2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 24 - GOVERNMENT - STATE (§§ 24-1-101 — 24-116-102) › PRINCIPAL DEPARTMENTS (§§ 24-30-101 — 24-36-306) › Article 33.5 - Public Safety (§§ 24-33.5-101 — 24-33.5-2704) › Part 5 - DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (§§ 24-33.5-501 — 24-33.5-536) › Section 24-33.5-533 - Synthetic opiate poisoning investigation and distribution interdiction grant program - creation - duties - rules - reports - appropriation - definition - repeal

(1)
There is created in the division the synthetic opiate poisoning investigation and distribution interdiction grant program, referred to in this section as the "grant program", to provide grants to law enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigating deaths caused by synthetic opiate poisoning and disrupting synthetic opiate supplies.
(2)
A law enforcement agency may apply for a grant for the following purposes only:
(a)
Investigating deaths and serious injuries caused by illegal synthetic opiate poisoning;
(b)
Investigating, enforcing, and prosecuting synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks, including multijurisdictional and multistate investigations and enforcement operations, to reduce the supply of illegal synthetic opiates and precursor chemicals in Colorado;
(c)
Technology, equipment, and training to enhance intelligence, information-sharing capabilities, and interagency collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners regarding synthetic opiate importation and high-level distribution networks; and
(d)
Analyzing emergent trends in markets, including the use of the postal service, private courier, commercial cargo, and the internet, for the import and distribution of illegal synthetic opiates through a systematic and standardized approach, including the use of novel, high-frequency, and real-time systems to enhance market surveillance.
(3)
(a)
Subject to available appropriations, gifts, grants, or donations, the division shall administer the grant program and shall award grants as provided in this section.
(b)
The division may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this section.
(4)
The division may promulgate such rules as may be necessary to implement the grant program, including rules concerning required performance metrics, data collection, and other relevant information that grantees are required to report pursuant to subsection (5) of this section.
(5)
(a)
On or before August 1, 2023, and on or before August 1 each year thereafter, each grant recipient that received a grant through the grant program in the preceding state fiscal year shall submit a narrative and financial report of grant expenses to the division in a format required by the division. At a minimum, the report must include a description of the uses of the grant money, including metrics, data, and other relevant information required by the division, during the applicable grant term. The division may promulgate rules regarding reporting requirements, including additional information to be included in the report.
(b)
On or before December 1, 2023, and on or before December 1 each year thereafter for the duration of the grant program, the division shall submit a summarized report to the judiciary committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees. At a minimum, the report must include the information provided by grant recipients to the division pursuant to this subsection (5).
(6)
The division shall consult the P.O.S.T. board director, or the director's designee, and the deputy attorney general of the division of criminal justice within the department of law, created in section
24-31-102(2)
, concerning the implementation of this section, including recommendations for potential grant recipients and expenditures.
(7)
The division shall consult the opioid crisis recovery funds advisory committee, created in section
27-81-118
, concerning the implementation of this section, including recommendations for potential grant recipients and expenditures, and assistance seeking gifts, grants, and donations pursuant to subsection (3)(b) of this section.
(8)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "law enforcement agency" has the same meaning set forth in section
24-32-124(1)(e)
, and includes a district attorney's office, a multijurisdictional law enforcement task force that includes a law enforcement agency as defined by section
24-32-124(1)(e)
, or a police department for a private or state institution of higher education.
(9)
This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Added by 2022 Ch. 225,§38, eff. 7/1/2022.