First Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the Second House
LLS NO. 23-0902.02 Zach Blaes x4348
SENATE BILL 23-241
Senate
Committees House Committees
Appropriations Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY , AND,101
IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , REQUIRING THE DIRECTOR OF THE102
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY TO APPOINT A GRANTS MANAGER ,103
CREATING A CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT WITHIN THE OFFICE OF104
SCHOOL SAFETY, SPECIFYING THAT THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL105
SAFETY HAS OVERSIGHT OVER THE SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE106
CENTER, SPECIFYING THAT THE SCHOOL ACCESS FOR107
EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY108
THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY ,
CREATING A YOUTH VIOLENCE109
GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE, AND MAKING110
AN APPROPRIATION.111
Bill Summary
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
April 5, 2023
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 30, 2023
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 29, 2023
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Bridges and Kirkmeyer, Baisley, Buckner, Coleman, Cutter, Exum, Fenberg, Fields,
Gardner, Ginal, Gonzales, Hansen, Hinrichsen, Jaquez Lewis, Kolker, Liston, Lundeen,
Moreno, Mullica, Pelton B., Pelton R., Priola, Rich, Roberts, Simpson, Smallwood, Van
Winkle, Will, Winter F.
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Bird and Bockenfeld,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov/
.)
Joint Budget Committee. The bill creates the office of school
safety (office) within the office of the executive director in the
department of public safety. The office oversees the school safety
resource center (center), which assists schools in preventing, preparing
for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and crisis situations
by offering training and other supportive services. The director of the
office is required to appoint the director of the center and appoint a grants
manager to assist schools in obtaining funding related to school safety.
The bill also creates the crisis response unit within the office to
assist schools in responding to a crisis or emergency event.
Currently, the school access for emergency response grant program
(SAFER) is administered by the division of homeland security and
emergency management in the department of public safety. The bill
moves the administration of SAFER to the office.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1802,2
amend (1), and (2); and add (3.5) as follows:3
24-33.5-1802. Definitions. As used in this part 18, unless the4
context otherwise requires:5
(1) "Advisory board" means the school safety resource center6
advisory board created in the
OFFICE IN THE department pursuant to7
section 24-33.5-1804.8
(2) "Center" means the school safety resource center created in the9
department
OFFICE pursuant to section 24-33.5-1803.10
(3.5) "O
FFICE" MEANS THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY CREATED IN11
SECTION 24-33.5-2702.12
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1803,13
amend (1), (2), and (3)(g)
as follows:14
241-2- 24-33.5-1803. School safety resource center - created - duties.1
(1) There is hereby created within the department OFFICE the school2
safety resource center to assist schools in preventing, preparing for,3
responding to, and recovering from emergencies and crisis situations and4
to foster positive learning environments. The director of the center shall5
be IS appointed by the executive director DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE6
pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution.7
(2) The center and the director shall exercise their powers and8
perform their duties and functions under the department and the executive9
director as if the same were transferred to the department by a type 210
transfer, as such transfer is defined in the "Administrative Organization11
Act of 1968", article 1 of this title IS A TYPE 2 ENTITY, AS DEFINED IN12
SECTION 24-1-105, AND EXERCISES ITS POWERS AND PERFORMS ITS DUTIES13
AND FUNCTIONS UNDER THE OFFICE .14
(3) The center has the following duties:15
(g) To provide information and resources relating to school safety,16
school emergency response planning and training, and interoperable17
communications in schools, as determined by the center, to the division18
of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety to be19
distributed to school districts and schools pursuant to section20
24-33.5-1213.4. N
OTHING IN THIS SUBSECTION (3)(g) PERMITS PROVIDING
21
A FIREARM, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 18-1-901, TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR22
A SCHOOL.23
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1804,24
amend (1) as follows:25
24-33.5-1804. School safety resource center advisory board -26
created. (1) There is hereby created in the department OFFICE the school27
241
-3- safety resource center advisory board to recommend policies of the1
center.2
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 24-33.5-18053
as follows:4
24-33.5-1805. Authorization to contract for services. The5
department OFFICE is authorized to contract for services with any state,6
county, local, municipal,
NONPROFIT ENTITY, or private agency to7
implement the provisions of this part 18 and fulfill the duties of the8
center, which duties are described in section 24-33.5-1803 (3).9
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 24-33.5-180610
as follows:11
24-33.5-1806. Evaluation - report. (1) N
OTWITHSTANDING12
SECTION 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), on or before January 1, 2010, AND ON OR13
