Two police transparency bills advance in Senate Judiciary Committee
With the backing of police chiefs and sheriffs statewide, two law enforcement transparency bills won easy, unanimous passage in a Colorado Senate committee.
Colorado Legislature
Commentary: State agencies in Colorado need to upgrade their email retention capabilities
As our friends at the Sunlight Foundation recently wrote, “Our legally-protected access to public email records – the most voluminous source of official written records – is failing.” That’s true here in Colorado.
Bill to allow sealing of misdemeanors for one-time offenders killed in House committee
A bill to let one-time offenders petition to seal the public records of their misdemeanors died in a House committee following opposition from prosecutors, victims’ advocates and law enforcement officials.
Lawmakers unveil body cam, “right to record” and other bills to improve police transparency
Hoping to restore public confidence in law enforcement, Colorado lawmakers unveiled a legislative package that includes four bills focused on police transparency.
House committee tables bill on reporting of school safety violations
Hoping to find a compromise that satisfies school districts and law enforcement agencies, state lawmakers tabled a contentious bill aimed at improving the reporting of safety and disciplinary violations at Colorado schools.
Lawmakers vote to open certain records of the Colorado Division of Youth Corrections
State lawmakers moved to open certain records of the Colorado Division of Youth Corrections in response to news reports about violent incidents at youth corrections facilities.
House committee delays vote on measure that a lawmaker says would “criminalize photography”
A legislative committee tabled a bill originally intended to regulate drone use after some lawmakers raised concerns that the latest version could make photography a crime in many circumstances.
Arvada resident who sued his city wins Colorado Press Association’s “Friend of the First” award
Russell Weisfield, whose lawsuit over the use of secret ballots by the Arvada City Council led to a change in the state Open Meetings Law last year, won the Colorado Press Association’s “Friend of the First” award.
House Judiciary Committee kills bill to make the state public defender’s office subject to CORA
State lawmakers defeated a bill that would have made the State Public Defender’s Office subject to the Colorado Open Records Act, preferring to let the Colorado Judicial Branch write its own rules for releasing administrative records for that agency and other agencies under its control.
Salazar working on bill to prohibit police from interfering with the recording of police incidents
Recent excessive-force allegations involving Denver police have prompted a state legislator to draft a bill that prohibits law-enforcement officers from interfering with anyone who lawfully records incidents involving cops.