Provides that the act applies to dependency and neglect actions filed on and after July 1, 2000.
APPROVED by Governor March 10, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
S.B. 00-50 Regimented juvenile training program - capacity - evaluation - continuation of program - appropriation. Authorizes the regimented juvenile training program ("program") to house fewer than 80 juveniles. Specifies that the department of human services shall pay only for the actual number of juveniles sentenced to the program. Directs the department of human services to contract with the division of criminal justice, within the department of public safety, for an evaluation of the program, to be submitted to the general assembly by January 1, 2001. Extends the repeal date for the program to July 1, 2001.
Appropriates $30,000 to the department of public safety for the evaluation of the program.
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 26, 2000
S.B. 00-136 Central registry for child protection - inclusion for convictions of child abuse, sexual assault on a child - expungement of reports. Mandates that the central registry of child protection ("central registry") in the department of human services ("department") contain information concerning not only each case of confirmed child abuse, but also each conviction of child abuse, sexual assault on a child, and sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. Directs that the central registry include information contained in the court file relating to convictions for such offenses. Provides that the director of the central registry place the name of a subject who has been convicted of such an offense on the central registry as soon as possible after receiving notice of the conviction and verifying the information with the judicial department or the Colorado bureau of investigation.
Specifies that the director of the central registry, upon receipt of information that a petition in dependency or neglect has not been sustained, verify such information with the judicial department before expunging the report. If the report is not expunged, changes the period of time within which the director shall so notify the subject of the report from 30 days to as soon as possible.
Requires the director of the central registry to expunge a subject's name if the subject is acquitted of an offense, or if a charge is dismissed, pertaining to a crime of child abuse, sexual assault on a child, or sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. Allows the director to request a hearing to reinstate the subject's name on the central registry for acts pertaining to the criminal charge dismissed or the criminal charge of which the subject was acquitted. Requires filing of the request with the division of administrative hearings in the department of personnel within 30 days after the director receives notice of the acquittal or dismissal. Requires the department to show that there is clear and convincing evidence why the subject's name should be reinstated on the central registry as a perpetrator. Specifies that no record of a criminal conviction shall be sealed from access through the central registry unless the conviction is overturned in the criminal court.
Repeals the provision requiring a court, upon acquittal of or conviction under a child abuse charge, to report such information to the director of the central registry. Repeals the provision requiring a court to send written notice to the director of the central registry that a petition in dependency or neglect was not sustained.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 1, 2000
S.B. 00-145 Child support enforcement - liens - income assignments - child support commission - administrative lien and attachment of inmate bank accounts - financial institution data match - driver's license applications - professional and occupational licenses - appropriation. Clarifies that the automatic lien on real property when child support comes due and is not paid shall remain in effect for the life of the judgment, rather than 12 years, or until all past-due amounts are paid.
Makes the following changes to provisions relating to income assignments:
Requires the child support commission to study certain issues including the merits of a statutory time limitation or other such time-limiting provision on the enforcement of support judgments and the merits of support judgments arising automatically by law.
Authorizes a county to pay families eligible for temporary assistance to needy families an amount that is equal to the state and county shares of child support collections. Specifies that such payments shall not be considered income for the purpose of the grant calculation, but shall be considered income for purposes of determining eligibility.
Authorizes the state child support enforcement agency or a delegate child support enforcement unit to issue a notice of administrative lien and attachment to the department of corrections or its agent having custody or control of inmate bank accounts in order to withhold funds from the account of a state prisoner who is an obligor responsible for the support of a child. Makes such administrative lien provision effective September 1, 2000, and only if House Bill 00-1169 is enacted.
Makes the following changes to the financial institution data match process:
Requires applications for driver's, minor driver's, or provisional driver's licenses to include the applicant's social security number. Allows an applicant for a license who does not have a social security number to submit an affidavit stating such. Directs the department of revenue to automatically stop including social security information on the applications if federal law changes to prohibit the collection of social security numbers on driver's license applications.
Allows an applicant for a professional, occupational, commercial driver's, or marriage license who does not have a social security number to submit an affidavit stating such.
