HB25-1200 does nothing to protect children better or strengthen child protection services (CPS). All it does is tweak some statutes to better protect the state from liability and CPS from accountability when CPS or a caseworker, through negligence, fraud, or malicious intent, destroys a family. 1200 maintains the status quo, avoiding accountability and perpetuating abuse of power that systemically fails children and families.

These amendments strengthen the CPO’s effectiveness without creating a fiscal note. They formalize best practices, provide accountability, and streamline oversight within existing resources.

Amendment 1: Require CPO Complaint Findings to Be Provided to Complainant and Be Available to Be Used in Court

Page 6, Line 9, under §19-3.3-103.5(2)(c)

“The Child Protection Ombudsman shall provide a written summary of findings to the complainant upon completion of an investigation, except where disclosure is prohibited by state or federal law. Findings provided to complainants must not disclose confidential third-party information but shall clearly state whether the complaint was substantiated or unsubstantiated. Findings resulting from a complaint filed by the litigant or from another CPO investigation that included that litigant shall be admissible as evidence in legal proceedings at the choosing of that litigant, subject to standard rules of evidence. The Ombudsman and its employees shall not be compelled to testify in court.”

Amendment 2: Grant Subpoena Power to the CPO

Page 5, Line 14, under §19-3.3-103.4(4)

“The Child Protection Ombudsman shall have the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the production of documents, records, or testimony when deemed necessary for an investigation. The Ombudsman shall first seek voluntary cooperation, reserving subpoena power as a last resort.”

Amendment 3: Require CPS to Respond to CPO Recommendations Within 30 Days

Page 7, Line 4, under §19-3.3-103(1)(a)(I)

“The Child Protection Ombudsman shall have the authority to issue written recommendations at any time it deems necessary, in addition to its annual September 1 report. Any recommendations resulting from a complaint or investigation must be provided in writing to the relevant agency. Within 30 days of receiving a recommendation from the Ombudsman, the responding agency shall provide a written response detailing how it will comply with the recommendation or explaining why compliance is not possible at this time. If compliance requires additional funding, the agency shall include an estimated cost for future legislative consideration.”

Amendment 4: Authorize Unannounced Inspections of State-Run Facilities

Page 9, Line 12, under §19-3.3-112(1)(a)

“The Child Protection Ombudsman may conduct unannounced visits and inspections of state-licensed residential child care facilities and facilities operated by the Department of Human Services. These visits may replace scheduled inspections where applicable and will not require prior notice or coordination with facility administrators.”

A justification for Amendment 1 as it will likely have pushback from CPO and the Governor.

Why Amendment 1 Is Necessary

This amendment is necessary for accountability, transparency, and due process in CPS.

Currently, the Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO) investigates complaints and may find wrongdoing by CPS or other agencies, but there is no requirement to share findings that may exonerate the complainant with the complainant. This is nothing but the government conspiring to cover up CPS’s role in destroying in recklessly, negligently, or fraudulently destroying the life and family of a Colorado citizen is absurd.

Key Reasons for This Change

  1. Ensure Transparency

Families who file complaints deserve to know whether their concerns were validated or dismissed. Keeping findings secret allows systemic issues to persist unchecked.

  1. Accountability for CPS

ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE ONLY WAY SYSTEMIC ISSUES ARE SOLVED. It is precisely the lack of accountability that has allowed systemic issues to persist and destroy the lives of tens of thousands of Coloradans.

  1. Ensuring Due Process for Families

Families subject to wrongful investigations or removals need access to findings to correct errors and seek legal remedies. CPS and state agencies already hold substantial power—withholding findings further tips the scale against families.

  1. Minimal Administrative Burden

The CPO already compiles findings internally; providing a written summary requires no new resources. The amendment allows findings to exclude confidential third-party information, ensuring compliance with privacy laws.

How Amendment 1 Benefits the System as a Whole

  • Transparency and accountability are the only solutions to prevent the systemic abuse of Colorado citizens from the broad unchecked authority that CPS wields.
  • CPS spends a significant amount of money each year on unjust investigations, wrongful removals, and other actions, as it is weaponized to target and retaliate against vulnerable parents and children.
  • CPS, along with other agencies, spends an enormous amount of resources to terminate parental rights without justification. Each wrongful termination case can cost CPS well into six figures.
  • Holding CPS accountable for violating due process protections and the constitutional rights of the families it is supposed to serve is the only way to correct and prevent systemic abuse.
  • Long-term savings to Colorado are immense.