SIGNED! Ginal’s Bills to Prevent Doxxing of Health Care Workers & Support Older Coloradans Become Law

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis signed two bills sponsored by Senator Joann Ginal (D-Fort Collins) into law today to prevent the doxxing of health care workers and strengthen services provided to older Coloradans.

“Today, we’re taking an important step forward to protect our healthcare workers and increase support for older Coloradans,” said Sen. Ginal. “These laws will better ensure that the people who get up each day to care for our patients don't have to fear for their safety simply for doing their job, and strengthen services for our aging population to help them lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives. I’m proud of the work we did on these bills, and am eager to see how they help Coloradans throughout the state.”

HB22-1041 would protect health care workers, code enforcement officers, animal control officers and others from doxxing, a practice of sharing someone’s sensitive information online with malicious intent. These individuals would be added to the existing list of protected persons whose personal information may be withheld from the public if they receive a threat. HB22-1041 would create a new process for workers to redact their full name and address from online records.

Polis also signed HB22-1035, co-sponsored by Senator Bob Rankin (R-Carbondale), which updates the Older Coloradans’ Act and makes important changes to the Commission on Aging. The Older Coloradans’ Act bolsters supports and services to older Coloradans, such as social services, health services, workforce development, digital literacy and the state’s infrastructure for Coloradans as they grow older. The legislation operationalizes many of the recommendations set forth by the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging and sets clear goals to guide the state as it works to ensure “that Colorado is the best state in which to grow old.”

The bill makes it the policy of the state of Colorado to prevent abuse, exploitation and neglect of older Coloradans, and recognizes “that preparing all Coloradans for the different facets of a longer life is part of the state's responsibility.” To accomplish these goals, the legislation creates a commission to coordinate and guide state aging programs.