This week, lawmakers introduced a bill granting individuals a private right of action if an allegation of misconduct against a peace officer isn’t investigated. The bill also requires peace officers to report any allegations to the relevant agency. A peace officer who fails to make the report commits a class 2 misdemeanor under the bill.
Also introduced this week was a bill that prohibits the use of restraints on an inmate during labor, delivery of the child, postpartum recovery while in a medical facility or transport to or from a medical facility for childbirth, without any exceptions. The bill also requires correctional facilities to develop administrative policies, including a system for milk storage.
Bill Number: HB24-1454
Title: Grace Period Noncompliance Digital Accessibility
Introduced: April 15
Sponsors: D. Ortiz, P. Lundeen
Summary: Current law requires state agencies and public entities to comply with digital accessibility standards on or before July 1. The bill provides a one-year extension to July 1, 2025, of immunity from liability for failure to comply with the digital accessibility standards for an agency that demonstrates good faith efforts toward compliance or toward resolution of any noncompliance.
Bill Number: HB24-1455
Title: Effective Date Twenty-Third Judicial District
Introduced: April 15
Sponsors: M. Weissman, L. Frizell, R. Fields, B. Gardner
Summary: The bill changes the effective date of the creation of the new 23rd Judicial District from Jan. 7, 2025, to Jan. 14, 2025, to coincide with the date the district attorney of that district will be sworn in.
Bill Number: HB24-1451
Title: Include Hair Length in CROWN Act
Introduced: April 15
Sponsors: L. Herod, N. Ricks, J. Buckner, J. Coleman
Summary: In 2020, the general assembly enacted the CROWN Act, which added hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyles to the protections granted by state anti-discrimination laws in the context of public education, employment and housing practices, public accommodations and advertising. The bill adds hair length commonly or historically associated with race to the list of protections.
Bill Number: HB24-1459
Title: Birth Equity
Introduced: April 15
Sponsors: L. Herod, J. Buckner
Summary: Current law prohibits the use of restraints on a pregnant person in custody with certain exceptions. The bill prohibits the use of restraints on an inmate during labor, delivery of the child, postpartum recovery while in a medical facility or transport to or from a medical facility for childbirth, without any exceptions. The bill also requires a correctional facility or private contract prison to develop administrative policies, including a system for milk storage.
Bill Number: HB24-1460
Title: Law Enforcement Misconduct
Introduced: April 17
Sponsors: L. Herod, J. Bacon
Summary: The bill requires a law enforcement agency that receives an allegation of misconduct, criminal conduct or other unprofessional conduct regarding a peace officer employed by the agency to investigate the allegation. A peace officer also needs to report the allegation to the subject of the allegation’s employing agency. A peace officer who fails to make the report commits a class 2 misdemeanor. A person who makes an allegation has a private right of action if the allegation is not investigated. The bill clarifies that patterns and practices investigations may also be related to deprivation of rights by a peace officer against another peace officer.
Bill Number: SB24-210
Title: Modifications to Laws Regarding Elections
Introduced: April 17
Sponsors: S. Fenberg, E. Sirota
Summary: The bill modifies the Uniform Election Code of 1992, the law regarding initiatives and referendums, and the Fair Campaign Practices Act. The bill specifies the county clerk and recorder, as the chief election official for the county, sets the operational hours of the clerk and recorder’s office. The bill also changes the age an individual may preregister to vote from 16 to 15 and repeals the authorization for a 17-year-old who is preregistered to vote as an 18-year-old in a general election, among other updates to fair campaign practices, access to ballots, conduct of elections and election judges.
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