Bill to Protect Survivors of Sexual Assault Passes Committee

DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to protect survivors of sexual assault. HB25-1185 would establish an easier and clearer process for parents to legally relinquish their rights while protecting the child's best interest. 

“Despite having a law on the books to protect survivors from being forced to co-parent with their rapists, survivors haven’t been able to access justice,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “This bill bridges some of the gaps in current law to ensure that survivors are not being legally locked into co-parenting with their assailant, which can be a harmful situation for all involved. This bill establishes a clearer process for relinquishing parental rights so survivors have access to the legal proceedings to better protect them and their child.” 

“Being forced to co-parent with the person who sexually assaulted you can cause serious distress and trauma for survivors,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “This bill aims to protect survivors by creating an easier and clearer process for survivors to terminate their assailant's parental rights. By modernizing and streamlining the way Colorado juvenile court proceedings work, we can create a system that prioritizes survivors and children’s best interest.” 

HB25-1185 passed committee by a vote of 10-1. This bill aims to protect survivors and children conceived through sexual assault. Specifically, this legislation outlines new procedures for parents who are a survivor of sexual assault to file a petition to prevent contact with the person who committed the assault. Additionally, it would set up clear guidelines for assailants to relinquish their parental rights, including all legal obligations, such as child support. 

The goal of HB25-1185 is to protect children conceived through  sexual assault and ensure they receive the support they need, including their right to inheritance, in some scenarios. This bill updates current law by clarifying and reducing the number of requirements parents petitioning to relinquish their parental rights must prove in juvenile court.

There are between 17,000 and 32,000 sexual assault-related pregnancy cases that occur in the United States each year, leaving survivors legally-bound to their assaliant in some cases. This bill aims to remove and simplify legal barriers in Colorado  to ensure survivors have access to court proceedings to protect them and their child.