NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 5/29/2015.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 15-004
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Jahn, Aguilar, Garcia, Guzman, Heath, Johnston,
      Kefalas, Kerr, Martinez Humenik, Merrifield, Newell, Roberts, Todd,
      Ulibarri;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Primavera, Esgar, Fields, Ginal, Hamner,
      Kagan, Kraft-Tharp, Lee, Lontine, McCann, Melton, Rosenthal, Ryden,
      Singer, Vigil, Williams, Young, Hullinghorst.
      
      
      Concerning trained volunteer court-appointed special advocates
           for youth brought before a court in a truancy proceeding.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 19-1-202, amend (1),
      (2) introductory portion, and (2) (a) as follows:
      
           19-1-202.  Creation of CASA programs. (1)  CASA programs may
      be established in each judicial district or any two or more judicial districts
      and shall operate pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the
      chief judge of the judicial district and the CASA program. The
      memorandum of understanding shall must identify the roles and
      responsibilities of any CASA volunteer appointed in the judicial district or
      districts and shall must indicate whether any CASA volunteer may be
      made a party to the action. The memorandum of understanding may
      be amended or modified at any time to add or delete roles and
      responsibilities pursuant to this part 2.
      
           (2)  A CASA program established pursuant to the provisions of this
      part 2 shall must:
      
           (a)  Be a community organization that screens, trains, and supervises
      CASA volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children in actions
      brought pursuant to this title and titles 14 and 15, C.R.S., or for a child
      in a truancy proceeding pursuant to the "School Attendance Law
      of 1963", part 1 of article 33 of title 22, C.R.S.;
      
           SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 19-1-204, amend (1)
      as follows:
      
           19-1-204.  Training requirements. (1)  All CASA volunteers shall
      participate fully in preservice training, including instruction on recognizing
      child abuse and neglect, cultural awareness, child development, education
      standards, the juvenile court process, permanency planning, volunteer
      roles and responsibilities, advocacy, information gathering, and
      documentation. CASA volunteers shall be required to participate in
      observation of court proceedings prior to appointment.
      
           SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 19-1-206, amend (1)
      and (3) introductory portion as follows:
      
           19-1-206.  Appointment of CASA volunteers. (1) (a)  Any A judge
      or magistrate may appoint a CASA volunteer in any action brought
      pursuant to this title and titles 14 and 15, C.R.S., when, in the opinion of
      the judge or magistrate, a child who may be affected by such action
      requires services that a CASA volunteer can provide. At the discretion of
      the judge or magistrate, a CASA volunteer may be a party to the action if
      so provided for in the memorandum of understanding.
      
           (b)  A judge or magistrate may appoint a CASA volunteer in
      any action brought in a proceeding pursuant to the "School
      Attendance Law of 1963", part 1 of article 33 of title 22, C.R.S.,
      provided that at least one parent or legal guardian of the child
      involved is provided with notice of the appointment of a CASA
      volunteer.
      
           (3)  The CASA volunteer's appointment shall conclude concludes:
      
      
      
           SECTION 4.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 19-1-208, add (1) (c)
      as follows:
      
           19-1-208.  Duties of CASA volunteer. (1)  Independent case
      investigation. Upon appointment in an action, a CASA volunteer may have
      the duty to:
      
           (c)  Determine if additional services are necessary to ensure
      educational success for a child in a proceeding pursuant to the
      "School Attendance Law of 1963", part 1 of article 33 of title 22,
      C.R.S.
      
           SECTION 5.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
      takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
      ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
      5, 2015, if adjournment sine die is on May 6, 2015); except that, if a
      referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
      constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
      such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
      approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2016
      and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
      the vote thereon by the governor.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Bill L. Cadman                Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
      PRESIDENT OF                     SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Cindi L. Markwell                      Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO