Fwd: Tues. 4/14 Upon Adj HB1285: Banning Registrants from MH Facilities w/i 1000 Feet of Schools

[Spike CO]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kepros, Laurie <Laurie...@coloradodefenders.us>
Date: Thu, Apr 9, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Subject: Tues. 4/14 Upon Adj HB1285: Banning Registrants from MH Facilities w/i 1000 Feet of Schools

Hello Sex Liaisons,

I am writing to alert you that HB26-1285 (https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1285) will be heard in the HOUSE Judiciary Committee on Tuesday 4/14/26 "Upon Adjournment" (this is usually like 10am but it's whenever the full House finishes their work for the day so it can be hard to know). It is also not the only bill set that day, currently it's #2. The HJC hearing room is on the basement (entrance) level of the Capitol — House Committee Room 107. Witnesses should expect to get 3 minutes to testify plus they can answer any questions posed by the Representatives on the committee.

This bill would arbitrarily prohibit registrants from placement in any residential mental health/transition facilities within "1000 feet" of a grade 1-12 school (including any "private" school).

The entire premise of the bill (like all residency restrictions) is "stranger danger" even though that is not the source of the vast majority of sex offense victimization risk. Unfortunately this bill would actually impede public safety as it takes a heterogeneous registrant population (was the sex offense 40+ years ago? has the behavior of concern been addressed? does the person even have sexual interest in children?) that is unlikely to pose any specific risk (this is just the facility they will live in, nothing to do with where they might travel within the community) and prohibits them from going to the facility where they might obtain the most appropriate support or services.

This bill appears to be a response to a controversy in Northglenn in April 2024. Ultimately, the city passed a residency restriction and the State agreed not to place any registrants at the facility.

Schools are ubiquitous — if it's a statewide policy, where are people on the registry who need these services to successfully transition supposed to live? On the streets? Does that make children safer?

Testimony in opposition in person, online, or in writing is encouraged! You can upload written materials as testimony but it is also helpful to provide copies if you come in person to try to get the legislators to look at it.

You can sign up to testify here: Step 1 - Sign Up to Testify. Public Testimony

You can email information to the committee members directly as well: Judiciary - Committee of Reference | Colorado General Assembly

Take care,

Laurie Rose Kepros

Director of Sexual Litigation, Attorney at Law

Office of the State Public Defender

Physical Address: 410-17^th Street, 22^nd Floor, Denver, Colorado 80202

Mailing Address: Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center, 1300 Broadway, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203

303-764-1400 x6482

Work Cell:  720-498-6132

Laurie...@coloradodefenders.us

 

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