House Bill 25-1251 Introduced

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning requiring parental consent before a minor may

• Page 1, Line 102obtain medical services.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)

The bill prohibits an individual, corporation, association, organization, state-supported institution, or individual employed by any of these entities from procuring, soliciting to perform, arranging for the performance of, or performing a surgical procedure, or providing other medical or mental health services to a minor without written or verbal consent from the minor's parent. Parental consent is not required if the minor is in the custody of a county department of human or social services or the division of youth services, in a medical emergency situation, or there is a valid court order directing the provision of the medical service.

• Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 19-1-132 as follows:

• Page 2, Line 319-1-132.  Parental rights related to health care of a minor

• Page 2, Line 4child - exceptions - definitions. (1)  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 2, Line 5(a)  "Medical emergency" means an acute injury, illness, or

• Page 2, Line 6exposure that poses an immediate risk to a person's life or

• Page 2, Line 7long-term health, such that the absence of immediate medical

• Page 2, Line 8attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the

• Page 2, Line 9person's health in serious jeopardy, including a serious

• Page 2, Line 10impairment to bodily function or a serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.

• Page 2, Line 11(b)  "Medical or mental health service" means the

• Page 2, Line 12treatment of a physical illness, mental health illness, or

• Page 2, Line 13behavioral disorder that is required to be performed by a licensed medical professional.

• Page 2, Line 14(c)  "Minor child" means a person seventeen years of age or younger.

• Page 2, Line 15(d)  "Parent" means the natural parent, adoptive parent, or legal guardian who has legal custody of a child.

• Page 2, Line 16(2)  An individual, corporation, association, organization,

• Page 2, Line 17state-supported institution, or individual employed by any of

• Page 3, Line 1these entities shall not provide, procure, solicit to perform, or

• Page 3, Line 2arrange for the performance of, or perform, a surgical

• Page 3, Line 3procedure upon, or render any other medical or mental health

• Page 3, Line 4service to, a minor child without first obtaining written or verbal consent from the minor's parent.

• Page 3, Line 5(3)  Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, parental consent is not required if:

• Page 3, Line 6(a)  An individual, corporation, association, organization,

• Page 3, Line 7state-supported institution, or individual employed by any of

• Page 3, Line 8these entities certifies in good faith that a medical emergency

• Page 3, Line 9existed at the time of diagnosis, treatment, or medical

• Page 3, Line 10intervention and there was insufficient time to obtain parental

• Page 3, Line 11consent or that, at the time of the minor child's diagnosis,

• Page 3, Line 12treatment, or intervention, the minor's parent's medical condition was such that consent could not be obtained;

• Page 3, Line 13(b)  A minor is in the custody of a county department of

• Page 3, Line 14human or social services or the division of youth services in the department of human services created in section 19-2.5-1501; or

• Page 3, Line 15(c)  A valid court order directs medical treatment, diagnosis, or intervention.

• Page 3, Line 16SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-245-216, amend (2) as follows:

• Page 3, Line 1712-245-216.  Mandatory disclosure of information to clients.

• Page 3, Line 18(2)  If the client is a minor who is consenting to mental health services

• Page 3, Line 19pursuant to section 27-65-104, disclosure must be made to the minor. If

• Page 3, Line 20the client is a minor whose parent or legal guardian is consenting to

• Page 3, Line 21mental health services, disclosure must be made to the minor's parent or legal guardian.

• Page 4, Line 1SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 13-22-103, amend (1) as follows:

• Page 4, Line 213-22-103.  Minors - consent for medical, dental, and related

• Page 4, Line 3care. (1)  Except as otherwise provided in sections 15-19-204 and

• Page 4, Line 418-1.3-407 (4.5), and 25-4-409, a minor eighteen years of age or older, or

• Page 4, Line 5a minor fifteen years of age or older who is living separate and apart from

• Page 4, Line 6his or her the minor's parent, parents, or legal guardian, with or without

• Page 4, Line 7the consent of his or her the minor's parent, parents, or legal guardian,

• Page 4, Line 8and is managing his or her the minor's own financial affairs, regardless

• Page 4, Line 9of the source of his or her income, or any minor who has contracted a

• Page 4, Line 10lawful marriage may give consent to organ or tissue donation or the

• Page 4, Line 11furnishing of hospital, medical, dental, emergency health, and surgical

• Page 4, Line 12care to himself or herself the minor's self. Such consent is not subject

• Page 4, Line 13to disaffirmance because of minority, and, when such consent is given,

• Page 4, Line 14the minor has the same rights, powers, and obligations as if he or she the

• Page 4, Line 15minor's had obtained majority. Consent to organ or tissue donation may be revoked pursuant to section 15-19-206.