Appropriates $54,810 and 1.0 FTE to the department of corrections for the implementation of the act conditioned on House Bill 00-1169 not becoming law, or if House Bill 00-1169 is enacted without including an appropriation of $72,215 and 1.0 FTE. Adjusts the appropriation in the general appropriation act.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
PORTIONS EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000, September 1, 2000
NOTE: House Bill 00-1169 was signed by the Governor on May 26, 2000, and included the $72,215
appropriation.
S.B. 00-171 Affirmative defense to child abuse for abandoned children - duty of firefighters and hospital members - reports by county department of social services and state department of human services regarding abandoned children. Creates an affirmative defense to the crime of child abuse. Allows a defendant accused of permitting a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that poses a threat of injury to the child's life or health to affirmatively defend himself or herself if:
Places a duty upon firefighters and hospital staff members to take temporary physical custody of a child, 72 hours old or younger, who is voluntarily delivered to them by a person who does not express an intent to return for the child. Mandates that if a firefighter or hospital staff member takes temporary physical custody of such child that the firefighter or hospital staff member:
Absolves a firefighter or hospital staff member of any civil or criminal liability for any good faith actions or omissions. Requires a law enforcement officer to take such an abandoned child into temporary custody upon receipt of notice.
Requires each county department of social services to maintain and update on a monthly basis a report of the number of children abandoned to firefighters and hospital staff members and to submit such information to the state department of human services. Requires the state department of human services to submit an annual report that compiles the county reports to the general assembly.
Declares the legislature's intent that a county department of social services place an abandoned child with a potential adoptive parent as soon as possible, and proceed, as soon as lawfully possible, with a motion to terminate the parental rights of a parent who abandons a child.
BECAME LAW June 3, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 3, 2000
H.B. 00-1025 Colorado children's trust fund - transfer to department of public health and environment - extension - independent evaluation - elimination of marriage license fee - fee on divorce filings - appropriation. Extends the Colorado children's trust fund board and trust fund program until July 1, 2002. Transfers the trust fund board and the program from the department of higher education to the department of public health and environment. Mandates that the department of public health and environment contract for an independent evaluation of the trust fund, including administrative costs of operating the trust fund and the cost-effectiveness of the grants in reducing and preventing child abuse. Directs that such report be submitted to the house and senate health, environment, welfare, and institutions committees by November 1, 2001.
Removes the requirement that the trust fund board develop a need-based classification system for potential recipients of grants from the trust fund.
Eliminates the $10 marriage license fee as a revenue source for the trust fund. Directs that $15 of the $90 fee on divorce filings be transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the trust fund. Increases to 75% the percentage of the revenues received from divorce filing fees that is available annually for disbursement or expenditure from the trust fund.
Appropriates $50,000 from the trust fund to the department of public health and environment to contract for the independent evaluation. Transfers the appropriation in the general appropriation act for the trust fund program, including any FTE, from the department of higher education to the department of public health and environment.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
H.B. 00-1108 Adoption - placement of siblings together in foster care and adoption - foster care capacity rules. Declares that it is beneficial for children placed in foster care or placed for adoption to be able to continue sibling relationships. Declares that when placing children in foster care placements or in adoptive placements, efforts should be made to place sibling groups together, unless there is a danger of specific harm to a child or it is not in the child's or children's best interests.
Requires, if the child is part of a sibling group and the sibling group is being placed in foster care, that the county department of social services ("county department") make thorough efforts to locate a joint placement for the siblings. If a child is not placed with siblings, requires the caseworker to submit to the court reviewing the continued placement a statement about whether it continues to be the best interests of the child or children to be placed separately.
Requires, if the child is part of sibling group and is being placed for adoption, that the county department make thorough efforts to locate a joint placement for all of the children in the sibling group that are available for adoption. Requires the county department to identify in the adoption report the names and current custody and location of any siblings of the child being adopted who are also available for adoption; except that identifying information shall not be available to parties to the adoption proceeding except upon order of the court or as otherwise permitted by law.
