NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 4/3/2015.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 15-013
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Balmer, Guzman, Aguilar, Johnston, Kerr,
      Martinez Humenik, Newell, Todd, Woods;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Court and Coram, Becker K., Ginal, Kagan,
      Lebsock, Pettersen, Primavera, Singer, Tate, Williams.
      
      
      Concerning extending the deadline for peace officers to complete
           dog encounter training to June 30, 2015.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  Legislative declaration. The general assembly
      hereby finds and declares that in enacting Senate Bill 15-013, it is
      strengthening the provisions of the "Dog Protection Act". It is not the
      general assembly's intent to diminish the original substantive portions of the
      "Dog Protection Act".
      
           SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 29-5-112, amend (2)
      introductory portion, (4) (a) (II) (B), and (4) (a) (II) (C); and add (2) (c) as
      follows:
      
           29-5-112.  Dog interactions with local law enforcement officers
      - training to be provided by local law enforcement agencies - policies
      and procedures - scope - task force - creation - composition - immunity
      - definitions - short title - legislative declaration - repeal. (2)  Legislative
      declaration. The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that it is
      the policy of this state to prevent, whenever possible, the shooting of dogs
      by local law enforcement officers in the course of performing their official
      duties. It is therefore the intent of the general assembly in adopting this
      section to:
      
           (c)  Recognize the important work of the dog protection task
      force in developing the training and incorporating the specifics of
      the training into the statutes. The seventeen members appointed
      to the task force represented a victim of a dog shooting,
      veterinarians, animal welfare advocates, animal behaviorists,
      animal control officers, the sheriffs, the police, and legal
      professionals. The training includes instruction regarding a dog's
      body language and how to interpret it, scene assessment, tools to
      use in dog encounters, situations involving multiple dogs, how to
      interact with a dog, and responses to dog behavior. The dog
      encounters training required by this section was designed to
      protect law enforcement officers, animal control officers, dog
      owners, innocent bystanders, and the dog. The training is not
      intended to provide dangerous dog training. Most importantly,
      the training was designed to limit, as much as feasible, the
      instances in which an officer would need to use deadly force
      against a dog, since the possibility of collateral damage, injury,
      or death from stray rounds is ever-present when a law
      enforcement officer uses deadly force.
      
           (4)  Training required. (a) (II)  Each local law enforcement agency
      in the state shall:
      
           (B)  Require its current local law enforcement officers to complete
      the training program required by this subsection (4) by January 1, June 30,
      2015; and
      
           (C)  Require all local law enforcement officers hired on or after
      January 1, June 30, 2015, to complete the training required by this
      subsection (4) within each officer's first year of employment.
      
           SECTION 3.  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.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      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