BEFORE JANUARY 1 OF EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, the director shall prepare14
and submit to the executive director a report evaluating the efficacy and15
value of the services provided by the center to schools.16
(2) N
OTWITHSTANDING SECTION 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), on or before17
January 15, 2010,
AND ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15 OF EACH YEAR18
THEREAFTER, the executive director shall prepare and submit to the19
education and judiciary committees of the house of representatives and20
the senate, or any successor committees, a report evaluating the efficacy21
and value of the services provided by the center to schools.22
23
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1810,24
amend (3)(f); and add (3)(h) and (3)(i) as follows:25
24-33.5-1810. School security disbursement program - created26
- rules - definitions - repeal. (3) An eligible entity that receives a27
241
-4- disbursement from the disbursement program may use the disbursed1
money only for the following purposes:2
(f) Developing and providing training programs, curriculums, and3
seminars related to school safety incident response; and4
(h) IMPLEMENTING A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM; AND5
(i) TO IMPLEMENT A CO-RESPONDER PROGRAM .6
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-2103,7
amend (3) as follows:8
24-33.5-2103. Definitions. As used in this part 21, unless the9
context otherwise requires:10
(3) "Director" means the director of the division of homeland11
security and emergency management created in section 24-33.5-160312
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY CREATED IN SECTION 24-33.5-2702.13
SECTION 8. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-2104,14
amend (1) and (3) as follows:15
24-33.5-2104. School access for emergency response grant16
program - created - rules. (1) There is hereby created in the department17
in the division of homeland security and emergency management OFFICE18
OF SCHOOL SAFETY CREATED IN SECTION 24-33.5-2702 the school access19
for emergency response grant program to provide grants to schools and20
public safety communications system owners to provide funding for21
needed interoperable communication hardware, software, equipment22
maintenance, and training to allow for seamless communications between23
new or existing school communications systems and first responder24
communications systems.25
(3) The division of homeland security and emergency26
management OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY CREATED IN SECTION27
241
-5- 24-33.5-2702 shall administer the grant program and, subject to available1
appropriations, shall award grants as provided in this part 21. Subject to2
available appropriations, grants shall MUST be paid out of the fund created3
in section 24-33.5-2107.4
SECTION 9. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-2105,5
amend (1) introductory portion as follows:6
24-33.5-2105. Grant program - application - criteria - awards.7
(1) A school is required to have a memorandum of understanding with8
its regional public safety 911 answering point or the local law9
enforcement agency or agencies that serve the school for communications10
interoperability to be eligible to apply for a grant. To receive a grant, a11
school must submit an application to the division of homeland security12
and emergency management OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY CREATED IN13
SECTION 24-33.5-2702 in accordance with rules promulgated by the14
director. At a minimum, the application must include the following15
information:16
SECTION 10. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-2106,17
amend (1) introductory portion as follows:18
24-33.5-2106. Reporting requirements. (1) On or before19
January 15, 2020, and on or before January 15 each year thereafter for the20
duration of the grant program, each school that receives a grant through21
the grant program shall submit a report to the division of homeland22
security and emergency management OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY CREATED23
IN SECTION 24-33.5-2702. At a minimum, the report must include the24
following information:25
SECTION 11. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-2107,26
amend (1)(b) and (4) as follows:27
241
-6- 24-33.5-2107. School access for emergency response grant1
program cash fund. (1) (b) On July 1, 2018, and each July 1 thereafter2
through July 1, 2023 JULY 1, 2028, the state treasurer shall transfer five3
million dollars to the fund from the state public school fund created in4
section 22-54-114.5
(4) The state treasurer shall transfer all unexpended and6
unencumbered money in the fund to the general fund after the grant7
program repeals pursuant to section 24-33.5-2108 ON JUNE 30, 2029.8
SECTION 12. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend9
24-33.5-2108 as follows:10
24-33.5-2108. Repeal of part. This part 21 is repealed, effective11
July 1, 2024 JULY 1, 2029.12
SECTION 13. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add part 27 to13
article 33.5 of title 24 as follows:14
PART 2715
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY16
24-33.5-2701. Definitions. A
S USED IN THIS PART 27, UNLESS THE17
CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :18
(1) "C
ENTER" MEANS THE SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE CENTER19
CREATED IN SECTION 24-33.5-1803.20
(2) "D
EPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY .21
(3) "D
IRECTOR" MEANS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE.22
(4) "E
XECUTIVE DIRECTOR" MEANS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF23
THE DEPARTMENT.24
(5) "O
FFICE" MEANS THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY CREATED IN25
SECTION 24-33.5-2702.