If the child is part of a sibling group and is being placed for adoption by a child placement agency in either a circumstance involving siblings that are the result of a multiple birth or where a parent has relinquished parental rights to a child to a child placement agency, requires the child placement agency to make thorough efforts to locate a joint placement for all of the children in the sibling group that are available for adoption. Directs the child placement agency to place as many siblings of the group together as possible, considering their relationship and the best interests of each child.
States that consideration of the placement of children together as a sibling group in foster care or in adoption shall not delay the efforts for expedited permanency planning or permanency planning in order to achieve permanency for each of the children in the sibling group. States that consideration of the placement of children together as a sibling group in foster care shall not be construed as requiring the removal of a child from his or her home and placement into foster care if that is not in the best interests of the child.
Directs the court at a dispositional hearing or in entering a final decree of adoption for a child who is part of a sibling group to consider whether it is in the best interests of the child to be or remain in an intact sibling group. Directs the judge in such circumstances to review the family services plan document regarding placement of siblings.
Allows the court in issuing a final decree of adoption in cases involving the adoption of a child who has siblings who are not being adopted as a sibling group to encourage reasonable visitation among the siblings when visitation is in the best interests of the child or the children and if the adoptive parents are willing. Directs the court to inquire about whether the adoptive parents have received counseling on the importance of maintaining sibling ties.
Directs the state board of human services to promulgate rules to allow a foster care home to exceed capacity for the number of children and for square footage requirements in order to accommodate the joint placement of sibling groups in a single foster care home.
APPROVED by Governor April 28, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
H.B. 00-1119 Exchange of information concerning children - criminal justice agencies - schools and school districts - assessment centers for children. Authorizes an exchange of information among schools and school districts and law enforcement agencies. Allows any criminal justice agency or assessment center for children to share any information or records, that rise to the level of a public safety concern except mental health or medical records, that the agency or center may have concerning a specific child with the principal of the school at which the child is or will be enrolled as a student and the superintendent of such school district, or with such person's designee. Allows a criminal justice agency or assessment center for children to share with a principal or superintendent any records, except mental health or medical records, of incidents that do not rise to the level of a public safety concern but that relate to the adjudication or conviction of a child for a municipal ordinance violation or that relate to the charging, adjudication, deferred prosecution, deferred judgment, or diversion of a child for an act that, if committed by an adult, would have constituted a misdemeanor or a felony. Requires the information so provided to be kept confidential.
Directs the principal of a school, or such person's designee, to provide disciplinary and truancy information concerning a child who is or will be enrolled as a student at the school to a criminal justice agency investigating a criminal matter that involves the child. Requires the criminal justice agency to maintain the confidentiality of the information received.
Authorizes assessment centers for children and the agencies, other than schools and school districts, participating in the local assessment centers for children to provide and share information, except mental health or medical records and information, with each other without the necessity of signed releases.
Eliminates the requirement that a child or the child's parent sign a waiver prior to release of information about the child to certain state agencies or the judicial department. Eliminates the notice and hearing procedure in those circumstances in which a waiver is not provided.
Limits the civil and criminal liability of school personnel, employees of the state judicial department, employees of the state agencies, employees of criminal justice agencies, and employees of assessment centers for children who share information concerning a child in good faith compliance with the provisions set forth in law. Specifies that any person who violates the confidentiality provisions associated with the sharing of such information shall be subject to a civil fine of up to $1000.
Allows the principal of a school and the superintendent of a school district, or such person's designee, to have access to juvenile delinquency court records, probation records, law enforcement records, and parole records without a court order.
Requires a municipal court that, as a condition of or in connection with any sentence it imposes, requires a child under the age of 18 to attend school to notify the school district in which the child is enrolled of such requirement. Directs the school district to notify the municipal court if the student fails to attend all or any portion of a school day where the school district has received such notice from a municipal court. Directs that, whenever a petition is filed in juvenile court or charges are filed in district court alleging that a child who is at least 12 years of age but younger than 18 years of age has committed an offense that would constitute unlawful sexual behavior if committed by an adult, certain information concerning the child and the act or offense shall be provided to the school district in which the child is enrolled.
