Colorado § 19-3-211 - Conflict resolution process - rules - definitions.

§ 19-3-211. Conflict resolution process - rules - definitions.

(1) (a) The state department, in conjunction with the attorney general, shall adopt rules concerning the statewide implementation of a conflict resolution process in each county and city and county pursuant to the provisions of this section. The purpose of such conflict resolution process is to provide a forum for grievances concerning the conduct of county department personnel in performing their duties pursuant to this article.

(b) Repealed.

(c) The conflict resolution process must provide for the resolution of grievances as follows:

(I) Transmittal of all grievances to the county child welfare director for internal resolution by the county department within ten working days after receipt of the grievance;

(II) Closure of the grievance and issuance of a written final decision within thirty-five days of receipt of the grievance if the county department has resolved the grievance to the complainant's satisfaction;

(III) Referral of the grievance to the office of the child protection ombudsman upon the request of the complainant if the county department has not resolved the grievance to the complainant's satisfaction;

(IV) Review by the office of the child protection ombudsman in accordance with section 19-3.3-103;

(V) to (VII) Repealed.

(d) to (h) Repealed.

(2) and (3) Repealed.

(4) Each county department shall post information about the grievance process on the county department's public-facing website or otherwise provide information concerning the grievance process to individuals involved in the county child welfare system. The state department shall promulgate rules governing the procedures for processing grievances, for determining if a grievance is within the scope of the conflict resolution process, and for receiving additional information from the complainant and the subject of the grievance.

(5) (a) Nothing in this section prevents a complainant from making a complaint directly to the office of the child protection ombudsman.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (5), a county department shall not be precluded from presenting any relevant evidence in a pending civil or criminal investigation or proceeding that the county department has obtained in the course of fulfilling its duties in the conflict resolution process pursuant to the provisions of this section.

(c) A county department is not precluded from presenting any relevant evidence in a pending civil or criminal investigation or proceeding that the county department has obtained in the course of fulfilling its duties in the conflict resolution process pursuant to this section.

Source: L. 94: Entire section added, p. 2081, § 1, effective June 3. L. 96: (6) repealed, p. 85, § 11, effective March 20; (2)(h) repealed, p. 1247, § 118, effective August 7. L. 97: Entire section R&RE, p. 1434, § 9, effective July 1. L. 2004: (1)(a) and IP(4) amended, p. 194, § 8, effective August 4. L. 2023: (1)(b), (1)(c)(V), (1)(c)(VI), (1)(c)(VII), (1)(d), (1)(e), (1)(f), (1)(g), (1)(h), (2), and (3) repealed, IP(1)(c), (1)(c)(I), (1)(c)(II), (1)(c)(III), (1)(c)(IV), (4), and (5)(a) amended, and (5)(c) added, (SB 23-210), ch. 251, p. 1427, § 2, effective May 24.