House Committee of Reference Report
Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs
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All text that will be removed from the bill will be indicated by strikethrough as follows:
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This is text that is removed from law. -
Text that is added to a bill will be indicated by either all capitals or bold & italic as follows:
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- This all capitals text would be added to law.
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March 12, 2026
After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends the following:
HB26-1252 be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation:
Page 1, Line 1Amend printed bill, page 2, line 2, strike "24-33.5-705" and substitute
Page 1, Line 2"24-33.5-1604".
Page 1, Line 3Page 2, line 3, strike "(6.5)" and substitute "(7)".
Page 1, Line 4Page 2, strike lines 4 through 6 and substitute:
Page 1, Line 5"24-33.5-1604. Duties and powers of the division - rules.
Page 1, Line 6(7) The division shall support homeland security
Page 1, Line 7initiatives by:".
Page 1, Line 8Page 3, line 12, after "maintain" insert "and lead".
Page 1, Line 9Page 6, strike lines 6 through 27.
Page 1, Line 10Page 7, strike lines 1 through 27.
Page 1, Line 11Page 8, strike lines 1 through 5 and substitute:
Page 1, Line 12"SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add with amended
Page 1, Line 13and relocated provisions 24-33.5-2502.5 as follows:
Page 1, Line 1424-33.5-2502.5. [Formerly 24-33.5-705.5] Auxiliary
Page 1, Line 15communications unit - powers and duties of unit and office of public
Page 1, Line 16safety communications regarding auxiliary communications -
Page 1, Line 17definitions.
Page 1, Line 18(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise
Page 1, Line 19requires:
Page 1, Line 20(a) "Auxiliary emergency communicator" means an amateur radio
Page 2, Line 1operator licensed by the United States federal communications
Page 2, Line 2commission pursuant to 47 CFR 97 who meets the training requirements
Page 2, Line 3and is credentialed by the office. An auxiliary emergency communicator
Page 2, Line 4meeting the requirements of this paragraph (a) subsection (1)(a) serves
Page 2, Line 5as an authorized a qualified volunteer of the office division for
Page 2, Line 6purposes of article 10 of this title title 24.
Page 2, Line 7(b) "Division" means the division of homeland security and
Page 2, Line 8emergency management created in section 24-33.5-1603.
Page 2, Line 9(c) "Office" means the office of emergency management created
Page 2, Line 10in section 24-33.5-705 (1).
Page 2, Line 11(d) (b) "Unit" means the auxiliary emergency communications
Page 2, Line 12unit of the office.
Page 2, Line 13(c) "Unit member" means an auxiliary emergency
Page 2, Line 14communicator or other unit leadership or support staff.
Page 2, Line 15(2) The auxiliary emergency communications unit is hereby
Page 2, Line 16established created within the office. The unit is in the charge of the
Page 2, Line 17director of the office.
Page 2, Line 18(3) The unit has the following powers, and duties, and
Page 2, Line 19protections:
Page 2, Line 20(a) Establish programs for the training and credentialing of
Page 2, Line 21auxiliary emergency communicators across the state, which training and
Page 2, Line 22credentialing is declared to be a matter of statewide concern. In
Page 2, Line 23connection with such training and credentialing, the use of the term
Page 2, Line 24"auxiliary emergency communications" within the state is limited to
Page 2, Line 25individuals, entities, associations, and units of local government that have
Page 2, Line 26been certified by the director of the office as meeting the training and
Page 2, Line 27credentialing requirements established by the department for auxiliary
Page 2, Line 28emergency communicators.
Page 2, Line 29(b) Assume all of the duties and possess all of the authority and
Page 2, Line 30responsibilities of the radio amateur civil emergency service, referred to
Page 2, Line 31in this section as "RACES", 47 CFR 97.407, within the state. Any
Page 2, Line 32reference to RACES in any federal law or regulation, and any federal,
Page 2, Line 33state, or local government emergency or disaster plans is to be interpreted
Page 2, Line 34as referring to the unit, and the unit is the successor entity to any state
Page 2, Line 35RACES organization referenced in any such law, regulation, or plan. No
Page 2, Line 36other individual, entity, association, or government agency may represent
Page 2, Line 37that it is a state RACES organization.
