(1)The
mission of the commission is to expand access, quality, and fairness in the justice
system for all Coloradans.
(2)The commission has the following powers and duties:
(a)To identify, examine, and report on the impediments to accessing
Colorado's civil justice system and how to mitigate or eliminate such impediments;
(b)To examine specific problems in the civil justice system, qualitatively and
quantitatively, and how to solve them, including consideration of the experiences of
individuals and organizations who use the system;
(c)To bring leaders from diverse sectors together to implement solutions to
address statewide issues that impede access to justice, thereby supporting an
ecosystem of access to justice work being done statewide;
(d)To create practical solutions
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(1) The
mission of the commission is to expand access, quality, and fairness in the justice
system for all Coloradans.
(2) The commission has the following powers and duties:
(a) To identify, examine, and report on the impediments to accessing
Colorado's civil justice system and how to mitigate or eliminate such impediments;
(b) To examine specific problems in the civil justice system, qualitatively and
quantitatively, and how to solve them, including consideration of the experiences of
individuals and organizations who use the system;
(c) To bring leaders from diverse sectors together to implement solutions to
address statewide issues that impede access to justice, thereby supporting an
ecosystem of access to justice work being done statewide;
(d) To create practical solutions for those who lack the information, tools,
and services necessary to resolve their civil legal problems fairly, quickly, and
economically;
(e) To act as a leader to inform, engage, and inspire lawyers, advocates,
community members, and other stakeholders to improve access to justice;
(f) To use its platform to elevate understanding of and commitment to
access to justice in Colorado;
(g) To advocate for needed changes to laws, practices, rules, and policies in
Colorado; and
(h) To form advisory committees as necessary to gain input and expertise for
the commission in an effort to further the duties and responsibilities set forth in this
subsection (2).
(3) (a) Commission advisory committees focus on specific subject matters
and may make recommendations to the full commission. The chair of the
commission shall appoint members of the commission to serve on the advisory
committees and shall appoint a commission member to serve as chair of each
advisory committee formed pursuant to this subsection (3).
(b) The chair of an advisory committee may select interested members of the
community who are not members of the commission to serve on the advisory
committee. Noncommission members of an advisory committee serve without
compensation or reimbursement for expenses.
(4) The commission may respond to inquiries from the general assembly, the
governor, businesses, or individuals, as resources allow.
(5) (a) The commission may hire staff to facilitate its work, including an
executive director and other staff as necessary.
(b) As funds allow, the commission may also contract with independent
contractors to provide resources for data collection, research, analysis, publication
of the commission's findings and reports, and other necessary services in
furtherance of the commission's purpose.
(6) (a) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the commission shall
prepare and submit an annual report on its work, including findings and
recommendations approved by at least two-thirds of the voting members of the
commission, to the governor and the judiciary committees of the senate and the
house of representatives, or their successor committees. The legislative
committees of reference shall consider the commission's recommendations for
legislation, and the governor shall consider the commission's recommendations for
regulatory action. The commission shall present its report to the legislative
committees of reference during the committees' hearings held pursuant to the
SMART Act, part 2 of article 7 of title 2.
(b) With regard to any legislative recommendations contained in its report,
the commission shall specify the laws that need to be created, amended, or
repealed to ensure access to justice for all Coloradans.