HB18-1065 Summary

• Requires appointing authorities to prioritize vulnerable person safety over other interests when disciplining Department of Human Services employees found to have mistreated, abused, neglected, or exploited vulnerable persons.

• Permits disciplinary action up to and including termination when an employee engages in mistreatment, abuse, neglect, or exploitation against a vulnerable person, considering the harm or risk of harm created by the employee's actions.

• Defines "mistreatment," "abuse," "neglect," and "exploitation" by reference to Colorado law definitions in Title 16 Article 22, Title 18 Articles 3 and 6.5, Title 19 Articles 1 and 3, Title 26 Article 3.1, Title 27 Article 90, and federal regulations Titles 38 and 42.

• Applies to state personnel system employees regardless of whether they have been charged with or convicted of disqualifying offenses under existing law.

• Preserves constitutional and statutory due process rights for state personnel system employees during disciplinary proceedings.