• Page 4, Line 16SECTION 4.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 19-1-115, amend (8)(a) as follows:

• Page 4, Line 1719-1-115.  Legal custody - guardianship - placement out of the

• Page 4, Line 18home - petition for review for need of placement - rules.

• Page 4, Line 19(8) (a)  Whenever it appears necessary that the placement of a child out

• Page 4, Line 20of the home will be for longer than ninety days, the placement is

• Page 4, Line 21voluntary and not court-ordered, and the placement involves the direct

• Page 4, Line 22expenditure of funds appropriated by the general assembly to the

• Page 4, Line 23department of human services, a petition for review of need for placement

• Page 5, Line 1shall must be filed by the department or agency with which the child has

• Page 5, Line 2been is placed before the expiration of ninety days in the placement. A

• Page 5, Line 3decree providing for voluntary placement of a child with an agency in

• Page 5, Line 4which public money is expended must be renewable in circumstances

• Page 5, Line 5when there is documentation that the child has an emotional, a physical,

• Page 5, Line 6or an intellectual disability that necessitates care and treatment for a

• Page 5, Line 7longer duration than ninety days as provided pursuant to this subsection

• Page 5, Line 8(8)(a). The court shall not transfer or require relinquishment of legal

• Page 5, Line 9custody of, or otherwise terminate the parental rights with respect to, a

• Page 5, Line 10child who has an emotional, a physical, or an intellectual disability and

• Page 5, Line 11who was voluntarily placed out of the home for the purposes of obtaining

• Page 5, Line 12special treatment or care solely because the parent or legal guardian is

• Page 5, Line 13unable to provide the treatment or care. Whenever a child fifteen years of

• Page 5, Line 14age or older consents to placement in a mental health facility pursuant to

• Page 5, Line 15section 27-65-104, the review pursuant to section 27-65-104 (4) must be

• Page 5, Line 16conducted in lieu of and must fulfill the requirements for review under this subsection (8)(a).

• Page 5, Line 17SECTION 5.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-32-109, amend (1)(ee) as follows:

• Page 5, Line 1822-32-109.  Board of education - specific duties - definitions.

• Page 5, Line 19(1)  In addition to any other duty required to be performed by law, each board of education has the following specific duties:

• Page 5, Line 20(ee)  To adopt a policy to prohibit school personnel from

• Page 5, Line 21recommending or requiring the use of a psychotropic drug for any a

• Page 5, Line 22student. School personnel shall not test or require a test for a child's

• Page 5, Line 23behavior without prior written permission from the parents or guardians

• Page 5, Line 24or the child parent or legal guardian of the child and prior written

• Page 6, Line 1disclosure as to the disposition of the results or the testing. therefrom.

• Page 6, Line 2Through such policy, school personnel should be encouraged The policy

• Page 6, Line 3must encourage school personnel to discuss concerns about a child's

• Page 6, Line 4behavior with the parent or legal guardian of such the child, and such

• Page 6, Line 5those discussions may include a suggestion by school personnel that the

• Page 6, Line 6parent or legal guardian of the child speak with an appropriate health-care professional.

• Page 6, Line 7SECTION 6.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-1-801, repeal (1)(d) as follows:

• Page 6, Line 825-1-801.  Patient records in custody of health-care facility -

• Page 6, Line 9definitions. (1) (d)  Nothing in this section requires a person responsible

• Page 6, Line 10for the diagnosis or treatment of sexually transmitted infections, a

• Page 6, Line 11substance use disorder, or the use of drugs in the case of minors pursuant

• Page 6, Line 12to sections 13-22-102 and 25-4-409 to release patient records of such

• Page 6, Line 13diagnosis or treatment to a parent, guardian, or person other than the minor or his or her designated representative.

