Colorado 2025 Bills

Health Insurance For Breast Imaging

Health insurance - required coverage - breast cancer screening with noninvasive imaging. The act requires health care coverage for breast cancer screening studies and subsequent breast imaging using the noninvasive imaging modality appropriate for each individual, as determined by the individual's health care provider, and within the appropriate use guidelines as determined by the American College of Radiology or the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The act applies to policies and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2021. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-16 · House

International Baccalaureate Exam Fee Grant

High schools - accelerated college opportunity exam fee grant program. The act renames the advanced placement exam fee grant program as the accelerated college opportunity exam fee grant program (grant program) and expands the grant program to make funds available to high schools to reduce or eliminate the international baccalaureate exam fee for low-income students. The department of education is not required to award all grants from the program in the same amount, but a grant awarded for a lesser amount must cover the entire cost of the exam fee for which the lesser grant is awarded.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-16 · House

Youth Mental Health Education And Suicide Prevention

Psychotherapy services - treatment of a minor without parental consent - mental health education resource bank - appropriation. The act allows a minor 12 years of age or older to seek and obtain psychotherapy services with or without the consent of the minor's parent or guardian if the mental health professional determines the minor is knowingly and voluntarily seeking the psychotherapy services and the psychotherapy services are clinically necessary. A mental health professional providing psychotherapy services to a minor may, with the consent of the minor, advise the minor's parent or legal guardian of the psychotherapy services provided, unless notifying the parent or legal guardian would be inappropriate or detrimental to the minor's care and treatment. However, the mental health professional is permitted to notify the minor's parent or legal guardian without the minor's consent if, in the opinion of the mental health professional, the minor is unable to manage his or her care or treatment. The mental health professional is required to engage the minor in a discussion about the importance of involving and notifying the minor's parent or legal guardian and document any attempt to contact the minor's parent or legal guardian. If a minor communicates a clear and imminent threat to commit suicide, the mental health professional is required to notify the minor's parent or legal guardian of the minor's suicidal ideation. The act requires the department of education, in consultation with the office of suicide prevention, the youth advisory council, and the suicide prevention commission, to create and maintain a mental health education literacy resource bank. The resource bank is available to the public free of charge. The act also requires the state board of education to adopt standards related to mental health, including suicide prevention. The act appropriates $116,550 from the general fund to the department of education for the mental health education resource bank and technical assistance. Specifies that certain provisions take effect only if House Bill 19-1172 becomes law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-16 · House

Prescription Drug Cost Education

Drug manufacturer, representative, agent, or employee - prescription drug marketing - disclosure of drug information required. The act requires a drug manufacturer, or a representative, agent, or employee of the manufacturer, who while employed by or under contract to represent a manufacturer engages in prescription drug marketing, to provide to a prescriber, in writing, the wholesale acquisition cost of a prescription drug when, in the course of conducting business, the manufacturer, representative, agent, or employee provides information concerning the drug to the prescriber. The act also requires the drug manufacturer, or a representative, agent, or employee of the manufacturer, to also disseminate the names of at least 3 generic prescription drugs from the same therapeutic class, or if 3 are not available, as many as are available for prescriptive use. Specified provisions of the act are contingent upon House Bill 19-1172 becoming law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-16 · House

Examination Applicant Barber And Cosmetologist Act

Barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, and hairstylists - examination for license - foreign work experience substitute - rules. The act allows an applicant for a barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, nail technician, or hairstylist examination to substitute foreign work experience for the required contact hours. The act authorizes the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies to promulgate rules to determine the manner in which an applicant must submit proof of foreign work experience and when an attestation of work experience may replace employment records as proof of experience. Specified provisions of the act are contingent upon House Bill 19-1172 becoming law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-16 · House

Program To Subsidize Adoption For Children And Youth

Adoption assistance program - department of human services - appropriation. The act repeals and reenacts provisions of the state's adoption assistance program (adoption program) that provides cash subsidies and other noncash benefits to families who adopt eligible children and youth who might not otherwise be adopted in order to update the adoption program. The department of human services (state department) supervises the administration of the adoption program by county departments of human or social services (county departments). The act outlines eligibility for the adoption program and the available benefits. Determination of the type and amount of benefits to be provided through the adoption program must take into consideration the circumstances of the adopting family and the needs of the eligible child or youth being adopted. Specific benefits for an adoption made through the adoption program are detailed in a written adoption assistance agreement (agreement). The terms of an agreement are negotiated among all parties involved. The agreement must be reviewed at least every 3 years but may be reviewed sooner at the request of the adoptive parents or the county department. The adoptive parents may appeal any decision made pursuant to the provisions of the adoption program with a hearing before an administrative law judge. The act outlines the conditions under which adoption program subsidies may be suspended or terminated and under which the agreement may be terminated. The state department is required to keep data on the adoption program to help evaluate the adoption program's ongoing effectiveness in providing stability to families involved in the adoption of eligible children and youth. As appropriate, the state department, a county department, or a nonprofit child placement agency is required to provide prospective adoptive families, at the time the family is matched, with information on the various benefits available through the adoption program. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates: $42,143 from the general fund to the department of human services for information technology services relating to the TRAILS system, and anticipates the receipt of $18,061 in federal funds; and $60,204 from reappropriated funds to the office of the governor, to provide information technology services to the department of human services.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-16 · Senate

Child And Youth Behavioral Health System Enhancements

Wraparound services - child and youth behavioral health delivery system pilot program - standardized screening tools - single statewide referral and entry point - children and youth at risk of out-of-home placement or in an out-of-home placement - appropriation. No later than July 1, 2020, the department of health care policy and financing shall seek federal authorization to provide wraparound services for eligible children and youth who are at risk of out-of-home placement or in an out-of-home placement. Upon federal authorization, the department of health care policy and financing shall require managed care entities to implement wraparound services, which may be contracted out to a third party. The act requires the department of health care policy and financing, in conjunction with the department of human services, to develop and implement wraparound services for children and youth at risk of out-of-home placement or in an out-of-home placement. The act requires wraparound services to be covered under medicaid. Upon implementation of the wraparound services, the department of health care policy and financing and the department of human services shall monitor and report the annual cost savings associated with eligible children and youth receiving wraparound services to the public through the annual "SMART Act" hearing. No later than July 1, 2020, the department of health care policy and financing is required to design and recommend a child and youth behavioral health delivery system pilot program that addresses the challenges of fragmentation and duplication of behavioral health services. The act requires the executive director of the department of human services to appoint two full-time staff persons to support and facilitate interagency coordination for the development and implementation of wraparound services. No later than July 1, 2020, the department of human services is required to select a single standardized assessment tool to facilitate identification of behavioral health issues and develop a plan to implement the tool for programmatic utilization. The act also requires the department of human services to select developmentally appropriate and culturally competent statewide behavioral health standardized screening tools for primary care providers, which may be made available electronically for health care professionals. The department of public health and environment shall ensure adequate statewide training on the standardized screening tools for primary care providers and other interested health care professionals who care for children. No later than July 1, 2020, the department of human services, in conjunction with the department of health care policy and financing and the department of public health and environment, is required to develop a plan for establishing a single statewide referral and entry point for children and youth who have a positive behavioral health screening or whose needs are identified through a standardized assessment. The act makes multiple appropriations to the department of health care policy and financing and the department of human services. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-16 · Senate

