SB 17-177

signed

Children's Code Definition Of Special Respondent

Plain-English Summary

AI-generated

Senate Bill 17-177, also known as the Children's Code Definition of Special Respondent, changes how certain people can be involved in child welfare cases. Currently, only specific parties can be forced to join a case about a child’s safety or well-being against their will. This bill updates the law to allow these parties to join such cases voluntarily if they wish to participate and support the child's needs. The bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now official and enforceable in Colorado.

Official Summary

The current definition of 'special respondent' in the Children's Code only allows a party to be involuntarily joined in a dependency or neglect proceeding. The bill amends that definition to allow a party to be voluntarily joined in a dependency or neglect proceeding. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Details

Chamber: Senate
First action: 2017-04-06
Latest action: 2017-02-08
Last action desc.: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
OpenStates: View source ↗

Related Legislation

This bill affects (1)

amends

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Affected by (70)

amends

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Reform Division Of Youth Corrections

amends

HB 18-1156(2018A)· signed

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amends

HB 22-1090(2022A)· signed

Reasonable Independence For Children

amends

SB 17-242(2017A)· signed

Modernize Behavioral Health Terminology in Colorado Revised Statutes

amends

HB 22-1038(2022A)· signed

Right To Counsel For Youth

amends

HB 26-1142(2026A)· signed

Child Advocacy Centers

amends

HB 22-1153(2022A)· signed

Affirm Parentage Adoption In Assisted Reproduction

amends

HB 22-1056(2022A)· signed

Emergency Temporary Care For Children

amends

SB 24-136(2024A)· signed

Uniform Guardianship & Conservatorship Act

amends

SB 18-092(2018A)· signed

Update References County Departments Social Services

amends

SB 22-212(2022A)· signed

Revisor's Bill

amends

HB 26-1227(2026A)· signed

Minors' Rights in Dependency & Neglect Proceedings

amends

HB 25-1172(2025A)· signed

Secure Fence Around Youth Psychiatric Facility

amends

HB 26-1259(2026A)· signed

Department of Early Childhood Clean-Up

amends

SB 25-134(2025A)· signed

Uniform Guardianship & Conservatorship Act

amends

SB 18-154(2018A)· signed

Juvenile Planning Committee Crossover Youth Plans

amends

HB 18-1346(2018A)· signed

Abuse Of Youth Under 21 In Care Of Institution

amends

HB 25-1204(2025A)· signed

Colorado Indian Child Welfare Act

relates

HB 23-1012(2023A)· signed

Juvenile Competency To Proceed

relates

HB 26-1426(2026A)· signed

Department of Law Legislative Report

relates

HB 18-1306(2018A)· signed

Improving Educational Stability For Foster Youth

relates

HB 22-1245(2022A)· signed

Foster Youth In Transition Program Clarifications

relates

HB 22-1319(2022A)· signed

Dependency Proceedings Unaccompanied Child

relates

HB 22-1131(2022A)· signed

Reduce Justice-involvement For Young Children

relates

HB 22-1256(2022A)· signed

Modifications To Civil Involuntary Commitment

relates

HB 23-1043(2023A)· signed

Emergency And Continued Placement With Relative Or Kin

relates

HB 23-1157(2023A)· signed

Uniform Unregulated Child Custody Transfer Act

relates

HB 23-1191(2023A)· signed

Prohibit Corporal Punishment Of Children

relates

HB 23-1027(2023A)· signed

Parent And Child Family Time

relates

SB 23-082(2023A)· signed

Colorado Fostering Success Voucher Program

relates

HB 23-1307(2023A)· signed

Juvenile Detention Services And Funding

relates

HB 24-1088(2024A)· signed

Modifications to the Child Fatality Prevention Act

relates

SB 24-119(2024A)· signed

Term Abandonment for Federal Classification Juvenile

relates

HB 24-1101(2024A)· signed

Empower Victims through Access Restorative Justice

relates

HB 24-1403(2024A)· signed

Higher Education Support Homeless Youth

relates

HB 24-1408(2024A)· signed

Expenditures for Care Assistance Programs

relates

HB 24-1120(2024A)· signed

Resources for Persons in Child Welfare System

relates

SB 24-008(2024A)· signed

Kinship Foster Care Homes

relates

HB 24-1350(2024A)· signed

Parental Responsibilities Proceedings Child Safety

relates

HB 24-1031(2024A)· signed

Accessibility for Persons in Child Welfare Matters

relates

HB 25-1253(2025A)· signed

Youth Health Protection Act

relates

SB 25-151(2025A)· signed

Measures to Prevent Youth from Running Away

relates

SB 25-276(2025A)· signed

Protect Civil Rights Immigration Status

relates

SB 18-224(2018A)· signed

Subsidization Adoption Special Needs

relates

HB 25-1271(2025A)· signed

Federal Benefits for Youth in Foster Care

relates

HB 18-1104(2018A)· signed

Family Preservation For Parents With Disability

relates

HB 24-1045(2024A)· signed

Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

relates

SB 17-207(2017A)· signed

Strengthen Colorado Behavioral Health Crisis System

relates

HB 17-1204(2017A)· signed

Juvenile Delinquency Record Expungement

relates

HB 17-1207(2017A)· signed

No Detention Facility Requirement Youth Ages 10-12

relates

SB 22-008(2022A)· signed

Higher Education Support For Foster Youth

relates

HB 22-1240(2022A)· signed

Mandatory Reporters

relates

SB 24-047(2024A)· signed

Prevention of Substance Use Disorders

relates

HB 24-1450(2024A)· signed

Revisor's Bill

relates

HB 26-1309(2026A)· signed

Abuse in Cases of Separation

relates

SB 26-169(2026A)· signed

Revisor's Bill

relates

HB 26-1347(2026A)· signed

Federal Disability Benefits for Foster Care Youth

relates

HB 17-1330(2017A)· signed

No Escape Convictions For Habitual Criminals

relates

SB 18-037(2018A)· signed

Sentences For Habitual Criminals

relates

SB 18-095(2018A)· signed

Outdated References To "Illegitimate" Children

relates

SB 18-084(2018A)· signed

Protection Minor Victims Of Human Trafficking

relates

HB 23-1160(2023A)· signed

Colorado TRAILS System Requirements

relates

HB 26-1425(2026A)· signed

Applied Behavior Analysis Services

relates

HB 26-1227(2026A)· signed

Minors' Rights in Dependency & Neglect Proceedings

relates

SB 23-039(2023A)· signed

Reduce Child And Incarcerated Parent Separation

relates

HB 25-1146(2025A)· signed

Juvenile Detention Bed Cap

relates

HB 26-1232(2026A)· signed

Court Costs Assessed to Juveniles

repeals

SB 23-210(2023A)· signed

Update Administration Of Certain Human Services

repeals

HB 23-1026(2023A)· signed

Family Time For Grandparents

repeals

HB 22-1295(2022A)· signed

Department Early Childhood And Universal Preschool Program

Votes

Refer Senate Bill 17-177 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0.

2017-03-21 · House · pass — Yes: 10 · No: 0 · Other: —

Refer Senate Bill 17-177 to the Committee of the Whole, with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 4-0.

2017-03-21 · House · pass — Yes: 4 · No: 0 · Other: —