First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 25-0023.01 Chelsea Princell x4335
SENATE BILL 25-027
Senate Committees House Committees
Education
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE USE OF TRAUMA -INFORMED PRACTICES TO ADDRESS101
SCHOOL SAFETY, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , MAKING AN
102
APPROPRIATION.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
.)
On or before September 1, 2025, the bill requires the office of
school safety (office) to convene and oversee a work group to develop
best practices for the use of trauma-informed practices to conduct school
safety drills.
No later than June 30, 2026, the bill requires the work group to
develop recommendations to support schools in training school personnel
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 17, 2025
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
April 15, 2025
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Marchman, Ball, Coleman, Cutter, Danielson, Exum, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp,
Kolker, Michaelson Jenet, Rodriguez, Sullivan, Wallace, Winter F.
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Joseph,
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. on the use of trauma-informed practices in conducting school safety
drills, how to best conduct school safety drills in a trauma-informed
manner, and how to best respond to a school safety incident. The
recommendations must be submitted to the office and the house and
senate education committees, or their successor committees; the governor;
the state board; the commissioner of education; and the department of
education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) Colorado is facing a growing mental health crisis among its4
youth, with increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental5
health issues that significantly impact students' ability to learn and thrive6
in school environments;7
(b) The rise in school shootings and climate-related disasters have8
increasingly disrupted the lives of Colorado youth, which contributes to9
the mental health challenges and trauma students face, and the long term10
effects of these events can impair a youth's emotional well-being, ability11
to focus, and academic success;12
(c) The safety and well-being of students and school personnel in13
Colorado is a paramount concern;14
(d) School safety drills are an essential part of school safety15
protocols to prepare students and school personnel for emergency16
situations;17
(e) Traditional school safety drills can be distressing and18
traumatizing for students and educators, thereby necessitating a more19
considerate approach;20
(f) Trauma-informed practices have been shown to reduce the21
psychological impact of school safety drills on participants, fostering a22
027-2- safer and more supportive school environment;1
(g) Recognizing the unique vulnerabilities of students, it is2
essential to include their perspectives and representation in efforts to3
create a safe and supportive school environment; and4
(h) Implementing trauma-informed school safety drills helps5
maintain the mental health and emotional stability of students and school6
personnel during and after the school safety drills.7
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-33.5-2705 as8
follows:9
24-33.5-2705. Trauma-informed practices for school safety10
drills - work group - creation - purpose - membership - fund - notice11
to revisor of statutes - definitions - repeal. (1) AS USED IN THIS12
SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :13
(a) "P
ARENT" MEANS A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR ANY OTHER14
PERSON HAVING LEGAL CUSTODY OF A STUDENT .15
(b) "S
CHOOL SAFETY DRILL" MEANS AN OPERATIONS -BASED16
EXERCISE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PREPARE STUDENTS AND SCHOOL17
PERSONNEL TO RESPOND TO SPECIFIC EMERGENCIES IN AN EFFORT TO18
REINFORCE SAFETY PROTOCOLS, NURTURE READINESS, AND REDUCE PANIC19
DURING A SCHOOL SAFETY INCIDENT .20
(c) "S
CHOOL SAFETY INCIDENT" MEANS AN EVENT THAT OCCURS21
ON SCHOOL GROUNDS THAT PUTS PROPERTY OR THE HEALTH , SAFETY, OR22
WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS, SCHOOL STAFF, OR VISITORS IN DANGER AND23
REQUIRES AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE .24
(d) "T
RAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES" MEANS A SYSTEMATIC25
APPROACH THAT RECOGNIZES THE PREVALENCE OF ADVERSE AND26
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES OF SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS AND EQUIPS SCHOOL27