Out-of-network Health Care Services

Health insurance - out-of-network health care services - disclosures - claims - reimbursement rates - deceptive trade practice - rules - appropriation. The act: Requires health insurance carriers, health care providers, and health care facilities to provide patients covered by health benefit plans with information concerning the provision of services by out-of-network providers and in-network and out-of-network facilities; Outlines the disclosure requirements and the claims and payment process for the provision of out-of-network services; Requires the commissioner of insurance, the state board of health, and the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies to promulgate rules that specify the requirements for disclosures to consumers, including the timing, the format, and the contents and language in the disclosures; Establishes the reimbursement amount for out-of-network providers that provide health care services to covered persons at an in-network facility and for out-of-network providers or facilities that provide emergency services to covered persons; and Creates a penalty for failure to comply with the payment requirements for out-of-network health care services. The act appropriates $33,884 from the general fund to the department of public health and environment and $63,924 from the division of insurance cash fund to the division of insurance to implement the act. Specified provisions of the act are contingent upon House Bill 19-1172 becoming law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-15 · House

School Incentives To Use Colorado Food And Producers

Colorado food - school grant program - nonprofit grant program - appropriation. The act establishes a grant program in the department of education (CDE) to encourage providers that are entitled to federal money for lunches for students (participating providers) to purchase food products from Colorado growers, producers, and processors (Colorado food). The grant program reimburses participating providers for the amount of Colorado food that the provider purchased in the previous school year. The act caps the reimbursements at $500,000 per year. The act establishes a separate program in CDE to make a grant to a nonprofit organization to make grants to entities that promote the sale of Colorado food to schools and to eligible providers to encourage the purchase of Colorado food. The nonprofit organization is required to conduct an annual evaluation and report to CDE. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $168,942 from the general fund to CDE for the school purchasing programs. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · House

Rates For Senior Low-income Dental Program

Dental program for seniors - review - maximum reimbursement rates. The act adds to the duties of the department of health care policy and financing (department) under the Colorado dental health care program for low-income seniors (program) to review the operation and effectiveness of the program in the next annual report. Qualified grantees under the program and the department shall report recommendations concerning the operations and effectiveness of the program. Under current law, the senior dental advisory committee recommends to the medical services board the maximum reimbursement rate for dental procedures under the Colorado dental health care program for low-income seniors that cannot be less than the reimbursement rate previously adopted by the state board of health for the program. The act changes the maximum reimbursement rate that the committee may recommend to not less than the medicaid fee-for-service rate. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · House

Peer Assistance Emergency Medical Service Provider

Emergency medical service providers - peer health assistance program - authorized providers - administering entity - appropriation. The act creates a peer health assistance program (program) for emergency medical service providers who do not have access to a peer health assistance program. The program is funded through fees collected from each applicant upon initial or renewal of a certification as an emergency medical service provider. The department of public health and environment (department) is required to select one or more peer health assistance programs as designated providers. To be selected as a provider, the program must: Provide for the education of emergency medical service providers with respect to the recognition and prevention of physical, emotional, and psychological problems and provide for intervention when necessary or under circumstances that may be established by rules promulgated by the department; Offer assistance to an emergency medical service provider in identifying physical, emotional, or psychological problems; Evaluate the extent of physical, emotional, or psychological problems and refer the emergency medical service provider for appropriate treatment; Monitor the status of an emergency medical service provider who has been referred for treatment; Provide counseling and support for the emergency medical service provider and for the family of any emergency medical service provider referred for treatment; Agree to receive referrals from the department; and Agree to make services available to all certified emergency medical service providers. The department is authorized to select a nonprofit private foundation that is dedicated to support medical charitable purposes to administer the program. $57,242 is appropriated to the department to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · Senate

Revise Traumatic Brain Injury Program

Colorado brain injury program - Colorado brain injury trust fund - board - appropriation. The act makes revisions to the Colorado traumatic brain injury program (program) and the program board, including: Renaming the program, the trust fund board, and the trust fund to remove "traumatic" from the titles and making conforming amendments in other statutes to reflect the new names; Defining "brain injury" to replace the definition of "traumatic brain injury"; Requiring the trust fund board to include members who have experienced a brain injury, family members of persons who have experienced a brain injury, and those with specific personal or professional experience with brain injuries; Removing obsolete dates relating to trust fund board appointments; Removing the specific statutory listing of potential services under the program and clarifying that all persons served by the program receive service coordination and skills training and may receive other services as determined by the trust fund board; Allowing the trust fund board to prioritize services and eligibility for services while ensuring fidelity to the program's original intent to serve individuals with brain injuries; Removing a restriction on the use of general fund money for the program trust fund; Removing general provisions relating to the administration of the program; and Removing the fee collected by municipalities for speeding traffic offenses and increasing fees currently collected for other offenses for the benefit of the trust fund. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $450,000 from the general fund to the Colorado brain injury trust fund and reappropriates money from the trust fund for use in the Colorado brain injury program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · House

Dependent Tuition Assistance Program Eligibility

State institutions of higher education - tuition assistance - dependents of military members - dependents of law enforcement officers and firefighters. A dependent of a prisoner of war or military personnel missing in action, a dependent of a person who died or was permanently disabled while on duty as a Colorado National Guardsman, or a dependent of any person who has been permanently disabled or killed while acting as a police officer, sheriff, or other law enforcement officer or firefighter (dependent) who is eligible for state tuition assistance and federal educational benefits pursuant to the federal "Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act" may receive the state tuition assistance prior to receiving the federal benefit. The state tuition assistance available to a dependent is reduced by the amount of any federal educational benefit provided to the dependent.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · Senate

Treatment For Opioids And Substance Use Disorders

Access to behavioral health treatment - capacity tracking system - care navigation program - building substance use disorder treatment capacity in underserved communities grant program - appropriation. The act: Directs the department of human services to implement a centralized, web-based behavioral health capacity tracking system to track available treatment capacity at behavioral health facilities and at programs for medication-assisted treatment and withdrawal management for substance use disorders, as well as other types of treatment; Directs the department of human services to implement a care navigation program to assist individuals in obtaining access to treatment for substance use disorders, including medical detoxification and residential and inpatient treatment; and Creates the building substance use disorder treatment capacity in underserved communities grant program to provide services in rural and frontier communities, prioritizing areas of the state that are unserved or underserved. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates: $31,961 and 0.8 FTE to the department of health care policy and financing, executive director's office for personal services and operating expenses, with the expectation that the department will receive additional federal funding; $5,589,344 and 2.5 FTE from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of human services, office of behavioral health, for community behavioral health administration, the behavioral health capacity tracking system, the care navigation program, and the building substance use disorder treatment capacity in underserved communities grant program; and $160,206 and 1.4 FTE from reappropriated funds received from the department of human services to the office of the governor for use by the office of information technology.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · House

