Colorado
Overview
Colorado enacted supported decision-making legislation in 2020 and 2021. There are no new supported decision-making bills pending. We have not located any case law specifically recognizing supported decision-making, but it may still be required as a less restrictive alternative to guardianship.
Guardianship Laws
Guardianship: Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 15-14-101 to -122; 15-14-301 to -319; 15-14-401 to -434; 15-14.5-101 to -503
Supported Decision-Making: Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 15-14-801 (primary supported decision-making statute); 15-14-102 (7.5), (13.5); 15-14-113.5 (requiring courts to appoint visitor to evaluate decision-making supports)
Supported Decision-Making
State Legislation
- C.R.S.A. § 15-14-801 et seq. (Effective September 7, 2021)
- Description: Allows an adult with a disability to voluntarily enter into supported decision-making agreements that allow members of the supportive community to:
- Help with general decision making
- Assist in collecting, obtaining, and understanding information related to medical, psychological, financial, educational, occupational, and social decisions, if the person with a disability requests that assistance
- Assist in communicating the adult with a disability’s decisions to the appropriate persons
- Bill number: S.B. 75, 73nd Gen. Assemb., 1st Reg. Sess. (Colo. 2021)
- Public link: [leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2021a_075_signed.pdf]
- Status: Effective as of Sept. 7, 2021
- Public link to statute: [https://leg.colorado.gov/colorado-revised-statutes]
- Description: Allows an adult with a disability to voluntarily enter into supported decision-making agreements that allow members of the supportive community to:
- C.R.S.A. §§ 15-14-102 (7.5), (13.5); 15-14-113.5
- Description: Requires the court to appoint a court visitor to interview the respondent and others and report to the court on the supported decision-making surrounding the respondent if the court appoints as an emergency guardian or special conservator a professional person or public administrator.
- Bill number: S.B. 129, 72nd Gen. Assemb., 2nd Reg. Sess. (Colo. 2020)
- Public Link: leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-129
- Status: Codified as of Sept 14, 2020
- Public link to statute: [https://leg.colorado.gov/colorado-revised-statutes]
None found
None found
Case Law & Court Orders
None found
State Grant Programs
None awarded
Other Resources
- Blog: CO DD Council Hosts Supported Decision-Making Event, with an NRC-SDM speaker
Link: coddc.org/blog/2016/02/09/co-dd-council-hosts-supported-decision-making-event - A Roadmap for Guardianship Alternatives
Link: www.thearcppr.org/a-roadmap-for-guardianship-alternatives/ - Report: “Self-Determination and Supported Decision-Making”
Link: www.coddc.org/Documents/SDM%20Print%20Version.pdf
Information Last Updated: June 6, 2023