Second Regular Session Seventy-fourth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 24-0459.01 Megan McCall x4215 HOUSE BILL 24-1118 House Committees Senate Committees Judiciary A BILL FOR AN ACT C ONCERNING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO101 OPERATE A DISTRICT ATTORNEY 'S OFFICE DUE TO A VACANCY102 TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OF THE103 GOVERNOR.104 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 attorney general is authorized to appear for the state and prosecute and defend all actions and proceedings, civil and criminal, in which the state is a party or is interested when required to do so by the HOUSE 3rd Reading Unamended February 12, 2024 HOUSE 2nd Reading Unamended February 9, 2024 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Marshall and Joseph, Clifford, Garcia, Lieder, McCluskie, Parenti, Snyder, Titone SENATE SPONSORSHIP Roberts and Gardner, 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. governor. In these circumstances, the bill allows the attorney general to also expend funds, manage staff, and perform other administrative functions essential for the operation of a district attorney's office. If it is essential during this time for the attorney general to hire personnel, while the attorney general has the ultimate authority regarding hiring decisions, a committee consisting of the attorney general, a representative from the Colorado district attorneys' council, and the highest ranking attorney or official at the district attorney's office shall make recommendations regarding hiring decisions that the attorney general must consider. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1 SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-31-101, amend2 (1)(t) and (1)(u); and add (1)(v) as follows:3 24-31-101. Powers and duties of attorney general. (1) The4 attorney general:5 (t) May bring a civil action to enforce section 25-7-144; and 6 (u) May, if the attorney general has reason to believe that a7 violation of a statute or rule is causing an imminent and substantive8 endangerment to the public health, water quality, or environment within9 a mobile home park, request a temporary restraining order, preliminary10 injunction, permanent injunction, or any other relief necessary to protect11 the public health, water quality, or environment; AND12 (v) M AY EXPEND MONEY, MANAGE STAFF, AND PERFORM OTHER13 ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS ESSENTIAL FOR THE OPERATION OF A14 DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHEN APPOINTED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER OF15 THE GOVERNOR.16 SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-31-117 as17 follows:18 24-31-117. Hiring committee when attorney general to operate19 district attorney's office due to a vacancy. I F, DURING THE COURSE OF20 1118-2- PERFORMING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 'S DUTIES PURSUANT TO SECTION1 24-31-101 (1)(v), IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO HIRE2 PERSONNEL AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY 'S OFFICE, THE ATTORNEY3 GENERAL SHALL ESTABLISH A HIRING COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF THE4 ATTORNEY GENERAL, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COLORADO DISTRICT5 ATTORNEYS' COUNCIL, AND THE HIGHEST RANKING ATTORNEY OR OFFICIAL6 AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY 'S OFFICE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS7 REGARDING HIRING DECISIONS. THE COMMITTEE MAY RECOMMEND THAT8 THE HIRING OF PERSONNEL BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS CONDITIONAL9 UPON THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE PERSON APPOINTED TO FILL THE10 VACANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY POSITION. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RETAINS11 THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY REGARDING HIRING DECISIONS WHILE ACTING12 PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-31-101 (1)(v) BUT MUST CONSIDER THE13 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMI TTEE IN MAKING HIRING DECISIONS .14 SECTION 3. Applicability. This act applies to actions taken by15 the attorney general pursuant to section 24-31-101 (1)(v) or 24-31-117,16 Colorado Revised Statutes, on or after the effective date of this act.17 SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,18 determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate19 preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for20 the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state21 institutions.22 1118 -3-