Child Care Expenses Tax Credit Low-income Families

Child care expenses - income tax credit - individuals with low income - extension. For income tax years prior to January 1, 2021, a resident individual who has a federal adjusted gross income of $25,000 or less may claim a refundable state income tax credit for child care expenses for the care of a dependent who is less than 13 years old. The act extends the tax credit for 8 years.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · House

Expand Medication-assisted Treatment Pilot Program

Medication-assisted treatment expansion pilot program - extension - administration - additional counties to participate - funding increase - appropriation. In 2017, the general assembly enacted Senate Bill 17-074, concerning the creation of a pilot program in certain areas of the state experiencing high levels of opioid addiction to award grants to increase access to addiction treatment, which created a 2-year medication-assisted treatment (MAT) expansion pilot program, administered by the university of Colorado college of nursing, to expand access to medication-assisted treatment to opioid-dependent patients in Pueblo and Routt counties and directed the general assembly to appropriate $500,000 per year for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 fiscal years from the marijuana tax cash fund to the university of Colorado board of regents for allocation to the college of nursing to implement the pilot program. The 2017 act also scheduled the pilot program for repeal on June 30, 2020. The act: Expands the pilot program to the counties in the San Luis valley and 2 additional counties in which a need is demonstrated; Shifts responsibility to administer the pilot program from the college of nursing to the center for research into substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support strategies; Adds representatives from the San Luis valley and any other counties selected to participate in the pilot program and members from the boards of county commissioners from participating counties to the advisory board that assists in administering the program; Increases the annual appropriation for the pilot program to $2.5 million for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years; and Extends the program an additional 2 years. The act appropriates $2.5 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of higher education for use by the board of regents of the university of Colorado to allocate to the center for research into substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support strategies for the MAT expansion pilot program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · Senate

Retain Criminal Justice Programs Funding

Criminal justice programs - cash funds created - transfers. Currently, money appropriated but unspent for the community-based reentry grant program, the crime victims grant program, the justice reinvestment crime prevention grant program, and the justice reinvestment crime prevention small business program (programs) reverts to the general fund at the end of the fiscal year. The act creates cash funds for each of the programs so that money for the programs is appropriated into the cash funds and unspent money is available for spending in future years. At the end of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 fiscal years, unspent money for the programs is transferred to the new cash funds rather than reverting to the general fund. Currently, the justice reinvestment crime prevention initiative is scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2020. The act extends the repeal date to September 1, 2023. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · Senate

Voter Approval To Retain Revenue For Ed & Transp

Excess state revenues - retain and spend - voter-approved revenue change - November 2019 election - public schools, higher education, and roads, bridges, and transit - annual audit. Contingent on voters' approval at the statewide election held on November 5, 2019, the act authorizes the state to annually retain and spend all state revenues in excess of the constitutional limitation on state fiscal year spending that it would otherwise be required to refund. An amount of money equal to the state revenues so retained is designated as part of the general fund exempt account and the general assembly is required to appropriate or the state treasurer is required to transfer this money to provide funding for: Public schools; Higher education; and Roads, bridges, and transit. The state auditor is required to contract with a private entity to annually conduct a financial audit regarding the use of the money that the state retains and spends under this measure. Adopted by the General Assembly: April 29, 2019 NOTE: On November 5, 2019, the secretary of state shall submit this act by its ballot title to the registered electors of the state for their approval or rejection. Except as otherwise provided in section 1-40-123, Colorado Revised Statutes, if a majority of the electors voting on the ballot title vote "Yes/For", then the act will become part of the Colorado Revised Statutes.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-14 · House

Financial Aid For Students With In-state Tuition

Financial assistance programs - student eligibility - Colorado high school graduates. A student who does not have lawful immigration status who attended high school in Colorado for at least 3 years before graduating from a Colorado high school or before successfully completing a high school equivalency examination, is admitted to a qualifying institution of higher education within 12 months after high school graduation, and has submitted an affidavit stating that the student has applied for lawful presence or will apply as soon as he or she is eligible, is eligible for existing student financial assistance programs offered by the department of higher education to in-state students. Prior to becoming eligible, the student is subject to the same verification requirements for eligibility to participate in the college opportunity fund program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · House

Extend School Finance Interim Committee

Legislative interim committee on school finance - 2019 legislative interim - expenses. The act extends the work of the legislative interim committee on school finance (interim committee) for one year to include the 2019 legislative interim. For the 2019 legislative interim, the act maintains the party and chamber balance of legislative members on the interim committee, with 5 members from each chamber and 5 democrats and 5 republicans on the interim committee, and specifies the method for appointing interim committee members. The act permits the interim committee to determine whether and in which interim to study the issues set forth in statute. The act authorizes the interim committee to contract with a vendor or vendors to assist with or facilitate the work of the interim committee. The act authorizes the interim committee to use unexpended money from the 2018-19 budget year during the 2019-20 budget year to cover costs incurred by the interim committee, including the hiring of a consultant or facilitator, if applicable. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · Senate

Prior Authorization Requirements Health Care Service

Health care coverage - prior authorization for health care services - publication of requirements and restrictions - deadline for making determination - required criteria - exceptions for compliant providers - duration of prior authorization - rules. With regard to the prior authorization process used by carriers or private utilization review organizations (organizations) acting on behalf of carriers to review and determine whether a particular health care service prescribed by a health care provider is approved as a covered benefit under the patient's health benefit plan, the act requires carriers and organizations to: Publish and update their prior authorization requirements and restrictions; Comply with specified deadlines for making a determination on a prior authorization request; Use current, clinically based prior authorization criteria that are aligned with other quality initiatives of the carrier or organization and with other carriers' and organizations' prior authorization criteria for the same health care service; and Consider limiting the use of prior authorization to providers whose prescribing or ordering patterns differ significantly from the patterns of their peers after adjusting for patient mix and other relevant factors. The act authorizes a carrier or organization to offer providers with a history of adherence to the carrier's or organization's prior authorization requirements an alternative to prior authorization, including an exemption from prior authorization for providers with an 80% approval rate of prior authorization requests over the previous 12 months. Carriers and organizations are to annually reevaluate a provider's eligibility for exemption from or other alternative to prior authorization requirements. If a carrier or organization fails to make a determination within the time required, the request is deemed approved. An approved prior authorization request is valid for at least 180 days, with some exceptions, and continues for the duration of the authorized course of treatment. The commissioner of insurance is authorized to adopt rules as necessary to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · House

