CO HB1172

Exempts the Department of Public Safety and Department of Corrections from statutory restrictions on when criminal background checks can be performed during the hiring process.

Allows both departments to conduct background checks at any stage of the hiring process, rather than only after an applicant becomes a finalist or receives a conditional offer of employment.

Requires both departments to consider specified factors in subsection (4) when determining whether a criminal conviction disqualifies an applicant, regardless of when the conviction is discovered.

Takes effect August 6, 2014, unless a referendum petition is filed, in which case it becomes effective only upon voter approval at the November 2014 general election.