First Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 23-0992.01 Jacob Baus x2173
SENATE BILL 23-277
Senate Committees House Committees
Local Government & Housing
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING MEASURES TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO INCREASE PUBLIC101
SAFETY, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , EXTENDING102
RELATED EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS .103
Bill Summary
(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
.)
The crime prevention through safer streets grant program (safer
streets program) currently exists within the department of public safety
(DPS). The safer streets program repeals on November 1, 2023. The bill
extends the safer streets program, extends reporting requirements, and
extends the authority for the DPS to use the appropriation received in the
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Buckner,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
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. 2022-23 state fiscal year to pay for the safer streets program until the
appropriation is fully expended.
Two additional grant programs exist within DPS:
! A law enforcement workforce recruitment, retention, and
tuition grant program (workforce program) to award grants
to law enforcement agencies to address workforce
shortages, improve training to P.O.S.T.-certified peace
officers, and improve relationships between law
enforcement and impacted communities; and
! A state's mission for assistance in recruitment and training
policing grant program (SMART program) to award grants
to law enforcement agencies to increase the number of
P.O.S.T.-certified and non-certified officers who are
representative of the communities they serve and to provide
training for those additional law enforcement officers.
The bill extends the workforce program and the SMART program
and their reporting requirements, specifies additional permissible uses for
the workforce program and SMART program grant awards, permits DPS
to set workforce program and SMART program deadlines, and permits
DPS to provide technical support to workforce program and SMART
program applicants.
The behavioral health information and data-sharing program
(information program) currently exists within the DPS. The program
repeals on June 30, 2024. The bill extends the information program, and
the authority for the DPS to use the appropriation until December 30,
2024.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-117, amend2
(7), (8), and (9) as follows:3
24-33.5-117. Crime prevention through safer streets grant4
program - created - committee - reports - repeal. (7) The general5
assembly shall appropriate ten million three hundred thousand dollars in6
fiscal year 2022-23 from the general fund for the grant program. A
NY7
UNEXPENDED MONEY REMAINING AT THE END OF THE 2022-23 STATE8
FISCAL YEAR FROM THIS APPROPRIATION MAY BE USED BY THE9
DEPARTMENT UNTIL FULLY EXPENDED WITHOUT FURTHER APPROPRIATION10
SB23-277-2- AND MUST NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE OTHER THAN THE1
PURPOSES SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION.2
(8) (a) On or before June 30, 2024 AUGUST 31, 2023, AND EACH3
A
UGUST 31 THEREAFTER THROUGH 2026, each local governmental agency4
that receives a grant shall provide a final report to the department5
describing how the grant money was utilized and what measurable or6
observable impacts the use of the grant money had on reducing crime7
disaggregated by the type of crime and demographic information. On or8
before October 1, 2023,
AND EACH OCTOBER 1 THEREAFTER THROUGH9
2026, the department shall submit a summary of the reports to the10
judiciary committees of the house of representatives and senate, or to any11
successor committees.12
(b) N
OTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-13613
(11)(a)(I),
THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN THIS14
SUBSECTION (8) CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.15
(9) This section is repealed, effective November 1, 2023
JULY 1,16
2027.17
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-503, amend18
(1)(dd)(II) as follows:19
24-33.5-503. Duties of division. (1) The division has the20
following duties:21
(dd) (II) On or before November 15, 2024 2026, to submit a22
written report to the judiciary committees of the senate and house of23
representatives, or any successor committees, and to the joint budget24
committee of the general assembly concerning the effectiveness of25
programs funded through the grant programs and recommendations for26
continued funding for any such programs.27
SB23-277
-3- SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-528, amend1
(1)(c)(I)(F), (1)(c)(I)(G), (1)(c)(IV), (2)(a) introductory portion, (5), and2
(6); and add (1)(c)(I)(H), (1)(c)(VI), (1)(c)(VII), (1)(c)(VIII), (1)(c)(IX),3
