Colorado 2025 Bills

Title Certificates Off-highway Vehicle Transfers

The act requires an off-highway vehicle to have a certificate of title in order to be transferred on or after July 1, 2023, unless the vehicle is exempt. Personal watercraft is added to the definition of off-highway vehicles, which requires registration.The act also exempts private transfers of off-highway vehicles from sales and use tax if the transfer occurred between individuals who are not dealers on or after July 1, 2014, and before July 1, 2023.Off-highway vehicle dealers are authorized to access the department of revenue's ownership and lienholder records to verify motor vehicle ownership and lienholding information to prevent fraud.Notwithstanding the requirement that an off-highway vehicle have a title to be transferred, the act authorizes a dealer to purchase an off-highway vehicle that was never titled if the dealer obtains an affidavit from the owner and the vehicle was:Privately transferred before July 1, 2023; or Used exclusively for agricultural purposes on private land. The act appropriates $45,887 for use by the division of motor vehicles and $53,422 for use by the Colorado state patrol to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-07-02 · House

Update Senate Bill 19-263 Effective Date Clause

In 2017, the general assembly (GA) enacted Senate Bill 17-267, which required the state treasurer to issue up to $500 million of lease-purchase agreements (COPS) in each of the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 state fiscal years for the purpose of funding transportation projects. Subsequently, in a series of 4 bills, the GA referred a statewide ballot issue, initially at the November 2019 statewide election but thereafter twice modified and delayed until the 2021 statewide election, that, if approved, would have authorized the state to issue transportation revenue anticipation notes (TRANs) for the purpose of funding transportation projects and prevented the issuance of the state fiscal year 2021-22 COPS.The GA intended that, upon approval of the ballot issue, the TRANs authorized would replace the unissued COPS as a source of funding for transportation projects. The act amends the effective date clause of one of the 4 bills to prevent the unintended consequence, resulting from the interplay of the bill with another one of the 4 bills, that TRANs could be authorized without preventing the issuance of the state fiscal year 2021-22 COPS. However, the act has no practical effect because Senate Bill 21-260 repealed the requirement that a statewide ballot issue seeking authorization for the issuance of TRANS be referred to the voters at the 2021 statewide election.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-07-02 · House

License Plate Expiration On Change Of Ownership

The act specifies that:The license plates of a motor vehicle that is Class C personal property for purposes of the laws governing the levying of specific ownership tax and registration of vehicles expire upon the transfer of the owner's title or interest in the motor vehicle; except that the license plates do not expire if the motor vehicle has personalized number plates or plates with a valuable registration number that has been reserved for use under the "Laura Hershey Disability Support Act" (LHDSA); If either the expired license plates are personalized license plates or the owner wishes to continue to use the same combination of letters or numbers on the owner's expired license plates that were not originally issued as personalized license plates, the owner retains the priority right to use the combination of letters or numbers displayed on the expired license plates to the extent provided for in current law and may, after surrendering the expired license plates to the department of revenue (department), apply for personalized license plates that use the combination in the manner specified in current law when registering another motor vehicle; and The department shall approve any application for personalized license plates received from an individual who wishes to retain the same combination of letters or numbers displayed on the individual's expired license plates and who has surrendered the expired plates to the department unless the department determines that the combination is misleading or duplicates another registration number or that, due to evolving social mores, the combination, despite having previously been issued, carries connotations offensive to good taste or decency. Class C personal property includes passenger cars, noncommercial light trucks, and motorcycles. The act does not apply to the transfer or assignment of an owner's interest in Class C personal property that is a horseless carriage.The act also authorizes the department to issue license plates in the previously retired style that had white letters and numbers on a background of green mountains and a white sky to individuals who request such plates and requires the department to charge additional fees consisting of the existing personal license plate fee plus a fee of $25 for such plates. The $25 fee must be credited to the disability support fund for the purposes of the LHDSA.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, $598,290 is appropriated to the division of motor vehicles in the department and $256,970 of the appropriation is reappropriated to the division of correctional industries in the department of corrections to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-07-02 · Senate

Workers' Compensation

The act:Adds guardian ad litem and conservator services to the list of medical aid that an employer is required to furnish to an employee who is incapacitated as a result of a work-related injury or occupational disease; Requires an injured worker who is claiming mileage reimbursement for travel related to obtaining compensable medical care to submit a request to the employer or insurer within 120 days after the expense is incurred, and requires the employer or insurer to pay or dispute mileage within 30 days after submittal and to include in the brochure of claimants' rights an explanation of rights to mileage reimbursement and the deadline for filing a request; Clarifies that offsets to disability benefits granted by the federal "Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Amendments of 1965" only apply if the payments were not already being received by the employee at the time of the work-related injury; Prohibits the reduction of an employee's temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, or medical benefits based on apportionment under any circumstances; limits apportionment of permanent impairment to specific situations; and declares that the employer or insurer bears the burden of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, at a hearing regarding apportionment of permanent impairment or permanent total disability benefits; Adds the following conditions that must be met for an employer or insurer to request the selection of an independent medical examiner when an authorized treating physician has not determined that the employee has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI): An examining physician must have examined the employee at least 20 months after the date of the injury, have determined that the employee has reached MMI, and have served a written report to the authorized treating physician specifying that the examining physician has determined that the employee has reached MMI; and the authorized treating physician must have responded that the employee has not reached MMI or must have failed to respond within 15 days after service of the report; Changes the whole person impairment rating applicable to an injured worker from 25% to 19% for purposes of determining the maximum amount of combined temporary disability and permanent partial disability payments an injured worker may receive; Clarifies when benefits and penalties payable to an injured worker are deemed paid; Prohibits an employer or insurer from withdrawing an admission of liability when 2 years or more have passed since the date the admission of liability on the issue of compensability was filed, except in cases of fraud; Prohibits the director of the division of workers' compensation or an administrative law judge from determining issues of compensability or liability unless specific benefits or penalties are awarded or denied at the same time; Clarifies the scope of authority of prehearing administrative law judges; Increases the threshold amount that an injured worker must earn in order for permanent total disability payments to cease and allows for annual adjustment of the threshold amount starting in 2022; and Clarifies the orders that are subject to review or appeal.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-30 · House

Colorado Laws For Persons With Disabilities

The act adds language to strengthen current Colorado law related to protections against discrimination on the basis of disability for persons with disabilities, specifically as those laws relate to accessibility to government information technology. The added provisions include:Prohibiting a person with a disability from being excluded from participating in or being denied the benefits of services, programs, or activities of a public entity or a state agency; Clarifying that such prohibition includes the failure of a public entity or state agency to develop an accessibility plan and fully comply, on or before July 1, 2024, with accessibility guidelines established by the office of information technology (office); Any Colorado agency with the authority to promulgate rules shall not promulgate a rule that provides less protection than that provided by the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990". Definitions related to disabilities are added to the statutory sections for the office. The chief information officer in the office is directed to maintain accessibility standards for individuals with disabilities (accessibility standards) for information technology systems employed by state agencies that provide access to information stored electronically and are designed to present information for interactive communications, in formats intended for visual and nonvisual use.The chief information officer in the office is directed to promote and monitor the accessibility standards in the state's information technology infrastructure. The act directs each state agency to comply with the accessibility standards established by the office. The accessibility standards must be established using the most recent web content accessibility guidelines promulgated and published by the world wide web consortium web accessibility initiative or the international accessibility guidelines working group.The act directs each state agency, on or before July 1, 2022, to submit its written accessibility plan to the office. The office shall then work collaboratively with the state agency to review sections related to accessibility standards and to establish implementation methodology. On or before July 1, 2024, each state agency shall fully implement the sections of the state agency's plan related to accessibility standards. The act states that any state agency that is not in full compliance by July 1, 2024, is in violation of the state's laws concerning discrimination against individuals with a disability and is subject to the remedies set forth in statute.Liability for noncompliance as to content lies with the public entity or state agency that manages the content, whereas noncompliance of the platform hosting the content lies with the public entity or state agency that manages the platform.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $312,922 to the office of the governor for use by the office of information technology. This appropriation is from the general fund and is based on an assumption that the office will require an additional 0.9 FTE. To implement this act, the office may use this appropriation for enterprise solutions.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-30 · House

Eliminate Obsolete Committee Child Care Licensing

The act eliminates the advisory committee that advised the state department of human services on the licensing of child care facilities prior to the creation of the early childhood leadership commission.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-30 · Senate