• Page 6, Line 14SECTION 7.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-1-802, repeal (2) as follows:

• Page 6, Line 1525-1-802.  Patient records in custody of individual health-care

• Page 6, Line 16providers. (2)  Nothing in this section requires a person responsible for

• Page 6, Line 17the diagnosis or treatment of sexually transmitted infections, substance

• Page 6, Line 18use disorders, or the use of drugs in the case of minors pursuant to

• Page 6, Line 19sections 13-22-102 and 25-4-409 to release patient records of such

• Page 6, Line 20diagnosis or treatment to a parent, guardian, or person other than the minor or his or her designated representative.

• Page 6, Line 21SECTION 8.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-1-1202, amend

• Page 6, Line 22(1)(aaa) as follows:

• Page 7, Line 125-1-1202.  Index of statutory sections regarding medical

• Page 7, Line 2record confidentiality and health information. (1)  Statutory provisions

• Page 7, Line 3concerning policies, procedures, and references to the release, sharing, and use of medical records and health information include the following:

• Page 7, Line 4(aaa)  Sections 25-4-406 and 25-4-409 Section 25-4-406, concerning the reporting of sexually transmitted infections;

• Page 7, Line 5SECTION 9.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-60-104, amend (3.5) as follows:

• Page 7, Line 627-60-104.  Behavioral health crisis response system - crisis

• Page 7, Line 7service facilities - walk-in centers - mobile response units - report.

• Page 7, Line 8(3.5)  Mobile crisis programs and crisis walk-in centers shall provide

• Page 7, Line 9crisis response screening services to any an individual seeking such

• Page 7, Line 10services, including youth of any age, with consent from the youth's

• Page 7, Line 11parent or legal guardian, and an individual with a disability, as

• Page 7, Line 12defined in the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990", 42

• Page 7, Line 13U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq., as amended, regardless of primary diagnosis,

• Page 7, Line 14co-occurring conditions, or if the individual requires assistance with

• Page 7, Line 15activities of daily living, as defined in section 12-270-104. All additional

• Page 7, Line 16or corresponding behavioral health services beyond the crisis response

• Page 7, Line 17screening must be provided in accordance with all applicable state laws,

• Page 7, Line 18including, but not limited to, sections 12-245-203.5, 13-22-102, 27-65-103 and 27-65-104.

• Page 7, Line 19SECTION 10.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-60-109, add (2)(d) as follows:

• Page 7, Line 2027-60-109.  Youth mental health services program - established

• Page 7, Line 21- report - rules - definitions - repeal. (2) (d)  A provider shall not

• Page 7, Line 22provide mental health services pursuant to this section to a

• Page 8, Line 1youth without prior consent from the youth's parent or legal guardian.

• Page 8, Line 2SECTION 11.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-65-104, amend

• Page 8, Line 3(1), (2) introductory portion, (4)(a), (4)(b), (4)(d), (4)(e), and (6); and repeal (3) as follows:

• Page 8, Line 427-65-104.  Voluntary applications for mental health services

• Page 8, Line 5- treatment of minors. (1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law,

• Page 8, Line 6a minor, who is fifteen years of age or older, whether with or without the

• Page 8, Line 7consent of a parent or legal guardian, may consent to upon consent of

• Page 8, Line 8the minor's parent or legal guardian, may receive mental health

• Page 8, Line 9services to be rendered by a facility, a professional person, or mental

• Page 8, Line 10health professional licensed pursuant to part 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 of article 245

• Page 8, Line 11of title 12 in any practice setting. Such consent is not subject to

• Page 8, Line 12disaffirmance because of minority. The professional person or licensed

• Page 8, Line 13mental health professional rendering mental health services to a minor

• Page 8, Line 14may, with or without the consent of the minor, advise the minor's parent or legal guardian of the services given or needed.

