A panel of House legislators on Wednesday approve legislation that would require county jails statewide to meet standards set by an oversight committee by 2026.

Currently, the state has a jail standards oversight committee and commission. Both oversight boards are set to repeal on July 1 of this year. The Democratic-sponsored House Bill 1054 repeals the jail standards commission and extends the jail standards committee until Sept. 1, 2033. County jails in Colorado are required to adhere to the standards set forth by the committee starting on July 1, 2026. 

The House Judiciary Committee passed the measure, 10-1.

Under the bill, the jail standards committee will adopt a set of standards for jail systems in the state to follow. After meeting the initial set of standards by 2026, thereafter when the committee adopts a new set of standards, all state jail systems will have one year to comply.

“All Coloradans deserve safe living conditions, and their health and safety shouldn’t vary greatly depending on which jail they’re placed in,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Our bill extends the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards to ensure that all incarcerated people in Colorado are treated equally. Creating a safer environment in Colorado jails is one of many steps we can take to rehabilitate incarcerated people so they have the tools they need to break cycles of incarceration.”

The Legislative Oversight Commission for Colorado Jail Standards will be comprised of:

? two sheriffs appointed by a statewide organization representing the county sheriffs of Colorado

? two county commissioners appointed by Colorado counties

? The state public defender or the state public defender’s designee

? One physical or behavioral health professional with experience working in a jail appointed by the oversight committee

? One person representing a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of people experiencing incarceration appointed by the oversight committee

The committee’s responsibilities will include:

? Utilizing peer assessors selected by the advisory committee to perform assessments of a jail’s physical facilities and its written policies and procedures to assess compliance with jail standards

? Providing the oversight committee with recommendations for revising jail standards and ways to address jail needs necessary to comply with jail standards

? Providing the oversight committee with recommendations to address jail needs necessary to comply with jail standards

The bill estimates implementing the program in 2024 will cost just over $369,000 for the state.

To help jail systems offset costs to come in compliance with set standards, the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Justice is expected to provide a list of funding opportunities.