Continue Small Business Destination Sourcing Exception

By enacting House Bill 19-1240 in 2019, concerning sales and use tax administration, the state codified the department of revenue's destination sourcing rule for state sales and use tax collection for sales and use taxes imposed by any statutory incorporated town, city, or county and for special districts. That bill allowed small retailers to source their sales to the business' location regardless of where the purchaser receives the tangible personal property or service until 90 days after a geographic information system provided by the state is online and available for the retailer to determine the taxing jurisdiction in which an address resides. On April 1, 2021, the department of revenue issued a notice that the geographic information system is online and meets the requirements. Therefore, under current law, the small retailer exception to the sales tax destination sourcing rules will repeal on June 30, 2021.This act allows small retailers to source their sales to the business' location regardless of where the purchaser receives the tangible personal property or service until February 1, 2022.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-30 · Senate

Annual Public Report Affordable Housing

Commencing in 2021, and every year thereafter as part of the presentation by the department of local affairs (DOLA) to its legislative oversight committees in connection with its "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" hearing, the act requires the division of housing (division) in DOLA to prepare a public report that specifies the total amount of money that:The division or the state housing board (board) was appropriated, awarded, allocated, or transferred from any federal, state, other public, or any private source during the prior fiscal year that may be used for the preservation or production of emergency or affordable housing; The division or the board has awarded from any federal, state, other public, or any private source during the prior fiscal year that may be used for the preservation or production of emergency or affordable housing; and The division or the board expended from state funding during the prior fiscal year on administrative costs associated with each funding source and the number of full-time employees supported by the funding source. The act identifies various items the report must address. The report must be posted on the division's website and shared with the board as well as DOLA's legislative oversight committees as part of its SMART Government Act hearing.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-30 · House

Mental Health Practice Act

The act:Specifies title use restrictions for certified addiction specialists, certified addiction technicians, and addiction counselor candidates; Establishes clinical supervision privileges for licensed and certified addiction counselors to provide supervision of persons working toward certification or licensure; and Clarifies the education and hours of practice required to be certified or licensed as an addiction counselor and the scope of practice of licensed addiction counselors. Expands the practice of a certified addiction technician and requires the state board of human services to promulgate rules that include education requirements for certified addiction technicians, certified addiction specialists, and licensed addiction counselors.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-30 · House

Regulation Of Radon Professionals

The act creates a regulatory framework for individuals practicing as radon measurement professionals or radon mitigation professionals. On and after July 1, 2022, an individual is prohibited from practicing as a radon measurement professional or radon mitigation professional unless the individual is licensed by the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies. The act establishes the requirements to qualify for a license, exemptions to the licensure requirements, and the grounds upon which disciplinary action may be taken against a licensee.The regulation of radon professionals is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2027. Before the repeal, the regulatory provisions are scheduled for sunset review by the department of regulatory agencies.The act appropriates $63,134 from the division of professions and occupations cash fund to the department of regulatory agencies to implement the act. Of this total amount, $40,308 is allocated to personal services, $6,875 is allocated to operating expenses, and $15,951 is allocated and reappropriated to the department of law for the provision of legal services.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-30 · House

Higher Education Student Success

Beginning with the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act directs the Colorado opportunity scholarship initiative (COSI) advisory board to allocate to public institutions of higher education (institution) an amount appropriated to the COSI fund from money received pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" (ARPA). To receive a distribution of its allocation, an institution must submit a student assistance plan (plan) explaining how the institution will use the money to provide financial assistance and support services to students who have some postsecondary credits but stopped attending before obtaining a credential, and first-time students who were admitted to an institution for the 2019-20 or 2020-21 academic year but did not enroll for the 2020-21 academic year. The provision of financial assistance and support services is designed to decrease student debt and increase student enrollment, retention, and completion of credentials. The COSI advisory board must review each plan based on specified criteria and may require changes to a plan before approving a distribution. At the end of the fiscal year, each institution must submit a report of how it used the money and the results achieved. The COSI director must include the information in the report that the board annually prepares for the joint budget committee and the education committees of the general assembly. The program to distribute the federal money in this manner is repealed July 1, 2026.The act creates the student aid applications completion grant program (grant program) in COSI. A school district, a charter school, or a board of cooperative services that operates a high school (local education provider) that chooses to apply for a grant must require the students enrolled by the local education provider to complete the free application for federal student aid and the Colorado application for state financial aid (student aid applications) before high school graduation, unless waived under conditions specified by the local education provider. The act specifies the contents of the application and requires the COSI board to review the applications and approve the grant awards to be paid from an amount appropriated to the COSI fund in the act. Each grant recipient must submit an annual report concerning use of the grant money, and the COSI board must include a summary report in the annual report that the COSI board submits to the education committees of the general assembly. The grant program is repealed July 1, 2026.The act creates the Colorado re-engaged (CORE) initiative within the department of higher education (department) to award an associate degree to an eligible student who enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program at a 4-year institution and earns at least 70 credit hours, but stops attending before attaining the degree. The act specifies the role of the department in implementing the CORE initiative and the role of an institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative. Each institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative must annually submit to the department a report concerning implementation of the CORE initiative. The department must review and compile the reports and submit a summary report to the education committees of the general assembly.The act repeals the requirement that a community college or a local district college must receive approval from the Colorado commission on higher education (commission) to offer a bachelor of applied science degree program. A community college or a local district college that seeks to offer a bachelor of applied science degree program must apply to its governing board, and the governing board may approve the program based on specified criteria. If a governing board approves a bachelor of applied science degree program, the governing board must notify the commission. The act repeals the criteria the commission must apply in approving a bachelor's degree program for a local district college.The act directs the commission to convene a task force to:Review the role and mission and service area of each state institution of higher education, local district college, and area technical college; Review the interaction between the institutions, the local district colleges, the area technical colleges, and the state work force development council in supporting and improving workforce development; and Review and make recommendations concerning uses of ARPA money for assistance for populations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency that address or mitigate the impacts of the public health emergency on educational disparities. The act describes the membership of the task force and the issues the task force must address. By December 15, 2021, the task force must submit a report of findings and recommendations to the commission and to the education committees of the general assembly. The department must post the report on the department's website.The act creates within the department a working group appointed by the governor to recommend strategies for increasing the student completion rate for the student aid applications. The working group must submit its recommendations to the commission, the state board of education, the joint budget committee, and the education committees of the general assembly by January 15, 2022.The act allows the governing board of an institution to classify a qualified person as an in-state student, for tuition purposes only, if the qualified person moves to the state to accept employment, the employer is paying the qualified person's tuition, and the qualified person demonstrates the intent to establish permanent domicile in the state. The qualified person is not eligible to receive the state stipend for the first year of enrollment.For the 2021-22 fiscal year the following amounts are appropriated from money the state received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund:$49,000,000 to COSI for distribution to institutions to implement their student assistance plans; $1,500,000 to COSI for the student aid applications completion grant program; and $1,000,000 to the department to implement the CORE initiative and the associate degree completion program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-29 · House

Funding Public Schools Formula

The act creates the legislative interim committee on school finance (interim committee). The interim committee will meet during the 2021 and 2022 legislative interims and during the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions to approve legislation. The committee consists of 4 senators and 4 representatives with equal representation from each party. The act specifies the issues the interim committee must consider. The interim committee may introduce up to a total of 5 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions in each of the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions. The interim committee will contract with a qualified third-party vendor to study approaches to better measure student economic disadvantage in Colorado in addition to or in lieu of using eligibility for the federal school lunch program as a proxy for at-risk students.The act appropriates $100,153 from the general fund to the legislative department to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-29 · House

Colorado American Indian Tribes In-stateTuition

Beginning with the 2021-22 academic year, the act requires a state institution of higher education (institution) to adopt a policy to offer in-state tuition classification to students who would not otherwise qualify for in-state tuition if the student is a federally recognized member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe with historical ties to Colorado, as designated by the Colorado commission of Indian affairs in partnership with history Colorado.The institution may count the student as a resident student for any purpose within the tuition classification statutes and for purposes of resident enrollment requirements. The student is eligible to apply for the Colorado opportunity fund stipend and state-funded financial aid, and may be eligible for private financial aid programs.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-28 · Senate