• Page 8, Line 15(2)  A minor who is fifteen years of age or older or a minor's

• Page 8, Line 16parent or legal guardian, on the minor's behalf, may make a voluntary

• Page 8, Line 17application for hospitalization of the minor. An application for

• Page 8, Line 18hospitalization on behalf of a minor who is under fifteen years of age and

• Page 8, Line 19who is a ward of the department must not be made unless a guardian ad

• Page 8, Line 20litem has been appointed for the minor or a petition for the same has been

• Page 8, Line 21filed with the court by the agency having custody of the minor; except

• Page 8, Line 22that such an application for hospitalization may be made under emergency

• Page 8, Line 23circumstances requiring immediate hospitalization, in which case the

• Page 8, Line 24agency shall file a petition for appointment of a guardian ad litem within

• Page 9, Line 1seventy-two hours after application for admission is made, and the court

• Page 9, Line 2shall immediately appoint a guardian ad litem. Procedures for

• Page 9, Line 3hospitalization of a minor may proceed pursuant to this section once a

• Page 9, Line 4petition for appointment of a guardian ad litem has been filed, if

• Page 9, Line 5necessary. Whenever an application for hospitalization is made, an

• Page 9, Line 6independent professional person shall must interview the minor and

• Page 9, Line 7conduct a careful investigation into the minor's background, using all

• Page 9, Line 8available sources, including, but not limited to, the minor's parents or

• Page 9, Line 9legal guardian, the minor's school, and any other social service agencies.

• Page 9, Line 10Prior to admitting a minor for hospitalization, the independent professional person shall must make the following findings:

• Page 9, Line 11(3)  An interview and investigation by an independent professional

• Page 9, Line 12person is not required for a minor who is fifteen years of age or older and

• Page 9, Line 13who, upon the recommendation of the minor's treating professional

• Page 9, Line 14person, seeks voluntary hospitalization with the consent of the minor's

• Page 9, Line 15parent or legal guardian. In order to assure that the minor's consent to

• Page 9, Line 16such hospitalization is voluntary, the minor shall be advised, at or before

• Page 9, Line 17the time of admission, of the minor's right to refuse to sign the admission

• Page 9, Line 18consent form and the minor's right to revoke the minor's consent at a later

• Page 9, Line 19date. If a minor admitted pursuant to this subsection (3) subsequently

• Page 9, Line 20revokes the minor's consent after admission, a review of the minor's need

• Page 9, Line 21for hospitalization pursuant to subsection (4) of this section must be initiated immediately.

• Page 9, Line 22(4) (a)  The need for continuing hospitalization of all voluntary

• Page 9, Line 23minor patients must be formally reviewed at least every two months.

• Page 9, Line 24Review pursuant to this subsection (4) must fulfill the requirement

• Page 9, Line 25specified in section 19-1-115 (8) when the minor is fifteen years of age or older and consenting to hospitalization.

• Page 10, Line 1(b)  The review must be conducted by an independent professional

• Page 10, Line 2person who is not a member of the minor's treating team; or if the minor,

• Page 10, Line 3the minor's physician and the minor's parent or legal guardian do not

• Page 10, Line 4object to the need for continued hospitalization, the review required

• Page 10, Line 5pursuant to this subsection (4) may be conducted internally by the hospital staff.

• Page 10, Line 6(d)  Ten days prior to the review, the patient representative at the

• Page 10, Line 7mental health facility shall notify the minor and the minor's parent or

• Page 10, Line 8legal guardian of the date of the review. and shall assist the minor in

• Page 10, Line 9articulating to the independent professional person the minor's wishes concerning continued hospitalization.

• Page 10, Line 10(e)  Nothing in this section limits a minor's parent's or legal

• Page 10, Line 11guardian's right to seek the minor's release from the facility pursuant to any other provision of law.

• Page 10, Line 12(6) (a)  When a minor minor's parent or legal guardian does

• Page 10, Line 13not consent to or objects to continued hospitalization, the need for such

• Page 10, Line 14continued hospitalization must, within ten days, be reviewed pursuant to

• Page 10, Line 15subsection (4) of this section by an independent professional person who

• Page 10, Line 16is not a member of the minor's treating team and who has not previously

• Page 10, Line 17reviewed the minor pursuant to this subsection (6). The minor shall and

• Page 10, Line 18the minor's parent or legal guardian must be informed of the

• Page 10, Line 19results of the review within three days after the review's completion. If

• Page 10, Line 20the conclusion reached by the professional person is that the minor no

• Page 10, Line 21longer meets the standards for hospitalization specified in subsection (2) of this section, the minor must be discharged.