APPROVED by Governor April 7, 2000
EFFECTIVE April 7, 2000
H.B. 00-1152 Colorado children's code - out-of-home permanent placement of children - expedited procedures in designated counties - implementation in additional counties - funding. Repeals a provision of the expedited permanency planning program that makes the implementation schedules developed by the counties contingent upon the availability of moneys in the family issues cash fund. Eliminates the requirement that the department of human services request that any out-of-home placement costs savings realized as a result of the permanency planning program implementation be transferred from the out-of-home placement budget category to the family issues cash fund. Allows counties to implement expedited permanency procedures within existing appropriations.
APPROVED by Governor March 10, 2000
EFFECTIVE March 10, 2000
H.B. 00-1235 Juveniles - fingerprinting - forwarding fingerprints to Colorado bureau of investigation - appropriation. Requires juveniles who are detained or summoned before a court on certain charges to be fingerprinted by a court authorized entity or local law enforcement agency. Requires the agency that obtains the fingerprints to forward a set of the fingerprints to the Colorado bureau of investigation within 24 hours after completion of the fingerprinting.
Appropriates $18,481 and 0.5 FTE to the department of public safety for implementation of the act. Adjusts the appropriations in the general appropriations act.
APPROVED by Governor May 19, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 19, 2000
H.B. 00-1240 Juveniles - delinquency records - access by Colorado bureau of investigation. Grants specific authority to the Colorado bureau of investigation to inspect juvenile delinquency, court, probation, and law enforcement records for the purpose of conducting a criminal background investigation relating to authorization of a firearm purchase.
APPROVED by Governor March 29, 2000
EFFECTIVE March 29, 2000
H.B. 00-1249 Marriages - validity - common law marriages not invalidated. Specifies that valid marriages in Colorado shall be only between one man and one woman. States that any marriage contracted within or outside this state that is not between one man and one woman shall not be recognized as valid in Colorado. States that otherwise valid common law marriages between one man and one woman shall not be deemed invalid.
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 26, 2000
H.B. 00-1262 Uniform Child-custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. Repeals the "Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act" and enacts the "Uniform Child-custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act" (the "act") based upon the official text of the "Uniform Child-custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997)" issued by the national conference of commissioners on uniform state laws. In enacting the act, makes the following changes:
Definitions: Clarifies that a "child-custody determination" includes permanent, temporary, initial, and modification orders. Clarifies that a "child-custody proceeding" includes proceedings in divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, visitation, parenting time, grandparent visitation, neglect, abuse, dependency, guardianship, paternity, termination of parental rights, and protection from domestic violence.
Application of Act: Specifies that the act does not govern adoption proceedings or proceedings to authorize emergency medical care for a child. Provides that a foreign country shall be treated the same as a state for purposes of the act, and child-custody determinations made in that country shall be recognized and enforced if made in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of the act, unless the child custody law of the foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights.
Personal Jurisdiction: Provides that a child-custody determination made in this state binds all persons who have been served in accordance with this state's laws or who have submitted to a Colorado court's jurisdiction. Allows notice to persons residing outside the state and proof of service to be made by any method authorized by either the state issuing the notice or the state receiving the notice.
Limits the scope for which personal jurisdiction shall apply to those persons who are in the state solely to participate in a custody proceeding or enforcement action. Specifies that limited immunity from personal jurisdiction does not extend to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to participation in a custody proceeding.
Interstate Actions: Authorizes a court of this state to communicate with a court in another state concerning a child-custody proceeding. Allows a court to permit deposition or testimony to be taken by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means. Provides for cooperation between courts of different states. Specifies that neither minimum contacts nor service within the state is required for the court to have jurisdiction to make custody determinations.
Jurisdiction Determinations: Prioritizes the jurisdiction of the home state over other jurisdictional bases. When a court of another jurisdiction does not have or declines to exercise jurisdiction, recognizes the child's or parent's significant connections with Colorado combined with substantial evidence concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships as a basis for jurisdiction available in this state. Eliminates the best interests of the child requirements.
Establishes another basis for custody jurisdiction when all states with jurisdiction determine that Colorado is the more appropriate forum. Clarifies that emergency jurisdiction may only be exercised on a temporary basis. Directs the court exercising emergency jurisdiction to communicate with the other courts having jurisdiction.
