A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning transit worker safety.
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 creates a specific criminal offense related to assault of a transit worker. The bill also adds regional transportation district transit police officers to the list of law enforcement officials who can access the peace officer training and support fund.
Page 1, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 1SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-3-201, amend the introductory portion; and add (4) as follows:
Page 2, Line 218-3-201. Definitions. As used in
sections 18-3-201Page 2, Line 3and sections 18-3-202 to 18-3-204, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 2, Line 4(4) "Transit worker" means a bus operator, train
Page 2, Line 5operator, ticket inspector, conductor, station customer
Page 2, Line 6assistant, or a person whose official duties include the
Page 2, Line 7maintenance, repair, inspection, troubleshooting, testing, or
Page 2, Line 8cleaning of buses, trains, or facilities of a mass transportation
Page 2, Line 9system, as defined in section 32-9-103, whether the person is employed by a political subdivision or a private entity.
Page 2, Line 10SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-3-204, amend (1)(b); and add (1)(c) and (1)(d) as follows:
Page 2, Line 1118-3-204. Assault in the third degree. (1) A person commits the crime of assault in the third degree if:
Page 2, Line 12(b) The person, with intent to harass, annoy, threaten, or alarm
Page 2, Line 13another person whom the actor knows or reasonably should know to be
Page 2, Line 14a peace officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical care provider, or an
Page 2, Line 15emergency medical service provider, causes the other person to come into
Page 2, Line 16contact with blood, seminal fluid, urine, feces, saliva, mucus, vomit, or
Page 2, Line 17toxic, caustic, or hazardous material by any means, including throwing, tossing, or expelling the fluid or material; or
Page 2, Line 18(c) With intent to harass, annoy, threaten, or alarm
Page 2, Line 19another person whom the person knows or should know to be a
Page 2, Line 20transit worker, the person causes the transit worker to come
Page 2, Line 21into contact with blood, seminal fluid, urine, feces, saliva,
Page 3, Line 1mucus, vomit, or toxic, caustic, or hazardous material by any
Page 3, Line 2means, including throwing, tossing, or expelling the fluid or material; or
Page 3, Line 3(d) With intent to prevent one whom the person knows, or
Page 3, Line 4should know, to be a transit worker from performing a lawful
Page 3, Line 5duty, the person recklessly causes bodily injury to the transit worker.
Page 3, Line 6SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 24-33.5-538 as follows:
Page 3, Line 724-33.5-538. Appropriation. The
General AssemblyPage 3, Line 8assembly shall appropriate $350 million to the peace officer training and support fund for the purpose of:
Page 3, Line 9(1) Granting funds to law enforcement agencies in municipalities and counties for operating money to:
Page 3, Line 10(a) Increase annual pay for police, sheriff, and other law
Page 3, Line 11enforcement officials, including regional transportation district transit police officers;
Page 3, Line 12(b) Provide one-time hiring, retention, or merit bonuses to attract,
Page 3, Line 13maintain, or reward exceptional law enforcement officials, including regional transportation district transit police officers;
Page 3, Line 14(c) Hire additional police or law enforcement officials, including
Page 3, Line 15regional transportation district transit police officers, to
Page 3, Line 16address specific geographic areas or specific types of criminal activity,
Page 3, Line 17including gang activity, drug cartels, human trafficking, stolen vehicle
Page 3, Line 18units, and drug interdiction at the state's borders and along the state's interstate highways;
Page 3, Line 19(d) Initial and continuing education for law enforcement,
Page 4, Line 1including regional transportation district transit police
Page 4, Line 2officers, including use of force training, restraint and non-lethal force
Page 4, Line 3training, physical fitness training or enhancement, post-secondary
Page 4, Line 4education advancement in criminal justice or other related areas of study,
Page 4, Line 5and other programs and disciplines that contribute to a comprehensive
Page 4, Line 6training and retraining of law enforcement officials in the state of Colorado; and
Page 4, Line 7(e) Money from the general fund as may be needed to pay the
Page 4, Line 8surviving spouse or children or estate of police, including regional
Page 4, Line 9transportation district transit police officers, and fire or other first responders killed in the line of duty.
Page 4, Line 10SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 4, Line 11takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 4, Line 12ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 4, Line 13that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 4, Line 14of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 4, Line 15act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 4, Line 16effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 4, Line 17November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.