Child College Savings Accounts

The bill creates the college kickstarter account program (kickstarter program) to provide initial funding (kickstarter funding) for a collegeinvest (authority) college savings account (account) for each child born or adopted in Colorado on or after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2040, (eligible child), encourage the parent or parents of each eligible child to claim the kickstarter funding by establishing an account, and, if sufficient funding from gifts, grants, and donations is received, provide a free financial literacy education program for eligible children and their parent or parents and other family members. The authority is required to implement and administer the kickstarter program; except that the state treasurer is required to develop and administer the program component of free financial literacy education. The authority may adopt rules that it deems necessary for the implementation and administration of the kickstarter program. The authority is required to establish and fund a kickstarter program master account (master account) and to provide sufficient annual funding for the master account from money that is otherwise available for its scholarship and matching grant programs to be able to transfer a specified amount of kickstarter funding in the master account to the account of each eligible child. The authority must engage in a robust outreach and marketing program to encourage the parent or parents of each eligible child to claim the eligible child's kickstarter funding by opening an account for the eligible child within 5 years of the eligible child's birth or adoption and must transfer all kickstarter funding claimed from the master account to the eligible child's account. Kickstarter funding is not counted as income or resources of the eligible child or the parent or parents of the eligible child for purposes of determining eligibility or benefit amounts for any state-funded program. The authority must conduct an ongoing summative evaluation to collect summative data to evaluate the kickstarter program's effectiveness over time and must prepare, present to its legislative oversight committees, and conspicuously post on its website an annual written report on the results of the ongoing summative evaluation. The college kickstarter account program fund is created to hold any gifts, grants, and donations obtained, and the authority and the state treasurer may spend money from the fund for the purposes of the kickstarter program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · House

Regulate Student Education Loan Servicers

Student loan servicers - license requirement - regulation by assistant attorney general - appropriation. The act requires an entity that services a student education loan owned by a Colorado resident to be licensed by the administrator of the "Uniform Consumer Credit Code". "Servicing" means receiving a scheduled periodic payment from a student loan borrower, applying the payments of principal and interest with respect to the amounts received from a student loan borrower, and similar administrative services. The act specifies particular acts that are required of or prohibited by student loan servicers and the administrator's powers and duties. Violation of the licensing law is a deceptive trade practice. The act also creates a student loan ombudsperson to provide timely assistance to student loan borrowers. $115,273 is appropriated to the department of law from the general fund to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · Senate

Assisted Living Residence Referral Disclosures

Assisted living residence - referral agency - disclosures required - documentation - penalties. The act requires an individual or entity who, for a fee, refers a prospective resident to an assisted living residence to disclose any business relationships that the referring party has with the assisted living residence. The individual or entity must also disclose that the assisted living residence pays for the referral. The act requires written or electronic documentation of the disclosure to be provided to and maintained by the assisted living residence. The referring party is subject to a civil penalty for a violation. The attorney general or district attorney in the appropriate county is authorized to bring a civil action to seek a civil penalty or to enjoin the referring party from any further violation. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · House

Rule Review Bill

Continuation of 2018 rules of executive agencies - exceptions listed. Based on the findings and recommendations of the committee on legal services, the act extends all state agency rules that were adopted or amended on or after November 1, 2017, and before November 1, 2018, with the exception of the rules specifically listed in the act. Those specified rules will expire as scheduled in the "State Administrative Procedure Act" on May 15, 2019, on the grounds that the rules either conflict with statute or lack or exceed statutory authority.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · Senate

Increase Student Aid Application Completion Rates

School counselor corps grant program - applications for federal or state student aid - appropriation. The act requires the general assembly to appropriate $250,000 each year for the 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 fiscal years from the general fund to the state board of education. The state board of education shall distribute the appropriation to education providers that receive a grant under the school counselor corps grant program for the purpose of educating and supporting students and families in completing and submitting the free application for federal student aid or applications for state student aid.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · House

Income Tax Credit For Early Childhood Educators

Income tax - tax credit - eligible early childhood educators. The act provides a refundable income tax credit to an eligible early childhood educator with a federal adjusted gross income less than or equal to $75,000 for an individual filing a single return, or less than or equal to $85,000 for an individual filing a joint return, who, for at least 6 months of the taxable year for which the credit is claimed, holds an early childhood professional credential and is either the licensee of an eligible program or employed by an eligible program. The act specifies that an eligible program means either an early childhood education program or a licensed family child care home and the eligible program must have held at least a level 2 quality rating under the Colorado shines quality rating and improvement system for the income tax year for which the credit is claimed and, for the income tax year for which the credit is claimed, either have fiscal agreements with the Colorado child care assistance program or be a program that meets the federal early head start or head start standards. The amount of the credit is dependent on the eligible early childhood educator's credentialing level and is annually adjusted for inflation. The department of human services is required to provide to the department of revenue an annual report of each individual who held an early childhood professional credential during the previous calendar year for which the income tax credit is allowed. The act takes effect only if, at the November 2019 statewide election, a majority of voters do not approve a referred measure that allows the state to increase the cigarette tax, increase the tobacco products tax, and to create a new tax on nicotine products and use a significant portion of the tax revenue for preschool programs and expanded learning opportunities. If the voters at the November 2019 statewide election do not approve such a measure, then the act takes effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · House

Update Business Entity Laws

Business entities - updates to governing law - appropriation. The act makes the following changes to the "Colorado Business Corporation Act" (CBCA) and conforming changes to the "Colorado Corporations and Associations Act" (CCAA): Deletes definitions in the CCAA that are no longer necessary (section 1); Updates provisions in the CCAA to clarify conversions and mergers of entities and exchanges of owners' interests in entities (sections 2 through 18); Updates provisions in the CCAA addressing the requirements for the name of an entity formed under Colorado law or qualified to do business in Colorado as a foreign entity (sections 19 through 21); Updates provisions in the CCAA regarding court proceedings that may be filed by a dissolved Colorado entity for a determination of the amount and form of security to be provided for payment of claims that are contingent or unknown or that arose from events occurring after dissolution (sections 22 through 24); Adds definitions to and updates definitions in the CBCA (section 25); Reorganizes certain provisions that are optional to include in the articles of incorporation of a Colorado corporation so that they appear in a single location to avoid confusion (section 28); Adds an optional forum selection provision similar to that found in other states and the "Model Business Corporation Act" (section 29); Updates provisions for proxies and treatment for voting purposes of shares held by intermediaries and nominees (sections 31 and 32); Updates provisions for the general standards of conduct for directors and officers and standards of liabilities for directors (section 35); Updates provisions dealing with conflicting interest transactions and corporate opportunities (section 36); Updates provisions dealing with indemnification of directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries, and agents and advancement of expenses (sections 38 through 46); Updates provisions dealing with corporate mergers, conversions, and exchanges by reference to the updated provisions in the CCAA (sections 47 through 55); Repeals and reenacts, with amendments, former article 113 of title 7, Colorado Revised Statutes, relating to dissenters' rights and substitutes provisions to define the procedure to obtain appraisal rights in lieu of dissenters' rights (section 56); and Updates the provisions establishing the grounds and procedures for seeking judicial dissolution and providing for an election by one or more shareholders to purchase shares owned by the petitioning shareholders in lieu of proceeding with judicial dissolution (sections 57 through 60). The act also updates certain provisions of articles 55 and 56 of title 7, Colorado Revised Statutes, regarding various forms of cooperatives, as well as articles 41 (domestic associations organized as savings and loan associations) and 103 (state banks) of title 11, Colorado Revised Statutes, to be consistent with changes made in the CBCA (sections 63 through 65, 68, and 69). $59,360 is appropriated from the department of state cash fund to the department of state to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · Senate

