HB 19-1096

Abstract

The bill creates the "Colorado Right to Rest Act", which establishes basic rights for people experiencing homelessness, including but not limited to the right to rest in public spaces, to shelter themselves from the elements, to eat or accept food in any public space where food is not prohibited, to occupy a legally parked vehicle, and to have a reasonable expectation of privacy of their property. The bill prohibits discrimination based on housing status. The bill creates an exemption of the basic right to rest for people experiencing homelessness for any county, city, municipality, or subdivision that can demonstrate that, for 3 consecutive months, the waiting lists for all local public housing authorities contain fewer than 50 people. The bill allows the general assembly to appropriate money from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of local affairs for the purpose of enabling governmental entities that do not meet the exemption requirement to reduce the housing waiting lists to fewer than 50 people for at least 6 months per year. The bill allows any person whose rights have been violated to seek enforcement in a civil action. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More