• Page 10, Line 22(b)  If, twenty-four hours after being informed of the results of the

• Page 11, Line 1review specified in subsection (6)(a) of this section, a minor continues to

• Page 11, Line 2affirm the objection to hospitalization, the director of the facility or the

• Page 11, Line 3director's duly appointed representative shall advise the minor that the

• Page 11, Line 4minor has the right to retain and consult with an attorney at any time and

• Page 11, Line 5that the director or the director's duly appointed representative shall file,

• Page 11, Line 6within three days after the request of the minor, a statement requesting an

• Page 11, Line 7attorney for the minor or, if the minor is under fifteen years of age, a

• Page 11, Line 8guardian ad litem. The minor; the minor's attorney, if any; and the minor's

• Page 11, Line 9parent, legal guardian, or guardian ad litem, if any, shall be given written

• Page 11, Line 10notice that a hearing upon the recommendation for continued

• Page 11, Line 11hospitalization may be had before the court or a jury upon written request directed to the court pursuant to subsection (6)(d) of this section.

• Page 11, Line 12(c)  Whenever the statement requesting an attorney is filed with the

• Page 11, Line 13court, the court shall ascertain whether the minor has retained counsel,

• Page 11, Line 14and, if the minor has not, the court shall, within three days, appoint an

• Page 11, Line 15attorney to represent the minor, or if the minor is under fifteen years of

• Page 11, Line 16age, a guardian ad litem. Upon receipt of a petition filed by the guardian

• Page 11, Line 17ad litem, the court shall appoint an attorney to represent the minor under fifteen years of age.

• Page 11, Line 18(d) (I)  The minor or the minor's attorney or guardian ad litem may,

• Page 11, Line 19at any time after the minor has continued to affirm the minor's objection

• Page 11, Line 20to hospitalization pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section, file a

• Page 11, Line 21written request that the recommendation for continued hospitalization be

• Page 11, Line 22reviewed by the court or that the treatment be on an outpatient basis. If

• Page 11, Line 23review is requested, the court shall hear the matter within ten days after

• Page 11, Line 24the request, and the court shall give notice of the time and place of the

• Page 11, Line 25hearing to the minor; the minor's attorney, if any; the minor's parents or

• Page 12, Line 1legal guardian; the minor's guardian ad litem, if any; the independent

• Page 12, Line 2professional person; and the minor's treating team. The hearing must be

• Page 12, Line 3held in accordance with section 27-65-113; except that the court or jury

• Page 12, Line 4shall determine that the minor is in need of care and treatment if the court or jury makes the following findings:

• Page 12, Line 5(A)  That the minor has a mental health disorder and is in need of hospitalization;

• Page 12, Line 6(B)  That a less restrictive treatment alternative is inappropriate or unavailable; and

• Page 12, Line 7(C)  That hospitalization is likely to be beneficial.

• Page 12, Line 8(II)  At the conclusion of the hearing, the court may enter an order

• Page 12, Line 9confirming the recommendation for continued hospitalization, discharge the minor, or enter any other appropriate order.

• Page 12, Line 10(e)  For purposes of this subsection (6), "objects to hospitalization"

• Page 12, Line 11means that a minor, with the necessary assistance of hospital staff, has

• Page 12, Line 12written the minor's objections to continued hospitalization and has been

• Page 12, Line 13given an opportunity to affirm or disaffirm such objections forty-eight hours after the objections are first written.

• Page 12, Line 14(f)  A minor may not again object to hospitalization pursuant to

• Page 12, Line 15this subsection (6) until ninety days after conclusion of proceedings pursuant to this subsection (6).

• Page 12, Line 16(g)  In addition to the rights specified in section 27-65-119 for

• Page 12, Line 17persons receiving evaluation, care, or treatment, a written notice

• Page 12, Line 18specifying the rights of minor children under this section must be given to each minor upon admission to hospitalization.