Wolf Reintroduction Funding With No License Fees

To fund the program implementation and administration the reintroduction and management of gray wolves, the act requires the general assembly to appropriate money to the division of parks and wildlife (division) or otherwise authorize the division's expenditure of money from one or more of the following funds:The general fund; The species conservation trust fund; The Colorado nongame conservation and wildlife restoration cash fund; or The wildlife cash fund; except that any money within the wildlife cash fund that is generated from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses or from associated federal grants is not available for appropriation. The division is also authorized to solicit, accept, and expend any grants, gifts, sponsorships, contributions, donations, and bequests, including federal funds, for the program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-27 · House

Residential Tenancy Procedures

The act updates language that must be included on a court summons issued to a defendant-tenant in an eviction action explaining the consequences for failing to answer the complaint, the content of an answer, and the fees and deposits related to filing an answer.The act prohibits a county sheriff from executing a writ of restitution, which directs the sheriff to assist the landlord in removing the tenant, until at least 10 days after a landlord wins judgment in an eviction action.The act prohibits residential landlords from increasing rent more than one time in a 12-month period of tenancy. For a residential tenancy of any duration in which there is no written agreement, the act requires a landlord to give a tenant 60 days' notice prior to increasing rent. The act prohibits a landlord from terminating a residential tenancy in which there is no written agreement with the primary purpose of increasing a tenant's rent without providing 60 days' notice.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-25 · House

American Rescue Plan Act Money To Invest Affordable Housing

The federal government enacted the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" (federal act) to provide support to state, local, and tribal governments in responding to the impact of COVID-19 and to assist them in their efforts to contain the effects of COVID-19 on their communities, residents, and businesses. Under the federal act, the state of Colorado receives over $500 million to address the housing needs of populations, households, or geographic areas disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency.The act creates the affordable housing and home ownership cash fund (fund) in the state treasury. To respond to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19 or its negative economic impacts, the act authorizes the general assembly to appropriate or transfer money from the fund to a department or cash fund for programs or services that benefit populations, households, or geographic areas disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency, focusing on programs or services that address housing insecurity, lack of affordable housing, or homelessness.Three days after the effective date of the act, the state treasurer is required to transfer $550 million from the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" cash fund to the fund.The act requires the division of housing (division) within the department of local affairs (department) to use the appropriation made by the act for programs or services of the type and kind financed through the housing investment trust fund or the housing development grant fund to support the programs or services that benefit populations, households, or geographic areas disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency to obtain affordable housing, focusing on programs or services that address housing insecurity, lack of affordable and workforce housing, or homelessness, including the programs or services that are specified as authorized uses under the federal act.Three days after the effective date of the act, the state treasurer is required to transfer $1,500,000 from the fund to the eviction legal defense fund. The eviction legal defense fund is used to provide legal representation to indigent tenants to resolve civil legal matters resulting from an eviction or impending eviction caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Money transferred to the eviction legal defense fund is to be used to make grant awards to qualifying organizations that provide legal services to indigent clients.The act requires the executive committee of the legislative council, by resolution, to create a task force to meet during the 2021 interim and issue a report with recommendations to the general assembly and the governor on policies to create transformative change in the area of housing using money the state receives from the federal act. The task force may include nonlegislative members and have working groups created to assist them.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $98,500,000 to the department for use by the division. This appropriation is from the fund and of money the state received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund. To implement the act, the division may use the appropriation for the purposes specified in the statutory provisions creating the fund.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $200,000 to the legislative department for its implementation. This appropriation is from the fund and originates from the general fund.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $1,500,000 to the judicial department for use by the eviction legal defense fund. This appropriation is from the eviction legal defense fund and of money the state received from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund. To implant the act, the judicial department may use the appropriation for the purpose of providing legal representation to indigent tenants.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-25 · House

Commemoration Of The Holocaust

Last action: 2021-06-25 · House

Public Utilities Commission Study Of Community Choice Energy

The act concerns the concept of "community choice energy" (CCE) (also known as community choice aggregation or CCA), under which a community, or group of communities, may choose to purchase their electricity from a wholesale supplier other than the local investor-owned electric utility. The act declares that CCE has the potential to enable communities to meet their renewable energy goals and to reduce their electricity rates by allowing wholesale competition and local control over the energy supplier and energy mix without changing the local utility's current status as sole supplier of electric transmission, distribution, billing, and customer service functions.To lay the groundwork for evaluating the potential adoption of CCE in Colorado, the act proposes an investigatory proceeding at the public utilities commission that would invite testimony and documentation from interested stakeholders, utilities, the public, invited subject-matter experts, and persons with firsthand knowledge of CCE operations, including regulators from states in which CCE has been implemented. The proceeding would address a series of questions and topics that are specified in the act, with the goal of better understanding CCE in the Colorado context and identifying best practices that would allow CCE to function well in Colorado if adopted. The act does not change current statutes and regulations governing the electricity system.The act directs the commission to submit a report summarizing the investigatory proceeding to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy matters by December 15, 2022.The act appropriates $48,391 to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the public utilities commission to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-25 · House

Electric Vehicle License Plate

The act establishes the electric vehicle license plate, which is issued for use on electric motor vehicles. The electric vehicle license plates are issued to the owner of an electric motor vehicle upon registration of the vehicle and payment of applicable fees and taxes, unless the owner elects to use an alternative license plate. A person may be issued personalized electric vehicle license plates. The requirement for decals to identify electric motor vehicles applies only if a person has not obtained the electric vehicle license plate.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $91,636 for use by the division of motor vehicles to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-25 · House

Deputy Russell And Moreno Memorial Highway

Last action: 2021-06-25 · House

Creation Of Financial Empowerment Office

The act creates the financial empowerment office (office) and the director of the office (director) in the department of law to grow the financial resilience and well-being of Coloradans through specified community-derived goals and strategies. The director is appointed by the attorney general and may hire staff as necessary to perform the duties and functions of the office. The office also consists of a manager who is appointed by the director.The office is authorized to partner with governmental bodies, community organizations, financial institutions, local service providers, philanthropic organizations, and other organizations as necessary to achieve the purposes of the office. The office is also authorized to develop or promote new or existing:Methods to increase access to safe and affordable financial products; Tools and resources that advance, increase, and improve Colorado residents' financial management; Community-informed strategies that dismantle systemic barriers to building ownership and wealth for all, especially low-income communities and communities of color; and Tools that promote financial stability such as those that assist with service navigation, eviction avoidance, or connections to income supports. The financial empowerment office is required to:Support the organization of community efforts to define and lead financial resilience strategies; Align, support, and build ties to build financial education and well-being in communities across the state; Establish a council to assist the director; Work with stakeholders to increase access to safe and affordable credit-building loans and financial products and to identify products and practices that may undermine financial stability; Develop technical assistance to launch or expand local financial coaching and counseling efforts; Raise money to support coaching, safe and affordable banking, and potential loan funds; and Track community feedback on consumer financial abuses. The department of law is required to report on affordable banking access in Colorado and other specified information as part of its presentation under the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act".(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-24 · Senate

Update Processes Juvenile Sex Offender Registry

The act implements various recommendations of the legislative oversight committee concerning the treatment of persons with mental health disorders in the criminal and juvenile justice systems regarding juveniles who have committed sex offenses, including:Specifying that if a juvenile who is moving to Colorado would be otherwise required to register on Colorado's sex offender registry (registry) but the juvenile's duty to register in another state has been terminated by a court order, then the juvenile is not required to register or petition the court for removal from the registry; Expanding judicial discretion at the time of sentencing to exempt from registration or from requiring juveniles to register for all first offense registerable juvenile sex crimes if a sex offender management board evaluator recommends exemption and the juvenile is otherwise statutorily eligible; Adding language to adult or juvenile provisions that currently reference only crimes defined as "unlawful sexual behavior" to also include convictions and adjudications for nonsexual crimes where there has been, pursuant to statute, a judicial finding of an underlying factual basis involving unlawful sexual behavior; Adding a requirement for the court to send notice before the end of each juvenile's sentence concerning a juvenile's duty to register and set a hearing to consider the juvenile's ongoing duty to register; Adding language that if a person is required to register due to an adjudication or disposition as a juvenile, the duty to register automatically terminates either when the person reaches 25 years of age or 7 years from the date the juvenile was required to register, whichever occurs later; Adding language that if a person whose duty to register has automatically terminated either attempts to register or inquires with local law enforcement as to whether the duty to register has automatically terminated, local law enforcement shall advise the person that the person's duty to register terminated, remove the person from any local law enforcement registry, and notify the Colorado bureau of investigation (CBI) that the person's duty to register has terminated. Local law enforcement or the CBI may charge a fee, not to exceed $15, to determine whether a person's duty to register has terminated. Allowing a person whose duty to register arose from an adjudication or disposition as a juvenile, and whose duty to register automatically terminated when the person reached 25 years of age or 7 years had passed from the date the person was required to register, whichever was later, but the person's name has not already been removed from the sex offender registry, to petition for an order to remove the person's name from the sex offender registry; Changing the current law that allows the Colorado bureau of investigation (CBI) to inform a requesting party if a person is on the registry so that the CBI may release information about a juvenile only under certain restrictions; Requiring the CBI to collect data on the number of times information is requested and released concerning juveniles on the registry; Creating a new unclassified misdemeanor for members of the public who submit a false statement to the CBI for purposes of obtaining juvenile registry information or who use such information in a prohibited manner; Updating current law regarding the posting of information on the registry to the internet to specifically exclude juveniles; Clarifying that a local law enforcement agency may not release or post on its website information regarding juveniles on the registry; Changing current law that requires lifetime registration for an adult who has more than one adjudication as a juvenile so that juvenile adjudications alone may not trigger mandatory lifetime registration; and Updating language in the Colorado "Crime Victim Rights Act" to clarify victim rights when a petition or motion is made to terminate sex offender registration. For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $7,200 to the department of public safety for use by the Colorado bureau of investigation. This appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the division may use this appropriation for CCIC program support operating expenses related to the Colorado crime information center.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-24 · House

