Colorado 2025 Regular Session

Colorado Senate Bill SB170 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
	1	+	First Regular Session
	2	+	Seventy-fifth General Assembly
	3	+	STATE OF COLORADO
	4	+	REREVISED
	5	+	This Version Includes All Amendments
	6	+	Adopted in the Second House
	7	+	LLS NO. 25-0832.02 Owen Hatch x2698
1	8		SENATE BILL 25-170
2		-	BY SENATOR(S) Amabile and Kirkmeyer, Bridges, Ball, Cutter, Frizell,
3		-	Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet,
4		-	Roberts, Snyder, Sullivan, Weissman, Winter F., Coleman;
5		-	also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Bird and Sirota, Taggart, Armagost, Barron,
6		-	Boesenecker, Brown, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, Duran, Froelich, Garcia,
7		-	Garcia Sander, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Jackson, Joseph, Keltie, Lieder,
8		-	Lindsay, Lindstedt, Lukens, Marshall, McCormick, Rutinel, Smith, Soper,
9		-	Stewart K., Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Willford, Winter T., Zokaie.
	9	+	Senate Committees House Committees
	10	+	Appropriations Appropriations
	11	+	A BILL FOR AN ACT
10	12		C
11		-	ONCERNING A STATE-FUNDED RESPONSE TO GENETIC TESTING BACKLOGS .
12		-
13		-	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
14		-	SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-33.5-432 as
15		-	follows:
16		-	24-33.5-432. Appropriation - DNA retesting - sexual assault kit
17		-	backlog - reporting requirements - definition. (1) T
18		-	HE THREE MILLION
19		-	DOLLAR APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
20		-	, IN TURN
21		-	APPROPRIATED TO THE BUREAU WITH THE LINE ITEM
22		-	"DNA TESTING AND
23		-	REIMBURSEMENT
24		-	" IN HOUSE BILL 24-1430, PASSED ON APRIL 29, 2024,
25		-	REMAINS AVAILABLE TO THE BUREAU UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026.
26		-	NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative
27		-	officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
28		-	or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
29		-	history, or the Session Laws.
30		-	________
31		-	Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
32		-	through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
33		-	the act. (2) THE BUREAU MAY ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH EXTERNAL
34		-	TESTING LABORATORIES OR AGENCIES THAT CONFORM TO THE CURRENT
35		-	VERSION OF
36		-	ISO/IEC 17025 REQUIREMENTS, THE APPROPRIATE QUALITY
37		-	ASSURANCE STANDARDS REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF
38		-	INVESTIGATION
39		-	, AND FORENSIC-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS , AND ARE
40		-	ACCREDITED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS SIGNATORY TO THE
41		-	INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION COOPERATION MUTUAL
42		-	RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENTS FOR TESTING LABORATORIES, TO PERFORM
43		-	DNA RETESTING ON CRIMINAL CASES INVOLVED IN THE BUREAU
44		-	LABORATORY MISCONDUCT THAT WAS DISCOVERED IN
45		-	2023.
	13	+	ONCERNING A STATE -FUNDED RESPONSE TO GENETIC TESTING101
	14	+	BACKLOGS.102
	15	+	Bill Summary
	16	+	(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
	17	+	not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
	18	+	passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
	19	+	applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
	20	+	http://leg.colorado.gov/
	21	+	.)
	22	+	Joint Budget Committee. The bill requires the Colorado bureau
	23	+	of investigation (CBI) to spend specifically appropriated money on
	24	+	backlogged DNA evidence and sexual assault kit tests. Additionally, the
	25	+	bill allows the CBI to contract with external labs to perform the testing.
	26	+	The bill requires CBI to create a dashboard on the department of
	27	+	public safety's website to update the public on the backlog. CBI shall
	28	+	HOUSE
	29	+	3rd Reading Unamended
	30	+	March 13, 2025
	31	+	HOUSE
	32	+	2nd Reading Unamended
	33	+	March 12, 2025
	34	+	SENATE
	35	+	3rd Reading Unamended
	36	+	March 4, 2025
	37	+	SENATE
	38	+	2nd Reading Unamended
	39	+	March 3, 2025
	40	+	SENATE SPONSORSHIP
	41	+	Amabile and Kirkmeyer, Bridges, Ball, Coleman, Cutter, Frizell, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen,
	42	+	Jodeh, Kipp, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Roberts, Snyder, Sullivan, Weissman, Winter F.