• Page 12, Line 19SECTION 12.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-65-119, amend

• Page 12, Line 20(5) as follows:

• Page 13, Line 127-65-119.  Rights of respondents certified for short-term

• Page 13, Line 2treatment or long-term care and treatment. (5)  Any respondent

• Page 13, Line 3receiving evaluation or treatment under any of the provisions of this

• Page 13, Line 4article 65 is entitled to a written copy and verbal description in a language

• Page 13, Line 5or modality accessible to the person of all the rights enumerated in this

• Page 13, Line 6section. and a minor child must receive written notice of the minor's

• Page 13, Line 7rights as provided in section 27-65-104 (6)(g). A list of the rights must be

• Page 13, Line 8prominently posted in all evaluation and treatment facilities in the

• Page 13, Line 9predominant languages of the community and explained in a language or

• Page 13, Line 10modality accessible to the respondent. The facility shall assist the respondent in exercising the rights enumerated in this section.

• Page 13, Line 11SECTION 13.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-65.5-101, amend (2) introductory portion and (2)(l) as follows:

• Page 13, Line 1227-65.5-101.  Eating disorder treatment and recovery facilities

• Page 13, Line 13- rules. (2)  The state board of human services shall promulgate adopt rules for eating disorder treatment and recovery facilities that must:

• Page 13, Line 14(l)  Prior to involuntarily placing a feeding tube for a minor

• Page 13, Line 15patient, require the eating disorder treatment and recovery facility to

• Page 13, Line 16obtain informed written consent from both the patient and the patient's

• Page 13, Line 17parent or legal guardian. if the patient is fifteen years of age or older or

• Page 13, Line 18from only the patient's parent or legal guardian if the patient is fourteen

• Page 13, Line 19years of age or younger. If a patient is fifteen years of age or older and

• Page 13, Line 20does not consent to or objects to the continued use of an involuntary

• Page 13, Line 21feeding tube, the patient may seek review pursuant to section 27-65-104 (6).

• Page 13, Line 22SECTION 14.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-81-109, amend

• Page 13, Line 23(1) and (3) as follows:

• Page 14, Line 127-81-109.  Voluntary treatment of persons with substance use

• Page 14, Line 2disorders. (1)  A person with a substance use disorder including a minor

• Page 14, Line 3or the parent or legal guardian of a minor, on behalf of the

• Page 14, Line 4minor, may apply for voluntary treatment directly to an approved treatment facility.

• Page 14, Line 5(3)  If a patient receiving residential care leaves an approved

• Page 14, Line 6treatment facility, the person or the parent or legal guardian of a

• Page 14, Line 7minor, on behalf of the minor, is encouraged to consent to outpatient treatment or supportive services, if appropriate.

• Page 14, Line 8SECTION 15.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-81-110, amend (1) and (3) as follows:

• Page 14, Line 927-81-110.  Voluntary treatment for persons intoxicated by

• Page 14, Line 10alcohol, under the influence of drugs, or incapacitated by substances.

• Page 14, Line 11(1)  A person intoxicated by alcohol, under the influence of drugs, or

• Page 14, Line 12incapacitated by substances including a minor if provided by rules of the

• Page 14, Line 13BHA, may voluntarily admit the person's self to an approved treatment

• Page 14, Line 14facility for an emergency evaluation to determine need for treatment; if

• Page 14, Line 15the person is a minor, the minor's parent or legal guardian must consent verbally or in writing.

• Page 14, Line 16(3)  Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, a

• Page 14, Line 17treatment facility shall immediately release a voluntarily admitted person

• Page 14, Line 18upon the person's or the person's parent or legal guardian, if the person is a minor, request.

• Page 14, Line 19SECTION 16.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 12-245-203.5, 13-22-103, 13-22-103.5, 13-22-105, and 25-4-409.

• Page 14, Line 20SECTION 17.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act

• Page 14, Line 21takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the

• Page 15, Line 1ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except

• Page 15, Line 2that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V

• Page 15, Line 3of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this

• Page 15, Line 4act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take

• Page 15, Line 5effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in

• Page 15, Line 6November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.