HB 14-1214 Summary

• Extends enhanced criminal penalties to emergency medical service (EMS) providers that previously applied only to peace officers and firefighters for assault and murder committed during performance of official duties.

• Elevates assault in the first and second degree against EMS providers engaged in duty to felonies with mandatory sentencing to the department of corrections.

• Classifies murder of an EMS provider as first-degree murder punishable by life imprisonment without parole or death penalty, with EMS provider status treated as an aggravating factor in sentencing.

• Defines "emergency medical service provider" to include both paid and volunteer EMS personnel as set forth in section 25-3.5-103(8) of Colorado law.

• Appropriates $20,052 for fiscal year 2017 and $59,295 for fiscal year 2018 to implement enhanced sentencing provisions; directs sentencing commission to study equity and evidence-based support for occupation-based penalty enhancements by March 1, 2015.