SB 17-016

Senate Bill 17-016, also known as the "County Choice Child Protection Teams" bill, changes Colorado's requirement for counties with high numbers of child abuse and neglect referrals to form child protection teams. Under this new law, all counties now have the choice whether or not to create these teams based on their own discretion. The state department of human services will provide information about these teams in its annual government accountability report. Since the bill has been signed into law, it is now official and counties can decide for themselves if they want to establish child protection teams.

Official Summary

Legislative Audit Committee. Current law requires the creation of a child protection team for any county or group of contiguous counties receiving more than 50 referrals related to child abuse or neglect in a year. Other counties or groups of contiguous counties are encouraged, but not required, to establish a child protection team. The bill makes it optional for all counties and groups of contiguous counties to establish a child protection team, at the discretion of the county director or the directors of a contiguous group of counties. The state department of human services is directed to include a summary and description of the work of child protection teams in its annual 'State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act' presentation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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