings and the criminal justice system. The act requires the office of the state court administrator to ensure a court coordinator assists with identifying eligible individuals, collaborates with the entities to develop the memorandum of understanding, manages and collects data and manages reporting requirements, and provides ongoing support to each judicial district in developing and implementing the referral process. A defendant may be referred to the wraparound program with the consent of the district attorney. A defendant who is referred to the wraparound program is eligible to participate in the wraparound program if the district attorney and defense counsel agree that there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant will be found incompetent to proceed; the defendant consents to participate in the wraparound program; and the defendant is not charged with certain felonies, unless the district attorney waives the requirement. If an eligible defendant is referred to the wraparound program and the defendant consents to participate in the wraparound program, the act requires the court to issue an order appointing a bridges wraparound care coordinator (care coordinator). The wraparound program is required to accept an eligible defendant the court refers to the wraparound program unless the care coordinator determines during the initial intake process that the wraparound program is not appropriate for the defendant due to clinical or other reasons. If the care coordinator determines the wraparound program is not appropriate for the defendant, bridges of Colorado is required to immediately notify the court and outline other interventions. An individual who is accepted to participate in the wraparound program is required to enter into a written agreement with bridges of Colorado detailing the individual's participation in the wraparound program and the program expectations, cooperate with the care coordinator in developing the components of the participant's individualized wraparound care plan, and engage with the care coordinator and the services outlined in the individualized wraparound care plan. The act requires the care coordinator to conduct a screening and assessment of the participant. As part of the screening and assessment, the care coordinator is required to create an individualized wraparound care plan for the participant that is designed to reduce barriers and facilitate access to wraparound care resources. The act requires the court to set a review hearing within 182 days after the court issues the order appointing a care coordinator. At the review hearing, the court is required to dismiss the charges against the defendant unless the court finds that the defendant has not satisfactorily complied with the individualized wraparound care plan, at which point the district attorney may file a notice of termination with the court. If the defendant has not satisfactorily complied with the individualized wraparound care plan but remains engaged, the court may continue the defendant's case for up to an additional 91 days and is required to dismiss the charges if the defendant has satisfactorily complied with the individualized wraparound care plan within the additional 91 days. To implement the act, $1,430,325 is appropriated from the general fund to the judicial department and $23,098 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of human services for use by the office of behavioral health. APPROVED by Governor June 6, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act creates the stable housing for survivors of domestic or sexual violence program (program) in the department of human services (state department). The act requires the state department to contract with community-based advocacy organizations to provide short-term assistance payments to survivors of domestic or sexual violence for stable housing. For each state fiscal year 2024-25, the act requires the general assembly to appropriate $2,000,000 from the state long-term works reserve to the program to the state department for use by the office of economic security for the program. APPROVED by Governor June 6, 2024 EFFECTIVE June 6, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act creates multiple ways to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in Colorado's child welfare system. The state department of human services (department) is directed to work with county departments of human or social services to: Update the existing annual departmental EDI report using state data sources and national child welfare data clearinghouses; Identify necessary demographic or other data that is not currently collected in Colorado's child welfare case management system (management system) and determine recommendations for improving data collection statewide; Identify additional necessary demographic or other data about children, families, and people working in the child welfare that is not currently collected in the management system, the child welfare worker training system, or other components and data systems of the child welfare system, and, in collaboration with counties, determine internal or external processes and make recommendations for improving data collection and reporting statewide; Provide a report on the state's progress in addressing data collection and data entry challenges in the management system; Provide a report on the state's progress in training child welfare staff on demographic data collection; Report on the state's progress in training the child welfare workforce in reducing bias and in promoting EDI, and on progress in the training's alignment with current research and best practices in promoting EDI. The department shall strengthen EDI training for child welfare staff and management. The act requires the department to provide recommendations for training requirements for other child welfare agencies and to offer specific EDI training for mandatory reporters to address disparities in reporting in Colorado's child welfare system. APPROVED by Governor June 6, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)