Notice Requirements Employees Sharing Gratuities

Employees - sharing gratuities - notice requirements. The act repeals a provision that requires employers with employees who share gratuities to post a specific sign in a conspicuous place and substitutes a requirement to notify each patron in writing, such as on the menu, table, or receipt.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · House

School Discipline For Preschool Through Second Grade

The bill allows a state-funded, community-based preschool program, school district, or charter school (enrolling entity) to impose an out-of-school suspension or expel a student enrolled in preschool, kindergarten, or first or second grade only under specified circumstances. If the enrolling entity imposes an out-of-school suspension, the length of the suspension is limited to 3 school days unless the executive officer or chief administrative officer of the enrolling entity determines that a longer period is necessary to resolve the safety threat or recommends that the student be expelled. The state board of education (state board) cannot waive the provisions concerning suspension and expulsion of young students for school districts or charter schools. Each school district and charter school must ensure that its school discipline code reflects the requirements specified in the bill. The state board must annually review the data concerning suspensions and expulsions of students in preschool, kindergarten, and first and second grade. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · House

Sunset License Regulate Psychiatric Technicians

Psychiatric technicians - regulation by state board of nursing - grounds for discipline - continuation under sunset law. The act implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' sunset review and report on the licensure and regulation functions of the state board of nursing (board) regarding psychiatric technicians as follows: Continues the functions of the board in licensing and regulating psychiatric technicians for 15 years, until September 1, 2034 (sections 1 and 2 of the act); Changes references to "accredited" psychiatric technician education programs to "approved" to more accurately reflect that the programs are approved by the board rather than accredited (sections 3, 5, 6, and 8); Modifies the grounds for discipline related to alcohol or substance use or abuse to eliminate reference to having an alcohol or substance use disorder and instead clarifying that a person is subject to discipline for habitual or excessive use or abuse of alcohol or drugs (section 7); Eliminates as a grounds for discipline having a physical disability or intellectual or developmental disability that renders the person unable to safely practice and instead subjects a person to discipline for failure to notify the board of, or act within the limitations created by, a physical illness or condition or behavioral, mental health, or substance use disorder that affects the psychiatric technician's ability to safely practice. Additionally, the act authorizes the board to enter into a confidential agreement with the psychiatric technician to limit his or her practice and makes failure to comply with the agreement grounds for discipline (sections 7 and 9). Removes the terms "willfully" and "negligently" from several grounds for disciplining a psychiatric technician (section 7); and Eliminates the requirement that the board send letters of admonition by certified mail (section 10). Specified provisions of the act are contingent upon House Bill 19-1172 becoming law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-13 · Senate

Professional Behavioral Health Services For Schools

Behavioral health care professional matching grant program - use of grant money - behavioral health care services - contracts with community providers - appropriation. The act allows money from the behavioral health care professional matching grant program to be used for behavioral health care services at recipient schools and specifies that grants may also fund behavioral health services contracts with community providers. Grant applicants must specify the extent to which the school has seen an increase in activities or experiences that affect students' mental well-being. The act requires the department of education to prioritize grant applications based on the school's need for additional health professionals and the extent to which the school will prioritize the use of grant money for staff training related to behavioral health supports. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $3,000,000 from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of education for the behavioral health care professional matching grant program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-10 · Senate

Teacher Preparation Program Support

Teacher preparation - best practices - teacher mentor grant program - license endorsement - teacher preparation program requirements - appropriation. The act directs the department of higher education and the department of education (departments) to work with the deans of the schools of education to review, research, and identify best practices in teacher preparation. By January 1, 2020, the departments must jointly adopt guidelines to assist educator preparation programs in adopting and implementing the best practices. The departments must also jointly prepare a report concerning the best practices, the guidelines, and regulatory and statutory recommendations to ensure that the policies and criteria for approving educator preparation programs align with the best practices. The departments must submit the report to the Colorado commission on higher education, the state board of education, and the education committees of the general assembly. By March 1, 2020, the educator preparation programs must each submit a report to the departments demonstrating how the program will implement the best practices over the following 3 years. The act creates the teacher mentor grant program in the department of higher education to provide money to school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools that partner with educator preparation programs to provide training and stipends for teachers who serve as mentors for teacher candidates participating in clinical practice. The act specifies requirements that a partnership's teacher mentor program must meet to receive a grant, including paying the mentor teacher a stipend. The act directs the departments to work with interested parties to identify best practice standards and guidelines for teacher mentoring and requires the department of higher education to adopt the standards and guidelines by January 1, 2020. Beginning in the 2020-21 budget year, the department of higher education must annually prepare a report concerning implementation of the teacher mentor grant program and submit the report to the Colorado commission on higher education, the state board of education, the department of education, and the education committees of the general assembly. The act relocates with nonsubstantive changes the existing collaborative educator preparation grant program and the "Rural Colorado Grow Your Own Educator Act", which provides grants for teaching fellowship programs. The act directs the department of education to collaborate with the department of higher education to create a mentor teacher endorsement for teachers who hold master certificates and provide mentoring and oversight for teacher candidates. The act allows a teacher to use service as a mentor teacher as an approved professional development activity for license renewal. Before passage of the act, the statute specified the requirements that an educator preparation program must meet to be approved. The act adds 2 requirements: An educator preparation program must include instruction in the science of reading and must include at least one full, continuous school year of clinical practice. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $1,217,787 from the general fund to the department of higher education to implement the teacher mentor grant program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-10 · Senate

Automatic Enrollment In Advanced Course Grant Program

Advanced courses - automatic enrollment grant program - appropriation. The John W. Buckner automatic enrollment in advanced courses grant program (grant program)is established in the department of education (department) to provide funding for local education providers that automatically enroll certain students in advanced courses. The department must annually notify local education providers of the grant program. In order to be eligible for the grant program, a local education provider must automatically enroll students who are in ninth grade or higher in an advanced course in a subject related to one in which the student demonstrated proficiency on the prior year's statewide assessment, or in an advanced course based on any other measure, applied to all enrolled students, that demonstrates the student's ability to succeed in the advanced course. Local education providers are encouraged to automatically enroll eligible fourth- through eighth-grade students in advanced courses as well. Local education providers must permit parents to remove their children from automatically enrolled classes and may permit parents to exempt their children from any automatic enrollment. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-10 · Senate

Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade Social And Emotional Health Act