Extend Beetle Kill Wood Products Sales Tax Exemption

The sale of wood and wood products from trees killed by pine and spruce beetles in the state was exempt from sales and use tax from 2008 through June 2020. The act extends the exemption from July 1, 2021, through June 2026.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-24 · House

Energy Performance For Buildings

Section 1 of the act requires owners of certain large buildings (covered buildings), on an annual basis, to collect and report to the Colorado energy office (office) the covered building's energy use. The act establishes a process requiring certain electric and gas utilities to provide energy-use data to a covered building owner when requested by the covered building owner.On or before October 1, 2021, the director of the office is required to appoint and convene a task force consisting of various building owners, building professionals, utility representatives, and local government representatives to recommend performance standards for adoption as rules by the air quality control commission (commission). The performance standards set forth in rule would need to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 7% by 2026 compared to 2021 levels as reported in energy benchmarking data and by 20% by 2030 compared to 2021 levels. The performance standards adopted must include a provision that an owner of a public building need only comply with the performance standards with regard to certain types of construction or renovation projects and only if the construction or renovation project has an estimated cost of at least $500,000. Covered building owners would then need to demonstrate their compliance with the performance standards set forth in the commission's rules. The commission is also required to adopt rules regarding the issuance of waivers and extensions of time for performance standard compliance. The commission may adopt additional rules, as the commission deems necessary, to modify or continue the performance standards.Section 2 authorizes the office to use the energy fund to help finance its work to administer the benchmarking and performance standard program described in section 1 (program).Section 3 requires the office to administer the program and assist covered building owners with the reporting requirements set forth in section 1 by:Creating a database of covered buildings and owners required to comply with section 1; Tracking compliance with the program and providing a list of noncompliant owners of covered buildings to the division of administration in the department of public health and environment; Developing publicly available, digitally interactive maps and lists showing the energy-use and performance-standard data reported; Coordinating with any local government that implements its own energy benchmarking requirements or energy performance program, including coordination of reporting requirements; and Collecting an annual fee from owners of covered buildings of $100 per covered building; except that owners of public buildings are exempt from paying the fee. The office is required to transfer the fees collected to the state treasurer, who will credit the fees to the climate change mitigation and adaptation fund (fund) created in section 3. Section 4 imposes penalties for violations of the benchmarking requirements in amounts up to $500 for a first violation and up to $2,000 for each subsequent violation. The commission is required to establish by rule civil penalties for a violation of the commission's performance standards in an amount not to exceed $2,000 for a first violation and $5,000 for a subsequent violation.Section 5 modifies the definition of an "energy performance contract" that a governing body of a municipality, county, special district, or school district (board) enters into for evaluation, recommendations, or implementation of energy saving measures to remove requirements that a board's payment for goods and services pursuant to the contract be made within a certain number of years of the contract's execution.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-24 · House

Limit Fee Install Active Solar Energy System

Current law imposes a limitation on the permit, application review, or any other related or associated fees that may be assessed by counties, municipalities, state agencies, and political subdivisions of the state for the installation of an active solar electric or solar thermal device or system. The act modifies this language so that the limitation applies to the aggregate of all charges or other related or associated fees the state, a county, municipality, state agency, or any other political subdivision of the state (governmental bodies) imposes or assesses for the installation of an active solar energy system.The act sets a limit on the aggregate of all charges or other related or associated fees any governmental body may impose or assess to install an active solar energy system of $500 for a residential permit and $1,000 for a commercial permit. In the case of a nonresidential application, on an individual installation basis only, if the governmental body incurs actual costs for issuing the permit that are greater than $1,000, the governmental body is entitled to recovery of its actual costs for issuing the permit by submitting in writing and disclosing to the applicant for the particular permit proof of the governmental body's actual costs.In connection with existing statutory requirements affecting state agencies and political subdivisions, the act clarifies that the duty to clearly and individually identify all fees and taxes assessed on an application on the invoice lies with the state or any agency, institution, authority, or political subdivision of the state.Under existing law, one component of determining the lawful fee for issuing a permit or reviewing an application requires a comparison of the lesser of the actual costs of providing such services or $500 for a residential application. The act restricts a governmental body from increasing its fees or other charges by more than 5% on an annual basis until the $500 limitation is achieved.The act also extends the repeal date of the fee limitation from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2029.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-24 · House

Colorado Children's Trust Fund Act

The act updates various provisions of the "Colorado Children's Trust Fund Act", including renaming it the "Colorado Child Abuse Prevention Trust Fund Act" (trust fund act). Changes include:Expanding the membership of the Colorado child abuse prevention board (board) from the current 9 members to 17 members; Expanding the powers and duties of the board to include advising and making recommendations to the governor, state agencies, and other entities regarding child maltreatment prevention; developing strategies to decrease the incidences of child maltreatment and other adverse childhood experiences; and implementing and monitoring the ongoing development of local child maltreatment prevention plans throughout the state; and Extending the repeal of the trust fund act from 2022 to 2027. For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $890 to the legislative department for use by the general assembly. This appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the general assembly may use this appropriation for legislator per diem.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-24 · House

Create Agricultural Drought And Climate Resilience Office

The act creates in the department of agriculture the agricultural drought and climate resilience office (office). The office may provide voluntary technical assistance, nonregulatory programs, and incentives that increase the ability to anticipate, prepare for, mitigate, adapt to, and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to drought or the climate. The commissioner of agriculture shall appoint the head of the office and may adopt rules necessary for the office's administration after convening a stakeholder group.Except for a program or support administered by the office to address immediate needs as a result of disaster, including wildfire and drought, or a program that was in existence on January 1, 2021:A program administered by the office must be designed to benefit bona fide agricultural producers actively engaged in agriculture; Grants awarded by the office must pay for implementation of practices to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change or drought or to provide direct adaptation support for impacted agricultural communities; and Grants must receive final approval by the state agricultural commission before a final award can be issued. The act:Annually transfers $500,000 from the severance tax operational fund to the agriculture value-added cash fund until July 1, 2029; and Appropriates $101,333 from that fund to the department of agriculture to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-24 · House

Insurance Premium Property Sales Severance Tax

To be deemed to maintain a home office or regional home office and pay the insurance premium tax at a rate of 1%, the act requires a company to have a minimum percentage of its total domestic workforce in the state. This percentage is 2% for 2022, 2.25% for 2023, and 2.5% for 2024 and thereafter. The act also narrows the tax exemption for annuities considerations. For the purpose of auditing a company's tax statement, the commissioner of insurance may appoint an independent examiner to conduct an examination on behalf of the commissioner.For purposes of imposing the property tax, the act specifies that the actual value of real property reflects the value of the fee simple estate and the actual value of personal property is determined based on the property's value in use, which will be defined by the property tax administrator. The act also increases the per schedule exemption for business personal property from $7,900 to $50,000, adjusted for inflation, and the state is required to reimburse local governments for lost property tax revenue caused by the increase. Assessors are required to provide an estimate of the exempt business personal property along with the certifications to local governments.The state sales and use tax is imposed on the sale and use of tangible personal property. The act codifies the department of revenue rule that the definition of "tangible personal property" includes "digital goods" and specifies that the state sales tax applies to amounts charged for mainframe computer access, photocopying, and packing and crating. Beginning January 1, 2022, a retailer whose total taxable sales were greater than $1 million for a filing period is not permitted to retain any portion of the sales and use tax collected as compensation for the retailer's tax-collection expenses.The act limits the allowable deductions, which are used to determine the taxable amount of oil and gas subject to the severance tax, to direct costs actually paid or accrued by the taxpayer for those purposes. Beginning with the 2022 taxable year, the act phases out the quarterly exemption and the tax credits for the severance tax on coal. The additional revenue that results from changes to the coal severance tax is credited to the just transition cash fund.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-23 · House

