CO HB1020

Peace officers are prohibited from arresting individuals for level 1 drug misdemeanor possession or municipal drug possession charges when the only evidence is a colorimetric field drug test; officers must issue a summons instead

Colorimetric field drug tests are defined as presumptive chemical screening methods performed outside forensic laboratories that produce color changes to indicate possible presence of controlled substances

Trial judges must advise defendants before accepting pleas in drug possession cases (level 4 felony and below) that colorimetric field tests have known error rates, are subject to false positives, and are inadmissible in court

Defendants must be informed of their right to enter a not guilty plea and request drug testing from an accredited forensic laboratory

The bill applies to offenses committed on or after the effective date and includes a safety clause declaring immediate necessity for public peace, health, or safety