Colorado K-5 social and emotional heath act - pilot program - appropriation. The act creates the "Colorado K-5 Social and Emotional Health Act" (health act). Subject to available appropriations, the health act requires the department of education (department) to select up to 10 pilot schools (pilot school) to participate in a pilot program that ensures that a school mental health professional, as defined in the health act, is dedicated to each of grades kindergarten through fifth grade, with a ratio of mental health professionals to students of approximately one per 250 students. To the extent possible, the school mental health professional shall follow the same students through each grade. The general assembly shall appropriate the resources necessary for the pilot school to hire or contract with the additional school mental health professionals. The department shall select pilot schools that meet the characteristics outlined in the health act, including high poverty, ethnic diversity, and a large concentration of students in the foster care system. Among other responsibilities consistent with the mental health professional's license, the school mental health professional shall provide needed services to students and their families in the pilot school, including providing services and supports to students with learning disabilities, identifying food insecurities, providing resources to develop and improve the social and emotional health of students, and helping eligible students and their families access public benefits. Services must be provided at school and during school hours, as appropriate. The health act requires the department to employ or contract with a pilot program coordinator to oversee the implementation of the pilot program across the pilot schools. The pilot program begins operation during the 2020-21 school year and repeals in July 2023. The department shall contract with a professional program evaluator (evaluator) to conduct a preliminary evaluation in 2022 and a final evaluation before the repeal of the pilot program. The evaluator shall establish the method for the collection and monitoring of the pilot schools' data throughout the pilot program. The evaluator shall evaluate the effectiveness of services provided by the pilot program on the academic, mental, and physical health and well-being of the student cohorts within the scope of the pilot program. The health act authorizes the use of marijuana tax cash fund money and gifts, grants, or donations to fund the pilot program. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $43,114 and 0.4 FTE from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of education to implement the health act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-10 · House

Expand Child Nutrition School Lunch Protection Act

School lunch - free and reduced price school lunch - appropriation. The act clarifies that all students in sixth through eighth grade participating in the federal reduced price school lunch program are eligible for the existing child nutrition school lunch protection program (program), and extends the grades of eligibility for the program to students through the twelfth grade. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, $463,729 is appropriated to the department of education from the general fund for the implementation of the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-10 · House

Public School Finance

Financing for K-12 public schools - transfer to the state education fund - rural school funding - tier B special education funding - ninth grade success grant program - health and wellness through comprehensive physical education grant program - appropriation. The act increases the statewide base per pupil funding for the 2019-20 budget year by $182.76 to account for inflation, for a new statewide base per pupil funding of $6,951.53. The act also sets the minimum district total program funding for the 2019-20 budget year. The district total program funding reflects a $100 million reduction in the dollar amount of the budget stabilization factor over the prior budget year. In addition, the act: Amends the professional development and student support program (program) for English language learners and educators who work with English language learners to distribute money appropriated for the program's services and educator professional development activities proportionately, based on the level of English language proficiency of the students served by the program; For the 2019-20 budget year, distributes $20 million on a per pupil basis to large rural school districts and small rural school districts, including district charter schools and each institute charter school whose accounting district is a large or small rural school district. Large rural school districts share 55% of the appropriation, and small rural school districts share 45% of the appropriation. The act bases the distribution on a school district's funded pupil count for the 2018-19 budget year. The act specifies the intended uses of the money and requires each rural district that receives money to report to the department of education concerning the use of the money. Increases the amount of tier B special education funding by $22 million and allows the amount to be appropriated from the state education fund or the general fund; Transfers $40,326,896 from the general fund to the state education fund; Creates the ninth grade success grant program in the department of education to provide funding to local education providers and charter schools to implement a ninth grade success grant program. Grant recipients must use the money to implement a ninth grade success program that includes elements set forth in the act, including creating a cross-disciplinary success team of teachers and support staff, which includes mental health professionals or social workers. Creates the health and wellness through comprehensive quality physical education instruction pilot program in the department of education that awards 3-year pilot program grants to schools or school districts to implement comprehensive quality physical education instruction. The act specifies the necessary components of a the comprehensive quality physical education instruction. The department of education shall contract with a qualified evaluator to conduct a program evaluation of the pilot program. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates: $22 million from the general fund to the department of education for tier B special education programs; In addition to funding appropriated through the annual general appropriation act, $7,633,721 and $2,509,623 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of education for the state share of district total program funding; $20 million from the general fund to the department of education for rural school funding; $800,000 from the general fund to the department of education for the ninth grade success grant program; $125,495 from the state education fund to the department of education to fund hold-harmless kindergarten; and $1,100,000 from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of education for the health and wellness through comprehensive quality physical education instruction pilot program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-10 · Senate

High School Innovative Learning Pilot

High school innovative learning pilot program - appropriation. The act creates the high school innovative learning pilot program (pilot program) to support school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools (local education providers) in providing innovative learning opportunities to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 (high school students). Each local education provider that is selected to participate in the pilot program is allowed, for purposes of school finance, to count high school students who participate in innovative learning opportunities as full-time pupils regardless of whether they meet the required number of teacher-pupil instruction and contact hours for full-time enrollment. A local education provider may apply to participate in the pilot program by submitting an application that, among other things, describes the local education provider's innovative learning plan (plan). The act specifies other requirements for the application and requirements for the plan. The department of education (department) implements the pilot program by reviewing the applications and recommending to the state board of education (state board) the applicants that should participate in the pilot program, and the state board selects the participants. The recommendations and selections must be based on criteria specified in the act. The act limits the number of pilot program participants in the first year but states it is the intent of the general assembly to increase participation to 100% by the 2025-26 budget year. The act directs the department to contract with a statewide nonprofit entity to assist the department and local education providers in applying to participate, participating, and evaluating the pilot program and in preparing a report concerning implementation of the pilot program. The act specifies information that each participating local education provider must submit to the department concerning its participation in the pilot program and requires the department to prepare an annual report summarizing the information and evaluating the success of the pilot program in increasing high school student participation in innovative learning opportunities. The pilot program is repealed, effective July 1, 2025. For the 2019-20 fiscal year, the act appropriates $129,563 from the general fund to the department of education to implement the pilot program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-10 · Senate

