HB 23-1159

HB 23-1159 establishes a Family Courts Study Commission in Colorado. The commission will include parents, children who have been involved in family court cases, legal professionals, and lawmakers. Its job is to review how family courts work in the state and suggest ways to improve them so they better serve people. The commission will start meeting by September 30, 2023, and submit a report with its findings and recommendations by September 30, 2024. Since the bill has been signed into law, the commission is now set up and can begin its work to study family courts and make improvements based on their findings.

Official Summary

The bill establishes the commission to study family courts (commission) to evaluate family courts in Colorado and make recommendations to the general assembly for changes to the administration of family courts to better serve the people of Colorado. The commission is comprised of 4 parents who have been involved in a family court case, 4 persons with lived experience as a child in a family court case, a victim advocate, a representative of a child support agency, a parental responsibility evaluator or child and family investigator, 2 family law attorneys, a district judge with experience presiding over a family court, a representative of the state court administrator's office, a senator, and a member of the house of representatives. The legislative council staff and office of legislative legal services provide staff support to the commission. The commission may hire a person to assist the commission with compiling data and information relevant to the commission's duties and to prepare the commission's report. The commission shall hold its first meeting no later than September 30, 2023, and shall meet at least once every 3 months. The commission may meet remotely and at locations throughout the state. No later than September 30, 2024, the commission shall submit a report on family courts in Colorado to the judicial department and to the judiciary committees of the house of representatives and the senate. The report must include the commission's findings on issues it studied and any recommendations from the commission for improving the administration of family courts, including proposed legislation and funding sources for implementing any recommendations. The commission is repealed December 31, 2024. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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