Veteran Suicide Prevention Pilot Program

The act requires the state department of human services (department) to establish a veteran suicide prevention pilot program (pilot program) to reduce the suicide rate and suicidal ideation among veterans by providing no-cost, stigma-free, confidential, and effective behavioral health treatment for up to 700 veterans and their families in El Paso County. Subject to available money, the department may expand the pilot program to serve more than 700 veterans or to other areas of the state. The department may enter into an agreement with a nonprofit or educational organization to administer the pilot program. The department is required to include information about the pilot program in its annual report to the general assembly. The pilot program is repealed June 30, 2025.The act appropriates $1,660,000 from the general fund to the department of human service for the pilot program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-23 · Senate

Federal COVID Funding For Victim's Services

The federal government enacted the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" (federal act) to provide support to state, local, and tribal governments in responding to the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency and to assist them in their efforts to contain the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency on their communities, residents, and businesses.As part of the federal act, the state will receive $3,828,761,790 from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund to be used for specific purposes identified in the federal act. This act allocates a total of $15 million to be appropriated for victim's services programs and purposes related to populations that have been disproportionately negatively affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency, including those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and violence generally. The money will be appropriated from the economic recovery and relief cash fund using money from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund. All money appropriated through this act must conform with the eligible uses set forth in the federal act.This act appropriates money to the following entities:The forensic nurse examiner telehealth program; The state and local victims and witnesses assistance and law enforcement funds; The state crime victims compensation program; The address confidentiality program fund; and The Colorado domestic abuse program fund for the funding of domestic violence programs. For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates from the economic recovery and relief cash fund and of money the state receives from the federal coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund:$3,000,000 to the department of public safety for use by the division of criminal justice. for the forensic nurse examiners telehealth program; $1,500,000 to the department of public safety for use by the division of criminal justice for the state victim compensation program; $3,000,000 to the victims and witnesses assistance and law enforcement fund. The judicial department is responsible for the accounting related to this appropriation; $1,500,000 to the victims assistance and law enforcement fund. The department of public safety is responsible for the accounting related to this appropriation. $500,000 to the address confidentiality program fund. The department of personnel is responsible for the accounting related to this appropriation. $4,750,000 to the Colorado domestic abuse program fund. The department of human services is responsible for the accounting related to this appropriation. $750,000 to the judicial department for use by courts administration for family violence justice grants. The act also appropriates, from reappropriated funds in the victims assistance and law enforcement fund, $1,500,000 to the department of public safety for use by the division of criminal justice for the state victims assistance and law enforcement program. The act also appropriates, from reappropriated funds in the Colorado domestic abuse program fund, $4,750,000 to the department of human services for use by the office of self sufficiency for the domestic abuse program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-22 · Senate

Protection Order Issued Against Domestic Abuser

The act modifies the required procedures relating to a person's firearms or ammunition following the issuance of a protection order that includes an act of domestic violence when it involved the threat, use, or attempted use of physical force.The act requires a person to complete an affidavit, which must be filed in the court record within 7 business days after a protection order is issued against the person, stating the number of firearms, the make and model of each firearm, any reason the person is still in immediate possession or control of such firearm, and the location of all firearms in the person's immediate possession or control. If the person does not possess a firearm at the time the order is issued, the person shall indicate such nonpossession in the affidavit.The act requires the court to conduct a compliance hearing not less than 8 but not more than 12 business days after the issuance of a protection order to ensure the person has completed the affidavit. For criminal cases, the court may consider the issue in other proceedings before the court and the hearing is considered a court action involving a bond reduction or modification. Information compelled or any information directly or indirectly derived from testimony, the affidavit, or other information shall not be used against a defendant in any criminal case, except for prosecution of perjury.The act excludes legal holidays and weekends from the current time frame a person has to relinquish a firearm. The act allows a court to grant a person an additional 24 hours to relinquish a firearm if the person is unable to comply with the required time frame of relinquishment.The act requires a federally licensed firearms dealer, law enforcement agency, or private party to issue a signed declaration memorializing the sale or transfer of the firearm.The act allows a law enforcement agency to enter into an agreement with any other law enforcement agency or storage facility for the storage of transferred firearms or ammunition. The act requires a law enforcement agency that elects to store a firearm or ammunition to obtain a search warrant to examine or test the firearm or ammunition or facilitate any criminal investigation if the law enforcement agency has probable cause to believe the firearm or ammunition has been used in the commission of a crime, is stolen, or is contraband.The act prohibits the person from transferring the firearm to a private party living in the same residence as the person at the time of transfer. The act prohibits a private party from returning a firearm to the person until the private party receives a written statement of the results of the background check conducted by the Colorado bureau of investigation authorizing the return of the firearm to the person.Current law requires a copy of the written receipt and the written statement of the criminal background check to be filed with the court as proof of relinquishment at the same time the person files the signed affidavit. The act requires the signed declaration to be filed with the court instead of the receipt. Both the signed declaration and written statement are only available for inspection by the court and the parties to the proceeding.A federally licensed firearms dealer, law enforcement agency, storage facility, or private party that elects to store a firearm is not civilly liable for any resulting damages to the firearm, as long as such damage did not result from the willful and wrongful act or gross negligence of the person or agency storing the firearm.The act appropriates $101,050 to the judicial department to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-22 · House

Electronic Recording Technology Board

The electronic recording technology board (board), which was created in 2016, makes grants to counties to establish, maintain, improve, or replace their electronic filing systems. These grants are from surcharges collected by county clerk and recorders and transmitted to the state for deposit in the electronic recording technology fund. The act makes the following changes related to the board:Delays the repeal and sunset review of the board by 4 years so that it will take place just over 10 years after the board's creation; Extends the surcharge that is collected by county clerk and recorders and transmitted to the board; Extends the board's annual reporting requirement about its grants for 4 more years and requires an additional 5-year report about the overall success of the program; Permits the board to make grants to a county to improve the security of its general information technology systems, if the improvement is necessary to improve the security of the county's electronic filing system; and Specifies that the board may approve a grant application to establish, maintain, improve, or replace an electronic filing system, notwithstanding that a portion of the grant will be used to enable the system to receive, store, manage, and provide online access to public documents that are maintained by the county clerk and recorder but that are not related to real property.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-22 · House

Continue Alcohol Beverage Takeout And Delivery

Colorado law authorizes certain license holders, who normally offer alcohol beverages for consumption on the licensed premises, to offer takeout and delivery of alcohol beverages, but this authorization was scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2021. The act delays the repeal until July 1, 2025; except that manufacturers who have a sales room may continue to deliver alcohol beverages only until January 2, 2022.The act limits the times that an alcohol beverage may be sold for takeout or delivery from 7 a.m. to midnight. The amounts of alcohol beverages that may be sold for delivery or takeout are increased:From 750 milliliters to 1,500 milliliters of vinous liquors; From 72 fluid ounces to 144 fluid ounces of malt liquors, fermented malt beverages, and hard cider; and From 750 milliliters to one liter of spirituous liquors. The act also creates a communal outdoor dining area program. The program allows multiple licensees to attach to the area and serve alcohol beverages to the diners in the area. A licensee may attach to the area only if the licencee's premises are within 1,000 feet of the area. The area and attachment must be approved by both the local and state licensing authorities, who may charge a fee for the approval. The following licensees may attach to an area:Tavern; Hotel and restaurant; Brew pub; Distillery pub; Vintner's restaurant; Beer and wine licensee; Manufacturer that operates a sales room; Beer wholesaler that operates a sales room; Limited winery; Lodging and entertainment facility; Optional premises; or Fermented malt beverage retailer licensed for consumption on the premises. For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, $63,274 is appropriated for use by the liquor and tobacco enforcement division to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-22 · House

