Second Regular Session
              Sixty-fourth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                INTRODUCED 
                                                           
 LLS NO. 04-0258.01 Jerry Barry          HOUSE BILL 04-1038
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Berry
 
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Arnold
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 House Committees
 Senate Committees
 
 
 Judiciary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning an exemption from civil liability for a
            volunteer at a crisis telephone hotline.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
       adopted.)
       
            Exempts from civil liability a volunteer at a nonprofit organization
       answering questions of or providing counseling to members of the public
       in crisis situations at a telephone hotline.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  13-21-108, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended
       BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SUBSECTION to read:
            13-21-108.  Persons rendering emergency assistance exempt
       from civil liability.  (4)  Notwithstanding the fact that the person
       may be reimbursed for the person's costs or that the nonprofit
       organization may receive a grant or other funding, any person
       who, while acting as a volunteer for any nonprofit organization
       operating a telephone hotline, such as a suicide prevention
       hotline or a domestic violence hotline, answers questions of or
       provides counseling to members of the public in crisis situations
       shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions
       made in good faith as a result of discussions or counseling
       provided on the hotline.
            SECTION 2.  Effective date - applicability.  (1)  This act shall
       take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
       ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is
       allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V,
       section 1 (3) of the state constitution (August 4, 2004, if adjournment
       sine die is on May 5, 2004); except that, if a referendum petition is filed
       against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period,
       then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take
       effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by
       proclamation of the governor.
            (2)  The provisions of this act shall apply to causes of action
       arising on or after the applicable effective date of this act.