Expanded Duty To Report Threats In Colorado Becomes Law
DENVER (AP) - A proposal to expand the duty of mental health professionals in Colorado to report threats has been signed into law.
The bill signed Monday by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper is a response to the Aurora movie theater shooting. The legislation means mental health workers now have a duty to report threats directed to places like movie theaters and schools, as well as individuals.
Before the new law, mental health professionals could report threats to specific people. But lawmakers say that without the legislation the same duty would not apply to threats to a location.
After the theater shooting, lawmakers say they found that the therapist treating James Holmes, the suspect, may not have been able to report a threat to a location if Holmes had expressed his intent.
LINK: House Bill 1271
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