	43	+	HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
	44	+	Bird and Sirota, Taggart, Armagost, Barron, Boesenecker, Brown, Camacho, Carter,
	45	+	Clifford, Duran, Froelich, Garcia, Garcia Sander, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Jackson, Joseph,
	46	+	Keltie, Lieder, Lindsay, Lindstedt, Lukens, Marshall, McCormick, Rutinel, Smith, Soper,
	47	+	Stewart K., Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Willford, Winter T., Zokaie
	48	+	Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
	49	+	Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
	50	+	Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. provide the general assembly with updates on the backlog every 30 days
	51	+	from March 10, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
	52	+	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
	53	+	SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-33.5-432 as2
	54	+	follows:3
	55	+	24-33.5-432. Appropriation - DNA retesting - sexual assault4
	56	+	kit backlog - reporting requirements - definition. (1) T
	57	+	HE THREE5
	58	+	MILLION DOLLAR APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ,6
	59	+	IN TURN APPROPRIATED TO THE BUREAU WITH THE LINE ITEM "DNA7
	60	+	TESTING AND REIMBURSEMENT " IN HOUSE BILL 24-1430, PASSED ON8
	61	+	A
	62	+	PRIL 29, 2024, REMAINS AVAILABLE TO THE BUREAU UNTIL JUNE 30,9
	63	+	2026.10
	64	+	(2) T
	65	+	HE BUREAU MAY ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH EXTERNAL11
	66	+	TESTING LABORATORIES OR AGENCIES THAT CONFORM TO THE CURRENT12
	67	+	VERSION OF ISO/IEC 17025 REQUIREMENTS, THE APPROPRIATE QUALITY13
	68	+	ASSURANCE STANDARDS REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF14
	69	+	INVESTIGATION, AND FORENSIC-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, AND ARE15
	70	+	ACCREDITED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS SIGNATORY TO THE16
	71	+	I
	72	+	NTERNATIONAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION COOPERATION MUTUAL17
	73	+	R
	74	+	ECOGNITION ARRANGEMENTS FOR TESTING LABORATORIES, TO PERFORM18
	75	+	DNA
	76	+	RETESTING ON CRIMINAL CASES INVOLVED IN THE BUREAU19
	77	+	LABORATORY MISCONDUCT THAT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2023.20
46	78		(3) T
47		-	HE BUREAU MAY ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH EXTERNAL
48		-	TESTING LABORATORIES OR AGENCIES THAT CONFORM TO THE CURRENT
49		-	VERSION OF
50		-	ISO/IEC 17025 REQUIREMENTS, THE APPROPRIATE QUALITY
51		-	ASSURANCE STANDARDS REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF
52		-	INVESTIGATION
53		-	, AND FORENSIC-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, AND ARE
54		-	ACCREDITED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS SIGNATORY TO THE
55		-	INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION COOPERATION MUTUAL
56		-	RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENTS FOR TESTING LABORATORIES, TO PERFORM
57		-	TESTING ON EVIDENCE IN THE BUREAU
58		-	'S FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE
59		-	BACKLOG
60		-	, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TESTING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
61		-	KITS
62		-	.
	79	+	HE BUREAU MAY ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH EXTERNAL21
	80	+	TESTING LABORATORIES OR AGENCIES THAT CONFORM TO THE CURRENT22
	81	+	VERSION OF ISO/IEC 17025 REQUIREMENTS, THE APPROPRIATE QUALITY23
	82	+	ASSURANCE STANDARDS REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF24
	83	+	INVESTIGATION, AND FORENSIC-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, AND ARE25
	84	+	170-2- ACCREDITED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS SIGNATORY TO THE1
	85	+	I
	86	+	NTERNATIONAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION COOPERATION MUTUAL2
	87	+	R
	88	+	ECOGNITION ARRANGEMENTS FOR TESTING LABORATORIES, TO PERFORM3
	89	+	TESTING ON EVIDENCE IN THE BUREAU 'S FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE4
	90	+	BACKLOG, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TESTING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT5
	91	+	KITS.6
63	92		(4) T
64		-	HE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SHALL :
	93	+	HE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SHALL :7
65	94		(a) P
66		-	ROVIDE A PROGRESS REPORT TO THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