Funding Health Benefits For Legislative Aides

The act amends Senate Bill 21-196, the bill that provides appropriations for the legislative branch for the 2021-22 state fiscal year, to increase the funding for and FTE allocated to the general assembly to allow the general assembly to provide health benefits for legislative aides.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-21 · Senate

Economic Recovery And Relief Cash Fund

The act creates the economic recovery and relief cash fund (fund) which consists of money deposited in the fund from the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" cash fund. To respond to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19 or its negative economic impacts, the act allows the general assembly to appropriate or transfer money for specified uses.The act transfers $40 million to the Colorado economic development fund for the Colorado office of economic development to use $10 million of the appropriated money to incentivize small businesses to locate in rural Colorado and for the location neutral employment incentive program which provides incremental cash incentives per remote employee per year for up to 5 years to small businesses that hire new employees in designated rural areas of the state. The act specifies that the remaining appropriated money must be used, subject to the fund requirements, to provide grants to small businesses or to undertake any other economic development activity in response to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.The act requires the executive committee of the legislative council to create a task force to meet during the 2021 legislative interim and issue a report with recommendations to the general assembly and the governor on policies that use money from the fund to provide a stimulative effect to the state's economy, necessary relief for Coloradans, or that address emerging economic disparities resulting from the pandemic.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-21 · Senate

2020-21 General Fund Transfer Support Department Of Natural Resources Programs

In the 2020-21 state fiscal year, the act transfers $25 million from the general fund as follows:Section 1 transfers $750,000 to the Colorado avalanche information center fund for use by the Colorado avalanche information center in the department of natural resources (department) to support backcountry avalanche safety programs; Section 2 transfers $3.5 million to the wildlife cash fund for use by the division of parks and wildlife (division) in the department to implement its statewide wildlife action plan and the conservation of native species; Section 3 transfers $2.25 million to the search and rescue fund for use by the department of local affairs in consultation with the division to support backcountry search and rescue efforts; Section 4 transfers $1 million to the outdoor equity fund for use by the division to implement the outdoor equity grant program; and Section 5 transfers $17.5 million to the parks and outdoor recreation cash fund for use by the division as follows: $3.5 million for staffing and maintenance projects; and $14 million for infrastructure and state park development projects. Section 6 appropriates the amounts transferred in sections 1 to 5 to the department and the department of local affairs for the uses specified in sections 1 to 5 and authorizes the use of the money through the 2023-24 state fiscal year.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-21 · House

Agricultural Soil Health Program

The act creates the Colorado soil health program in the department of agriculture (department), which includes programs to encourage widespread adoption of soil health practices. An entity's participation in the soil health program is voluntary. The department, commissioner of agriculture (commissioner), and state agricultural commission will administer the soil health program.The department shall, if financial resources are available, establish the following:A grant program; A system for monitoring the agricultural, environmental, or economic benefits of soil health practices; A state soil health inventory and platform; A soil health testing program; and Other programs the department deems appropriate or necessary. Before establishing a program, the department must provide public notice and afford the public an opportunity to submit written comments.The department may also:Seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public and private sources; Provide grants, loans, and other resources to eligible entities to perform soil health activities; and Cooperate and collaborate with other people. The act also creates a soil health advisory committee (advisory committee). The commissioner is required to appoint members who:To the greatest extent possible, represent the different geographic areas, political diversity, and demographic diversity of the state; and Include agricultural producers of diverse production systems, a representative of an Indian tribe, conservation district board members, and water users. The state conservation board appoints 2 members to the advisory committee.The advisory committee will make recommendations to the department and assist in the development of the soil health program. The advisory committee is also authorized to solicit input, review proposals and agreements, and evaluate the soil health program. The advisory committee approves grants.The department shall maintain the confidentiality of information related to private lands that identify landowners, land managers, agricultural producers, or lands.No later than January 31 of each year, the department shall prepare and make available to the public a report of its activities on its official website. The department shall annually report each gift, grant, or donation in its budget request for the state fiscal year to the joint budget committee and at the hearing required by the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act".For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, $4,464 is appropriated to the department for use by the agricultural services division.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-21 · House

Expand Firearm Transfer Background Check Requirements

The act requires a licensed gun dealer to obtain approval for a firearms transfer from the Colorado bureau of investigation (bureau) prior to transferring a firearm.The act prohibits the bureau from approving the transfer of a firearm to a person who was convicted of specified misdemeanor offenses. The bureau is also prohibited from approving a firearms transfer until it determines that its background investigation is complete and that the transfer would not violate federal prohibitions on firearms possession or result in a violation of state law.A person may be denied a firearms transfer if there has not been a final disposition in criminal proceedings for certain offenses for which the prospective transferee, if convicted, would be prohibited from purchasing, receiving, or possessing a firearm. The act permits continued denial of the transfer when the bureau is unable to obtain the final disposition of a case that is no longer pending.A person who has been denied a firearms transfer following a background check can appeal the denial. The act establishes a 60-day deadline for the bureau to review background check records that prompted the denial and render a final administrative decision regarding the denial.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-19 · House

Office Of Gun Violence Prevention

The act establishes the office of gun violence prevention (office) within the department of public health and environment to coordinate and promote effective efforts to reduce gun violence. The office is required to conduct public awareness campaigns to educate the general public about state and federal laws and existing resources relating to gun violence prevention.Subject to available money, the office may establish and administer a grant program to award grants to organizations to conduct community-based gun violence intervention initiatives that are primarily focused on interrupting cycles of gun violence, trauma, and retaliation that are evidence-informed and have demonstrated promise at reducing gun violence without contributing to mass incarceration.The office is required to create and maintain a resource bank as a repository for data, research, and statistical information regarding gun violence in Colorado. The office must collaborate with researchers to improve data collection in Colorado and use existing available research to enhance evidence-based gun violence prevention tools and resources available to Colorado communities.The office is required to issue a report to the general assembly every 5 years summarizing gun violence prevention measures adopted by local jurisdictions. This reporting requirement is contingent upon Senate Bill 21-256 being enacted and becoming law.The act appropriates $3,000,000 to the department of public health and environment for program costs related to family and community health for the office of gun violence prevention.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-19 · House

Peer Support Professionals Behavioral Health

The act requires the department of human services (state department) to establish procedures to approve recovery support services organizations for reimbursement of peer support professional services. The act also gives the executive director of the state department rule-making authority to establish other criteria and standards as necessary.The act permits a recovery support services organization to charge and submit for reimbursement from the medical assistance program certain eligible peer support services provided by peer support professionals.The act authorizes the department of health care policy and financing to reimburse recovery support services organizations for permissible claims for peer support services submitted under the medical services program.The act requires contracts entered into between the state department's office of behavioral health and designated managed service organizations to include terms and conditions related to the support of peer-run recovery support services organizations.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, $28,654 is appropriated to the state department from the general fund for use by the office of behavioral health to implement this act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-18 · House