Clarifies that the decree-granting state retains exclusive continuing jurisdiction to modify a decree, and specifies when the exclusive continuing jurisdiction ends. Eliminates the provision authorizing a court to dismiss a custody proceeding if another court is the more convenient forum, and directs the court to stay the proceeding instead. Removes the authority of the court to assess fees and costs against the parties if the court was clearly an inappropriate court to hear the matter.
Modification of Custody: Prohibits a court from modifying a custody determination made by a court of another state that has jurisdiction under the act unless the other court determines it no longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction or that it is not the more convenient forum.
Procedural Provisions: Defaults to the requirements of local law concerning who must receive notice of custody proceedings. Eliminates provisions concerning joinder of parties. Expands the bases of unjustifiable conduct for which custody jurisdiction will be declined. Authorizes a court to stay a custody proceeding until the information concerning other custody proceedings is provided.
Enforcement: Authorizes a court to enforce an order for the return of a child made under the "Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction". Directs a court to recognize and enforce a child-custody determination of a court of another state if the latter court exercised jurisdiction in substantial conformity with this act or pursuant to the jurisdictional standards of this act. Authorizes a court to issue a temporary order if necessary to enforce visitation or parenting time rights.
Establishes a registration procedure to be used to predetermine the enforceability of a child-custody determination. Provides that a registered child-custody determination may be enforced as if it were a child-custody determination of this state.
Establishes the remedy to be used for enforcement in interstate cases. Establishes a limited number of defenses to the enforcement of child-custody determinations. Establishes procedures for the issuance of a warrant to take physical custody of a child to protect the child from imminent, serious physical harm or removal from the state. Permits a court to award fees and costs against the non-prevailing party, unless the non-prevailing party demonstrates that such an award would be clearly inappropriate.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
H.B. 00-1318 Out-of-home placement of children - prior notification of relatives. Requires the court, at the temporary custody hearing in a dependency or neglect action, to advise the parents of a child who was taken into temporary custody that the child may be placed with a relative, if appropriate. Instructs the court to require the parents, within 15 days after the hearing, to provide the court with the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any known relatives. Allows the court to order the county department of social services to make reasonable efforts to contact all of the identified relatives within 90 days after the hearing, unless the court determines there is good cause not to notify or to delay the notification of the relatives.
Permits the court to consider and give preference to giving temporary custody to a child's aunt, uncle, brother, or sister, in addition to considering temporary custody with the child's grandparent, when there is not a suitable birth or adoptive parent available.
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
H.B. 00-1336 Adoption - access to records - consent requirements - transfer of records when child placement agency terminates activities - adoption intermediary commission - increase in members - rules on searches - relinquishment counseling. Allows an adoptive parent to access adoption records, request information, initiate a confidential intermediary search, or contact a birth parent as allowed by law only for minor adoptees.
Requires an adult descendant of an adoptee or adoptive parent or a spouse, adult stepchild, or adopted adult sibling of an adoptee to have notarized written consent of the adult adoptee in order obtain access to adoption records through the confidential intermediary process, initiate a confidential intermediary search, or access records for adoptions finalized on or after September 1, 1999. Allows an adoptive grandparent to obtain access to adoption records through the confidential intermediary process, initiate a confidential intermediary search, or access adoption records for adoptions finalized on or after September 1, 1999, only with the notarized written consent of the minor adoptee's adoptive parent or if the grandparent is the custodial grandparent.
Requires a biological grandparent of an adoptee to have notarized written consent of the biological parent, unless the biological parent is deceased, before obtaining access to adoption records through the confidential intermediary process, initiating a confidential intermediary search, or accessing records for adoptions finalized on or after September 1, 1999.
Clarifies that accessing records for adoptions finalized prior to September 1, 1999, by "mutual consent" of the parties means by parties who have been reunited.
Defines "legal representative" for purposes of the confidential intermediary process and for purposes of accessing adoption records.
