Amendments for HB23-1237
House Journal, March 28
14 HB23-1237 be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to
15 the Committee on Appropriations with favorable
16 recommendation:
17
18 Amend printed bill, strike everything below the enacting clause and
19 substitute:
20
21 "SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general
22 assembly finds and declares that:
23 (a) Multi-hazard early warning systems are a cost-effective
24 emergency and disaster risk reduction measure that have resulted in
25 saving peoples' lives, reducing disruptions, reducing property losses, and
26 minimizing economic losses;
27 (b) In recent years, Colorado has experienced extremely
28 destructive wildfires, and it is in the interest of the state of Colorado to be
29 proactive in building resilient communities;
30 (c) Multi-hazard early warning systems provide a good return on
31 investment. The 2019 Global Commission on Adaptation report, "Adapt
32 Now", found early warning systems provide a more than tenfold return on
33 investment;
34 (d) Multi-hazard early warning systems are only as strong as their
35 weakest link, and one break or delay in information transfer, such as the
36 failure to communicate warnings in inclusive languages, may derail the
37 entire effort;
38 (e) Colorado is a diverse state where over 40 languages are
39 spoken, per the most recent census data, and diversity is one of its
40 strengths; and
41 (f) Early warning systems and dissemination alerts need to reach
42 and better support at-risk communities in a time- and language-sensitive
43 manner and focus on the last-mile outreach using a mix of communication
44 channels. Collecting information about the state's emergency response
45 systems can inform future legislation to improve public safety.
46 (2) Therefore, the general assembly determines that it is in the best
47 interests of the people of the state of Colorado to update the state's
48 emergency alert systems to ensure the systems are able to reach people in
49 multiple languages and to work together to proactively address
50 emergency response for future disasters.
51 SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-20-145 as
52 follows:
53 23-20-145. Language access emergency alert study -
54 definitions - repeal. (1) (a) THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO'S NATURAL
55 HAZARDS CENTER SHALL CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE WHAT
56 MUNICIPALITIES, SHERIFF'S OFFICES, COUNTIES, FIRE DISTRICTS, AND LOCAL
1 911 AGENCIES NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ALERTS IN
2 MINORITY LANGUAGES BY JULY 1, 2024, AND WHAT LOCAL 911 AGENCIES
3 NEED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE LIVE INTERPRETATION DURING A 911 CALL BY
4 JULY 1, 2024. THE CENTER SHALL CONSULT WITH THE DIVISION OF
5 HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE
6 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, MUNICIPALITIES, SHERIFF'S OFFICES,
7 COUNTIES, FIRE DISTRICTS, AND LOCAL 911 AGENCIES IN CONDUCTING THE
8 STUDY AND ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT.
9 (b) THE STUDY MUST:
10 (I) IDENTIFY THE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF MULTI-HAZARD
11 EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO EASILY AND
12 SUCCESSFULLY REACH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITHOUT HAVING TO OPT
13 IN, AS WELL AS OPT-IN OPTIONS, OUTPUTS FOR EMERGENCY ALERT
14 SYSTEMS AND MESSAGES, AND THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY
15 ALERTS BY USING TRANSLATIONS IN MINORITY LANGUAGES;
16 (II) SURVEY STATE AGENCIES, COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES,
911 17 SHERIFF'S OFFICES, FIRE DISTRICTS, FIRE AUTHORITIES, AND LOCAL
18 AGENCIES TO IDENTIFY THE CURRENT CAPABILITIES OF EXISTING
19 EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEMS USED IN COLORADO AND COMPARE THEM TO
20 THE IDENTIFIED ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS;
21 (III) IDENTIFY GAPS IN THE CAPABILITIES OF EXISTING EMERGENCY
22 ALERT SYSTEMS REQUIRING CORRECTION;
23 (IV) IDENTIFY RESOURCES, INCLUDING FEDERAL FUNDING
24 OPPORTUNITIES, TO IMPLEMENT A GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST
25 MUNICIPALITIES, SHERIFF'S OFFICES, COUNTIES, FIRE DISTRICTS, AND LOCAL
26 911 AGENCIES IN OBTAINING EMERGENCY RESPONSE TECHNOLOGY
27 SYSTEMS THAT CAN PROVIDE EMERGENCY ALERTS IN MINORITY
28 LANGUAGES;
29 (V) DETERMINE BEST PRACTICES, WHICH MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY
30 REVIEWING PROGRAMS IN OTHER STATES, FOR HIRING MULTILINGUAL AND
31 MULTICULTURAL STAFF;
32 (VI) DETERMINE BEST PRACTICES FOR ENGAGING LOCAL
33 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH CONNECTIONS TO POPULATIONS THAT
34 SPEAK A MINORITY LANGUAGE; AND
35 (VII) PRESENT RESEARCH REGARDING EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY
36 ALERTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AFTER CONSULTATION WITH A
37 STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR PEOPLE WITH
38 DISABILITIES.
39 (c) THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO'S NATURAL HAZARD CENTER
40 SHALL SUBMIT ITS STUDY REPORT TO THE DIVISION OF HOMELAND
41 SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
42 SAFETY AND TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY NOVEMBER 1, 2023.
43 (2) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
44 (a) "INTERPRETATION" MEANS THE SPOKEN CONVERSION OF ONE
45 LANGUAGE INTO ANOTHER LANGUAGE.
46 (b) "TRANSLATION" MEANS THE WRITTEN CONVERSION OF ONE
47 LANGUAGE INTO ANOTHER LANGUAGE.
48 (3) THIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024.
49 SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
50 determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
51 preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.".
52
53
House Journal, April 10
23 Amend the State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee Report,
24 dated March 27, 2023, page 3, after line 16 insert:
25
26 "SECTION 3. Appropriation. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year,
27 $61,607 is appropriated to the department of higher education. This
28 appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the
29 department may use this appropriation as follows:
30 (a) $50,000 for the regents of the university of Colorado for
31 allocation to the natural hazards center; and
32 (c) $11,607 for need based grants.".
33
34 Renumber succeeding section accordingly.
35
36 Page 3 of the report, after line 19 insert:
37
38 "Page 1 of the bill, line 102, strike "SITUATIONS." and substitute
39 "SITUATIONS, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING AN
40 APPROPRIATION.".".
House Journal, April 12
42 Amend the State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee Report,
43 dated March 27, 2023, page 3, line 10, strike "NOVEMBER 1, 2023." and
44 substitute "JANUARY 8, 2024.".
45
46 As amended, ordered engrossed and placed on the Calendar for Third
47 Reading and Final Passage.
Senate Journal, May 1
After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends that HB23-1237 be
amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee of the Whole with
favorable recommendation.
Amend reengrossed bill, page 5, line 19, strike "$61,607" and substitute
"$77,009".
Page 5, line 22, strike "$50,000" and substitute "$62,500".
Page 5, line 24, strike "$11,607" and substitute "$14,509".