The Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) was created by House Bill 2007-1358 with specific mandates for the Commission. These initial mandates may be found in §16-11.3-101 through §16-11.3-105, C.R.S. and §24-1-128.6, C.R.S. The CCJJ was re-authorized during legislative sessions in 2013 (Senate Bill 2013-007) and 2018 (House Bill 2018-1287) (see About: Enabling Legislation). Upon the 2023 sunset review, the Commission was not re-authorized.
In addition, other bills signed into law contain specific mandates for the Commission. The Commission also received other requests and directives from the Executive and/or Legislative Branches for action. The status of Commission responses to these mandates and requests are included below. For a summary of legislation derived from or related to Commission-generated recommendations, see Resources: Legislation.
Mandate or Request |
Description: Mandates, Directives, Requests, and Actions | Status/Related Documents |
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UNDER REVIEW/STUDY Upon Sunset | |||
Senate Bill 2023-088 SB23-088 Doc ![]() |
OFFENDER ELIGIBILITY FOR RELEASE FROM CONFINEMENT. Subsequent to the May 7, 2023 decision to not reauthorize the Commission, the General Assembly on May 8 2023 passed Senate Bill 2023-088 with a mandate to the Commission. Upon signing the bill, Governor Polis offered a signing statement, explaining that the sunset of the Commission "will limit the CCJJ from fulfilling the requirements of Senate Bill 2023-088." The General Assembly mandated that: - On or before June 30, 2023, the Commission shall submit a report to the General Assembly concerning the commission's, including any Commission task force's, study of sentencing reform. - The report must include a summary of the Commission's work to date and an update on the status of the Commission's and any Task Force's efforts to address clarity and certainty in the current criminal sentencing scheme, including ways to provide the public, including victims, defendants, and their families, clarity regarding the amount of time that must be served on each sentence imposed by the court prior to a defendant's parole eligibility.
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Work limited by sunset |
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Gov's 2022 Biennial Letter '22 Biennial Letter ![]() |
GOVERNOR'S 2022 BIENNIAL LETTER. The Letter is sent to the Commission pursuant to House Bill 2018-1287 and lists several topics for Commission study (see link at left). ON MAY 7, 2023, THE COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID NOT RE-AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION. NO FURTHER WORK WILL BE COMPLETED ON THIS MANDATE.
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Work suspended upon sunset See SRTF Recs. |
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House Bill 2022-1368 HB22-1368 Doc ![]() |
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAM ACCESS. The General Assembly mandated that: ON MAY 7, 2023, THE COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID NOT RE-AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION. NO FURTHER WORK WILL BE COMPLETED ON THIS MANDATE.
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Work suspended upon sunset See CCTF page |
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Gov's 2020 Biennial Letter '20 Biennial Letter ![]() |
GOVERNOR'S 2020 BIENNIAL LETTER. The Letter is sent to the Commission pursuant to House Bill 2018-1287 and lists several topics for Commission study (see link at left). ON MAY 7, 2023, THE COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY FAILED TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION. NO FURTHER WORK WILL BE COMPLETED ON THIS MANDATE.
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Work suspended upon sunset See SRTF Recs. |
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MANDATES CONCLUDED UPON SUNSET | |||
House Bill 2018-1287 HB18-1287 Doc ![]() |
BIENNIAL TOPICS LETTERS. The General Assembly requires that in even-numbered years the Commission requests a letter from the Governor regarding topics of study (§16-11.3-103(7), C.R.S). The Governor is encouraged to consult with the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Colorado House of Representatives and the Senate.
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CONCLUDED (see above) |
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House Bill 2018-1198 HB18-1198 Doc ![]() |
BEST PRACTICES: BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. The General Assembly established best practices for state boards and commissions (§24-3.7-102, C.R.S). The statute requires that, starting January 1, 2019, each statutorily created board or commission shall implement written policies or bylaws and obtain annual training in twelve competency areas (see the Bill at left for these competency areas). The agency with responsibility for the board or commission is tasked to ensure that the required annual training occurs.
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CONCLUDED | |
House Bill 2013-1299 (no repeal date, corresponds with re-authorization period, 7/1/2023) HB13-1299 Doc ![]() |
SMART HEARING REPORT. The General Assembly requires the Commission to present an annual progress report to the Joint Judiciary Committee on any pending or finalized recommendations to be drafted as bills for impending legislative sessions (§2-7-203(2)(d), C.R.S., see p. 7 of the Bill). The Commission Chair and/or Vice-Chair provide an overview of the Commission and a general summary of Commission activities.
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CONCLUDED See links to Mp3 files at left
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ADDRESSED/REPEALED | |||
Senate Bill 2019-008 SB19-008 Doc ![]() |
DRUG OFFENSES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES. The General Assembly has mandated that the Commission study and make recommendations concerning: a) Alternatives to filing criminal charges against individuals with substance use disorders who have been arrested for drug-related offenses, b) Best practices for investigating unlawful opioid distribution in Colorado, including the creation of black market opioid investigatory entities at the State and local levels, and c) A process for automatically sealing criminal records for drug offense convictions. The Commission must provide a report by July 1, 2020 with its findings and recommendations to the Judiciary and the Public Health Care and Human Services Committees of the House of Representatives and the Judiciary and the Health and Human Services Committees of the Senate, or any successor committees.
