Colorado § 18-1.9-103 - Legislative oversight committee concerning the treatment of persons with behavioral health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems - creation - duties - repeal.

§ 18-1.9-103. Legislative oversight committee concerning the treatment of persons with behavioral health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems - creation - duties - repeal.

(1) Creation.

(a) There is created a legislative oversight committee concerning the treatment of persons with behavioral health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

(b) The committee consists of six members as follows:

(I) The president of the senate shall appoint two senators to serve on the committee, and the minority leader of the senate shall appoint one senator to serve on the committee; and

(II) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint three representatives to serve on the committee, no more than two of whom are members of the same political party.

(c) The terms of the members who are serving on the legislative oversight committee concerning the treatment of persons with mental health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems as of June 8, 2022, are extended to the convening date of the first regular session of the seventy-fourth general assembly. As soon as practicable after such convening date, but no later than the end of the legislative session, the speaker, the president, and the minority leader of the senate shall each appoint or reappoint members in the same manner as provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section. Thereafter, the terms of members appointed or reappointed by the speaker, the president, and the minority leader of the senate expire on the convening date of the first regular session of the next general assembly, and all subsequent appointments and reappointments by the speaker, the president, and the minority leader of the senate must be made as soon as practicable after the convening date, but no later than the end of the legislative session.

(d) The person making the original appointment or reappointment shall fill any vacancy by appointment for the remainder of an unexpired term. Members appointed or reappointed serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and continue in office until the member's successor is appointed.

(e) The president of the senate shall select the first chair of the committee, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall select the first vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair shall alternate annually thereafter between the two houses.

(f) The chair and vice-chair of the committee may establish organizational and procedural rules as are necessary for the operation of the committee and, in collaboration with the task force, guidelines and expectations for ongoing collaboration with the task force.

(g) (I) Members of the committee may receive payment of per diem and reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses authorized pursuant to section 2-2-307.

(II) The director of research of the legislative council and the director of the office of legislative legal services shall supply staff assistance to the committee as they deem appropriate, within existing appropriations.

(2) Duties.

(a) (I) The committee shall meet at least three times each year and at such other times as it deems necessary.

(II) Each committee member shall annually either attend or call into at least one regular task force meeting. Committee members are encouraged to attend separate meetings and inform the rest of the committee about the current work of the task force.

(III) (A) Notwithstanding subsection (2)(a)(II) of this section, committee members are not required to attend or call into a regular task force meeting during the 2026 interim. A member who attends a regular task force meeting during the 2026 interim is not entitled to per diem or expenses.

(B) This subsection (2)(a)(III) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

(IV) (A) Notwithstanding subsection (2)(a)(I) of this section, the committee shall not meet during the 2026 interim.

(B) This subsection (2)(a)(IV) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

(b) The committee is responsible for the oversight of the task force and shall submit annual reports pursuant to subsection (2)(c) of this section to the general assembly regarding the task force's findings and recommendations. In addition, the committee may recommend legislative changes that are treated as bills recommended by an interim legislative committee for purposes of any introduction deadlines or bill limitations imposed by the joint rules of the general assembly.

(c) (I) On or before January 15 of each year, the committee is required to submit a report to the general assembly and make such report publicly available on its website; however, during any interim in which the general assembly has suspended interim committee activities, the committee is not required to submit such a report. The annual report must briefly summarize the study issues, recommendations considered, and any actions taken by the committee and the task force during the previous year.

(II) The report must comply with the provisions of section 24-1-136 (9). Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the requirement in this section to report to the general assembly continues indefinitely.

Source: L. 2022: Entire article R&RE, (SB 22-021), ch. 471, p. 3439, § 1, effective June 8. L. 2026: (2)(a)(III) and (2)(a)(IV) added, (HB 26-1331), ch. 329, p. 1919, § 11, effective June 2.