A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning notifying a school when a student has
Page 1, Line 102experienced a traumatic event.
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 requires the safe2tell program (safe2tell) to provide a handle-with-care notice to a school when a student has had an adverse childhood experience. A peace officer who responds to an incident that is an adverse childhood experience shall report to safe2tell the name and age of the child involved in the incident. Upon receipt of a report, safe2tell shall send a handle-with-care notice to the child's school that includes only the child's name and the phrase "handle with care". A school shall only share the notice with school staff who need to know about the notice. Other than notifying school staff, a school is not required to take any action with respect to the notice.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-31-603, amend the introductory portion and (1); and add (1.5) as follows:
Page 2, Line 324-31-603. Definitions. As used in this
articlePage 2, Line 4(1)
"Department" means the department of law.Page 2, Line 5childhood experience" means a traumatic event that involves a
Page 2, Line 6school-aged child or the child's family or that occurs at the
Page 2, Line 7child's home. "Adverse childhood experience" includes, but is not
Page 2, Line 8limited to, an incident of domestic violence; a serious accident;
Page 2, Line 9the arrest of a parent or family member; reports of abuse or
Page 2, Line 10neglect to a county department of human or social services, the
Page 2, Line 11state department of human services, or a law enforcement
Page 2, Line 12agency; a death at the child's home or of a friend of the child; execution of a search warrant; or a drug or alcohol overdose.
Page 2, Line 13(1.5) "Department" means the department of law.
Page 2, Line 14SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-31-606, add (5) as follows:
Page 2, Line 1524-31-606. Safe2tell program - creation - duties - handle-with
Page 2, Line 16-care notice. (5) (a) Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, the
Page 2, Line 17program shall provide a handle-with-care notice to a school when a student has had an adverse childhood experience.
Page 2, Line 18(b) Beginning August 1, 2026, a peace officer who responds
Page 3, Line 1to an incident that is an adverse childhood experience shall
Page 3, Line 2report to the program the name and age of the child involved in the incident.
Page 3, Line 3(c) Upon receiving a report of an adverse childhood
Page 3, Line 4experience pursuant to subsection (5)(b) of this section, the
Page 3, Line 5program shall send a handle-with-care notice to the child's
Page 3, Line 6school before the start of the next school day after receiving
Page 3, Line 7the report. The handle-with-care notice must only include the
Page 3, Line 8child's name and the phrase "handle with care". The notice must
Page 3, Line 9not include any details about the adverse childhood experience incident.
Page 3, Line 10(d) A school that receives a handle-with-care notice
Page 3, Line 11shall not include the notice in the child's records and shall
Page 3, Line 12only share the notice with school staff who, in the school's
Page 3, Line 13chief administrative officer's or the officer's designee's
Page 3, Line 14determination, need to know about the notice. Other than
Page 3, Line 15notifying school staff, a school is not required to take any action with respect to the child or notice.
Page 3, Line 16SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 3, Line 17determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 3, Line 18preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 3, Line 19the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.