HOUSE
                       3rd Reading Unamended
       April 18, 2007          HOUSE
       Amended 2nd Reading
                      April 12, 2007First Regular Session
              Sixty-sixth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                REENGROSSED
                       This Version Includes All Amendments
                       Adopted in the House of Introduction
 LLS NO. 07-0296.01 Michael Dohr         HOUSE BILL 07-1094
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Weissmann, 
 
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Groff, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 House Committees
 Senate Committees
 
 
 Judiciary
 
 
 
 Appropriations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning capital crimes, and making an appropriation in
            connection therewith.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
       adopted.)
       
            Repeals the death penalty in Colorado.  Declares the intent of the
       general assembly to use the savings from the abolition of the death
       penalty to fund the forensic unit, chemistry lab, and cold case unit in the
       Colorado bureau of investigation ("CBI").
            Creates the cold case unit ("unit") in the CBI.  Allows law
       enforcement agencies to request help from the unit on homicide
       investigation.  Permits a family member to request that the unit assist
       local law enforcement officers with a homicide investigation that has
       been open for more than one year.  Requires the local law enforcement
       agency to determine whether to accept the assistance of the unit and
       notify the family member of its decision.
            Makes conforming amendments.
            Makes an appropriation.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
                 
            SECTION 1.  Part 4 of article 33.5 of title 24, Colorado Revised
       Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to
       read:
            24-33.5-425.  Cold case homicide unit.  (1)  There is hereby
       created a cold case homicide unit in the bureau, referred in this
       section as the "unit".
            (2) (a)  The unit shall provide assistance to local law
       enforcement agencies, upon request, on homicide investigations.
            (b)  Upon request to the unit by a family member of a
       homicide victim , the unit may provide assistance to a local law
       enforcement agency, if the agency accepts the assistance, on a
       homicide investigation that has been open in a Colorado
       jurisdiction for more than one year from the date of the
       commission of the crime.  Within three days after receiving
       notification of the request from the unit, the local law
       enforcement agency shall notify the family member and the unit
       regarding whether the local law enforcement agency will
       accept or reject the assistance of the unit.  If the local law
       enforcement agency rejects the assistance, it shall inform the
       family member of the reasons for rejecting the assistance.
                             
            SECTION 2.  Appropriation.  (1)  In addition to any other
       appropriation, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the
       general fund not otherwise appropriated, to the department of public
       safety, for allocation to forensic and chemical labs in the Colorado
       Bureau of Investigation, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, the
       sum of one hundred seventy-five thousand one hundred twenty-eight
       dollars ($175,128) and 2.0 FTE, or so much thereof as may be necessary,
       for the implementation of this act.
                                
            SECTION 3.  Adjustment to the 2007 long bill.  For the
       implementation of this act, the appropriation made in the annual
       appropriation act for the fiscal year beginning in July 1, 2007, to the
       department of law, criminal justice and appellate section, capital crimes
       prosecution unit, from the general fund, is decreased by one hundred
       seventy-five thousand one hundred twenty-eight dollars ($175,128) and
       2.0 FTE.
                      
            SECTION 4.  Safety clause.  The general assembly hereby finds,
       determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
       preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.