(1)(c)(X), and (2.5) as follows:4
24-33.5-528. Law enforcement workforce recruitment,5
retention, and tuition grant program - committee - fund - reports -6
repeal. (1) (c) Grants may be awarded to:7
(I) Recruit, pay the tuition for, and train individuals to work in8
P.O.S.T.-certified law enforcement careers, which may include:9
(F) Provide supplemental resources to rural and smaller law10
enforcement agencies that possess modest or no financial resources to11
recruit and retain qualified and trained P.O.S.T.-certified peace officers;12
and13
(G) Any other strategies demonstrated to recruit, train, and retain14
high-quality P.O.S.T.-certified peace officers if deemed appropriate by15
the division PROVIDING, OR ASSISTING IN THE PROVISION OF, CHILD CARE16
FOR PEACE OFFICERS; AND17
(H) A
NY OTHER STRATEGIES DEMONSTRATED TO RECRUIT , TRAIN,18
AND RETAIN HIGH-QUALITY P.O.S.T.-CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS IF19
DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE DIVISION ;20
(IV) Provide continuing education opportunities for21
P.O.S.T.-certified and non-certified law peace officers; and
22
(VI) P
ROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR P.O.S.T-CERTIFIED AND23
NON-CERTIFIED LAW PEACE OFFICERS TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN EQUITY ,24
DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION;25
(VII) C
REATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS , SCHOOL DISTRICTS,26
COLLEGES, OR UNIVERSITIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT INTERNSHIP OR27
SB23-277
-4- MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN LAW1
ENFORCEMENT;2
(VIII) C
REATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS , SCHOOL DISTRICTS,3
OR YOUTH-SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT YOUTH4
PROGRAMS TO FOSTER A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUTH AND5
LAW ENFORCEMENT , AND TO FOSTER EARLY INTEREST IN LAW6
ENFORCEMENT CAREERS ;7
(IX) D
EVELOP AND IMPLEMENT EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS FOR LAW8
ENFORCEMENT WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT , RETENTION, AND TUITION9
ASSISTANCE; AND10
(X) I
MPLEMENT ANY OTHER STRATEGY DEMONSTRATED TO11
RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND RETAIN A HIGH -QUALITY AND DIVERSE LAW12
ENFORCEMENT WORKFORCE IF DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE DIVISION .13
(2) The executive director shall:14
(a) Develop policies and procedures related to how
AND BY WHEN15
law enforcement agencies submit grant applications, performance metrics16
that grantees will be expected to provide, data and other relevant17
information required as part of their grant report described in subsection18
(5) of this section, and how grant money is disbursed, including19
establishing:20
(2.5) T
HE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY PROVIDE TECHNICAL21
SUPPORT DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR22
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO APPLICANTS .23
(5) (a) On or before August 1, 2023, and August 1, 2024
AND24
EACH AUGUST 1 THEREAFTER THROUGH 2026, each law enforcement25
agency and any other entity that receives a grant shall provide a financial26
and narrative report to the division describing how the grant funds were27
SB23-277
-5- utilized, including data and other relevant information on performance1
metrics described in subsection (2) of this section. On or before October2
1, 2023, and October 1, 2024 AND EACH OCTOBER 1 THEREAFTER3
THROUGH 2026, the division shall submit a summary of the reports to the4
judiciary committees of the house of representatives and senate, or to any5
successor committees, and provide a summary of the program during the6
hearings conducted pursuant to the "State Measurement for Accountable,7
Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act", part 2 of8
article 7 of title 2, following each year in which the program was in9
effect.10
(b) N
OTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-13611
(11)(a)(I),
THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN THIS12
SUBSECTION (5) CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.13
(6) This section is repealed, effective January 1, 2025
JULY 1,14
2027.15
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-529, amend16
(1)(c), (1)(d), (2) introductory portion, (5), and (6); and add (2.5) as17
follows:18
24-33.5-529. State's mission for assistance in recruiting and19
training (SMART) grant program - committee - fund - reports -20
definitions - repeal. (1) (c) Grants may be awarded to increase the21
diversity of P.O.S.T.-certified and non-certified law enforcement22
professionals and public safety employees to better reflect the community23
in which they work,
WHICH MAY INCLUDE:24
(I) P
ROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR P.O.S.T-CERTIFIED AND25