Police Week And Peace Officers' Memorial Day

Last action: 2021-06-17 · Senate

Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option

The act requires the commissioner of insurance (commissioner) in the department of regulatory agencies to establish a standardized health benefit plan by rule on or before January 1, 2022, to be offered by health insurance carriers (carriers) in the individual and small group markets. The standardized plan must:Offer health-care coverage at the bronze, silver, and gold levels of coverage; Include pediatric and other essential health benefits; Be offered through the Colorado health benefit exchange and in the individual market; Have a standardized benefit design that is created through a stakeholder engagement process, has a defined benefit design and cost sharing that improves access and affordability, and is designed to improve racial health equity and decrease racial health disparities; Provide by, among other measures, providing first-dollar, predictable coverage for certain high value services; Be actuarially sound and allow carriers to meet financial requirements; Comply with state and federal law; and Have a provider network (network) that is culturally responsive and reflects the diversity of its enrollees and be no more narrow than the most restrictive nonstandardized plan offered by the carrier. Each carrier must:Include, as part of its network access plan for the standardized plan, a description of its efforts to construct diverse, culturally responsive networks; Include a majority of the essential community providers in the service area in its network; and Allow consumers to easily compare the standardized health benefit plans offered by each carrier. Additionally, the act requires the commissioner to:Promulgate rules regarding network adequacy; Contract with an independent third party to conduct an analysis of the implementation of the standardized health benefit plan and the related requirements; and Collaborate with the health benefit exchange to conduct a consumer survey. Beginning January 1, 2023, and each year thereafter, the act requires carriers that offer:An individual health benefit plan in Colorado to offer the standardized health benefit plan in the individual market in each county where the carrier offers an individual plan; and A small group health benefit plan in Colorado to offer the standardized health benefit plan in the small group market in each county where the carrier offers a small group plan. In the individual market and in the small group market, each carrier shall offer a standardized health benefit plan premium that:For 2023, is at least 5% less than the premium rate for health benefit plans offered by that carrier in the 2021 calendar year, as adjusted for medical inflation; For 2024, is at least 10% less than the premium rate for health benefit plans offered by that carrier in the 2021 calendar year, as adjusted for medical inflation; For 2025, is at least 15% less than the premium rate for health benefit plans offered by that carrier in the 2021 calendar year, as adjusted for medical inflation; For 2026 and each year thereafter, is increased above the premium in the previous year by no more than medical inflation, relative to the previous year. The act also requires each carrier to file its premium rates for the standardized health benefit plan with the commissioner. If a carrier or health-care provider anticipates that a carrier will be unable to meet network adequacy standards or the premium rate requirements due to a reimbursement rate dispute, the carrier or the health-care provider may initiate nonbinding arbitration prior to filing rates for the standardized health benefit plan. If a carrier cannot meet the premium rate requirements, the carrier must notify the commissioner of the reasons. The division shall hold a public hearing concerning network adequacy and premium rates. Based on evidence at the hearing, the commissioner may establish carrier reimbursement rates for hospitals and health-care providers and require the hospitals and health-care providers to accept patients and the established reimbursement rates. The act establishes limits on the reimbursement rates that may be set.The act creates an advisory board, with members appointed by the governor, to implement the standardized health benefit plan. The advisory board is charged with considering recommendations to streamline prior authorization and utilization management processes, recommend ways to keep health-care services in communities where patients live, and to consider alternative payment models.The commissioner may apply to the secretary of the United States department of health and human services for a state innovation waiver to capture savings as a result of the implementation of the standardized health benefit plan. Upon approval of the waiver, the commissioner is authorized to use any federal money for the implementation of the bill and for the Colorado health insurance affordability enterprise.The act requires the commissioner to:Contract with an independent third party to prepare reports regarding the implementation of the bill; Monitor whether there is an adequate number of health-care providers in the carriers' standardized health benefit plan network and the percentage of premiums attributable to health-care providers in the network; Contract with an independent third-party organization to evaluate how to phase in a hospital's reimbursement rate methodology; Report various findings during the hearings conducted pursuant to the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act"; and Disapprove of a rate filing submitted by a carrier if the rate filing reflects a cost shift between the standardized health benefit plan and the health benefit plan for which rate approval is being sought. The department of public health and environment, upon notice from the commissioner, may fine or suspend or impose conditions on a hospital that refuses to participate in the standardized health benefit plan.The act creates the office of the insurance ombudsman in the department of health care policy and financing to act as an advocate for consumer interests in matters related to access to and affordability of the standardized health benefit plan.To implement this act:$1,409,637 is appropriated to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of insurance and the executive director's office, $212,680 of which is reappropriated to the department of law for the provision of legal services; and $78,993 is appropriated to the department of health care policy and financing.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-16 · House

Stricter Transparency & Enforcement In Child Care

The act addresses concerns related to child care providers (providers) that are operating without a valid license or are exempt from licensure, including:Adding a requirement for the state department of human services (department) to include the names and locations of cease-and-desist orders that have been issued against a child care provider on the department's child care provider website (website) that is accessible to the public; Adding an additional requirement for the department to post on its website the name and location of any provider operating outside the allowed exemptions and to whom one or more cease-and-desist order has been issued. The information posted must include name, location, and total number of cease-and-desist orders issued to the same provider. Establishing that a person operating a facility, whether licensed or exempt from licensure, that has received a cease-and-desist order from the department or a county department and who fails to cure the violation cited by the department or a county department in the allotted period is guilty of a petty offense; Revising and increasing the language related to civil penalties and fines for persons operating a facility, whether licensed or exempt from licensure; and Clarifying that those petty offenses count toward the withholding of Colorado child care assistance program money for family child care home providers. In honor and memory of Elle Matthews, the act names section 26-6-112 of the Colorado Revised Statutes the "Elle Matthews Act for Increased Safety in Child Care".For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, $83,375 is appropriated to the department of human services for use by the office of early childhood. This appropriation is from federal child care development funds. To implement the act, the office may use the appropriation for child care licensing and administration.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-16 · Senate

Energy Sector Career Pathway In Higher Education

The act requires the Colorado work force development council (council), in collaboration with local work force boards, the department of education, superintendents of local school districts, the state board for community colleges and occupational education (community college board), and other postsecondary partners, to design a career pathway for students in the energy sector using an existing statutory model for the design and implementation of career pathways. The act defines "energy sector" to include electromechanical generation and maintenance, electrical energy transmission and distribution, energy efficiency and environmental technology, and renewable energy production.The act creates the strengthening photovoltaic and renewable careers (SPARC) workforce development program (SPARC program) in the department of labor and employment (department). The purpose of the SPARC program is to create capacity for and bolster training, apprenticeship, and education programs in the energy sector career pathway to increase employment in the energy sector, prioritizing in-demand and growing occupations in the energy sector. The department, the council, the community college board, and the department of higher education shall use money appropriated by the general assembly to expand the capacity of training programs and support the energy sector career pathway, as described in the act. The department, in consultation with the council, the community college board, and the department of higher education, shall determine the amount of money allocated to public institutions of higher education, local workforce development areas, and others. The act creates the SPARC program fund.By November 1, 2022, and each November 1 thereafter, the act requires the council to submit an annual report to the house of representatives business affairs and labor committee, energy and environment committee, and education committee, or their successor committees, and to the senate business, labor, and technology committee, transportation and energy committee, and education committee, or their successor committees , concerning the implementation of the SPARC program and the use of funding, and to present a summary of the report at the department's annual presentation to the general assembly. The act repeals the program, effective July 1, 2026.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates:$90,048 and 1.3 FTE to the department from the SPARC program fund for one-stop workforce center contracts and the Colorado work force development council; and $1,724,590 to the department of higher education from the SPARC program fund for the community college board and state system community colleges.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-16 · House

General Fund Transfer Agriculture And Drought Resiliency

The act creates the agriculture and drought resiliency fund (fund), directs the state treasurer to transfer $3 million from the general fund to the fund, and appropriates the money from the fund to the department of agriculture (department). The department will use the fund to anticipate, prepare for, mitigate, adapt to, or respond to any event, trend, or climatological disturbance related to drought or climate. The department will distribute $15,000 from the fund to each conservation district by July 1, 2021. The fund is repealed, effective September 1, 2022.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-15 · Senate

