Senate panel backs bill to require law-enforcement referrals to child‑advocacy centers and expand remote testimony

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 1103 after hearing broad support from child‑advocacy centers, victim‑service organizations and survivors.

Sponsor Senator Cutter (speaker 24) said the bill requires law enforcement to notify the appropriate child advocacy center (CAC) when there is a report alleging child sexual assault or serious abuse so a coordinated, developmentally appropriate forensic interview and trauma-informed services can be provided. "This bill strengthens Colorado trauma‑informed response to child ****** abuse while maintaining fairness in the justice system," Cutter told the committee.

CAC directors, advocacy groups and survivors testified that coordinated forensic interviews reduce retraumatization and improve evidence quality. Rachel Pickrell (speaker 25) urged stronger timelines and preservation of forensic-interview confidentiality; Diana Goldberg (speaker 26) said the change codifies what many CACs already do and would increase consistency statewide. The committee adopted L8 to clarify referral standards and adopted additional language that sponsors said limits administrative burdens while ensuring access.

The committee sent HB1103 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation and placed the bill on the consent calendar, 7–0. Sponsors said the bill would improve equity of access to CAC services across Colorado and expand the court's ability to permit remote testimony for witnesses up to 18 when a judge finds serious emotional distress would result from in-person confrontation.