HB23-1237 Summary

• The University of Colorado's Natural Hazards Center shall conduct a study by July 1, 2024, to determine what resources municipalities, sheriff's offices, counties, fire districts, and local 911 agencies need to provide emergency alerts in minority languages and live interpretation during 911 calls.

• The study must identify essential components of multi-hazard early warning systems, survey current capabilities of existing emergency alert systems in Colorado, identify gaps requiring correction, and identify federal funding opportunities for a grant program to assist local agencies in obtaining multilingual emergency response technology.

• The study must also determine best practices for hiring multilingual and multicultural staff, engaging local community organizations serving minority language populations, and research effective emergency alert methods for people with disabilities.

• The Natural Hazards Center shall submit its study report to the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the General Assembly by January 8, 2024.

• $77,009 is appropriated to the Department of Higher Education for fiscal year 2023-24, with $62,500 allocated to the University of Colorado regents for the natural hazards center and $14,509 for need-based grants; the study statute repeals effective July 1, 2024.