027
-3- PERSONNEL WITH KNOWLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE TRAUMA AND STRATEGIES1
TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL WHO EXPERIENCE2
TRAUMA.3
(2) O
N OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2025, THE OFFICE SHALL4
CONVENE AND OVERSEE A WORK GROUP AS DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION .5
T
HE PURPOSE OF THE WORK GROUP IS TO DEVELOP BEST PRACTICES FOR6
THE USE OF TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES TO CONDUCT SCHOOL SAFETY7
DRILLS.8
(3) T
HE WORK GROUP MUST BE FUNDED ENTIRELY BY GIFTS ,
9
GRANTS, AND DONATIONS, INCLUDING IN-KIND DONATIONS AS PART OF A10
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT , AND NO ADDITIONAL11
GENERAL FUND MONEY SHALL BE APPROPRIATED FOR THE12
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORK GROUP .13
(4) THE WORK GROUP SHALL OBTAIN INPUT FROM PARENTS AND14
STUDENTS WHO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF THE STATE WITH REGARD TO15
RACE, ETHNICITY, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS , GEOGRAPHY, AND16
DISABILITY.17
18
(5) (a) (I) THE WORK GROUP CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING19
NONVOTING MEMBERS :20
(A) A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
21
SAFETY, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;22
(B) A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OFFICE , APPOINTED BY THE
23
GOVERNOR;24
(C) A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE
25
PREVENTION CREATED IN SECTION 25-20.5-1202, APPOINTED BY THE26
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND27
027
-4- ENVIRONMENT;1
(D) T
HE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION , OR
2
THE COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE; AND3
(E) A
STUDENT WHO ATTENDS A COLORADO PUBLIC SCHOOL ,
4
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR ;5
(II) T
HE WORK GROUP CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING VOTING
6
MEMBERS:7
(A) A
SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT WHO REPRESENTS
8
EITHER A RURAL OR SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT , APPOINTED BY THE9
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE;10
(B) A
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, OR THE PRINCIPAL'S DESIGNEE,
11
APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF12
REPRESENTATIVES;13
(C) T
WO TEACHERS, ONE OF WHOM MUST REPRESENT AN URBAN
14
SCHOOL DISTRICT, APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND ONE15
OF WHOM MUST REPRESENT AN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT , APPOINTED BY16
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ;17
(D) A
SCHOOL NURSE OR PEDIATRICIAN , APPOINTED BY THE
18
MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ;19
(E) T
WO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS , ONE OF WHOM MUST
20
SPECIALIZE IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT OR TRAUMA -INFORMED CARE,21
APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE , AND ONE OF WHOM22
MUST SPECIALIZE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF23
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES;24
(F) A
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
25
REPRESENTATIVE WITH EXPERIENCE IN RURAL OR URBAN SCHOOL26
SETTINGS, APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE ;27
027
-5- (G) A PROFESSIONAL EXPERT IN PUBLIC HEALTH OR SCHOOL1
SAFETY, APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE ;2
(H) A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY SECTION
3
OF THE DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL , APPOINTED BY THE4
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE;5
(I) A
PARENT OF A STUDENT CURRENTLY ATTENDING A COLORADO
6
PUBLIC SCHOOL, APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF7
REPRESENTATIVES; AND8
(J) A
N AT-LARGE MEMBER, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
9
(b) T
HE APPOINTING AUTHORITIES SHALL APPOINT THE MEMBERS10
OF THE WORK GROUP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
11
THIS SUBSECTION (5) BUT NO LATER THAN TWENTY-EIGHT DAYS AFTER THE12
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION (5).13
(c) A
NY VACANCY OCCURRING IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE WORK14
GROUP MUST BE FILLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE ORIGINAL15
APPOINTMENT.16
(d) A
MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE WORK GROUP
17