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CCJJ SB19-008 Report ![]() |
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House Bill 2019-1149 HB19-1149 Doc ![]() |
AGE OF DELINQUENCY. The General Assembly mandated that the commission study issues regarding the age of delinquency. The Commission was required to: a) Compile data regarding all criminal filings in the state from the last 3 years that data is available in which a defendant is at least 18 or up to 25 years of age, and b) Study the established brain research for emerging adults and the data collected, study the potential impacts on the division of youth services and youthful offender system (if they also served emerging adults), and make recommendations to the general assembly regarding appropriate uses of the juvenile justice system or youthful offender system for emerging adults. The commission was required to create a report of the collected data and recommendations by June 30, 2020 for the Judiciary Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate. Due to COVID-19, the report was submitted late on August 21, 2020.
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CCJJ HB19-1149 Report ![]() |
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House Bill 2018-1346 HB18-1346 Doc ![]() |
INSTITUTIONAL CHILD ABUSE. The General Assembly mandated that the Commission study whether existing criminal statutes addressed abuse of a child or youth in facilities operated by the Colorado Department of Human Services (see the definition of "facility" in HB 2018-1346 at left).The Commission was required to issue recommendations concerning any identified gaps in law and, on or before July 1, 2019, provide a report with findings and recommendations to the Judiciary and the Public Health Care and Human Services Committees of the House of Representatives and the Judiciary and the Health and Human Services Committees of the Senate, or any successor committees.
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CCJJ HB18-1346 Report ![]() |
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Senate Bill 2017-207 SB17-207 Doc ![]() |
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES. The General Assembly directs the Office of Behavioral Health of the Colorado Department of Human Services to prepare and submit a report to the Commission. The report must include details concerning the current status of funding and the implementation of the expansion of behavioral health crisis services. The 2017 report, due by November 1, 2017, was pursuant to §27-60-103(6)(b), C.R.S. The related May 1, 2018 report did not mandate reporting to the Commission, but is included here for informational purposes (see §27-60-103(6)(c), C.R.S.).
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OBH 2017 Report ![]() OBH 2018 Report ![]() |
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House Bill 2014-1214 (repeal date, 7/1/2015) HB14-1214 Doc ![]() |
CRIMES AGAINST EMS. The General Assembly directs the Commission to review §18-1.3-401(1)(b)(IV), C.R.S. and the efficacy of implementing enhanced sentencing for certain crimes against emergency medical service providers (see p. 6, Section 7 of House Bill 14-1214). A report of findings shall be submitted to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees by March 1, 2015.
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Letter: State Sen. Carroll & State Rep. Ferrandino & Bill Sponsors: Sens. Kefalas & Newell & Rep. Fields (April 15, 2014) Related to postponed House Bill 2014-1131 ![]() Cyberbullying Letter ![]() |
CYBERBULLYING. This letter requests the Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the use of interactive computers, cellular services, and social media by youth to bully, harass, or threaten minor victims. The Commission shall determine the most effective strategies to address and prevent "cyberbullying" and, taking developmental issues into account, the most effective criminal or juvenile justice response to such behaviors. This request was precipitated by the failure of House Bill 2014-1131. A report must be submitted to the Governor's Office of Legal Counsel and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees by December 1,2014.
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CCJJ Cyberbullying Report: ![]() Related Cyberbullying Bill: (HB15-1072) ![]() |
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Senate Bill 2013-283 (repeal date, 7/1/2014) SB13-283 Doc ![]() |
STATUTORY ALIGNMENT: MARIJUANA. General Assembly directs the Drug Policy Task Force to make recommendations to the Commission which will, in turn, make recommendations by December 15, 2013 to the General Assembly regarding any revisions of Title 18 necessary to be compatible with Section 16 ("Personal use and regulation of marijuana") of Article XVIII of the Constitution of the State of Colorado (see p. 3 of the bill).
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House Bill 2013-1195 (repeal date, 1/2/2014) HB13-1195 Doc ![]() |
HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATUTE. The General Assembly directs the Commission to review the implementation of Title 18, Article 3, Part 5 (Human Trafficking and Slavery) of the Colorado Revised Statutes and submit a report to House and Senate Judiciary Committees by January 1, 2014.
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Letter: Gov. John Hickenlooper, State Sen. John Morse & State Rep. Mark Ferrandino (April 29, 2013) |
STATUTE REVIEW: JESSICA'S LAW. Letter requests the Commission to review criminal law applicable to sex offenders to determine whether provisions of the Jessica Lunsford Act ("Jessica's Law", Florida House Bill 2005-1877) would improve Colorado law. A report must be submitted to the Governor's Office and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees by January 1, 2014.
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House Bill 2012-1310 (repeal date, 7/1/2013) HB12-1310 Doc ![]() |
DRUG SENTENCING. The General Assembly directs the Commission to consider the development of a comprehensive drug sentencing scheme.
(Note: Several criminal justice bills were appended to this bill. See Section 28 for this mandate to the Commission on drug sentencing.)
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CCJJ HB12-1310 Report ![]() |
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Senate Bill 2012-020 SB12-020 Doc ![]() |
GOOD SAMARITAN LAW. The General Assembly encourages the Commission to create and make publicly available a document describing provisions of §18-1-711, C.R.S. (Immunity for persons who suffer or report an emergency drug or alcohol overdose event). (Note: The mention of the Commission occurs in Section 3 of the Act.)
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Senate Bill 2009-286 (repeal date, 7/1/2010) SB09-286 Doc ![]() |
SENTENCING REFORM. The General Assembly directs the Commission to prioritize the study of sentencing reform while maintaining public safety.
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See links at left | |
Letter: Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr. & Attorney Gen. John Suthers (May 12, 2009) |
CCJJ STUDY AREAS. This letter on sentencing reform requests the Commission to prioritize nine areas of study.
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See links at left
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