SB 22-207

Senate Bill 22-207 in Colorado is a measure that requires the state Department of Education to hire an outside contractor to study how changes to federal Title IX regulations affect public schools. The study will look at best practices for preventing and handling sexual misconduct, gaps between state and federal laws on this issue, and whether Colorado can create stricter rules than what's required by federal law. The bill has been signed into law, meaning the Department of Education is now responsible for carrying out the study as outlined in the legislation.

Official Summary

The act creates a study in the department of education (department). The department is required to contract with a third party to conduct the study. The third-party contractor (contractor) is required to examine the amendments to the Title IX regulations of the federal "Education Amendments of 1972" (Title IX) issued by the United States department of education's office for civil rights. The contractor is required to consult with the department, a sexual misconduct advisory committee within the department of higher education, a K-12 advocacy organization, and a Colorado student government organization. The study must include an examination of the following: Best practices for prevention, notification, training, and responding to sex-based discrimination and harassment in public schools; The gaps between state and federal law regarding Title IX; and Whether Title IX regulations place limits on state law and whether the Colorado general assembly may adopt more stringent standards in state statute. The act establishes that if the department contracts with a public university as the contractor, the department shall submit the results of the study on January 31, 2023, to the education committees of the general assembly. If the department contracts with a contractor that is not a public university, the department shall submit the results of the study on March 30, 2023, to the education committees of the general assembly. The act appropriates $57,850 from the general fund to the department to conduct the study. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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