HB 26-1103

House Bill 26-1103, which has been signed into law in Colorado, requires police departments to conduct a basic interview and record key details when they receive reports of child sexual assault or abuse. They must also notify local child advocacy centers within one week for further support and forensic interviews if needed. Additionally, the bill updates court rules so that any person under 18 years old can testify via closed-circuit television instead of facing the defendant in a courtroom to reduce trauma. This law aims to better protect and assist young victims of sexual abuse during legal proceedings.

Official Summary

The act requires a law enforcement entity that receives a report alleging an offense involving sexual assault or abuse of a child to conduct a minimal facts interview and record certain information, including the child's name, the alleged offender's name, and a summary of the alleged incident. After receiving the report, a law enforcement entity must notify a child advocacy center within the judicial district where the alleged crime occurred, or another appropriate child advocacy center, within one week after taking the report. The law enforcement entity is required to collaborate with the child advocacy center in requesting a forensic interview for the alleged child victim if the law enforcement entity deems a forensic interview is necessary and appropriate.     The act changes the definition of a child witness for purposes of testifying using closed-circuit television from a person who is 12 years old or younger, to a person who is younger than 18 years old. The act requires a judge to make findings on the record regarding a witness who is a child or a person who has an intellectual and developmental disability, specifically, if the witness will suffer serious emotional distress or trauma from courtroom testimony when the defendant is present.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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