HB 15-1218 Summary

• Requires any person conducting defense-initiated victim outreach to immediately disclose their legal name and that they are acting as an agent for the accused person or defense team when contacting a crime victim.

• Defines "defense-initiated victim outreach" as any effort by the defense team, including victim liaisons, outreach specialists, social workers, or investigators, to directly or indirectly contact a victim or victim's family member on behalf of the defendant or defense counsel.

• Clarifies that the definition does not require defense team members to comply with guidelines or standards from professional defense-initiated victim outreach organizations.

• Became effective August 5, 2015, subject to voter approval in November 2016 if a referendum petition was filed against the act.