First Regular Session | 73rd General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyPresented to the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee at its July 2017 meeting.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, approximately 10.3 percent of Colorado’s population reported having a disability in 2015. Many of those individuals use a service animal or assistance animal to cope with their disability. This issue brief defines the...
Recent federal policy changes have increased public awareness of asset forfeiture, a process through which a law enforcement agency can seize property that may have been involved in a criminal action.
This issue brief provides an overview of how the justice system treats juveniles found guilty of a crime in Colorado. It discusses juvenile problem solving courts; detention and commitment; the facilities where juveniles are housed; the programs and services available; requirements for...
The U.S. Constitution guarantees each citizen the right to a fair trial, which includes the right to be present at the trial, able to understand the nature of the proceedings, and able to participate in his or her defense. Whether the defendant’s mental health impaired his or her ability to...
This issue brief outlines Colorado's efforts to address issues associated with persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system.
There are 86 courthouse facilities in Colorado: 71 courthouses and 15 probation offices. This issue brief provides an overview of court and court facility funding. Specifically, information is provided on state, county, and municipal court funding requirements and state supplemental funding...
Colorado’s state court system is comprised of many different courts, including the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals (COA), and district courts. Colorado law also governs county courts and jurisdiction-specific courts in Denver.1 This issue brief describes the qualification requirements and...
This memorandum discusses Colorado law on the subject of the expungement of juvenile delinquency records, including the offenses that may not be expunged, and provides information about sealing adult arrest records, criminal records other than convictions, and conviction records. Further...
Probate is a general term referring to a court procedure by which a person's estate is transferred to others. In current usage, "probate" has been expanded to generally include all matters pertaining to administration of estates, including trust administration, guardianships, and...
This memorandum provides information regarding state laws penalizing those who misrepresent pets or other animals as service animals. Nine states have laws prohibiting the misrepresentation of pets, and nine states have laws prohibiting people from misrepresenting themselves as disabled in order...
This memorandum provides information on Colorado's construction defect laws and the various issues surrounding construction defects in Colorado. It summarizes the current construction defect laws in the state, provides a summary of a recent Denver Regional Council of Governments study of the...
Gun control is a much studied and debated topic. Proponents of gun control argue that the availability of firearms is directly linked to gun deaths and injury, especially in situations of domestic violence. Opponents counter that crime victims who defend themselves with guns are less likely to...
This issue brief examines Colorado's fireworks law, including the ability of cities and counties to regulate fireworks.
Child support is a required payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child after a divorce or other dissolution of a relationship. This issue brief summarizes how child support orders are issued, details elements of child support enforcement units and various child support...
In the 2013 legislative session, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 13-011, the Colorado Civil Union Act. This issue brief summarizes the provisions of the act and discusses other states' laws concerning same-sex marriage and civil unions. A brief explanation of two same-sex marriage cases...