Summary of Civil Law Legislation (2018)
During the 2018 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly considered measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature considered bills regarding civil protections, the statute of limitations for domestic violence offenses, immunity, jurisdiction, and liability.
Summary of State Government Legislation (2018)
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to state agencies and employees, boards and commissions, the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association, the General Assembly, the Colorado Open Records Act, and firearms.
Summary of Capital Construction Legislation (2018)
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of bills affecting funding for capital construction and the duties of the Capital Development Committee (CDC).
Summary of Crimes and Law Enforcement Legislation (2018)
During the 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly introduced numerous bills concerning crimes,criminal penalties, and law enforcement.
Judicial Selection and Retention (18-12)
The Colorado Constitution allows voters to decide whether justices and judges stay on the bench after they have been appointed and have had time to establish a judicial record by serving an initial term. Some form of this process, otherwise known as the merit selection and retention of justices...
Post-Conviction Sex Offender Polygraph Testing for Adult Sex Offenders
This memorandum provides an overview of how post-conviction sex offender polygraph testing (PCSOT) is used for adult sex offenders in Colorado, as well as in other states. It also includes a summary of current research on its effectiveness.
Statutes of Limitations for Criminal Offenses (18-18)
A statute of limitations is a law that specifies the maximum length of time allowed for a victim or prosecutor to initiate legal proceedings. Such a statute may apply in either criminal or civil cases. This issue brief provides an overview of criminal statutes of limitations, including...
Overview of the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association and Changes Made by Senate Bill 18-200
This memorandum provides an overview of the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) and the changes made to PERA by Senate Bill 18‑200.
State Laws Regarding Gravity and Switchblade Knives (17-10)
Gravity and switchblade knives, which were originally popularized by classic movies such as West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause, are considered illegal weapons in Colorado. Possessing such a weapon could result in a fine or jail time, or both. This issue brief...
Jury Duty in Criminal Cases
This memorandum provides an overview of jury duty for criminal trials in Colorado, including how jurors are summoned, excused, selected, paid, and impaneled. Jury deliberations, instructions, and verdicts are also covered.
State Procurement and Contracting (2019 Update)
The purchase of goods and services by most executive branch agencies in Colorado is generally governed by the state procurement code and rules (code and rules). The code and rules are designed to ensure the fair treatment of people seeking to do business with the state, to foster broad-based...
2018 State Water Policy Handbook Update
This handbook was created to help members of the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee, Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee, the interim Water Resources Review Committee, and other legislators to better understand Colorado's water policies and...
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (19-08)
This issue brief provides an overview of extreme risk protection orders, including what they are, how they are used, and how Colorado's proposed law compares to other states. It also addresses other types of protection orders authorized in Colorado law.
Fiscal Assessment of Proposed Amendment SB188_L.045, Concerning Creation of the Family Medical Leave Insurance Program
This memorandum is an assessment of the fiscal impact of the attached proposed Amendment L.045 to Senate Bill 19-188. This fiscal assessment is for the impact of the bill with inclusion of this amendment only. Any other added amendment could influence the fiscal impact.
State Government Enterprises
This memorandum provides information on state government enterprises under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, also known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). From FY 1993-94 through FY 2017-18, 22 state government entities had received enterprise status for at least one...
Summary of Civil Law Legislation (2019)
During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly examined a number of measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature considered bills regarding consumer fraud, internet privacy, free-speech lawsuits, damages, child hearsay exceptions, and equal pay.
Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act June Update (19-11)
This issue brief provides an overview of state laws related to pet animal facilities. These facilities are licensed and regulated under the Colorado Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA).
Probate and Trusts and Fiduciaries
During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of measures related to estate documents, public guardians, and trusts.
Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Summary Report
Summary report for the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System.
2019 Treatment of Persons With Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal Justice System Final Report
Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Treatment of Persons With Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal Justice System Committee.
Statutes of Limitations
This memorandum provides an overview of statutes of limitations, including factors that impact length, such as statutes of repose and tolling. The memorandum also includes tables listing the various criminal and civil statutes of limitations and statutes of repose in the state.
Criminal Justice Reform Bills
This memorandum provides a listing of criminal justice reform bills passed in Colorado over the past several years. More specifically, the attached table provides the bill number, title, and description of the criminal justice reform legislation, organized by category (i.e., bail, juvenile,...
Abuse of Corpse Crimes in Other States
This memorandum addresses abuse of corpse laws in the 50 states. While the vast majority of states have enacted abuse of corpse or other related laws, they differ in definition and crime classification. For example, some states outline penalties for mutilating or defacing a corpse, while...
PERA's Automatic Adjustment Provision (20-09)
Senate Bill 18-200, Modifications to the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) to Eliminate Unfunded Liability, included an automatic adjustment provision (AAP) that triggers when PERA's trusts are not on track to reach full funding within the targeted 30-year period. This...