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-