READ Act Implementation Measures

READ act - programming - teacher training - evaluation - distribution of money - appropriations. The act makes several changes concerning implementation of the "Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act" (READ act) by school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative services that operate schools (local education providers) as follows: Requiring that instructional programming and services for teaching reading be focused on the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency including oral skills, and reading comprehension; Directing each local education provider to include in its performance plan specified information concerning the reading assessments, curriculum, instructional programs, and intervention instruction and services used and, for certain local education providers, the plan for providing professional development for teachers; Specifying that students with significant reading deficiencies and students who read below grade level must receive educational services in a daily literacy block for the length of time indicated by research; Requiring each local education provider that receives money through the READ act to provide evidence-based training in teaching reading to kindergarten and first- through third-grade teachers; and Encouraging local education providers to partner with adjacent public libraries to enhance instruction in literacy. The act directs the department of education (department) to develop and implement a public information campaign to emphasize the importance of learning to read by third grade and to highlight the local education providers that achieve high percentages of third-grade students who are reading at grade level. The act directs the department to contract with an independent evaluator to evaluate the implementation of the READ act in the state and evaluate whether a local education provider's use of per-pupil intervention money or early literacy grant program money results in students making progress toward reading competency. The act changes the distribution of money appropriated from the early literacy fund for the 2019-20 budget year by reducing the amount distributed as per-pupil intervention money, increasing the amount distributed through the early literacy grant fund, and adding distributions to pay for the public information campaign, the independent evaluator, and teacher training. For the 2020-21 budget year and budget years thereafter, the act specifies the purposes for which the money in the early literacy fund may be appropriated in amounts specified in the annual general appropriations bill. The act changes the procedure for distributing the per-pupil intervention money by: Requiring a local education provider to provide information and meet certain requirements in order to receive the money; Authorizing the department to monitor and, if necessary, audit the use of the money throughout the budget year; Expanding the allowable uses of the per-pupil intervention money to include purchasing core reading instructional programs and purchasing technology, including software, to assist in assessing and monitoring student progress; and Capping the amount of per-pupil intervention money that a local education provider may retain from year to year. The act amends the early literacy grant program to allow a school district to apply for a district-level grant or a school-level grant and to prohibit the state board of education (state board) from restricting an applicant's use of any of the approved reading assessments. The act also provides that if the department, at the completion of a grant, determines that the program implemented with the grant money was successful in moving students toward reading competency, the state board must automatically renew the grant and increase the grant amount, if necessary, to enable the grant recipient to expand the program. The act requires a local education provider to report the scores attained by students on the interim reading assessments if the local education provider uses per-pupil intervention money to purchase instructional programming in reading. The act expands reporting requirements to include information regarding student academic growth to standard in reading. Each local education provider must submit, in accordance with privacy laws, information requested to complete the independent evaluation of the implementation of the READ act, and the department, the independent evaluator, and the local education provider must collaborate to minimize the impact on instructional time caused by increased reporting. For the 2019-20 fiscal year, the act appropriates money from the marijuana tax cash fund and the early literacy fund to the department as follows: $7,500,000 for the early literacy competitive grant program; $2,702,557 for teacher training; $1,664,570 for early literacy program administration, technical assistance, and monitoring; $750,000 for the independent evaluation; $500,000 for the public information campaign; and $26,261,551 for early literacy program per-pupil intervention money. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-10 · Senate

Extend The Colorado Student Leaders Institute

Colorado student leaders institute - extension - appropriation. The act extends the Colorado student leaders institute to June 30, 2024. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, $218,825 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of higher education for the implementation of the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-10 · Senate

Attorney General Representation Of Department Of Revenue In License Appeals

Under existing law, upon request of the attorney general, a district attorney represents the department of revenue (department) in driver's license and identification card appeals. The bill requires the attorney general to represent the department in such appeals. The bill permits the attorney general to appear for an appeals hearing by telephone, video teleconference, or any other court authorized means of electronic participation.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-09 · House

University of Colorado Training And Scholarships Rural Physicians

The bill requires the university of Colorado school of medicine (school) to provide scholarships to students who: Will complete clinical studies in a rural or frontier area in Colorado; Have demonstrated financial need; and Have committed in writing to living and serving as physicians in rural or frontier areas in Colorado that are also primary care health professional shortage areas for at least 4 years following the completion of their residency training. The bill requires the school to submit an annual written report to the education committees of the house of representatives and senate concerning the operation of the school's rural track during the preceding academic year. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-09 · House

Child Tax Credit

In 2013, the general assembly created a child tax credit against state income taxes for a resident individual. But the credit, which is a percentage of the federal child tax credit based on the taxpayer's income, is only allowed after the United States congress enacts a version of the "Marketplace Fairness Act". The bill repeals the contingent start of the tax credit and instead allows the credit to be claimed for any income tax year beginning with the 2019 income tax year. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-09 · House

Joint Rule Changes For Workplace Policies

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Last action: 2019-05-09 · Senate

Prescription Drug Cost Reduction Measures

Section 1 of the bill enacts the "Colorado Prescription Drug Cost Reduction Act of 2019", which requires: Health insurers, starting in 2020, to submit to the commissioner of insurance (commissioner) information regarding prescription drugs covered under their health insurance plans that the plan paid for in the preceding calendar year, including information about rebates received from prescription drug manufacturers, a certification regarding how rebates were accounted for in insurance premiums, and a list of all pharmacy benefit management firms (PBMs) with whom they contract; Prescription drug manufacturers to notify the commissioner, state purchasers, health insurers, and PBMs when the manufacturer, on or after January 1, 2020, increases the price of certain prescription drugs by more than specified amounts or introduces a new specialty drug in the commercial market; Prescription drug manufacturers, within 15 days after the end of each calendar quarter that starts on or after January 1, 2020, to provide specified information to the commissioner regarding the drugs about which the manufacturer notified purchasers; Health insurers or, if applicable, PBMs to annually report specified information to the commissioner regarding rebates and administrative fees received from manufacturers for prescription drugs for which they received the required notice from a manufacturer; and Certain nonprofit organizations to compile and submit to the commissioner an annual report indicating the amount of each payment, donation, subsidy, or thing of value received by the nonprofit organization or its executive director, chief operating officer, board of directors, or any member of the board of directors from a prescription drug manufacturer, PBM, or health insurer and the percentage of the nonprofit organization's total gross income that is attributable to those payments, donations, subsidies, or things of value. The commissioner is required to post the information received from health insurers, prescription drug manufacturers, PBMs, and nonprofit organizations on the division of insurance's website, excluding any information that is proprietary. Additionally, the commissioner, or a disinterested third-party contractor, is to analyze the data reported by health insurers, prescription drug manufacturers, PBMs, and nonprofit organizations and other relevant information to determine the effect of prescription drug costs on health insurance premiums. The commissioner is to publish a report each year, submit the report to the governor and specified legislative committees, and present the report during annual "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" hearings. The commissioner is authorized to adopt rules as necessary to implement the requirements of the bill. Section 2 prohibits PBMs from retroactively reducing payment on a clean claim submitted by a pharmacy unless the PBM determines, through an audit conducted in accordance with state law, that the claim was not a clean claim. Health insurers that contract with PBMs must ensure that the PBMs are complying with this prohibition and the reporting requirements and are subject to penalties for failure to do so. Section 3 requires a carrier to reduce the cost sharing a covered person is required to pay for prescription drugs by an amount equal to the greater of 51% of the average aggregate rebates received by the carrier for all prescription drugs, including price protection rebates, or an amount that ensures cost sharing will not exceed 125% of the carrier's cost for the prescription drug. Under sections 5 and 6 , a prescription drug manufacturer that fails to notify purchasers or fails to report required data to the commissioner is subject to discipline by the state board of pharmacy, including a penalty of up to $10,000 per day for each day the manufacturer fails to comply with the notice or reporting requirements. The commissioner is to report manufacturer violations to the state board of pharmacy. Additionally, health insurers that fail to report the required data are subject to a fine of up to $10,000 per day. Sections 7 and 8 of the bill make conforming amendments necessary to harmonize the bill with the title 12 recodification bill, House Bill 19-1172.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-09 · House

