CO HB1282

Office of the Child's Representative shall contract with a nonprofit entity in good standing with the National CASA Association to enhance and administer Colorado's CASA program statewide, effective July 1, 2019.

State CASA entity must aid and develop local CASA programs in each judicial district, ensure adherence to state and national standards, provide training for volunteers, and seek enhanced funding sources including private-public partnerships.

State CASA entity receives annual allocations from the state judiciary budget and must establish a formula for distributing funds to local CASA programs, with allocations due by June 15 each year and annual activity reports due by November 1.

Creates the State Court-Appointed Special Advocate Fund in the state treasury to receive appropriations and donations, with interest and unappropriated funds remaining in the account rather than reverting to the general fund.

Transfers all unexpended funds from the existing CASA fund to the new State Court-Appointed Special Advocate Fund on July 1, 2019, and repeals the old fund structure effective July 31, 2019.