Committee on Legal Services. Currently, statute requires that any contract the state enters into to publish or print the Colorado Revised Statutes must specify that the paper used meets certain standards established by the national standards institute for permanent paper for printed library materials. However, that standard is outdated and no longer used in the industry. The bill updates the statutory reference to the current applicable alkaline minimum reserve requirements and acidity levels for uncoated paper as established by the American national standards institute and the national information standards organization. The change will not affect the current publications contract; however, it will apply to future contracts and extensions of contracts.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
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The bill clarifies the intent of the general assembly for establishing a coordinated behavioral health crisis response system (crisis system). The crisis system is intended to be a comprehensive, appropriate, and preferred response to behavioral health crises in Colorado. By clarifying the role of the crisis system and making necessary enhancements, the bill puts systems in place to help Colorado end the use of jails and correctional facilities as placement options for individuals placed on emergency mental health holds if they have not also been charged with a crime and enhances the ability of emergency departments to serve individuals who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The crisis system is intended to provide an appropriate first line of response to individuals in need of an emergency 72-hour mental health hold. The statewide framework created by the crisis system strengthens community partnerships and ensures that first responders are equipped with a variety of options for addressing behavioral health crises that meet the needs of the individual in a clinically appropriate setting. The bill expands and strengthens the current crisis system in the following ways: Encourages crisis system contractors in each region to develop partnerships with the broad array of crisis intervention services in the region; Requires crisis system contractors to be responsible for community engagement, coordination, and system navigation for key partners in the crisis system. The goals of community coordination are to formalize key relationships within contractually defined regions, pursue collaborative programming for behavioral health services, and coordinate interventions as necessary with behavioral health crises in the region. Increases the ability of all crisis services facilities, including walk-in centers, acute treatment units, and crisis stabilization units within the crisis system, regardless of facility licensure, to adequately care for an individual brought to the facility in need of an emergency 72-hour mental health hold; Expands the ability of mobile response units to be available within 2 hours, either face-to-face or using telehealth operations for mobile crisis evaluations; Recognizes the obligations of hospitals and hospital-based emergency departments under federal law to screen and stabilize every patient who comes to the hospital-based emergency department, including those patients experiencing a behavioral health crisis; and Requires that, on or before January 1, 2018, all walk-in centers throughout the state be appropriately designated, adequately prepared, and properly staffed to accept an individual in need of an emergency 72-hour mental health hold. The department of human services (department) shall ensure consistent training for professionals who have regular contact with individuals who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The department shall conduct a needs and capacity assessment of the crisis system. The office of behavioral health is required to submit a report on or before November 1, 2017, and on or before May 1, 2018, concerning the status of funding, the use of new and existing resources, and the implementation of additional behavioral health crisis services. This report is separate and in addition to the information the department is required to provide concerning the crisis system in its annual SMART report to the general assembly. The bill removes language from statute that allows, at any time for any reason, an individual who is being held on an emergency 72-hour mental health hold to be detained or housed in a jail, lockup, or other place used for the confinement of persons charged with or convicted of criminal offenses. The effective date of this component of the bill is May 1, 2018. The bill requires annual reports to the department by each emergency services facility that has treated a person pursuant to an emergency 72-hour mental health hold. The reports must only include aggregate and nonidentifying information. The reports must include information on the names and counties of involved facilities; the total number of persons treated at the facility; a summary regarding the different reasons for which persons were treated at the facility; and a summary of the disposition of the persons transferred to a designated mental health facility. An appropriation from the marijuana tax cash fund is authorized. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill allows a licensed private investigator to enter a common interest community for a reasonable period of time for the sole purpose of serving process after he or she presents a copy of his or her private investigator's license and a copy of the documents to be served. A licensed private investigator who is allowed access to a common interest community to serve process shall not use such access to perform any investigative activities. A common interest community that is not staffed shall adopt and implement a procedure for allowing legitimate service of process to residents. An HOA, a community association manager of a common interest community, or a landlord of a residential premises is immune from civil liability for any damages caused by a process server who enters the community or premises to serve process to a resident unless such damages are at least partially attributable to a negligent act or omission by the HOA, community association manager, or landlord. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill eliminates the cap on noneconomic damages for the wrongful death of a minor child. The bill clarifies that, for purposes of the wrongful death statutes, 'minor child' is defined using the general statutory definition of 'minor', which is 'any person who has not attained the age of twenty-one years'. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Committee on Legal Services. Based on the findings and recommendations of the committee on legal services, the bill extends all state agency rules and regulations that were adopted or amended on or after November 1, 2015, and before November 1, 2016, with the exception of the rules and regulations specifically listed in the bill. Those specified rules and regulations will expire as scheduled in the 'State Administrative Procedure Act' on May 15, 2017, on the grounds that the rules and regulations either conflict with statute or lack or exceed statutory authority.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Committee on Legal Services. Current law directs the office of legislative legal services to study the organizational recodification of title 12 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which relates to professions and occupations. To implement the initial recommendations of the study, Section 1 of the bill relocates the statutes governing commercial driving schools to part 6 of article 2 of title 42. Sections 2 and 3 update the citations of other statutes to harmonize with the new locations. Section 4 repeals the moved statutes.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Committee on Legal Services. Current law directs the Office of Legislative Legal Services to study the organizational recodification of title 12, Colorado Revised Statutes, which relates to professions and occupations. To implement the initial recommendations of the study, the bill relocates the following laws: Article 13 of title 12, pursuant to which the commissioner of financial services and the financial services board regulate life care institutions, to article 49 of title 11 ( section 1 of the bill); and Article 52 of title 12, pursuant to which the banking board and the state bank commissioner regulate money transmitters, to article 110 of title 11 ( sections 2 and 3 ). Section 13 repeals the articles where these laws were previously codified, and sections 5 through 12 make conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill encourages each sheriff's office and each municipal police department to adopt a policy whereby mental health professionals, to the extent practicable, provide: On-scene response services to support officers' handling of persons with mental health disorders; and Counseling services to officers. The bill creates the peace officers mental health support grant program (grant program) in the department of local affairs (department) to provide grants of money to county sheriffs' offices and municipal police departments to help them engage mental health professionals. Each sheriff's office and each municipal police department is encouraged to apply annually for a grant from the grant program. The bill creates the peace officers mental health support fund (fund), which consists of gifts, grants, and donations and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund. The executive director of the department, or his or her designee, may expend money from the fund for the purposes of the grant program. The grant program repeals September 1, 2027. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill prohibits a state or political subdivision from: Providing the race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, or religious affiliation of a Colorado resident to the federal government without determining it is for a legal and constitutional purpose; Aiding or assisting the federal government in creating, maintaining, or updating a registry for the purpose of identifying Colorado residents based on race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, or religious affiliation; Aiding or assisting the federal government or a federal agency in marking or otherwise placing a physical or electronic identifier on a person based on his or her race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, or religious affiliation; and Aiding or assisting, including using state or local lands or resources, the federal government in interning, arresting, or detaining a person based on his or her race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, or religious affiliation.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)