The act authorizes the state historical society, also known as history Colorado, to sell the real property that is referred to as its north storage property. History Colorado is required to credit the proceeds of the sale to the state museum cash fund to be used for moving, retrofitting, lease-related, and acquisition costs for a new storage facility that history Colorado will lease in the future or for controlled maintenance. APPROVED by Governor May 1, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Colorado law uses a defined phrase of "hemp product". The act changes terms in the marijuana statutes to conform to the current defined phrase. APPROVED by Governor May 1, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires the state treasurer, on behalf of the state, to execute, no later than December 31, 2024, financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements (financing agreements) to finance capital costs related to the construction of facilities for 4 state institutions of higher education. The financing agreements are to be issued in an aggregate principal amount of up to $246,936,092 plus reasonable and necessary administrative, monitoring, and closing costs and interest, including capitalized interest. The anticipated annual state-funded payments for the principal and interest components due under the financing agreements must not exceed $17,500,000 with principal amortization not occurring before July 1, 2027. The proceeds from the financing agreements will be used for the following 4 capital projects: Construction of facilities for the university of northern Colorado's college of osteopathic medicine; Construction of a health institute tower for metropolitan state university of Denver; Construction of a veterinary health education complex for Colorado state university; and Renovation of Trinidad state college's valley campus main building to move nursing and allied health programs into the building, address deferred maintenance issues, and create an assembly space that will serve both the college and the community and a one-stop student services center to support career and technical education and allied health students. The act also requires a general fund transfer of $41,250,000 to the university of northern Colorado for deposit into an escrow account to be held in escrow in accordance with the requirements of the accrediting body of the college of osteopathic medicine. If the money in escrow, including interest, is released to the university of northern Colorado upon graduation of the first cohort from the college of osteopathic medicine, then the university shall provide notice of the release of escrow to the joint budget committee of the general assembly, to the state treasurer, and to the office of state planning and budgeting. Additionally, for the state fiscal year in which the escrow money is released, the amount that is to be paid to the university pursuant to its fee-for-service contract for that state fiscal year is reduced by the lesser of an amount equal to the amount of the escrow money or an amount equal to the amount of a portion of the escrow money that reduces the amount to be paid pursuant to the fee-for-service contract to zero. If the amount of the escrow money exceeds the amount due under such fee-for-service contract, then the amount the university of northern Colorado would otherwise receive from the college opportunity fund is reduced by an amount equal to the excess. If, after both reductions, there remains excess escrow money, then in the next state fiscal year the amount that is to be paid to the university of northern Colorado pursuant to its fee-for-service contract for that state fiscal year is reduced by an amount equal to the amount of the remaining escrow money. The university of northern Colorado must use the escrow money, or a portion of it, as applicable, for each applicable reduction as an offset for the reduction. If the escrow money is released for failure of the college of osteopathic medicine to complete accreditation, then the university of northern Colorado shall provide a report of this to the joint budget committee of the general assembly, to the state treasurer, and to the office of state planning and budgeting. For the period that the escrow money is held in escrow, the amount of unrestricted general fund year-end balances that must be retained as a reserve is reduced by $41,250,000. The appropriation to implement the act anticipates that the department of higher education will receive $246,936,092 in cash funds from the proceeds of the financing agreements and is anticipated to use the amount as follows: $127,542,028 for construction of the college of osteopathic medicine at the university of northern Colorado; $50,000,000 for construction of the health institute tower at metropolitan state university of Denver; $50,000,000 for construction of the veterinary health education complex at Colorado state university; and $19,394,064 for renovation of the valley campus main building at Trinidad state college. APPROVED by Governor May 1, 2024 EFFECTIVE May 1, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The Colorado supreme court approved the licensure of legal paraprofessionals (LLPs), which allows LLPs to represent clients and perform certain types of legal services related to domestic relations matters, including: Legal separations, declarations of invalidity of marriage, or dissolutions of marriage or a civil union; Initial allocations or modifications of an allocation of parental responsibility, including parentage determinations; Matters involving establishment or modification of child support or maintenance; Seeking, modifying, or terminating a civil protection order; Matters involving a name change; and Matters involving a request for an amended birth certificate to change the sex designation of an adult. The act amends the relevant statutory provisions to align with the Colorado supreme court rule authorizing the licensure of LLPs. APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Under current law, all persons have the right to bail pending disposition of charges, with certain exceptions, including an exception for persons charged with capital offenses. The act adds an