Family Stability & Kinship Care

Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0703.01 Anna Petrini x5497 HOUSE BILL 26-1314
House Committees Senate Committees
Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING INCREASING FAMILY STABILITY , AND, IN CONNECTION101
THEREWITH, PRIORITIZING KINSHIP PLACEMENTS IN CERTAIN102
CIRCUMSTANCES AND FACILITATING GRANDPARENT CONTACT.103
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
In disputes concerning parenting time, the bill adds payment of a
monetary penalty to the aggrieved party, community service, and the use
of court-approved parenting time tracking or communication tools to the
list of orders a court may issue to address noncompliance with an existing
parenting time order. The bill clarifies that orders in these disputes must
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
April 20, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
English,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
be proportionate to the frequency and severity of intentional
noncompliance.
The bill requires the state department of human services, in
coordination with the county departments of human or social services
(county departments) and their delegate child support enforcement units,
to develop protocols for referring a noncustodial parent who is in
compliance with a child support obligation to supervised or facilitated
family-time services.
When a child or youth is removed from the home, the bill requires
the court to prioritize the child's or youth's temporary placement with a
relative or kin, unless the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence
that temporary placement with the relative or kin is not in the best
interests of the child. The bill authorizes modified safety and suitability
assessments and a one-time placement stipend for approved emergency
placement kinship caregivers under certain circumstances.
The bill requires a court, before entering a final adoption decree,
to make written findings regarding any existing grandparent-grandchild
relationship. The court may order a post-adoption contact agreement
(agreement) granting reasonable contact or family time to the
grandparent. The bill specifies procedures for the denial, modification,
enforcement, or termination of the agreement.
The bill creates the foster care prevention services pilot program,
which allows participating county departments to implement expedited
kinship placement approval pathways, kinship navigator programs,
one-time placement stipends for approved emergency placement kinship
caregivers, and tools for tracking family time.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) Placing a child or youth who has been removed from their4
home in safe kinship care settings promotes family stability, speeds5
permanency, and yields better long-term outcomes, which may include6
safe and timely reunification of a child or youth with their parent; and7
(b) Kinship care providers play a critical role in securing child and8
youth well-being, contributing to a sense of continuity and normalcy.9
Similarly, post-adoption contact between a child and a grandparent can10
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be an ongoing source of support, stability, and affection.1
(2) The general assembly finds, therefore, that targeted legislative2
reforms to prioritize kinship placements and preserve3
grandparent-grandchild relationships will promote the stability, safety,4
and well-being of children, youth, and families throughout the state.5
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 14-10-124.4, amend6
(2)(a) and (2)(b) as follows:7
14-10-124.4. Family time for grandparents or8
great-grandparents - legislative declaration - definitions.9
(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:10
(a) "Grandparent" means a person who is OR, IF THE CHILD'S11
FATHER OR MOTHER IS DECEASED, WAS the parent of a child's father or12
mother, who is related to the child by blood, in whole or by half,13
adoption, or marriage; except that "grandparent" does not include the14
parent of a child's legal father or mother whose parental rights have been15
terminated in accordance with sections 19-5-101 and 19-1-104 (1)(d).16
(b) "Great-grandparent" means a person who is OR, IF THE CHILD'S17
FATHER OR MOTHER OR GRANDPARENT IS DECEASED, WAS the grandparent18
of a child's father or mother, who is related to the child by blood, in whole19
or by half, adoption, or marriage; except that "great-grandparent" does not20
include the grandparent of a child's legal father or mother whose parental21
rights have been terminated in accordance with sections 19-5-101 and22
19-1-104 (1)(d). 23
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 19-1-117.7.24
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 19-3-403, amend25
(3.6)(a)(IV) introductory portion and (3.6)(a)(V) as follows:26
19-3-403. Temporary custody - hearing - time limits -27
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restriction - rules.1
(3.6) (a) (IV) The court shall order a county department of human2
or social services to exercise due diligence AND DOCUMENT ITS DILIGENT3
EFFORTS to contact all grandparents and other adult relatives and4
identified kin within thirty days after the removal of the child or youth5
and to inform them about placement possibilities for the child or youth,6
unless the court determines there is good cause not to contact or good7
cause to delay contacting the child's or youth's relatives and kin,8
including, but not limited to, family or domestic violence.9
(V) (A) The court shall give preference to giving temporary10
placement to a child's or youth's relative or kin who is capable, willing,11
and available for care. giving primary consideration to the child's or12
youth's mental, physical, and emotional needs, including the child's or13
youth's preference regarding placement. PLACEMENT OF THE CHILD OR14
YOUTH WITH THE RELATIVE OR KIN IS PRESUMED TO BE IN THE BEST15
INTERESTS OF THE CHILD OR YOUTH. THE PRESUMPTION MAY BE REBUTTED16
BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE , GIVING PRIMARY17
CONSIDERATION TO THE CHILD 'S OR YOUTH'S MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND18
EMOTIONAL NEEDS, INCLUDING THE CHILD'S OR YOUTH'S PREFERENCE19
REGARDING PLACEMENT. The court shall also find that there is no suitable20
birth or adoptive parent available, with due diligence having been21
exercised in attempting to locate any such THE birth or adoptive parent.22
A parent's objection to placement with a particular relative or kin is not23
alone suffi cient to s how that the proposed placement would hinder24
reunification. The court may place or continue custody with the county25
department of human or social services if the court is satisfied from the26
information presented at the hearing that such THE custody is appropriate27
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and in the child's or youth's best interests, or the court may enter such1
other orders as are appropriate.2
(B) The court may authorize the county department of human or3
social services with custody of a child or youth to place the child or youth4
with a relative or kin without the necessity for a hearing if a county5
department of human or social services locates a capable and willing6
relative or ki n who is available to care for the child or youth and the7
guardian ad litem of the child or youth concurs that the placement is in8
the best interests of the child or youth. If the county department of human9
or social services places a child or youth with a relative or kin without a10
hearing pursuant to this subsection (3.6)(a)(V) SUBSECTION11
(3.6)(a)(V)(B), the county department of human or social services shall12
fully inform the court of the details concerning the child's or youth's13
placement on the record at the next hearing. If the court enters an order14
removing a child or youth from the home or continuing a child or youth15
in a placement out of the home, the court shall make the findings required16
pursuant to section 19-1-115 (6) if such THE findings are warranted by the17
evidence.18
19
SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,20
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate21
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for22
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state23
institutions.24
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