26
(6) "S
CHOOL" MEANS AN INSTITUTION AT WHICH INSTRUCTION IS27
241
-7- PROVIDED BY INSTRUCTORS TO STUDENTS IN ONE OR MORE BUILDINGS ON1
A CAMPUS. "SCHOOL" INCLUDES A SCHOOL SERVING ANY OF GRADES2
PRESCHOOL THR OUGH TWELVE AND AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER3
EDUCATION.4
24-33.5-2702. Office of school safety - created - duties - grants5
manager - crisis response unit. (1) T
HE OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY IS6
HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR . THE7
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL APPOINT A DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE8
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF ARTICLE XII OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION.9
T
HE OFFICE IS A TYPE 2 ENTITY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24-1-105, AND10
EXERCISES ITS POWERS AND PERFORMS ITS DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS UNDER11
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.12
(2) T
HE OFFICE HAS THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:13
(a) T
O OVERSEE THE CENTER;14
(b) T
O ADMINISTER THE SCHOOL ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY15
RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAM CREATED IN SECTION 24-33.5-2104;16
(c) T
O PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPORT17
FOR ALL SCHOOLS;18
(d) T
O ASSIST SCHOOLS IN ASSESSING ANY SCHOOL SAFETY19
CHALLENGES;20
(e) T
O ASSIST SCHOOLS IN OBTAINING ANY AVAILABLE FUNDING OR21
GRANTS RELATED TO SCHOOL SAFETY ;22
(f) T
O PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE23
SCHOOL SAFETY;
24
(g) TO ADMINISTER THE YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION GRANT25
PROGRAM; AND26
(h) ANY OTHER DUTIES RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS27
241
-8- SECTION.1
(3) T
HE DIRECTOR SHALL APPOINT A GRANTS MANAGER TO ASSIST2
SCHOOLS IN OBTAINING ANY FUNDING OR GRANTS AVAILABLE PURSUANT3
TO
SECTION 24-33.5-2703, ANY FUNDING AVAILABLE PURSUANT TO PART4
18
OF ARTICLE 33.5 OF TITLE 24, ANY FUNDING AVAILABLE PURSUANT TO5
PART 21 OF ARTICLE 33.5 OF TITLE 24, AND ANY OTHER AVAILABLE6
FUNDING RELATED TO SCHOOL SAFETY .7
(4) T
HE CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT IS HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE8
OFFICE. THE UNIT SHALL ASSIST SCHOOLS IN RESPONDING TO A CRISIS OR9
EMERGENCY EVENT.10
24-33.5-2703. Youth violence prevention grant program -11
created. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED IN THE OFFICE THE YOUTH VIOLENCE12
PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RAPID RESPONSE GRANTS TO13
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY-BASED14
ORGANIZATIONS, AND CITIES AND COUNTIES WITH YOUTH DIVERSION OR15
PROBATION PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS YOUTH VIOLENCE , DEVELOP16
STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING YOUTH VIOLENCE , AND DEVELOP17
STRATEGIES FOR YOUTH VIOLENCE INTERVENTION . THE OFFICE SHALL GIVE18
PRIORITY TO ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITIES FACING SIGNIFICANT RATES19
OF YOUTH VIOLENCE. ANY GRANT AWARDED MUST NOT EXCEED ONE20
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE OFFICE MAY ESTABLISH GUIDELINES21
NECESSARY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GRANT PROGRAM ,22
INCLUDING GRANT APPLICATION PROCEDURES , CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING23
THE AMOUNT AND DURATION OF GRANTS, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS24
FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE GRANTS .25
SECTION 14. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-1-128.6, add26
(10) and (11) as follows:27
241
-9- 24-1-128.6. Department of public safety - creation - repeal.1
(10) T
HE OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY, CREATED IN SECTION 24-33.5-2702,2
