COPRRR Sunrise Reviews

Sunrise Reviews

A Sunrise review explores whether there is a need to regulate a currently unregulated profession or occupation. COPRRR staff conduct a comprehensive study and then make recommendations to the Colorado General Assembly.

How are Reviews Conducted?

Statutory criteria are used to evaluate all proposals for new regulatory programs. Pursuant to the Colorado Sunrise Act, §24-34-104.1, C.R.S., the determination of the need for new regulation is based upon the following criteria:

• Whether the unregulated practice of the occupation or profession clearly harms or endangers the health, safety or welfare of the public, and whether the potential for harm is easily recognizable and not remote or dependent on tenuous argument;
• Whether the public needs, and can be reasonably expected to benefit from, an assurance of initial and continuing professional or occupational competence;
• Whether the public can be adequately protected by other means in a more cost-effective manner; and
• Whether the imposition of any disqualifications on applicants for licensure, certification, relicensure, or recertification based on criminal history serves public safety or commercial or consumer protection interests.

COPRRR may decline to conduct sunrise reviews in certain circumstances, such as in the case of a repeat application with no new information provided or in cases where a profession or occupation is posing an imminent threat to the public's health, safety or welfare.

What Happens after the Review is Submitted to the General Assembly?

The applicant or some other party must seek legislation to create new regulation, regardless of the findings of the Sunrise Review. The General Assembly makes the final determination whether regulation should be imposed upon an occupation or profession.

Go to Sunset Reviews.