Sen. Pete Lee

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The bill requires the state court administrator to administer a court reminder program to remind criminal defendants to appear at their scheduled hearings in the county courts and district courts of the state, except for the Denver county court. The objective of the program is to significantly reduce the number of defendants who are committed to the custody of a county jail solely as a result of their failure to appear in court. The bill makes an appropriation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill creates a legislative committee on state prison population issues that begins in the 2018 interim and continues through June 30, 2020. The committee may meet during the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions. The bill specifies issues that the committee must study. The chair and vice-chair of the committee may appoint subcommittees to provide technical assistance to the committee. The subcommittees may include members of the committee and other persons with expertise in school prison population issues. The bill appropriates $39,021 to the legislative department to implement the bill. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Under the current language in the constitution, county clerks are required to write a separate retention question for each justice or judge standing for retention. The proposed referendum would allow county clerks to write a single ballot question for each level of courts, shortening and simplifying the ballot. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this concurrent resolution as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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The bill adds to the responsibilities of the Colorado racing commission the protection of all participants, human and animal, involved in horse racing. The commission shall promulgate rules to ensure fair play, human and animal safety, and integrity in the sport of horse racing. The commission shall designate categories of licensees subject to for-cause testing or random testing to detect the presence of prohibited substances. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill updates the Colorado code of military justice (code). Sections 1 and 2 of the bill define terms related to the code and clarify the applicability of the code. Sections 4 and 6 authorize commanding officers to arrest any enlisted member, impose certain disciplinary punishments without the intervention of a court-martial, and clarify those punishments and who may impose them. Sections 7 to 9 describe the punishments that may be imposed by general, special, and summary courts-martial. Section 9 also removes a person's ability to refuse trial by summary court-martial. Section 10 authorizes the assistant adjutant general for the space, cyber, and missile defense for the Colorado National Guard; the land component commander for the Colorado Army National Guard; or the wing commander for the Colorado Air National Guard to convene a general court-martial. Section 11 authorizes certain officers to convene a special court-martial. Section 13 permits a military judge to be detailed to a court-martial irrespective of military branch. Section 14 requires counsel in general or special courts-martial to be appointed as judge advocates. Section 15 classifies as felonies offenses for which an accused may be convicted by general court-martial and receive a sentence of confinement. A conviction by summary court-martial is not a criminal conviction. All other military offenses are misdemeanors. Section 16 authorizes the state to appeal certain decisions in a court-martial and prohibits the state from appealing a finding of not guilty by a court-martial or trial by military judge only. The bill describes the process for the state to file an appeal. Sections 17 to 29 make changes to existing offenses in the code. Section 30 creates an offense related to the possession and use of controlled substances. Section 31 establishes a process by which a member of the military forces may make a complaint against a commanding officer. Sections 3, 12, 13, and 14 require certain persons already required to be members of the Colorado state bar to be members in good standing. The bill makes conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill requires title insurance entities and affiliates or subsidiaries to hold funds belonging to others in a fiduciary capacity. 'Fiduciary funds' means all funds received in conjunction with real estate closing and settlement services. The commissioner of insurance shall promulgate rules regarding fiduciary funds. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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. One recommendation of the study is to relocate laws located in title 12 that are administered by the department of revenue to a new title 44, which will consist solely of laws administered by the department of revenue that regulate a variety of activities. To implement this recommendation, section 1 of the bill creates title 44 and section 2 relocates laws related to the regulation of racing from title 12 to the new title. Section 3 repeals the relocated laws from their current location. Sections 4 through 22 make conforming amendments necessitated by the relocation of the laws.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill requires the department of human services (department), to annually collect recidivism data and calculate the recidivism rates and educational outcomes for juveniles committed to the custody of the department who complete their parole sentences and discharge from department supervision. In collecting the recidivism data, the department shall include any juvenile adjudication or adult conviction of a criminal offense within 3 years after parole discharge. The department shall report the recidivism data, recidivism rates, and educational outcomes to the general assembly annually. Existing law requires the state auditor to perform 2 audits of the department's reports of recidivism rates and educational outcomes. The bill requires the judicial department to provide data to the state auditor as permissible by law for the purposes of these audits. The bill adds 2 members to the youth restraint and seclusion working group within the division of youth services. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More