CONSTITUTES A QUORUM . IF THE WORK GROUP IS UNABLE TO REACH A18
QUORUM DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES , THE WORK GROUP MAY19
PROCEED WITH A REDUCED QUORUM OF NO FEWER THAN SIX VOTING20
MEMBERS.21
(e) T
HE CHAIRPERSON OF THE WORK GROUP SHALL CONVENE THE22
FIRST MEETING OF THE WORK GROUP NO LATER T HAN FIFTY -SIX DAYS
23
AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION . THE WORK GROUP SHALL24
MEET AT LEAST FOUR TIMES DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF ITS25
OPERATION AND AT LEAST THREE TIMES DURING THE SECOND SIX MONTHS26
OF ITS OPERATION. THE WORK GROUP SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO27
027
-6- ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE WORK GROUP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETINGS1
REMOTELY.2
(f) T
HE MEMBERS OF THE WORK GROUP SERVE WITHOUT3
COMPENSATION BUT MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES DIRECTLY4
RELATING TO THEIR SERVICE ON THE WORK GROUP .5
(g) U
PON THE REQUEST OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE WORK6
GROUP, THE OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE STAFF ASSISTANCE, MEETING SPACE,7
OR AUDIO-VISUAL COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES TO THE8
WORK GROUP AS NECESSARY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS DUTIES .9
(6)
THE WORK GROUP SHALL:10
(a) I
DENTIFY THE INTENDED OUTCOMES OF THE11
TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES;12
(b) I
DENTIFY BEST PRACTICES FOR INCORPORATING13
TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES INTO SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS TO RESPOND14
TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOL SAFETY INCIDENTS ;15
(c) U
SE THE BEST PRACTICES IDENTIFIED IN SUBSECTION (6)(b)
OF16
THIS SECTION TO DETERMINE HOW TO BEST IMPLEMENT17
TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES FOR SCHOOLS TO :18
(I) P
LAN AND EXECUTE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOL SAFETY19
DRILLS;20
(II) I
MMEDIATELY RESPOND TO A SCHOOL SAFETY INCIDENT ; AND21
(III) B
EST RESPOND TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE AN EMOTIONAL22
REACTION AS A RESULT OF SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS ;23
(d) D
ETERMINE THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO24
TRAIN SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO ADEQUATELY IMPLEMENT AND USE25
TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES WHEN CONDUCTING SCHOOL SAFETY26
DRILLS;27
027
-7- (e) DETERMINE THE NECESSARY FREQUENCY OF SCHOOL1
PERSONNEL TRAINING TO ENSURE THE ADEQUATE USE OF2
TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES DURING SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS ;3
(f) D
ETERMINE THE NECESSARY FREQUENCY OF SCHOOL SAFETY4
DRILLS TO ADEQUATELY PREPARE STUDENTS AND SCHOOL PERS ONNEL FOR5
SCHOOL SAFETY INCIDENTS;6
(g) D
ETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF ADVANCE NOTICE GIVEN TO7
PARENTS BEFORE CONDUCTING A SCHOOL SAFETY DRILL ;8
(h) P
ROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS ON TALKING TO STUDENTS9
ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS;10
(i) I
DENTIFY STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUPPORT11
SCHOOLS IN IMPLEMENTING TRAUMA -INFORMED PRACTICES FOR12
CONDUCTING SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS ; AND13
(j) I
DENTIFY POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS IN14
INCORPORATING TRAUMA -INFORMED PRACTICES INTO SCHOOL SAFETY15
DRILLS TO RESPOND TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOL SAFETY INCIDENTS .16
(7)
THE WORK GROUP SHALL CREATE A REPORT CONTAINING17
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION18
(6) OF THIS SECTION. THE REPORT MUST ACCOUNT FOR THE DIFFERENT19
NEEDS OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS .20
(8) NO LATER THAN ONE YEAR AND ONE MONTH AFTER THE21
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION (8), THE WORK GROUP MUST SUBMIT22
A REPORT CONTAINING THE FINDINGS AND RECOMME NDATIONS23
DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (7) OF THIS SECTION TO THE OFFICE24
AND TO THE EDUCATION COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES25
AND THE SENATE, OR ANY SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES; THE GOVERNOR; THE26
STATE BOARD; THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION; AND THE DEPARTMENT27
027
-8- OF EDUCATION. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL SUBMIT THE1
REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS PART OF ITS "SMART" ACT2