67		-	BY
68		-	APRIL 15, 2025, DETAILING STEPS THE BUREAU HAS TAKEN TO RESOLVE
69		-	THE TESTING BACKLOG ISSUE FOR FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE AND SEXUAL
70		-	ASSAULT KITS
71		-	;
	95	+	ROVIDE A PROGRESS REPORT TO THE JOINT BUDGET8
	96	+	COMMITTEE BY APRIL 15, 2025, DETAILING STEPS THE BUREAU HAS TAKEN9
	97	+	TO RESOLVE THE TESTING BACKLOG ISSUE FOR FORENSIC MEDICAL10
	98	+	EVIDENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS ;11
72	99		(b) U
73		-	TILIZE THE APPROPRIATION DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (1) OF
74		-	THIS SECTION TO PRIORITIZE AND ACCELERATE TESTING OF THE BACKLOG OF
75		-	SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS
76		-	;
	100	+	TILIZE THE APPROPRIATION DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (1) OF12
	101	+	THIS SECTION TO PRIORITIZE AND ACCELERATE TESTING OF THE BACKLOG13
	102	+	OF SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS;14
77	103		(c) D
78		-	ESIGN AND IMPLEMENT, WITHIN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE
79		-	EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION
80		-	, A PUBLIC-FACING DASHBOARD ON THE
81		-	DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
82		-	'S WEBSITE THAT PROVIDES REPORTS ON THE
83		-	FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT BACKLOGS
84		-	,
85		-	INCLUDING THE TOTAL CASELOAD NUMBERS SUBJECT TO THE BACKLOG ,
86		-	PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 25-170 TOTAL FISCAL YEAR CASELOAD NUMBERS SUBJECT TO THE BACKLOG , THE
87		-	NUMBER OF FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE TESTS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT
88		-	TESTS COMPLETED IN THE PREVIOUS THIRTY DAYS
89		-	, THE NUMBER OF NEW
90		-	CASES RECEIVED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS THIRTY DAYS
91		-	, AND THE CURRENT
92		-	AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIMES TO CONDUCT A FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE
93		-	TEST OR A SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT TEST
94		-	. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL UPDATE THE
95		-	DASHBOARD AT LEAST EVERY THIRTY DAYS
96		-	.
97		-	(d) P
98		-	ROVIDE EMAIL UPDATES EVERY THIRTY DAYS BEGINNING
99		-	MARCH 10, 2025, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2026, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
100		-	REGARDING THE FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT
101		-	BACKLOGS
102		-	, WHICH INCLUDE:
	104	+	ESIGN AND IMPLEMENT, WITHIN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE15
	105	+	EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, A PUBLIC-FACING DASHBOARD ON THE16
	106	+	DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 'S WEBSITE THAT PROVIDES REPORTS ON17
	107	+	THE FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT BACKLOGS ,18
	108	+	INCLUDING THE TOTAL CASELOAD NUMBERS SUBJECT TO THE BACKLOG ,19
	109	+	TOTAL FISCAL YEAR CASELOAD NUMBERS SUBJECT TO THE BACKLOG , THE20
	110	+	NUMBER OF FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE TESTS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT21
	111	+	KIT TESTS COMPLETED IN THE PREVIOUS THIRTY DAYS , THE NUMBER OF22
	112	+	NEW CASES RECEIVED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS THIRTY DAYS , AND THE23
	113	+	CURRENT AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIMES TO CONDUCT A FORENSIC24
	114	+	MEDICAL EVIDENCE TEST OR A SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT TEST . THE25
	115	+	DEPARTMENT SHALL UPDATE THE DASHBOARD AT LEAST EVERY THIRTY26
	116	+	DAYS.27
	117	+	170
	118	+	-3- (d) PROVIDE EMAIL UPDATES EVERY THIRTY DAYS BEGINNING1
	119	+	M
	120	+	ARCH 10, 2025, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2026, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY2
	121	+	REGARDING THE FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT3
	122	+	BACKLOGS, WHICH INCLUDE:4
103	123		(I) T
104		-	HE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES WITH PENDING FORENSIC MEDICAL
105		-	EVIDENCE TESTS
106		-	;
	124	+	HE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES WITH PENDING FORENSIC5
	125	+	MEDICAL EVIDENCE TESTS;6
107	126		(II) T
108		-	HE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES WITH PENDING SEXUAL ASSAULT
109		-	KIT TESTS
