Bill Sponsor
Colorado House Bill 1168
Session 2023A
Legal Representation And Students With Disabilities
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on May 25, 2023
Sponsors
Democrat
Said Sharbini
Democrat
Junie Joseph
Democrat
Faith Winter
First Action
Feb 2, 2023
Latest Action
May 25, 2023
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1168
State
Colorado
Session
2023A
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Summary
Current law entitles a parent, guardian or legal custodian of, or entity with educational decision-making authority for (parent), a student with a disability, or a student who may be eligible for special education services, to file a state complaint in the event of a dispute with an administrative unit or a state-operated program (education provider). If the parent prevails in a state complaint decision, the education provider may file a due process complaint against the parent regarding the issues disputed in the state complaint. The act requires the department of education (department) to enter into a service agreement with a nonprofit organization (organization) to create and maintain a list of attorneys qualified to represent a parent in a due process complaint filed by an education provider in response to a state complaint filed by the parent in which the parent prevailed. The service agreement is for 5 years. A parent may contact the organization for an attorney appointment. The act requires the department to include information on attorney appointments in the procedural safeguard notice and in other materials distributed to parents describing due process complaint procedures. The act requires the organization to report to the department on or before September 1, 2024, and each September 1 through September 1, 2028, on the number of attorneys appointed to parents in due process complaint cases, the costs associated with each due process complaint case, and the amount of unspent money the organization retains at the end of each budget year. The act requires the department to annually provide the organization $20,000 to pay attorneys and to create, maintain, and administer the list of attorneys. The act appropriates $33,260 from the general fund to the department for legal representation for due process complaints. APPROVED by Governor May 25, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 25, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Actions (15)
05/25/2023
Office of the Governor
Governor Signed
05/05/2023
Office of the Governor
Sent to the Governor
05/05/2023
Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
05/04/2023
House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
04/13/2023
House
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
04/10/2023
Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
04/06/2023
Senate
Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
04/06/2023
Senate
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
03/20/2023
Senate
Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
03/16/2023
Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
03/13/2023
House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
03/11/2023
House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
03/10/2023
House
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
02/23/2023
House
House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
02/02/2023
House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
Sources
Record Created
Feb 3, 2023 4:54:39 AM
Record Updated
Aug 11, 2023 9:14:27 AM