(1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
The federal department of justice offered grants to help establish statewide automatedvictim information and notification systems;
A Colorado statewide association of county sheriffs applied for and received grantsto establish a statewide automated victim information and notification system and recently received an additional grant to upgrade the system;
The system allows crime victims and other concerned citizens to access timely andreliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders twenty-four hours a day over the telephone, through the internet, or by electronic mail;
The system is available for any county that wishes to participate and also includesthe division of youth services;
Although the federal grants were sufficient to establish the system, there is no funding source for the ongoing expenses of operating the system; and
The division is in the best position to distribute funding for the system and to monitorits effectiveness.
(2) The general assembly may annually appropriate from the general fund to the division money for the operation of the statewide automated victim information and notification system. The division must distribute money appropriated to the division by the general assembly for the operation of the statewide automated victim information and notification system to be used by the county sheriffs, the division of youth services, and other departments or agencies.
Source: L. 2013: Entire section added, (HB 13-1241), ch. 360, p. 2109, § 1, effective May 28. L. 2017: IP(1), (1)(d), and (2) amended, (HB 17-1329), ch. 381, p. 1982, § 55, effective June 6.