NON-CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING26
IN EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION;27
SB23-277
-6- (II) CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS , SCHOOL DISTRICTS,1
COLLEGES, OR UNIVERSITIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT INTERNSHIP OR2
MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN LAW3
ENFORCEMENT WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY4
SERVE;5
(III) C
REATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS , SCHOOL DISTRICTS,6
OR YOUTH-SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT YOUTH7
PROGRAMS TO FOSTER A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUTH AND8
LAW ENFORCEMENT , AND TO FOSTER EARLY INTEREST IN LAW9
ENFORCEMENT CAREERS IN YOUTH WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE10
COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE;11
(IV) D
EVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS12
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING FOR13
P.O.S.T.-
CERTIFIED AND NON -CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT14
PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY15
SERVE; AND16
(V) A
NY OTHER STRATEGY DEMONSTRATED TO RECRUIT AND17
TRAIN A HIGH-QUALITY AND DIVERSE LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKFORCE IF18
DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE DIVISION .19
(d) A law enforcement agency may use the grant money to cover20
costs associated with eligible law enforcement officers' salaries and21
benefits,
INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF, OR ASSISTANCE IN THE PROVISION22
OF, CHILD CARE FOR ELIGIBLE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ; recruitment;23
and training.24
(2) The executive director shall develop policies and procedures25
related to how
AND BY WHEN law enforcement agencies and any26
organization that provides training, technical assistance, or financial27
SB23-277
-7- support to such agencies submit grant applications, performance metrics1
that grantees will be expected to provide, data, and other relevant2
information as part of their grant report described in subsection (5) of this3
section and how grant money is disbursed, including:4
(2.5) T
HE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY PROVIDE TECHNICAL5
SUPPORT DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR6
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO APPLICANTS .7
(5) (a) On or before August 1, 2023, and August 1, 2024
EACH8
A
UGUST 1 THEREAFTER THROUGH 2026, each law enforcement agency9
that receives a grant shall provide a narrative and financial report to the10
division describing how the grant funds were utilized. On or before11
October 1, 2023, and October 1, 2024
EACH OCTOBER 1 THEREAFTER12
THROUGH 2026, the division shall submit a summary of the reports to the13
judiciary committees of the house of representatives and senate, or to any14
successor committees, and provide a summary of the SMART policing15
program during the hearings conducted pursuant to the "State16
Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART)17
Government Act", part 2 of article 7 of title 2, following each year in18
which the SMART policing program was in effect.19
(b) N
OTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 24-1-13620
(11)(a)(I),
THE REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THE REPORT DESCRIBED IN THIS21
SUBSECTION (5) CONTINUES INDEFINITELY.22
(6) This section is repealed, effective January 1, 2025
JULY 1,23
2027.24
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-532, amend25
(4) and (5) as follows:26
24-33.5-532. Behavioral health information and data-sharing27
SB23-277
-8- in the criminal justice system - grants - appropriation - repeal.1
(4) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall2
appropriate three million five hundred thousand dollars from the3
behavioral and mental health cash fund created in section 24-75-230 to4
the department for the purposes of this section. A
NY MONEY REMAINING5
AT THE END OF THE 2022-23 STATE FISCAL YEAR FROM THIS6
APPROPRIATION IS FURTHER APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE7
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. ANY MONEY THAT IS NOT EXPENDED OR8
OBLIGATED BY DECEMBER 30, 2024, REVERTS TO THE "AMERICAN RESCUE9
P
LAN ACT OF 2021" CASH FUND CREATED IN SECTION 24-75-226 (2) IN10
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 24-75-226 (4)(d). ANY MONEY OBLIGATED11
BY DECEMBER 30, 2024, MUST BE EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 31, 2026.12
(5) This section is repealed, effective June 30, 2024
JULY 1, 2027.13
SECTION 6. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,14
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate15
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.16
SB23-277
-9-