If the birth parent is deceased, requires an adoptive grandparent, an adult descendant of an adult adoptee, an adoptee's spouse, or legal representative to have the notarized written consent of the adult adoptee or the adoptive parent if the adoptee is a minor in order to access adoption records allowed to be released under the statute. If one of the birth parents is deceased and the other birth parent is living but does not consent to being contacted, mandates that any adoption records released be released without the name of and without other identifying information about the nonconsenting birth parent.
For adoptions finalized on or after September 1, 1999, allows a birth parent to file with the child placement agency, in addition to filing with the court, within 3 years after the final order of relinquishment or termination a written statement and a letter of explanation for the adoptee specifying that the birth parent wishes identifying information concerning the parent to remain confidential. States that a child placement agency is not liable for the failure of a birth parent to file such statement.
Clarifies that if only one birth parent consents to the release of adoption records and identifying information from a child placement agency, the adoption records and identifying information shall be released by the child placement agency without the name and without identifying information of the nonconsenting birth parent.
Directs that a child placement agency accepting a fee shall make reasonable efforts to attempt to locate persons who gave consent to release identifying information and to release information obtained. Allows a child placement agency that accepts a consent form to perform searches, subject to a requirement that the employee conducting searches and contacting persons has completed training that meets the standards set by the adoption intermediary commission. Deletes an incorrect reference to the department of human services holding post-adoption records. Allows an adult adoptee to file with the child placement agency a statement restricting access to his or her adoption records.
Requires a child placement agency that is terminating its activities to preserve and transfer any records to the child care licensing division in the department of human services.
Increases the members on the adoption intermediary commission from 11 to 13, by adding 2 members who represent confidential intermediaries. Directs that the confidential intermediary commission shall adopt standards for training programs for child placement agencies that perform searches and contact persons.
Requires the counseling given to persons considering relinquishing a child for adoption to include notice that a birth parent has the opportunity to file a written statement specifying that the birth parent's information remain confidential and an explanation of the rights and responsibilities of birth parents who disagree about consenting to being contacted in the future.
APPROVED by Governor May 30, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
H.B. 00-1342 Prevention, intervention, and treatment programs - division created - state plan - pilot program - transfer of programs - appropriation. Creates the division of prevention and intervention services for children and youth ("division") in the department of public health and environment ("department"). Specifies the duties of the state board of health with regard to the new division, including adopting rules to standardize operating procedures, performance indicators and outcomes, and procedures for reviewing prevention, intervention, and treatment ("PIT") programs within the state.
Identifies the state board of health as the oversight board for the PIT programs operated by the division, except specified programs. Specifies the duties of the state board of health in overseeing the programs. Specifies the functions of the division, including adopting a state plan for delivery of PIT services, operating specified prevention and intervention programs, and reviewing all PIT programs operated by the division and by other state agencies.
Specifies the minimum contents of the state plan, including specifying the standards and measurable outcomes for PIT programs that receive state or federal funds, identifying and scheduling a review of all PIT programs receiving state or federal funds, and identifying methods of collaboration among community-based PIT programs.
Requires, as a condition of receiving any state PIT funding, that each state agency that operates a PIT program enter into a memorandum of understanding with the executive director of the department, under which the agency, at a minimum, agrees to comply with the rules for PIT programs adopted by the executive director and comply with other PIT program requirements. Encourages the governor to deny federal PIT services funding to any state agency that does not enter into a memorandum of understanding with the executive director. Creates a procedure whereby, upon the creation of a new PIT program, the division notifies the agency operating the new program of the requirement of entering into a memorandum of understanding with the executive director. Requires the executive director to meet biannually with the governor, or his or her designee, and the executive directors of the other state agencies that operate PIT programs to discuss streamlining the PIT programs operated by state agencies in order to achieve greater efficiencies.
Specifies the information to be annually reported to the division by each state agency operating a PIT program and by each community-based PIT program that receives state or federal funding. Instructs a state agency that receives a comparable annual report from a community-based PIT program to forward the report to the division, in lieu of requiring the community-based PIT program to submit an additional report. Directs the division, at least every 4 years, to review all state and community-based PIT programs that receive state and federal funding to determine whether the program is meeting its identified goals and outcomes and complying with all regulatory and statutory requirements. Requires the division to revoke a grant issued to any PIT program that is not meeting its goals or complying with regulatory or statutory requirements. Allows the division to contract with a public or private entity to assist in conducting the program reviews. Requires the division to prepare an annual executive summary of the PIT program reviews.
