Colorado 2024 2024 Regular Session

Colorado Senate Bill SB003 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 03/13/2024

                    Second Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 24-0780.01 Conrad Imel x2313
SENATE BILL 24-003
Senate Committees House Committees
Judiciary
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE AUTHORITY OF THE COLORADO BUREAU OF101
INVESTIGATION TO INVESTIGATE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY INVOLVING102
FIREARMS, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , MAKING AN103
APPROPRIATION.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 bill authorizes the Colorado bureau of investigation (bureau)
to investigate illegal activity involving firearms statewide. The bill
appropriates $1,690,258 to the department of public safety for the bureau
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 13, 2024
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Sullivan,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Froelich and Duran,
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. to conduct the investigations.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1.  Legislative intent - legislative findings. (1)  It is2
the intent of the general assembly that the Colorado bureau of3
investigation investigate:4
(a)  Egregious attempts to purchase firearms by previously5
convicted felons who are identified through the Instacheck unit denial process;6
(b)  Unlawful activity involving illegal firearm components and7
accessories; and8
(c)  Tips and information relating to firearms violations as they are9
received, specifically focusing on straw purchases and personally10
manufactured firearms, commonly known as ghost guns.11
(2) (a)  The general assembly finds that the Colorado bureau of12
investigation has operated in partnership with local law enforcement13
agencies on criminal investigations and that the bureau maintains a robust14
operating directive that outlines how investigators will, as soon as15
practicable after an investigation begins, communicate with local law16
enforcement agencies to determine the nature and extent of a17
firearm-related investigation.18
(b)  The general assembly intends that the Colorado bureau of19
investigation communicate with local law enforcement and the local20
district attorney in the jurisdiction where the bureau is conducting an21
investigation into illegal activity involving firearms.22
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-412, amend23
(1)(r); and add (1)(t) as follows:24
24-33.5-412.  Functions of bureau - legislative review -25
003-2- interagency cooperation with reporting functions - processing time1
for criminal history record checks - computer crime - synthetic2
cannabinoids enforcement. (1)  The bureau has the following authority:3
(r)  To conduct criminal history records checks pursuant to section4
24-72-305.3; and5
(t)  T
O INVESTIGATE THROUGHOUT THE STATE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
6
INVOLVING FIREARMS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 12 OF TITLE 18, INCLUDING7
INVESTIGATING ILLEGAL FIREARM TRANSFERS AND ATTEMPTS , AS8
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 18-2-101, TO ILLEGALLY OBTAIN A FIREARM. THE9
BUREAU SHALL COMMUNICATE WITH THE APPROPRIATE LOCAL LAW10
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND DECONFLICT INVESTIGATIVE OPERATIONS11
THROUGH COMMONLY ACCEPTED PRACTICES PRIOR TO TAKING12
INVESTIGATIVE OR ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND SHALL COLLABORATE WITH13
THE LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE JURISDICTION WHERE THE BUREAU14
IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THE15
INVESTIGATION. THIS SUBSECTION (1)(t) DOES NOT AUTHORIZE THE16
BUREAU TO INVESTIGATE OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ENCOUNTERED17
DURING A FIREARMS-RELATED INVESTIGATION WITHOUT CONSENT FROM ,18
OR IN COLLABORATION WITH, THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AS19
REQUIRED BY LAW.20
SECTION 3. Appropriation. (1)  For the 2024-25 state fiscal21
year, $1,477,127 is appropriated to the department of public safety. This22
appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the23
department may use this appropriation as follows:24
(a)  $1,079,356 for use by the Colorado bureau of investigation for25
personal services related to laboratory and investigative services, which26
amount is based on an assumption that the bureau will require an27
003
-3- additional 10.1 FTE;1
(b)  $351,068 for use by the Colorado bureau of investigation for2
operating costs related to laboratory and investigative services; and3
(c)  $46,703 for use by the executive director's office for leased4
space.5
SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,6
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate7
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for8
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state9
institutions.10
003
-4-