110		-	;
	127	+	HE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES WITH PENDING SEXUAL ASSAULT7
	128	+	KIT TESTS;8
111	129		(III) T
112		-	HE CURRENT AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIME FOR A FORENSIC
113		-	MEDICAL TEST
114		-	;
	130	+	HE CURRENT AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIME FOR A FORENSIC9
	131	+	MEDICAL TEST;10
115	132		(IV) T
116		-	HE CURRENT AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIME FOR A SE XUAL
117		-	ASSAULT KIT TEST
118		-	;
	133	+	HE CURRENT AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIME FOR A SEXUAL11
	134	+	ASSAULT KIT TEST;12
119	135		(V) T
120		-	HE NUMBER OF TESTS THE BUREAU 'S INTERNAL LAB HAS
121		-	COMPLETED IN THE PREVIOUS THIRTY DAYS
122		-	;
	136	+	HE NUMBER OF TESTS THE BUREAU 'S INTERNAL LAB HAS13
	137	+	COMPLETED IN THE PREVIOUS THIRTY DAYS ;14
123	138		(VI) T
124		-	HE NUMBER OF TESTS EXTERNAL CONTRACTED LABS HAVE
125		-	COMPLETED IN THE PREVIOUS THIRTY DAYS
126		-	;
	139	+	HE NUMBER OF TESTS EXTERNAL CONTRACTED LABS HAVE15
	140	+	COMPLETED IN THE PREVIOUS THIRTY DAYS ;16
127	141		(VII) T
128		-	HE ANTICIPATED TIMELINE FOR THE BUREAU TO ACHIEVE AN
129		-	AVERAGE NINETY
130		-	~~-DAY TURNAROUND TIME FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT~~ TESTS ;
	142	+	HE ANTICIPATED TIMELINE FOR THE BUREAU TO ACHIEVE AN17
	143	+	AVERAGE NINETY-DAY TURNAROUND TIME FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT18
	144	+	TESTS;19
131	145		(VIII) U
132		-	PDATES ON THE BUREAU'S LAB ANALYST STAFFING LEVELS;
133		-	AND
134		-	(IX) INFORMATION OR UPDATES ON DIFFICULTIES CONTRACTING
135		-	WITH EXTERNAL LABS THAT MAY AFFECT THE BUREAU
136		-	'S ANTICIPATED
137		-	TESTING CAPACITY
138		-	, VOLUME, TURNAROUND EXPECTATIONS , OR OTHER
139		-	PAGE 3-SENATE BILL 25-170 INFORMATION EXPLAINING WHY THE RESULTS VARY FROM THE PROJECTED
140		-	CASELOAD TIMELINE REFLECTED IN THE
141		-	FEBRUARY 10, 2025, BUREAU
142		-	WHITEPAPER DOCUMENT PROVIDED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
143		-	.
144		-	(5) A
145		-	S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE
146		-	REQUIRES
147		-	, "FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE" INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED
148		-	TO
149		-	, DNA.
150		-	SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
151		-	determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
152		-	preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
153		-	PAGE 4-SENATE BILL 25-170 the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
154		-	institutions.
155		-	____________________________ ____________________________
156		-	James Rashad Coleman, Sr. Julie McCluskie
157		-	PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
158		-	THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
159		-	____________________________ ____________________________
160		-	Esther van Mourik Vanessa Reilly
161		-	SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
162		-	THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
163		-	APPROVED________________________________________
164		-	(Date and Time)
165		-	_________________________________________
166		-	Jared S. Polis
167		-	GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
168		-	PAGE 5-SENATE BILL 25-170
	146	+	PDATES ON THE BUREAU'S LAB ANALYST STAFFING LEVELS;20
	147	+	AND21
	148	+	(IX) I
	149	+	NFORMATION OR UPDATES ON DIFFICULTIES CONTRACTING22
	150	+	WITH EXTERNAL LABS THAT MAY AFFECT THE BUREAU 'S ANTICIPATED23
	151	+	TESTING CAPACITY, VOLUME, TURNAROUND EXPECTATIONS , OR OTHER24
	152	+	INFORMATION EXPLAINING WHY THE RESULTS VARY FROM THE PROJECTED25
	153	+	CASELOAD TIMELINE REFLECTED IN THE FEBRUARY 10, 2025, BUREAU26
	154	+	WHITEPAPER DOCUMENT PROVIDED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY .27
	155	+	170
	156	+	-4- (5) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE1
	157	+	REQUIRES, "FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE" INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED2
	158	+	TO, DNA.3
	159	+	SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,4
	160	+	determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate5
	161	+	preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for6
	162	+	the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state7
	163	+	institutions.8
	164	+	170
	165	+	-5-