Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civil Rights Discrimination topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House advances bill expanding remedies under Colorado Anti‑Discrimination Act after contentious debate
Summary
Lawmakers approved an expansion of remedies under the Colorado Anti‑Discrimination Act after hours of debate over fines, damages caps and opportunities for businesses to cure violations.
The House passed House Bill 12‑39 on March 27 after extended debate and multiple floor amendments. The bill would expand remedy provisions and extend some filing deadlines under the Colorado Anti‑Discrimination Act, including restoring pathways to non‑economic damages for certain discrimination claims, in response to federal court decisions.
Sponsors argued the change is necessary to restore state remedies for victims of discrimination, especially individuals with disabilities who lost non‑economic damages after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Cummings v. Premier Rehab. Opponents—including multiple members representing rural districts and small‑business interests—said the bill could expose small businesses to heavy fines, including a $5,000 per‑person statutory penalty and a $50,000 cap on non‑economic damages; several amendments to reduce penalty levels or add cure periods were proposed and narrowly defeated. The House adopted committee reports and approved the bill for further action.
