1. (1) There is created the Colorado access to justice commission, which has the powers and duties specified in this article 5.7.

2. (2)

   1. (a) The commission consists of:

      1. (I) At least seventeen but no more than twenty voting members, as follows:

         1. (A) At least eight but no more than ten members appointed by the Colorado bar association;
         2. (B) At least three but no more than four members appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court of Colorado;
         3. (C) One member appointed by the governor;
         4. (D) One member appointed by the president of the Colorado senate;
         5. (E) One member appointed by the speaker of the Colorado house of representatives;
         6. (F) One member appointed by Colorado Legal Services, a nonprofit agency, or its successor agency;
         7. (G) One member appointed by the Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation, or its successor agency; and
         8. (H) One member appointed by the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, or its successor agency; and

      2. (II) At least four nonvoting, ex officio members, including:

         1. (A) The Colorado supreme court justice liaison;
         2. (B) The executive director of Colorado Legal Services, or its successor agency;
         3. (C) The executive director of the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, or its successor agency; and
         4. (D) A representative of the Colorado attorney general appointed by the chair of the commission.
   2. (b) Nothing in this subsection (2) prevents the chair of the commission from creating nonvoting emeritus positions for long-serving, retiring commissioners.
   3. (c) The appointing authorities shall name the initial members to the commission by September 1, 2023. Members of the commission serve three-year terms and may be reappointed by their appointing authority for an additional two terms. Members of the commission may be removed by their respective appointing authorities for cause. If a vacancy occurs on the commission, the appointing authority for the member whose position is vacated shall appoint a member to fill the vacant position.
   4. (d) The commission shall select a chair and vice-chair of the commission from its membership.
3. (3) Members of the commission serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the commission.
4. (4) The commission may establish bylaws as appropriate for its effective operation.
5. (5) The chair of the commission shall establish a schedule for commission meetings. The commission shall meet at least once every three months.
6. (6) Members of the commission, staff, and consultants are not liable for any act or omission in their official capacity performed in good faith in accordance with this article 5.7.

Source: L. 2023: Entire article added, (HB 23-1280), ch. 308, p. 1881, § 1, effective August 7.