HB 26-1039

House Bill 26-1039, which has been signed into law in Colorado, requires municipal jails to follow the same rules and oversight standards as county jails starting July 1, 2027. This includes releasing pregnant individuals from jail if they are believed to be in labor unless it's necessary for their health or safety, and ensuring that no restraints are used during childbirth and recovery if they remain in custody. The bill also mandates city council members to review the management of municipal jails annually and allows the attorney general to inspect these facilities to identify any issues. This law affects anyone involved with or working at municipal jails in Colorado. Since it has been signed, the bill is now an active law that will begin implementation on its specified date.

Official Summary

Beginning July 1, 2027, the act requires municipal jails to comply with existing jail data collection requirements, standards, and oversight.     The act requires a keeper of a municipal jail to release a pregnant person charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance from custody if jail staff have a reasonable belief the person is in labor unless remaining in custody is necessary for the health or welfare of the person. If the pregnant person in labor is not released, the use of restraints is prohibited during the labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery, and the jail staff shall make a written record that the labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery occurred at the jail and record the reason the pregnant person was not released from custody.     The act requires council members of a city that has a city jail to examine the jail's management and sufficiency at least once a year and allows the attorney general to conduct assessments of municipal jails to identify gaps and deficiencies based on the jail standards.     The act adds a nonvoting member who represents a municipality to the jail standards advisory committee.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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