IS A TYPE 2 ENTITY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24-1-105, AND EXERCISES ITS3
POWERS AND PERFORMS ITS DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS UNDER THE OFFICE OF4
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY .5
(11) T
HE SCHOOL RESOURCE CENTER , CREATED IN SECTION6
24-33.5-1803,
IS A TYPE 2 ENTITY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24-1-105, AND7
EXERCISES ITS POWERS AND PERFORMS ITS DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS UNDER8
THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY IN THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE9
DIRECTOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY .10
SECTION
15. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-1.5-113, amend11
(1)(g) as follows:12
25-1.5-113. Crisis and suicide prevention training grant13
program - creation - process - reporting requirements - fund -14
definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise15
requires:16
(g) "School safety resource center" means the school safety17
resource center in the
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY IN THE OFFICE OF THE18
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN THE department of public safety, established19
pursuant to section 24-33.5-1803.20
SECTION
16. Appropriation. (1) For the 2023-24 state fiscal21
year, $25,798,091 is appropriated to the department of public safety for22
use by the office of school safety. This appropriation consists of23
$20,401,600 from the general fund, $5,000,000 from the school access for24
emergency response grant program cash fund created in section25
24-33.5-2107 (1)(a), C.R.S., $250,000 from the marijuana tax cash fund26
created in section 39-28.8-501 (1), C.R.S., $146,491 from the school27
241
-10- safety resource center cash fund created in section 24-33.5-1807 (1),1
C.R.S. To implement this act, the office may use this appropriation as2
follows:3
(a) $5,524,916, which consists of $274,916 from the general fund,4
$5,000,000 from the school access for emergency response grant program5
cash fund, and $250,000 from the marijuana tax cash fund, for6
administrative services, which amount is based on an assumption that the7
office will require an additional 1.8 FTE;8
(b) $1,825,744, which consists of $1,679,253 from the general9
fund and $146,491 from the school safety resource center cash fund for10
the school safety resource center, which amount is based on an11
assumption that the office will require an additional 11.2 FTE;12
(c) $1,144,023 from the general fund for the crisis response unit,13
which amount is based on an assumption that the office will require an14
additional 3.7 FTE;15
(d) $303,408 from the general fund for threat assessment, which16
amount is based on an assumption that the office will require an17
additional 0.5 FTE; 18
(e) $16,000,000 from the general fund for the school security19
disbursement program; and20
(f) $1,000,000 from the general fund for the youth violence21
prevention program.22
(2) For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, $313,951 is appropriated to23
the department of public safety for use by the executive director's office.24
This appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the25
office may use this appropriation as follows:26
(a) $108,422 for personal services, which amount is based on an27
241
-11- assumption that the office will require an additional 0.9 FTE;1
(b) $80,761 for health, life, and dental;2
(c) $1,141 for short-term disability;3
(d) $35,571 for amortization equalization disbursement;4
(e) $35,571 for supplemental amortization equalization5
disbursement;6
(f) $9,135 for operating expenses;7
(g) $10,800 for vehicle lease payments; and,8
(h) $32,550 for leased space.9
SECTION 17. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,10
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate11
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.12
241
-12-