Bill > SB004

This bill expands the list of individuals and entities who can petition a court for an extreme risk protection order, which is a court order that can temporarily prevent someone from possessing firearms if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. Previously, only family or household members, community members (like healthcare professionals or educators who have interacted with the person), or law enforcement could file such petitions. This bill adds "institutional petitioners" to this list, which are defined as entities that employ or contract with community members, such as school districts, colleges, hospitals, or behavioral health facilities. It also clarifies that certain community members who are part of a co-responder community response team, providing crisis assessment and intervention services, can also petition for an order, as long as they are not law enforcement officers responding to a behavioral health call involving the person. The bill also clarifies that these institutional petitioners and community members are authorized to disclose protected health information as necessary for the petition process, with provisions to protect that information, and that they are not liable for good-faith actions related to filing or not filing a petition.

Military Affairs and Security

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-004