Tax Credit Employer-assisted Housing Pilot Program

As a pilot program to promote employer-assisted housing projects in rural areas, for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019, but prior to January 1, 2023, the bill creates a state income tax credit for a donation a taxpayer makes to a sponsor that is used solely for the costs associated with employer-assisted affordable housing in a rural area. The bill defines "sponsor" to mean the Colorado housing and finance authority, a housing authority operated by a county or municipality, a nonprofit corporation that has been designated as a community development corporation under the federal tax code, or an international, nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization whose mission is concentrated on constructing affordable housing. The amount of the credit allowed by the bill is 20% of the approved donation amount; except that the aggregate amount of the credit awarded to any one taxpayer is limited to $400 in any one income tax year. The bill contains additional requirements pertaining to the manner in which the taxpayer submits information to receive the tax credit. The bill also requires periodic reporting of information on the use of the tax credit. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-09 · House

Fifth-year High School & ASCENT Program Students

Current law allows a school district to include in its pupil enrollment students who were enrolled in a school that was designated as an early college before June 6, 2018, and who, after completing 4 years of high school, enroll for the 2018-19 or 2019-20 budget year in postsecondary courses. The bill extends this authority for one year to include students who enroll in postsecondary courses for the 2020-21 budget year. Under current law, the department of education (department) designates as ASCENT program participants qualified students who meet specified criteria. Beginning in the 2021-22 budget year, the bill directs the department to first designate from among the qualified students who meet the existing criteria each qualified student who meets additional criteria that indicate the student is likely to complete a high-demand postsecondary certificate or degree during the ASCENT program year. The concurrent enrollment advisory board must consult with several departments, the governing boards of state higher education institutions, and local education providers to develop guidelines for implementing the prioritization requirement. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-09 · House

Colorado Partnership For Quality Jobs And Services Act

The bill creates the "Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act" to facilitate the creation of formal labor-management partnership agreements between state employees in the state personnel system and the executive branch of state government. The bill specifies that certain employees in the state personnel system, due to the nature and responsibilities of their jobs, are not able to participate in partnership agreements. State employees who are allowed to participate in partnership agreements are designated covered employees. Partnership units: The bill specifies that a partnership unit is a group of covered employees who have similar job classifications and who are in a unit for representation by a nonprofit organization that represents covered employees (employee organization). The bill creates partnership units composed of covered employees in specified occupational groups. If a partnership unit was created pursuant to the existing Colorado executive order that authorizes partnership agreements (executive order) and the partnership unit has chosen an employee organization to exclusively represent it (certified employee organization), the partnership unit will continue to be represented by its existing certified employee organization. Certified employee organizations: An employee organization that wants to represent an unrepresented partnership unit may file a petition with the department of labor and employment (department) requesting that it hold an election to allow covered employees in the partnership unit to elect an employee organization to represent it. The department is required to provide notice of the petition and other employee organizations may be included on the ballot in the election. The department is required to conduct an election to determine which employee organization will be the certified employee organization of the partnership unit. The ballot must allow covered employees to vote not to be represented by an employee organization. If one employee organization receives a majority of the votes, the department is required to certify the employee organization as the certified employee organization of the partnership unit. The bill specifies circumstances under which the department is not allowed to hold an election for a partnership unit to select a certified employee organization. The bill also specifies that a covered employee or an employee organization may initiate a process to decertify a certified employee organization for a partnership unit. Rights of covered employees and certified employee organizations: The bill specifies that a covered employee may work with an employee organization and communicate with other covered employees to form a partnership agreement. Certified employee organizations have the right to reasonable access to areas where covered employees work to hold meetings, post notices, and provide information to covered employees. Duties of the certified employee organization: The bill specifies that a certified employee organization is required to represent the interests of all covered employees in the partnership unit, regardless of membership in the employee organization. The bill also specifies the process by which a covered employee may initiate a grievance regarding the interpretation of a partnership agreement. In addition, the bill prohibits a certified employee organization from engaging in a strike, work stoppage, or group sickout against the state or any of its agencies or departments. Duties of the state: The bill specifies that the state is required to: Make payroll deductions for membership dues and other payments that covered employees authorize to be made to the certified employee organization; Notify the certified employee organization when a covered employee is hired, promoted, or transferred to a new partnership unit; Periodically provide specified information about covered employees to each certified employee organization; Allow a certified employee organization to attend orientations for new covered employees; After the state and the certified employee organization reach a partnership agreement, submit a request to the general assembly for sufficient appropriations to implement terms of the partnership agreement requiring the expenditure of money; and Engage in good faith in all aspects of the partnership process. Partnership agreements: A certified employee organization and the state are required to discuss and draft written partnership agreements, which are binding on the state, the certified employee organization, and covered employees. Partnership agreements that govern matters impacting all covered employees in all of the represented partnership units are required to be negotiated collaboratively with all certified employee organizations; except that a certified employee organization may opt out of joint negotiations for the partnership units it represents. A partnership agreement is required to provide a grievance procedure to resolve disputes over the interpretation, application, and enforcement of any provision of the partnership agreement. A partnership agreement is also required to continue in full force and effect until it is replaced by a subsequent partnership agreement. If disputes arise during the formation of a partnership agreement, the certified employee organization and the state are required to engage in the dispute resolution process established by the bill. Duties of the state personnel director: The state personnel director (director) is required to enforce certain aspects of the partnership agreement process. The director is authorized to conduct hearings to adjudicate disputes regarding the rights of covered employees and the rights and duties of certified employee organizations and the state under partnership agreements. The director is required to determine and impose appropriate administrative remedies to address violations of rights or duties pursuant to the "Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act". Court review: The bill specifies the circumstances under which the director or a party to a partnership agreement may request court review of the final action of the director or an arbitrator's decision and specifies the standards under which the court may conduct such review. Court review may be requested as follows: The director may request that the court of appeals enforce orders issued by the director in connection with partnership agreements; Any person or party affected by a final rule, order, or decision of the director may appeal to the district court for further relief; A party to a partnership agreement may seek enforcement or vacation of an arbitrator's decision on a grievance concerning the interpretation, application, and enforcement of a partnership agreement in district court; and Either the state or a certified employee organization may challenge the final judgment of an arbitrator's judgment resolving a dispute in the formation of a partnership agreement in district court.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-09 · House

Final Disposition Reimbursement Payment

Current law requires counties to give an indigent deceased person final disposition. The county may be reimbursed for this cost so long as the cost does not exceed $2,500, but if the cost exceeds $2,500, the county is not reimbursed. The bill: Raises this amount to $3,000; and Allows the county to be reimbursed, up to $3,000, when the cost exceeds $3,000.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Last action: 2019-05-09 · House

Notify Governor Of Adjournment

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Last action: 2019-05-07 · Senate