2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 6 - CONSUMER AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-28-102) › FAIR TRADE AND RESTRAINT OF TRADE (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-6.5-101) › Article 1 - COLORADO CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-1-1707) › Part 1 - CONSUMER PROTECTION - GENERAL (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-1-116) › Section 6-1-116 - Investigation of unfair business practices by regulated persons - district attorney requests for records from licensing authorities - interagency agreements with attorney general - legislative declaration - definitions

(1)
The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that:
(a)
Federal and state consumer protection and unfair trade laws, such as those prohibiting unfair or deceptive trade practices, price fixing, and monopolization, exist to protect consumers against unfair business practices that undermine fair competition, a thriving small business sector, and consumers' rights to make informed economic decisions;
(b)
District attorneys and the attorney general are tasked with, and have the expertise needed for, enforcing consumer protection laws in the state;
(c)
A licensing authority might have information relevant to a complaint alleging that a person that the licensing authority regulates has committed unfair or deceptive trade practices; and
(d)
Therefore, it best serves the consumer protection interests of the state to allow a licensing authority to share with a district attorney or the attorney general information regarding a regulated person, which information may be relevant to a consumer protection investigation of the regulated person.
(2)
(a)
Upon receiving a complaint alleging a violation of the consumer protection laws set forth in this article 1, a district attorney may request records from a licensing authority regarding a person that is the subject of the complaint if the complaint alleges that:
(I)
The complainant suffered damages in an amount of at least twenty thousand dollars and the district attorney determines the amount of damages alleged appears to be a reasonable amount in relation to the alleged conduct forming the basis of the complaint; or
(II)
Two or more persons regulated by the licensing authority jointly engaged in conduct that forms the basis of the complaint.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law that may prohibit a licensing authority from complying with this subsection (2), to facilitate the district attorney's investigation into and enforcement of the complaint, a licensing authority shall provide the district attorney with copies of, or access to inspect, the records requested if the licensing authority has already determined it will not take action against the regulated person or persons.
(c)
This subsection (2) does not apply to a person regulated by a board or commission.
(3)
In addition to the costs and attorney fees that the regulated person or persons complained of are entitled to recover from the complainant pursuant to section
6-1-113(3)
, if a court determines that the complaint is frivolous, groundless, and was filed in bad faith, or if the regulated person or persons prevail or substantially prevail in the matter, the court's order may also require the complainant to pay the regulated person's or persons' costs incurred, actual damages sustained, and reasonable attorney fees incurred in relation to:
(a)
The district attorney's or attorney general's investigation of the matter; and
(b)
The licensing authority's investigation of a complaint against the regulated person or persons if the court determines that the two complaints were filed by the same complainant and in regard to the same matter.
(4)
Subject to approval by the head of an executive department, a state licensing authority within the department may enter into an interagency agreement with the attorney general or the attorney general's designee for the referral of any complaint that appears to allege a violation of this article 1 or article 2 or 4 of this title 6. The interagency agreement may provide for referrals of complaints, information sharing, confidentiality requirements, and other terms that facilitate the investigation and enforcement of complaints alleging violations of consumer protection or unfair trade laws.
(5)
Any copies of records that a licensing authority sends to a district attorney, the attorney general, or the attorney general's designee pursuant to this section are records of the investigation of a prosecuting attorney pursuant to section
24-72-204(2)(a)(I)
and are not subject to the right of inspection under the "Colorado Open Records Act", part 2 of article
72
of title
24
.
(6)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)
"District attorney" includes the district attorney and the chief deputy district attorneys, special deputy district attorneys, deputy district attorneys, and assistant district attorneys that the district attorney appoints pursuant to part 2 of article
1
of title
20
.
(b)
"Licensing authority" means a state licensing authority or a local licensing authority.
(c)
"Local licensing authority" means the governing body of a statutory or home rule municipality, county, or city and county that is authorized to issue or approve a local license to a regulated person or for an activity.
(d)
(I)
"State licensing authority" means a department or division of the state that is authorized to issue to or approve a state license for a regulated person, which state license only authorizes the licensee to perform activities at specific premises.
(II)
"State licensing authority" does not include any board or commission.
Added by 2022 Ch. 154,§1, eff. 8/10/2022.
2022 Ch. 154, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).