ColoradoPreventing Sexual Abuse in Jails
What it does
The act permits a county or municipal jail (local detention facility) to conduct a strip search of a person who is detained in the local detention facility, only:When the facility is conducting intake of the detained person who has come in from outside the facility and a strip search upon intake is part of the detention facility's policy;When 2 personnel of the facility have determined and reasonably believe the detained person is concealing a controlled substance, a dangerous instrument, or contraband; or Under a circumstance or set of conditions in which there has been a prior incident of possession of a controlled substance, a dangerous instrument, contraband, or any other item that creates grave danger to property or injury to persons and substantially obstructs the performance of the institutional functions of the local detention facility, the circumstance or set of conditions give rise to a substantial likelihood that a similar incident may occur again, and the local detention facility has a written policy authorizing a strip search under the circumstances or set of conditions. The act requires that each local detention facility document the number of, reason for, and results of a strip search in a report that each facility must submit annually to the jail standards advisory committee and the Colorado attorney general. The act requires detention facility personnel to record strip searches via body-worn camera and limits access to the recordings.
More detail
The act requires each sheriff to coordinate with the sheriff's body-worn camera vendor to implement a tag for strip searches in body-worn camera footage tagging options and ensure that strip search footage has the most restrictive level of access available within the sheriff's body-worn camera system. The act requires local detention facilities to have a policy detailing staff protocol for responding to suspected, alleged, or witnessed sexual abuse and requires staff to report suspected, alleged, or witnessed sexual abuse. The act creates whistleblower protection policies for jail staff and creates a right of action against a local detention facility for a staff member who was subject to an adverse employment action because the staff member disclosed information to the proper supervising authority about sexual abuse or sex-based harassment in the local detention facility. The act requires local detention facilities to inform prisoners of their rights and the resources available to them if they are a victim of sexual abuse while in jail and allow sexual assault advocates to access prisoners who request advocacy services. The act requires local detention facilities to designate a 'Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003' (PREA) coordinator and requires jails to provide the coordinator's contact information to prisoners and the public. The act requires the removal of peace officers standards and training board (P.O.S.T. board) certification from any peace officer who is found by an administrative law judge, hearing officer, or internal investigation to have sexually abused a prisoner in a local detention facility. The act appropriates $38,916 to the department of law from the P.O.S.T. board cash fund for P.O.S.T. board support.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- May 20Signed by the Speaker of the HouseMajor
- May 20Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- May 20Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 7House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
- May 5Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - FloorPassed Senate
- Vote recorded AMEND (L.025). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- May 4Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, FloorMinor
- May 1Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 05/04/2026 - No Amendments
- Apr 30Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Apr 28Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1123 to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.020 (Attachment B). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1123, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.023 (Attachment E). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.022 (Attachment D). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.021 (Attachment C). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.019 (Attachment A). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 8Senate Committee on Judiciary Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
- Apr 6Introduced In Senate - Assigned to JudiciaryMinor
- Apr 2House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed House
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Mar 31House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- Mar 24House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Mar 20House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment J.001. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1123, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment D). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment F). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4Introduced In House - Assigned to JudiciaryIntroduced