HB 24-1126

House Bill 24-1126, which has been signed into law, allows courts in Colorado to require individuals accused of certain offenses to undergo a medical evaluation for substance use disorders. If the evaluation recommends treatment, the court can make participation in that treatment a condition for bond release. This means people awaiting trial might have to follow a treatment plan and report their compliance to the court regularly. The law also prevents courts from requiring additional drug or alcohol monitoring beyond what is part of the recommended treatment plan unless otherwise required by other laws. This bill impacts individuals who are suspected of having substance use disorders that contributed to criminal behavior and are awaiting trial.

Official Summary

The bill permits a court to order a person to complete a medical evaluation if the court suspects a substance use disorder contributed to the behavior giving rise to an offense for which the person was charged. The medical evaluation must determine if the person would benefit from a medically guided treatment plan for a substance use disorder (treatment plan). If the court receives a recommendation following the medical evaluation that the person would benefit from a treatment plan, the court may order the person to participate in a treatment plan as a condition of bond. The person's treatment provider shall submit a report to the court within 2 business days after each scheduled appointment that is part of the person's treatment plan to indicate whether the person is in compliance with the treatment plan. The bill requires a person ordered to participate in a treatment plan to waive any patient privilege necessary for a doctor or treatment provider to report to the court. The bill prohibits the court from ordering a person required to participate in a treatment plan as a condition of bond to submit to drug or alcohol monitoring other than monitoring required by the treatment plan unless the monitoring is expressly required or permitted pursuant to any other state law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)