Page 2, Line 38(c) Ensure that auxiliary emergency communicators are authorized
Page 2, Line 39volunteers Authorize unit members as qualified volunteers.
Page 2, Line 40Qualified volunteers are entitled to the protections and benefits of
Page 2, Line 41part 8 of this article 33.5 when assisting with the installation,
Page 2, Line 42maintenance, or demolition of communication facilities of any county
Page 2, Line 43sheriff, local government, local emergency planning committee, local
Page 3, Line 1emergency management agency, or state agency participating in
Page 3, Line 2division activities, whether or not such the activities occur during a
Page 3, Line 3disaster; except that sections 24-33.5-825 and 24-33.5-826 do not apply
Page 3, Line 4to a training exercise, drill, or class without the express prior consent and
Page 3, Line 5approval of the volunteer's employer. The unit may use or operate
Page 3, Line 6state vehicles while participating in division activities.
Page 3, Line 7(4) In connection with the powers and duties of the unit as
Page 3, Line 8specified in this section, the director of the office may:
Page 3, Line 9(a) Develop and issue a credential that is recognized throughout
Page 3, Line 10the state for the purpose of granting access to government facilities,
Page 3, Line 11emergency operations centers, incident command posts, and disaster
Page 3, Line 12scenes;
Page 3, Line 13(b) Conduct criminal background investigations on candidates for
Page 3, Line 14credentialing as auxiliary emergency communicators unit members in
Page 3, Line 15accordance with the security needs of the department. When the results
Page 3, Line 16of a fingerprint-based criminal history record check of an applicant
Page 3, Line 17performed pursuant to this section reveal a record of arrest without a
Page 3, Line 18disposition, the division director shall require that applicant to submit to
Page 3, Line 19a name-based judicial record check, as defined in section 22-2-119.3
Page 3, Line 20(6)(d). The unit division director may deny credentialing to any
Page 3, Line 21candidate based upon the results of a background check.
Page 3, Line 22(c) Reimburse auxiliary emergency communicators unit
Page 3, Line 23members for necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in
Page 3, Line 24the performance of their duties; including projects, training, drills,
Page 3, Line 25exercises, and disaster response activities;
Page 3, Line 26(d) Expend state moneys money, including, but not limited to,
Page 3, Line 27grant moneys money or moneys money otherwise budgeted to the office,
Page 3, Line 28to enhance the communication infrastructure as necessary to supplement
Page 3, Line 29or reinforce the existing amateur radio systems and networks within the
Page 3, Line 30state for the purposes of maximizing disaster preparedness and response.
Page 3, Line 31SECTION 6. Repeal of relocated provisions in this act. In
Page 3, Line 32Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 24-33.5-705.5.".
Page 3, Line 33Renumber succeeding sections accordingly.
Page 3, Line 34Page 12, line 20, after "portion" insert "(2)(a)(VIII)(A)," and strike
Page 3, Line 35"(2)(a)(VIII)(L),".
Page 3, Line 36Page 12, line 22, strike "(2)(a)(VIII)(M)" and substitute "(2)(a)(VIII)(M);
Page 3, Line 37and add (2)(a)(VIII)(O)".
Page 3, Line 38Page 13, after line 12 add:
Page 3, Line 39
Page 4, Line 1"(A) A representative of Colorado counties, incorporated, or its
Page 4, Line 2successor entity a statewide organization of Colorado counties;".
Page 4, Line 3Page 13, strike lines 17 and 18.
Page 4, Line 4Page 13, line 23, strike "security." and substitute "security; and
Page 4, Line 5(O) An emergency manager from a rural county.".
Page 4, Line 6Page 14, strike lines 12 through 15 and substitute "the fund a per diem
Page 4, Line 7allowance of fifty dollars for each day spent attending official board
Page 4, Line 8meetings, reimbursement for the member's travel expenses
Page 4, Line 9incurred for attending official board meetings in accordance
Page 4, Line 10with state fiscal rules and department policy.".