HOW DO YOU EXPRESS YOUR PASSION?
Barbara Pevny
COAFCC Board Member | Treasurer

On September 28, 2021, the COAFCC hosted a webinar providing the background of HB21-1228, known as “Julie’s Law”, which implemented domestic violence training and other requirements for Child and Family Investigators, Parental Responsibilities Evaluators, and Child Legal Representatives. 

Representative Meg Froelich spoke to a group of about 50 virtual attendees.  COAFCC Board President Rebecca Pepin moderated the discussion, and COAFCC board member Joshua Christian provided information from the State Court Administrator’s office on the logistics of implementing the new law. 

Representative Froelich relayed the story of Julie, who was forced to live with her sexually abusive father for 10 years, thus providing the name “Julie’s Law” for HB21-1228.  Legislators met with a number of women who had stories of children being placed with or being forced to have parenting time with abusers.  So the law adds domestic violence, child abuse, and child sexual abuse training requirements for court personnel, meaning Child and Family Investigators and Parental Responsibilities Evaluators.  It is anticipated that future legislation will require similar training for judicial staff.  The bill was also intended to align PRE’s with CFI’s, in adding a roster and a grievance procedure. 
 
The law states:
As of January 1, 2022, initial and ongoing training must include, at a minimum:
(I) Six initial hours of training on domestic violence, including coercive control, and its traumatic effects on children, adults, and families;
(II) Six initial hours of training on child abuse and child sexual abuse and its traumatic effects; and
(III) Four subsequent hours of training every two years on domestic violence, including coercive control, child abuse, and child sexual abuse, and the traumatic effects on children, adults, and families.
C.R.S. 14-10-116.5(2)(f) and 14-10-127(4)(a.5). 
 

NOTE:  ALL OF THE BELOW INFORMATION WAS CORRECT AS OF NOVEMBER 3, 2021, BUT ALL THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. 

The Colorado State Court Administrator’s Office (SCAO) will oversee the training requirements, and determine whether training meets the requirements.  Training must be completed by January 1, 2022, and you can begin submitting as of November 1, 2021.

Here is a link to a letter from the Judicial Department to CFI’s and PRE’s regarding the new training requirements, including the applicable look back periods (explaining the timeframes in which trainings previously completed can be utilized to meet the new requirements)

Visit the SCAO CFI Webpage, which will have a renewal section.  Please do not spam Jamie Watman, as her e-mail will not accept any renewals.  All relevant information will be at the bottom of the CFI web page as it is made available.

Here is a link to the CJD (Chief Justice Directive) for PRE’s

Here is a link to the proposed change to the training section of CJD 04-08 

Keep in mind, if the proposed change to CJD 04-08 is approved, the original 3-year renewal will move to a 2-year renewal, but the 15 required training hours will reduce to 10 hours.
 
If you are in a bind and need to complete classes quickly we have a suggestion.  While SCAO will not pre-approve classes, and WE CANNOT GUARANTEE ANY SPECIFIC CLASSES WILL MEET THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, CE4Less.com provides some classes that are “routinely approved to meet the mandatory education requirement in CJD04-08”. 

Here is a link to training courses from CE4Less.com Note, none of the classes have “coercive control” in the title, and it does not appear any of the classes on this website include that language; however, the topic is covered in the Issues in Domestic Violence courses.  This is a potential shortcoming of the courses listed.

Here is a link to training by The National Family Violence Law Center and The Hon. Julie K. Field on November 18 and December 19, 2021.

Katie Hays
katie@haysandstrode.com
970.625.9444
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Tiah Terranova
tiahterranova@gmail.com
970.515.3646
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COAFCC Administrative Assistant:
April Freier
aprilfreier@hotmail.com
970.405.2626