Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws
Commission Activity
The Commission does not have another meeting scheduled at this time. If you would like to receive notification of upcoming meetings please subscribe to the CCUSL Mailing List or watch for meeting information on General Assembly’s schedule page.
About the CCUSL and ULC
The Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws (CCUSL) is created in § 2-3-601, C.R.S., and is charged with working with the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) to promote uniformity in state laws where uniformity may be deemed desirable and practicable. This is achieved by developing proposed uniform legislation through the ULC that can be adopted by the various state legislatures.
Uniform laws are developed after formation of a study committee and, if the results of the study are positive, a drafting committee. Draft acts are submitted to ULC at its annual meeting. Each act must be considered section by section at no less than two annual meetings by all commissioners sitting as a Committee of the Whole.
At its 2020 Midyear Meeting, the ULC authorized the appointment of one new drafting committee and six new study committees:
- Drafting Committee on Conflict of Laws in Trusts and Estates
- Study Committee on Supply Chain Transparency
- Study Committee on Choice of Law and Choice of Court Clauses
- Study Committee on College Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness Issues
- Study Committee on Online Sales Tax Collection
- Study Committee on Tenancy-in-Common Ownership Default Rules
- Study Committee to Amend or Revise the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act
At its 128th Annual Meeting held last summer, the ULC approved five new acts for adoption by the states:
- Uniform Automated Operation of Vehicles Act;
- Uniform Electronic Wills Act;
- Uniform Registration of Canadian Money Judgments Act;
- Amendment to the Uniform Athlete Agents Act; and
- Amendments to the Uniform Probate Code.
Other drafts debated at the meeting included the:
- Alternatives to Bail Act;
- Easement Relocation Act;
- Fundraising through Public Appeals Act;
- Public Participation Protection Act;
- Tort Law Relating to Drones Act; and
- Unregulated Transfers of Adopted Children Act.
Here are links to ULC’s currently operating study committees and drafting committees.
Videos concerning the ULC are available here.
Uniform Laws Adopted in Colorado
Under Joint Rule 24 (b)(1)(D), CCUSL may recommend bills for introduction during a legislative session of the Colorado General Assembly. CCUSL meets at the annual summer ULC conference to adopt a preliminary legislative agenda for the upcoming regular session. It then typically meets at least once prior to the next regular session to finalize the agenda.
Uniform acts adopted by the Colorado General Assembly are available here. Three uniform acts became law in Colorado in 2019:
Uniform Acts Approved for Introduction in 2020:
- Uniform Automated Operation of Vehicles Act (not introduced)
- Uniform Collaborative Law Act - House Bill 20-1291
- Uniform Criminal Records Accuracy Act - House Bill 20-1268
- Uniform Parentage Act (2017) - House Bill 20-1292
- Uniform Registration of Canadian Money Judgments Act - Senate Bill 20-114
Uniform Acts Remaining On the Commission's Agenda For Future Consideration:
- Amendments to the Uniform Probate Code (2019)
- Revised Uniform Athlete Agents Act (2015) and 2019 Amendments
- Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act
- Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act
- Uniform Trust Act, part 5
CCUSL Membership
Colorado's commissioners are required to be attorneys admitted to practice law in Colorado. Six members are appointed or reappointed by joint resolution of the General Assembly and serve terms of two years. Serving as commissioners for 2019-2020 are Ms. Claire Levy, Chair; Senator Robert Gardner, Vice Chair; Ms. Alicia Duran; Ms. Sara S. Scott; Representative Kerry Tipper; and Mr. Joseph R. Whitfield.
In addition, any Colorado citizen who is elected as a life member of the ULC (after twenty years of membership) is a member of the Colorado Commission. The currently active life members are Thomas Grimshaw, Donald Mielke, and Charles Pike.
The Director of the Office of Legislative Legal Services, or the Director's designee, has the same status as appointed members of the commission and also serves as the ex officio secretary of the Colorado Commission. Thomas Morris was appointed as the Director's designee to the Commission on March 2, 2011. The Office of Legislative Legal Services also provides assistance to the legislative members of the Colorado Commission in their efforts to enact legislation regarding uniform acts. The Committee on Legal Services is statutorily charged with filling vacancies on the Colorado Commission.
Here is a list of former and current members of CCUSL organized chronologically and alphabetically.