(1) (a) There is hereby created in the department of public safety the cold case task force, referred to in this section as the "task force", to review general cold case homicide investigation tactics and practices.
(b) The task force shall exercise its powers and perform its duties and functions as if the same were transferred to the department of public safety by a type 2 transfer, as such transfer is defined in the "Administrative Organization Act of 1968", article 1 of this title.
(2) The task force shall consist of sixteen members, as follows:
The executive director of the department of public safety, or his or her designee, whoshall chair the task force;
The attorney general, or his or her designee;
Three district attorneys, or their designees, who shall be appointed by the executivedirector of the Colorado district attorneys council, one of whom shall be from an urban judicial district, one of whom shall be from a suburban judicial district, and one of whom shall be from a rural judicial district;
Two members who represent a statewide victims advocacy organization and whoshall be appointed by the governor;
One sheriff and one police chief who shall be appointed by the speaker of the houseof representatives;
One sheriff and one police chief who shall be appointed by the president of the senate;
Two representatives from victims' families who shall be appointed by the speaker ofthe house of representatives;
Two representatives from victims' families who shall be appointed by the presidentof the senate; and
A forensic pathologist who is appointed by the governor.
(3) (a) The members of the task force appointed pursuant to paragraphs (c) to (h) of subsection (2) of this section shall serve terms of three years; except that the members first appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall each serve a two-year term. The member of the task force appointed pursuant to paragraph (i) of subsection (2) of this section shall serve a three-year term.
(b) The initial members shall be appointed by their appointing authority within thirty days after June 1, 2007; except that the governor shall appoint the initial member described in paragraph (i) of subsection (2) of this section by September 1, 2012. An appointed member shall not serve more than two consecutive full terms, in addition to any partial term. In the event of a vacancy in an appointed position by death, resignation, removal for misconduct, incompetence, or neglect of duty, or otherwise, the appointing authority shall appoint a member within sixty days to fill the position for the remainder of the unexpired term.
The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but are entitled toreimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this section.
The task force shall meet at least four times a year beginning October 1, 2007.
The task force shall review cold case homicide investigation strategies and practicesand make recommendations on best practices.
Members of the task force, employees, and consultants shall be immune from suit inany civil action based upon any official act performed in good faith pursuant to this section.
On or before October 1, 2008, and annually each year thereafter, the task force shallreport to the judiciary committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, on the implementation of this section.
(a) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2026.
(b) Before its repeal, the department of regulatory agencies shall review the task force in accordance with section 24-34-104.
Source: L. 2007: Entire section added, p. 1895, § 2, effective June 1. L. 2012: IP(2), (2)(g), (2)(h), (3), and (9)(a) amended and (2)(i) added, (HB 12-1206), ch. 90, p. 293, § 1, effective April 12. L. 2019: (9) amended, (SB 19-163), ch. 213, p. 2221, § 1, effective August 2.