Colorado House Bill 21-1228 Summary

 

On June 22, 2021 Governor Jared Polis signed into law Colorado House Bill 21-1228 "Concerning oversight of court personnel

who are regularly involved in cases related to domestic matters, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation."

 

The legislation identifies court personnel as "All professional groups involved in parenting time and parental responsibilities evaluations, including child and family investigators, parenting coordinators, parent responsibility evaluators, decision makers, family court facilitators, and judges and magistrates, need to have appropriate and ongoing training in domestic violence, coercive control, and related issues."
 

Education requirements are defined as follows;

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THE COURT SHALL NOT APPOINT A PERSON FROM THE ELIGIBILITY REGISTRY TO BE A CHILD AND FAMILY INVESTIGATOR FOR A CASE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION UNLESS THE COURT FINDS THAT THE PERSON IS QUALIFIED AS COMPETENT BY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN, AT A MINIMUM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ITS EFFECTS ON CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES, CHILD ABUSE, AND CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. THE PERSON'S TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE MUST BE PROVIDED BY RECOGNIZED SOURCES WITH EXPERTISE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE TRAUMATIC EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AS OF JANUARY 1, 2022, INITIAL AND ONGOING TRAINING MUST INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM:
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(I) SIX INITIAL HOURS OF TRAINING ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING COERCIVE CONTROL, AND ITS TRAUMATIC EFFECTS ON CHILDREN,

ADULTS, AND FAMILIES;

 

(II) SIX INITIAL HOURS OF TRAINING ON CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND ITS TRAUMATIC EFFECTS; AND

 

(III) FOUR SUBSEQUENT HOURS OF TRAINING EVERY TWO YEARS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, AND CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE

TRAUMATIC EFFECTS ON CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES.