Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits failure to appear in court from being charged as a separate crime with separate penalties in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an individual’s failure to appear from forming the basis of a municipal criminal charge against them (Sec. 1-2).

• Amends and adds the failure to appear to the list of state laws that cannot be superseded by a charter or ordinance enacted by a home rule city (Sec. 1-2).

• Amends and clarifies that, for purposes of the bill, failure to appear includes contempt of court for the failure to appear or any other term used by a municipality to refer to an individual’s failure to appear at a scheduled court date (Sec. 1-2).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill declare an emergency and shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits failure to appear in court from being charged as a separate crime with separate penalties in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an individual’s failure to appear from forming the basis of a municipal criminal charge against them (Sec. 1-2).

• Amends and adds the failure to appear to the list of state laws that cannot be superseded by a charter or ordinance enacted by a home rule city (Sec. 1-2).

• Amends and clarifies that, for purposes of the bill, failure to appear includes contempt of court for the failure to appear or any other term used by a municipality to refer to an individual’s failure to appear at a scheduled court date (Sec. 1-2).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill declare an emergency and shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text