PRESENTATION REQUIRED BY SECTION 2-7-203.3
(9) (a) T
HE OFFICE MAY SEEK, ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS,
4
GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SOURCES FOR THE5
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. THE OFFICE SHALL TRANSMIT ALL MONEY6
RECEIVED THROUGH GIFTS , GRANTS, OR DONATIONS TO THE STATE7
TREASURER.8
(b) T
HE OFFICE MAY ENTER INTO A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
9
AGREEMENT TO CARRY OUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION . FOR10
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, IF THE OFFICE ENTERS INTO A PUBLIC-PRIVATE11
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT , THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP12
AGREEMENT IS CONSIDERED AN IN -KIND DONATION THAT COUNTS AS A13
GIFT, GRANT, OR DONATION IN THE MONETARY AMOUNT THAT14
CORRELATES WITH THE VALUE OF THE CONTRACT .15
(10) (a) I
F BY JUNE 30, 2027, SUBSECTIONS (2), (4), (5), (6), (7),
16
(8),
AND (9) OF THIS SECTION HAVE NOT TAKEN EFFECT , THE STATE
17
TREASURER SHALL TRANSFER ALL MONEY RECEIVED FOR PURPOSES OF18
IMPLEMENTING THIS SECTION TO THE STATE EDUCATION FUND CREATED IN19
SECTION 17 (4) OF ARTICLE IX OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION.20
(b) I
F SUBSECTIONS (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), AND (9) OF THIS
21
SECTION TAKE EFFECT PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (11)(a) OF THIS SECTION,22
ON THE DAY PRIOR TO THE REPEAL OF THIS SECTION OR ONE YEAR LATER23
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (11)(b) OF THIS SECTION, THE STATE24
TREASURER SHALL TRANSFER ALL UNEXPENDED AND UNENCUMBERED25
MONEY RECEIVED FOR PURPOSES OF IMPLEMENTING THIS SECTION TO THE26
STATE EDUCATION FUND CREATED IN SECTION 17 (4) OF ARTICLE IX OF27
027
-9- THE STATE CONSTITUTION.1
(11) (a) S
UBSECTIONS (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), AND (9) OF THIS
2
SECTION TAKE EFFECT IF THE OFFICE RECEIVES FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS3
OF GIFTS, GRANTS, OR DONATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION OR4
IF THE OFFICE RECEIVES AN IN -KIND DONATION AS PART OF A5
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR WHICH THE VALUE IS6
EQUAL TO FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS . THE OFFICE SHALL NOTIFY THE7
REVISOR OF STATUTES IN WRITING OF THE DATE ON WHICH THE CONDITION8
SPECIFIED IN THIS SUBSECTION (11)(a) HAS OCCURRED BY EMAILING THE9
NOTICE TO REVISOROFSTATUTES.GA@COLEG.GOV. SUBSECTIONS (2), (4),10
(5),
(6), (7), (8), AND (9) OF THIS SECTION TAKE EFFECT UPON THE DATE
11
IDENTIFIED IN THE NOTICE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED FIFTY12
THOUSAND DOLLARS OF GIFTS , GRANTS, OR DONATIONS, OR AN IN-KIND13
DONATION AS PART OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR14
WHICH THE VALUE IS EQUAL TO FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS , FOR THE15
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION OR, IF THE NOTICE DOES NOT SPECIFY THAT16
DATE, UPON THE DATE OF THE NOTICE TO THE REVISOR OF STATUTES .17
(b) T
HIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2027; EXCEPT
18
THAT, IF THE REVISOR OF STATUTES RECEIVES NOTICE PURSUANT TO THIS19
SECTION, THEN THIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE ONE YEAR AFTER20
THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (7) OF THIS SECTION ARE SATISFIED.21
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-2702,22
amend (2)(g); and add (2)(g.5) as follows:23
24-33.5-2702. Office of school safety - created - duties - grants24
manager - crisis response unit. (2) The office has the following duties:25
(g) To administer the youth violence prevention grant program;26
and27
027
-10- (g.5) TO OVERSEE THE WORK GROUP CREATED IN SECTION1
24-33.5-2705;
AND2
SECTION 4. Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,
3
$50,000 is appropriated to the department of public safety for use by the4
executive director's office. This appropriation is from the5
trauma-informed practices for school safety drills fund created in section6
24-33.5-2705 (9), C.R.S. To implement this act, the office may use this7
appropriation for administrative services related to the office of school8
safety.9
SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,10
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate11
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for12
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state13
institutions.14
027
-11-