SB 25-304: Measures to Address Sexual Assault Kit Backlog - Colorado

PA1 (04/24/2025) → PA2 (05/01/2025) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to create a new Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board instead of an Independent Sexual Assault Kit Coordinator Grant Program. The changes shift focus from funding a single organization to establishing a multi-stakeholder board that will review and monitor forensic evidence protocols, standards, and training practices across the state.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single grant program to a comprehensive review board structure with multiple appointed members representing various stakeholders including law enforcement, victim services, and legal organizations.

SCOPE

Created a new Colorado Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board with seven categories of appointed members including the Attorney General, District Attorney Council, victim service organizations, and law enforcement associations.

FISCAL

Removed the Independent Sexual Assault Kit Coordinator Grant Program that would have provided $150,000 annually to a single qualifying organization.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for the Review Board to convene by August 1, 2025, and to review and monitor effectiveness of protocols, standards, and training practices for sexual assault response.

DEFINITION

Changed definitions from 'Coordinator' and 'Grant Program' to 'Department' (Department of Law) and 'Review Board' with specific membership composition requirements.

TIMELINE

Set specific timeline for board member appointments by August 1, 2025, and established four-year terms with eligibility for reappointment up to two times.

Revised (05/05/2025) → PA1 (04/24/2025) · 10 edits

MAJOR

The bill was amended to change its status from a revised version to a preamended version, indicating it is an unofficial draft with committee amendments not yet adopted. The substantive policy content remains largely the same, creating a grant program to fund an independent sexual assault kit coordinator position to oversee testing progress in Colorado.

TECHNICAL

Header text changed from 'REVISED' to 'PREAMENDED' to reflect that this is an unofficial version including committee amendments not yet adopted on second reading.

Senate and House sponsorship lists were modified, removing most sponsors from the Senate list and indicating no house sponsors.

Committee assignments were adjusted, removing Appropriations from the House list while keeping it for the Senate.

Bill title and summary text were updated to reflect the preamended status and removed references to 'amended 2nd reading' and specific dates.

Statute citation was changed from adding a new Part 14 to adding a specific section number 24-33.5-428.3.

Definitions section was reorganized, replacing the 'Review Board' definitions with new definitions for 'Coordinator', 'Forensic Medical Evidence Backlog', 'Forensic Medical Evidence Case Load', and 'Grant Program'.

Board membership structure was replaced with a simplified grant administration process where the Bureau administers the grant to a single qualifying organization.

TIMELINE

Application deadline set to June 30, 2025, with grant awards to occur by July 1, 2025, and continuing each subsequent July 1.

FISCAL

Grant amount established at $150,000 per year to fund the independent sexual assault kit coordinator position for twelve months.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements for grant recipients including a showing of public interest organization status, ten years of involvement in the field, and provisions for withdrawal and replacement of grantees.

Rerevised (05/06/2025) → Revised (05/05/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was re-revised to reflect amendments adopted by the Second House, updating the version status and removing the '3rd Reading Unamended' stamp. Substantively, new text was added to Section 1(d) to specify that the Review Board must include two representatives from the Department of Public Safety: one overseeing sexual assault evidence collection kit tracking and another overseeing victim service funding and rights compliance. The Attorney General and Governor are directed to appoint these members by August 1, 2025, with an encouragement to prioritize diversity in the appointments.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly define the composition of the Review Board, adding two new required members from the Department of Public Safety with specific oversight responsibilities.

REQUIREMENT

Added two new required members to the Review Board: a representative overseeing sexual assault evidence collection kit tracking and a representative overseeing victim service funding and rights compliance.

Added a directive encouraging the Attorney General to appoint Review Board members that reflect Colorado's diversity in race, ethnicity, disability status, sexual orientation, and geography.

TIMELINE

Set a deadline of August 1, 2025, for the Attorney General and Governor to appoint the Review Board members.

TECHNICAL

Removed the '3rd Reading Unamended' stamp and updated the version header from 'Rerevised' to 'Revised' to reflect the legislative process status.