Public School Finance

The act makes changes to the "Public school finance act of 1994" (school funding formula) increasing the statewide base per pupil funding for the 2021-22 budget year by $141.67 to account for inflation of 2% for a new statewide base per pupil funding amount of $7,225.28, and sets the minimum statewide district total program funding amount for the 2021-22 budget year and requires the dollar amount of the budget stabilization factor to remain the same for the 2022-23 budget year.The act authorizes the state board of education (state board) to take action against an educator license, certificate, endorsement, or authorization if the educator is convicted of an offense under the laws of another state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, the elements of which are substantially similar to a felony drug offense described in part 4 of article 18 of title 18, Colorado Revised Statutes.The act extends to 18 months the length of the accreditation contract entered into between the state board and each school district board of education (local school board) and the state charter school institute for the 2021-22 school year.The act extend by one month the deadline for a local school board to certify to the state board mileage for reimbursement from the public school transportation fund and for the state board to certify to the state treasurer the amount of reimbursements from the public school transportation fund.The act changes the period of time in which the department of education (department) may establish an alternative pupil count day to within 45 school days after the first school day.The act allows local education providers to carry forward more than 15% of the per-pupil intervention money received pursuant to the "Colorado READ Act" for the 2020-21 budget year for use in the 2021-22 budget year.The act adjusts the amount of additional funding authorized in Senate Bill 21-053 that is available to school districts that fully fund total program with local revenue.The act authorizes a school district that operated a district preschool program pursuant to the "Colorado Preschool Program Act" in the 2019-20 school year with a waiver to serve children under 3 years of age to continue in subsequent school years to use the same number of preschool positions to serve children under 3 years of age who have multiple significant family risk factors.The act extends the budget deadlines for the 2021-22 budget year for school districts and local college districts.The act makes permanent statutory provisions that allow school district charter schools that convert to institute charter schools or institute charter schools that convert to school district charter schools to continue to receive funding for at-risk students using the funding formulas that applied to the charter schools prior to the conversion.For the 2021-22 school year, the act prohibits a local school board from reviewing or making revisions to an existing innovation school plan, innovation school zone, or a public school included in an innovation school zone, pursuant to the innovation school and zone review and revision process. Further, the local school board shall not make any revisions to an existing innovation school or innovation school zone plan that have not been approved before the effective date of this act.The act removes the $10 million annual cap on appropriations for the school counselor corps grant program.The act requires a board of cooperative services (BOCES) that intends to locate or operate a authorize a full-time BOCES school or an additional location of an existing school that is physically located within the geographic boundaries of a school district that is not a member of the BOCES during the 2021-22 school year to obtain written permission from the school district in which the school will be operated or located. The requirement for written consent does not apply to a BOCES school that is authorized or operating prior to the effective date of the act.The act requires school districts and institute charter schools to address chronic absenteeism and disproportionate disciplinary practices in order to provide support to students who are identified as at risk of chronic absenteeism and disciplinary actions, including classroom removal, suspension, and expulsion. The act amends the expelled and at-risk student services grant program to focus on services for students identified as at risk of dropping out of school due to chronic absenteeism and disciplinary actions.The act amends the Colorado imagination library program to align the public relations campaign with "Colorado READ Act" campaigns and requires the contractor administering the program to provide a high-quality independent evaluation of the impact of the program on child and family outcomes and to establish a distressed affiliate fund for county-based affiliate programs. The act establishes the intent of the general assembly to provide full funding for free books for eligible children by 2026. The act amends the definition of "local public body" in the public open meetings statute to refer to school districts, which are the local public bodies, rather than school boards. The act declares that the use of federal funding under the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" to provide programs, services, and other assistance to populations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency to mitigate the impacts of the public health emergency through the concurrent enrollment and innovation grant program and the career development success program are allowable uses of the federal funding.The act declares the general assembly's intention in making changes to the school finance formula commencing with the 2021-22 budget year, as follows:Modifies at-risk funding by adding pupils who are eligible for reduced-price lunch under the federal school lunch program, in addition to the free-lunch pupils in the existing definition, and removes the subset of English language learners who are currently included in the at-risk pupil count from the definition of "at-risk pupils"; Adds a new English language learner funding factor to the school finance formula for all English language learners included in the prior year's pupil enrollment. The factor is 8% of per pupil funding multiplied by the English language learner enrollment. as defined in the act. Makes corresponding changes to the calculation of district total program funding, minimum per pupil funding, and the minimum per pupil funding base to reflect the school finance formula changes relating to English language learner factor funding; and Makes a corresponding change to the statutory district total program amount to reflect the changes to the at-risk funding factor and the addition of the English language learner funding factor. The act authorizes the use of appropriations for the accelerating students through concurrent enrollment (ASCENT) program for the 2021-22 budget year.The act removes the $27 million appropriation in the 2021 long bill from the state education fund to the English language learners professional development and student support program.The act appropriates:$505,743,696 to the department from the general fund for the state share of districts' total program funding; $400,000 from the state public school fund for school finance audit payments; $2,000,000 from the state education fund for the school counselor corps grant program; $2,200,444 from the general fund to the department to restore funding to the following grant programs that had appropriations reduced or eliminated for the 2020-21 fiscal year: $800,000 and 0.6 FTE for the ninth grade success program; $375,807 for the school leadership program; $280,730 for the accelerated college opportunity exam fee grant program; $250,000 and 0.3 FTE for the John W. Buckner automatic enrollment in advanced placement courses grant program; and $493,907 and 0.4 FTE for the local accountability systems grant program. $2,500,000 from the marijuana cash tax fund and 1.0 FTE for the K-5 social and emotional health pilot program; $3,000,000 from the marijuana cash tax fund for the behavioral health care professional matching grant program; $2,000,000 for mill levy equalization for institute charter schools; $1,750,000 to the concurrent enrollment expansion and innovation grant program and $1,750,000 for the career development success program from federal money in the workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund; and $410,221 to the department from the general fund for the Colorado imagination library program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-11 · Senate

Designate Deputy Jason Schwartz Memorial Bridge

Last action: 2021-06-11 · Senate

State Information Technology

The act modifies the laws that create the joint technology committee (JTC), the Colorado cybersecurity council (council), and the office of information technology (office), to reflect the current information technology (IT) environment and direction in the state.Modifications related to the JTC are as follows:Updates definitions used by the JTC to be consistent with the definitions used by the office; and Allows the JTC to request information and presentations regarding data privacy and data security, specifies that the JTC oversees any state agency that has been delegated IT functions by the office, and makes other modifications to make the provisions governing the JTC and the office consistent. Modifications related to the council are as follows:Specifies additional functions of the council, modifies the composition of the council, and allows the council to coordinate with other entities regarding cybersecurity. Modifications related to the office are as follows:Consolidates all of the definitions that apply to the office into one section and updates some definitions to align with best practices and industry standards; Relocates provisions of current law regarding the information technology revolving fund and the coordination of the statewide geographic information system; Repeals and reenacts the roles and responsibilities section of law for the office and defines the office's roles and responsibilities in connection with IT; adds additional responsibilities when a state agency undertakes a major IT project, when a state agency is the business owner of an IT system, and when the office is involved in a state agency's IT project only as a party to the contract; Authorizes the office to delegate an IT function to a state agency and specifies procedures and requirements that the office and the state agency are required to follow when such delegation occurs; Repeals and reenacts the current provisions in law regarding the duties and responsibilities of the chief information officer (CIO) and updates the duties and responsibilities of the CIO; Relocates current law that authorizes the revisor of statutes to change certain statutory references in connection with the creation of the office; Updates the timelines and dates for the development of IT security plans and certain required reports regarding those plans for state agencies, institutions of higher education, and the legislative branch; Repeals and reenacts current law regarding interdepartmental data protocol that governs data-sharing among state agencies and specifies requirements of the office and the government data advisory board regarding the creation of a data-sharing and privacy master plan and additional requirements for when a state agency shares personal identifying information with another state agency; and Updates the office's annual reporting requirement to the general assembly regarding IT asset inventory. The act makes conforming amendments and repeals obsolete provisions regarding the consolidation of IT functions to the office, the transfer of employees and officers to the office, the creation of a work eligibility verification portal, the creation and implementation of the Colorado financial reporting system, and a reporting requirement on the transfer of IT infrastructure ownership. The act also repeals provisions regarding the statewide communications and information infrastructure that are incorporated into other provisions of law.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-07 · House

Colorado Child Support Commission Recommendations

The act enacts the recommendations of the Colorado child support commission concerning the establishment, calculation, and enforcement of child support, including:Technical amendments to clarify changes made to the child support guidelines pursuant to House Bill 19-1215 relating to a missing component of the schedule of basic child support obligations and clarifications relating to calculation of support; Defines the terms "child" and "parent" for purposes of commencing actions concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities and clarifies that the court shall determine legal parentage and join all necessary parties to the action; Reduces the interest rate on unpaid child support; Eliminates outdated provisions of the income assignment statute and brings the statute in compliance with federal law; Clarifies notice requirements for income assignments and requires an employer to report and withhold from lump sum payments; Clarifies that both the dependency and neglect court and the paternity and child support court have concurrent jurisdiction to address issues of parentage; Removes a limitation on the amount of the increase for orders increasing support filed by the child support enforcement agency against an obligor for whom income information is not available; Requires life insurance settlements to be reported to the child support enforcement agency commencing January 1, 2022; and Adds contract employee to the state directory of new hires for child support enforcement purposes.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-07 · House

Pharmacist Prescribe Dispense Opiate Antagonist

The act requires a pharmacist who dispenses an opioid to an individual to inform the individual of the potential dangers of a high dose of an opioid and offer to prescribe the individual an opiate antagonist if:The individual is, at the same time, prescribed a benzodiazepine, a sedative hypnotic drug, carisoprodol, tramadol, or gabapentin; or The opioid prescription being dispensed is at or in excess of 90 morphine milligram equivalent. If an individual accepts the offer for an opiate antagonist, the pharmacist is required to counsel the individual on how to use the opiate antagonist and notify the individual of available generic and brand-name opiate antagonists.The act does not apply to a pharmacist dispensing a prescription medication to a patient in hospice or palliative care or a resident in a veterans community living center.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Last action: 2021-06-04 · Senate