Bill > SB062

This bill modifies Colorado municipal court procedures by preventing the creation of additional criminal charges solely based on a person's failure to appear in court. Specifically, the bill prohibits municipalities from treating a failure to appear as a separate municipal criminal offense, regardless of whether it is labeled as a failure to appear, contempt of court, or something else. However, the bill maintains important judicial powers, explicitly stating that municipal courts can still issue bench warrants for individuals who do not appear and can consider a person's failure to appear when setting bond at subsequent hearings. This change is part of the state's ongoing efforts to reform municipal court practices, ensuring that individuals are not penalized with additional criminal charges for administrative issues related to court appearances. The bill amends Colorado Revised Statutes sections 13-10-103 and adds a new section 13-10-127 to codify these protections, and includes a safety clause indicating its immediate importance for public peace and safety.

Justice

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-062