PA3 (05/05/2025) → Rerevised (05/06/2025) · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to include all amendments adopted in the second house, expanding the list of House sponsors and adding a reading status stamp. The substantive text of the bill was modified to reorganize section headers, adding 'short title' and 'definitions' to the list of topics covered, while removing detailed provisions about board member appointments, term lengths, and reappointment limits.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding board membership and appointment procedures was significantly reduced by removing specific requirements for appointing representatives from the Department of Public Safety and limiting term lengths.

TECHNICAL

Added a 'REREVISED' header and reading status stamp to indicate the bill includes all amendments adopted in the second house.

Added multiple House sponsors (Bacon, Bird, Boesenecker, Brown, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, Duran, English, Espenoza, Garcia, Gilchrist, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Jackson, Joseph, Lieder, Lindsay, Lindstedt, Lukens, Mabrey, Marshall, Mauro, McCluskie, McCormick, Paschal, Phillips, Ricks, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Titone, Valdez, Woodrow, Zokaie) to the House sponsorship list.

DEFINITION

Modified section 24-31-1401 header to include 'short title' and 'definitions' in the list of topics covered.

REQUIREMENT

Removed detailed provisions specifying that board members include representatives from the Division of Criminal Justice with oversight of the statewide sexual assault evidence collection kit tracking system and federal/state victim service funding.

Removed the provision establishing four-year terms for review board members and limiting reappointment to no more than two times at the expiration of a term.

TIMELINE

Removed the requirement that the Attorney General and Governor appoint board members on or before August 1, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the provision encouraging the Attorney General to appoint board members representing Colorado's diversity regarding race, ethnicity, disability status, sexual orientation, and geography.

Final Act (05/13/2025) → PA3 (05/05/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was reformatted and reorganized with updated header information, sponsor lists, and committee assignments. The substantive policy content regarding the Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board remains unchanged, though some formatting and spacing differences exist between the two versions.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; changes are primarily formatting and structural.

TECHNICAL

Header information was updated with new session details, committee listings, and bill summary text.

Sponsor lists were reorganized and some names were removed or repositioned in the document.

Page numbering and formatting markers were adjusted throughout the document.

Spacing and capitalization inconsistencies were corrected in the statutory text.

Engrossed (05/01/2025) → Reengrossed (05/02/2025) · 3 edits · May 2, 2025

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed with expanded Senate sponsorship and updated formatting. The substantive text was removed, indicating the bill may have been completely rewritten or replaced during the amendment process.

Scope change

The bill's scope is currently unknown as the substantive text was removed in this version.

TECHNICAL

Senate sponsorship was expanded to include additional co-sponsors (Amabile, Ball, Bridges, Carson, Coleman, Cutter, Danielson, Daugherty, Exum, Frizell, Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Liston, Michaelson Jenet, Mullica, Rodriguez, Snyder, Wallace, Winter F.).

Bill status changed from 'Engrossed' to 'Reengrossed' with updated amendment language.

REQUIREMENT

All substantive text regarding per diem reimbursement, vacancy appointments, review board convening dates, and review board duties was removed.

Introduced (04/22/2025) → Engrossed (05/01/2025) · 6 edits · May 2, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from creating a grant-funded coordinator position to establishing a formal Colorado Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board. This board will oversee forensic evidence protocols and submit reports, replacing the previous independent coordinator model with a more structured oversight body.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single grant-funded coordinator role to a multi-member review board with specific membership requirements and ongoing duties to monitor forensic evidence handling.

SCOPE

Replaced the independent sexual assault kit coordinator position with a formal Colorado Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board.

REQUIREMENT

Established a seven-member board including the Attorney General, District Attorney Council Director, and representatives from various organizations focused on sexual assault services and victim advocacy.

Added requirement for the board to review and monitor effectiveness of protocols, standards, and training practices for sexual assault response.

TIMELINE

Set specific appointment deadlines (August 1, 2025) and initial convening date (August 1, 2025) for the new review board.

FISCAL

Removed the $150,000 grant funding for an independent coordinator position.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Department' (Department of Law) and 'Review Board' to replace previous definitions related to the grant program.

Measures to Address Sexual Assault Kit Backlog

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