Identifies juvenile justice programs that are not subject to the requirements of the act.
Creates the comprehensive community-based prevention and intervention services pilot program ("pilot program") to be operated by the division. Instructs the division to solicit applications from local governments and prevention and intervention services providers throughout the state to participate in the pilot program. Directs the division to adopt time lines for implementation of the pilot program, ensuring that the pilot programs are operating by November 1, 2001. Specifies the application contents. Directs the division to select up to 12 pilot site communities to operate the pilot program, and specifies criteria for selecting sites. On or before June 1, 2002, requires the division to report an assessment of the pilot program to the joint budget committee and the health, environment, welfare, and institutions committees of the senate and the house of representatives.
Moves the existing youth crime prevention and intervention program, including the Colorado youth mentoring services program and the Colorado student dropout prevention and intervention program, from the department of local affairs to the division. Renames the program as the Tony Grampsas youth services program. Renames the youth crime prevention and intervention program board as the Tony Grampsas youth services board and specifies that the board shall continue to have oversight over the programs. Repeals the early education and school readiness program.
Moves the existing family development center program from the department of human services to the division. Abolishes the state council on family development centers and grants oversight of the program to the state board of health.
Repeals the requirement that the state auditor conduct a programmatic review of all prevention programs every 3 years.
Makes adjustments in the general appropriations act to reflect the transfer of programs in the act. Increases the appropriation to the department of public health and environment by $10,286,946 and 5.5 FTE and appropriates $238,480 and 3.5 FTE from the general fund to the department of public health and environment for implementation of the act.
APPROVED by Governor May 18, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 18, 2000
H.B. 00-1371 Office of the child's representative - guardians ad litem - court-appointed special advocates - representatives of the child - special advocates - appropriation. Establishes the office of the child's representative ("office") in the state judicial department, the operational structure of which is to be established in fiscal year 2000-01 and the payment of services through which is to be paid beginning in fiscal year 2001-02. Directs the Colorado supreme court to appoint a 9-member board in the office. Identifies the responsibilities of the board, including the responsibility to appoint a director of the office. Specifies the qualifications of the director.
Identifies the duties of the office, including the duty to enhance the provision of guardian ad litem ("GAL") services in Colorado through specified means. Further directs the office to enhance the court-appointed special advocate ("CASA") program in Colorado by working cooperatively with the nonprofit entity contracting with the judicial department to coordinate the CASA program to ensure the development of local CASA programs in every judicial district. Includes among the duties of the office, the duty to enhance the provision of services in Colorado by attorneys appointed to serve as representatives of children in domestic relation cases. Requires the office to seek or develop new funding sources for the provision of GAL, CASA, and representative-of-the-child services in Colorado. Gives the office enforcement authority.
Directs the office to work cooperatively with the judicial districts to establish pilot programs designed to improve the quality of child representatives at the local level, to develop measurement instruments to assess the effectiveness of different models of representation of children, to cause an annual independent financial audit to be performed, and to cause a program review and outcome-based evaluation of the office's performance to be conducted annually.
Requires that any court order appointing an attorney to serve as a representative of the child or special advocate under the "Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act" or as a GAL under the "Colorado Children's Code" require that such attorney comply with the chief justice's 1997 directive concerning the court appointment of GALs and representatives of children and any similar directive or other practice standards subsequently issued.
Creates the guardian ad litem fund and the court-appointed special advocate fund in the state treasury for the purposes of providing funding to these programs in Colorado.
Acknowledges the undertakings of the Colorado supreme court in studying and investigating different models implementing family court principles.
Appropriates $147,659 and 3 FTE to the state judicial department for allocation to the office of the child's representative by adjusting the appropriation to the judicial department, trial courts, mandated costs line item.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
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The information on this page is presented as an informational service only and should not be relied upon as an official record of action or legal position of the State of Colorado, the Colorado General Assembly, or the Office of Legislative Legal Services.