exception for murder in the first degree when proof is evident or presumption is great. Under current law, in capital cases, each side is entitled to 10 peremptory juror challenges, and if there is more than one defendant, each side is entitled to an additional 3 peremptory challenges for every defendant after the first. The act applies that existing law to cases in which a defendant is charged with murder in the first degree. The act takes effect only if House Concurrent Resolution 24-1002 is approved by the people at the general election to be held November 2024. APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE Date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Current law imposes a uniform state idling standard on an owner or operator of a covered vehicle that prohibits the vehicle from idling for more than 5 minutes within any 60-minute period, except in certain situations. Current law also prohibits a local government from enacting a resolution or ordinance concerning the idling of a covered vehicle that is more stringent than the state idling standard. The act authorizes a local government to enact a resolution or ordinance concerning the idling of a covered vehicle that is at least as stringent as, but not less stringent than, the state idling standard and requires any local government with an idling standard to include certain exemptions. The act also exempts a critical service or utility provider when performing the functions of the provider's duties from the idling standard and declares that the idling standard is a matter of mixed local and statewide concern. APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act creates the healthy food incentives program (program) in the department of public health and environment (department) to be administered by the prevention services division (division). The division shall partner with a statewide nonprofit organization that has experience in supporting healthy food incentives programs to provide healthy food incentives that benefit Colorado's low-income populations. The healthy food incentives must attempt to improve access to fresh Colorado-grown fruits and vegetables within Colorado's low-income communities. The act requires the division and the nonprofit organization to limit their administrative expenses. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, $500,000 is appropriated to the department from the general fund for use by the division to implement the program. APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE April 29, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act clarifies that the relative guardianship assistance program for children and youth and the adoption assistance program (programs) are entitlement programs. The state controller is authorized to allow overexpenditures for the programs. The act requires the department of human services (department) to report to the joint budget committee annually regarding actual and projected caseloads and expenditures for the programs. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $4,914,849 from the general fund and local funds to the department for use by the division of child welfare (division) for the programs. It is anticipated that the department will also receive $12,101,247 in federal funds. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $5,662,305 from the general fund and local funds to the department for use by the division for the programs. It is anticipated that the department will also receive $12,914,803 in federal funds. APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE April 29, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act adopts, in part, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' travel insurance model act (model act), which provides a legal framework within which travel insurance must be sold in Colorado. The "Travel Insurance Model Act" applies to travel insurance that covers a resident of Colorado; that is sold, solicited, negotiated, or offered in Colorado; and for which the policies and certificates are delivered or issued for delivery in Colorado. With respect to the model act, the act: Requires an insurer to pay premium tax on travel insurance premiums paid by specified persons; Requires consumer disclosures for travel protection plans and requires insurers to send fulfillment materials and specific contact information for persons providing travel assistance services and cancellation fee waivers; Declares the following practices unfair or deceptive practices: Offering or selling travel insurance that could never result in the payment of any claims for the insured; and Marketing blanket travel insurance coverage as free; Requires travel insurance documents to be consistent with the travel insurance policy, including forms, rate filings, and certificates of insurance; Requires disclosure of preexisting condition exclusions prior to the purchase of travel insurance and in the coverage fulfillment materials; Unless the trip for which the travel insurance was purchased has commenced or the policyholder has filed a claim, allows the policy to be cancelled and the cost refunded within a specified time period; Prohibits the use of a negative option or "opt out" that requires the consumer to take affirmative action to deselect coverage; Allows mandated coverage when the consumer's travel destination requires travel insurance as a condition of purchasing the trip or travel package; Prohibits a person from acting as or representing that the person is a travel administrator, unless the person is a licensed insurance producer for property and casualty insurance in Colorado for activities permitted under that license; and Allows travel insurance that provides certain coverage to be filed under either an accident and health line of insurance or an inland marine line of insurance. Further, the act makes conforming changes to existing law relating to licensing limited lines travel insurance producers and registering travel retailers. Specifically, the act: Expands the definition of "limited lines travel insurance producer" to include a "travel administrator"; Includes in the definition of "travel insurance", coverage for emergency evacuation, repatriation of remains, and, as approved