HB 25-1116
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
HB 25-1116: DOC SEARCH COURT RECORDS BEFORE OFFENDER
RELEASE
Prime Sponsors:
Rep. Armagost; Bacon
Sen. Pelton R.
Published for: House Judiciary
Drafting number: LLS 25-0078
Fiscal Analyst:
Aaron Carpenter, 303-866-4918
aaron.carpenter@coleg.gov
Version: Initial Fiscal Note
Date: January 31, 2025
Fiscal note status: This fiscal note reflects the introduced bill. Due to time constraints, this analysis is
preliminary and will be updated following further review and any additional information received
Summary Information
Overview. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to conduct a search for outstanding warrants
and cases for offenders in its custody.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas on an ongoing basis:
State Expenditures Local Government
Appropriations. For FY 2025-26, the bill requires an appropriation of at least $60,899 to the Department
of Corrections.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
1
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue $0 $0
State Expenditures at least $75,692 at least $86,027
Transferred Funds $0 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE at least 0.8 FTE at least 1.0 FTE
1
Fund sources for these impacts are shown in the tables below. Page 2
January 31, 2025 HB 25-1116
Table 1A
State Expenditures
Fund Source
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
General Fund $60,899 $67,536
Cash Funds $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0
Centrally Appropriated $14,793 $18,491
Total Expenditures $75,692 $86,027
Total FTE 0.8 FTE 1.0 FTE
Summary of Legislation
The bill requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to conduct a search for any outstanding
warrants for persons in DOC custody under the following circumstances:
initial admission to the DOC;
upon initial comprehensive evaluation of the Time Computation Unit;
six months after admission;
between three and six months before a community corrections eligibility date; and
upon request of the Public Defender liaison.
If after conducting the search the DOC finds an outstanding warrant or case, the DOC must
notify all relevant parties outlined in the bill.
State Expenditures
The bill increases state expenditures in the Department of Corrections by at least $76,000 in
FY 2025-26, $86,000 in FY 2026-27, and similar amounts ongoing. These costs, paid from the
General Fund, are summarized in Table 2 and discussed below. The bill also minimally affects
workload in other criminal justice agencies.
Page 3
January 31, 2025 HB 25-1116
Table 2
State Expenditures
Department of Corrections
Cost Component
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
Personal Services $52,205 $65,256
Operating Expenses $1,024 $1,280
Capital Outlay Costs $6,670 $0
Software Costs $1,000 $1,000
Centrally Appropriated Costs $14,793 $18,491
Total Costs at least $75,692 at least $86,027
Total FTE at least 0.8 FTE at least 1.0 FTE
Staff
The DOC needs at least 1.0 FTE to conduct searches and to notified the required parties outlined
in the bill. According to the department’s December 2024 monthly population report, there were
5,741 admissions and 5,372 releases. This totals at least 11,100 searches in one year. Assuming
at least 11 minutes to search for cases and to notify impacted parties, this will require at least
1.0 FTE.
This estimate is preliminary. It does not include an estimate for the number of searches that may
be requested by the public defender liaison, nor does it include the other three instances where
a search is required. As such, the caseload estimate, as well as the amount of time it takes to
search and notify parties, may be revised.
Software Costs
The department will require additional licenses for their computer system to conduct more
searches. This cost is preliminarily estimated at $1,000.
Other Criminal Justice Impacts
The bill may impact other criminal justice agencies, such as the trial courts and agencies that
represent indigent offenders, if the bill results in more criminal cases. The fiscal note assumes
any additional cases will be minimal.
Centrally Appropriated Costs
Pursuant to a Joint Budget Committee policy, certain costs associated with this bill are
addressed through the annual budget process and centrally appropriated in the Long Bill or
supplemental appropriations bills, rather than in this bill. These costs, which may include
employee insurance, supplemental employee retirement payments, leased space, and indirect
cost assessments, are shown in the expenditure table above. Page 4
January 31, 2025 HB 25-1116
Local Government
Similar to the state, if the bill results in more criminal cases, workload to District Attorneys will
increase. This is assumed to be minimal.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming
no referendum petition is filed.
State Appropriations
For FY 2025-26, the bill requires a General Fund appropriation of at least $60,899 to the
Department of Corrections, and 0.8 FTE.
State and Local Government Contacts
Corrections
District Attorneys
Information Technology
Judicial
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.