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DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran. The bill, which passed unanimously by a vote of 11-0, would require lethality assessments to be conducted when law enforcement responds to domestic violence incidents to better protect survivors from harm.
“Lethality assessments are a life-saving tool to protect survivors of abuse, and this bill would ensure that they are utilized during domestic violence calls to protect victims and save lives,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “As a survivor, I know how crucial it is for law enforcement to know how to identify high-risk situations so they can connect survivors with victim advocates who can offer life-saving resources. This bill could be the difference between life and death for survivors, and I know this evidence-based tool will have the power to save Colorado lives.”
HB26-1009, also sponsored by Representative Ryan Gonzales, R-Greeley, would create the Colorado Mandatory Lethality Assessment Act to support survivors of domestic violence and keep Colorado communities safe.
Beginning July 1, 2027, the bill would require police officers responding to a domestic violence case to conduct a “lethality assessment” and include the results in their report. This assessment is an evidence-based screening tool that helps identify the likelihood of serious injuries or death, including questions about whether the abuser has a history of abuse and if the abuser has ever threatened to use or has used a weapon to harm them. If the findings from the lethality assessment indicate that the survivor is at-risk of harm, law enforcement would immediately reach out to a community-based victim advocate and offer the victim an opportunity to speak with them.
Majority Leader Duran has spearheaded pivotal legislation supporting survivors, including laws to funnel $54 million annually to crime victim and behavioral health programs, invest $48 million toward life-saving access to critical resources, programs, and support to victims of crime, including domestic violence and increasing safety by strengthening protections around civil protection orders.