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-