On June 5, Governor Polis signed SB068, an amendment to Colorado’s End of Life Options Act, into law. It will take effect on August 7. This marks the first amendment to the law since its passage in 2016.

This amendment:

• Adds advanced practice nurse practitioners as evaluators and prescribers.
• Reduces the waiting period from 15 days to 7 days.
• Allows providers to waive the waiting period if the patient is not likely to survive more than 48 hours and meets all other qualifications.

Legislative Process

• SB068 passes its third reading in the House with a 41-20 in favor vote. The bill is now on its way to Governor Jared Polis’ desk for approval. The Governor must sign, veto, or allow the bill to to become law without his signature.
• SB068 receives a second reading on the Special Order calendar and passes with no amendments.
• SB068 receives a hearing in the Health & Human Services Committee and the bill passes with a 9-4 in favor vote. The bill is referred unamended to House Committee of the Whole.
• SB068 is introduced in the House and assigned to the Health & Human Services Committee.
• SB068 passes its third reading with a 24-11 in favor vote. The bill passes out of the Senate with no amendments.
• SB068 receives its second reading in the Senate Appropriations Committee on March 7 and passes without further amendments.
• Amendments are made to the bill, which removes the provision to eliminate the state’s residency requirement. SB068 will now reduce the waiting period from 15 to 7 days, and provide a 48-hour fast track for patients who are likely to die during the waiting period.
• A public hearing has been scheduled for SB068 in the Health and Human Services Committee on Feb. 29. The motion passes 7-1 in favor with amendments.

Colorado End of Life Options Act Passes

In November, Colorado voters pass Proposition 106, the End of Life Options Act, by 65 to 35 percent. The law goes into effect on December 16.