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House amends and approves bill updating emergency management and data-sharing rules
Summary
Lawmakers amended House Bill 12-52 to allow the Office of Emergency Management to share aggregated disaster-portal and mapping data with the press and public, then adopted the bill on the floor.
The Colorado House adopted House Bill 12-52 after agreeing to an amendment (L003) that permits the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to share aggregated disaster-recovery data with the press and the public. Sponsors said the bill designates OEM as the primary state coordinator for disaster recovery, clarifies confidentiality protections for survivors' personally identifiable information (PII), and modernizes statutory responsibilities.
Representative Morrow, presenting the bill, said it will designate OEM as lead agency for coordinating state recovery and protect survivors' PII from public-information requests. Representative Bradfield, among others, emphasized the need for confidentiality protections for survivors who register for assistance.
Representative Luck offered amendment L003 to make clear that OEM may (but is not required to) share aggregated portal data, mapping, program metrics and federal-disaster data with the press and public. Luck argued that aggregate disclosures support transparency and accountability while protecting individuals. The amendment was displayed, debated briefly, and adopted by voice vote. The bill with the adopted amendment was then adopted on the floor.
Floor debate included discussion of balancing survivor privacy with public accountability for disaster response and recovery efforts. The bill passed and will be implemented consistent with confidentiality provisions described on the floor.