by the commissioner of insurance, any other personal risks relating to travel; Prohibits a person from acting as a limited lines travel insurance producer or travel retailer unless the person is licensed or registered, respectively; Specifies that the grounds for suspension and revocation and the penalties applicable to resident insurance producers are applicable to limited lines travel insurance producers and travel retailers; and Authorizes a person licensed in a major line of authority as an insurance producer to sell, solicit, and negotiate travel insurance under an individual, group, or blanket policy. The model act codified in this act does not include provisions that are inapplicable to Colorado, including provisions relating to third-party administrators and managing general agents. Further, unlike the model act, the act requires that an insurer offering or selling travel insurance that provides coverage for sickness, accident, disability, or death occurring during travel, emergency evacuation, or repatriation of remains hold both property and casualty and accident and health lines of authority. APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act makes 3 changes to the funding and administration of the multidisciplinary crime prevention and crisis intervention grant program. The act: Requires the state treasurer to transfer $3 million from the general fund to the multidisciplinary crime prevention and crisis intervention grant fund on July 1, 2024; Modifies the multidisciplinary crime prevention and crisis intervention grant fund so that money in the fund is annually, rather than continuously, appropriated; and Extends the repeal date of the multidisciplinary crime prevention and crisis intervention grant program, grant fund, and advisory committee from January 1, 2025, to July 1, 2027. The act also modifies both the law enforcement workforce recruitment, retention, and tuition grant fund and the SMART policing grant fund so that money in both funds is annually, rather than continuously, appropriated. Lastly, the act states that unless the Colorado state patrol or a local law enforcement agency meets certain reporting requirements, or is working with the division of criminal justice to meet these reporting requirements, the Colorado state patrol or a local law enforcement agency is not eligible to be awarded grants under the multidisciplinary crime prevention and crisis intervention grant program, the law enforcement workforce recruitment, retention, and tuition grant program, or the state's mission for assistance in recruiting and training (SMART) policing grant program. APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE April 29, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act establishes the amounts by which the state board of health in the department of public health and environment (department) may increase the fees payable to the health facilities general licensure cash fund, the assisted living residence cash fund, and the home care agency cash fund. The fees are increased up to 8% in state fiscal year 2025-26; 6% in state fiscal years 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29; and, in each fiscal year thereafter, an amount based on the percentage change reflected in the prior year's consumer price index. The act requires the state auditor to audit the efficiency of the department's use of the facility fees. APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE July 1, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires the department of education (department) to apply to the United States department of agriculture for a statewide community eligibility provision if the department determines participation in a statewide community eligibility provision will maximize federal funding. The act requires the department to annually establish options for, and communicate the options to, school food authorities to maximize federal funding. A school food authority that chooses an option other than those established by the department will not receive healthy school meals for all program (program) funding and must use other eligible funding sources to cover the costs of serving free meals to all students at the schools of the school food authority. The act delays the implementation of the local food purchasing grant, the wage increase or stipend program for school meals food preparation and service employees (wage increase or stipend program), and the local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program until the 2025-26 budget year. The act requires the department to create a policy for school food authorities to maximize the collection of household income application forms for the national school lunch program to increase federal funding for the program. School food authorities that choose to participate in the program shall apply the policy to maximize the collection of household income application forms. The act creates the healthy school meals for all program cash fund (cash fund). On July 1, 2024, the state treasurer shall transfer the balance of the healthy school meals for all program general fund exempt account to the cash fund. The act creates the healthy school meals for all program technical advisory group (advisory group). As soon as practicable, the department shall convene the advisory group. The advisory group shall collaborate with school districts, the office of state planning and budgeting, and a representative from the department of agriculture to: Identify ways to maximize federal reimbursements; Reduce costs of the program; Review cost-savings options, including minimizing food waste; Strengthen the long-term resiliency of the healthy school meals for all cash fund; Create model revenue scenarios; Provide options and recommendations to balance program revenues and expenditures; and Draft a report with legislative and administrative recommendations and submit it to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees; the joint budget committee; the state board of education; and the governor. On January 1, 2024, the local school food purchasing program (purchasing program) and the local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grant program (grant program) repealed. The act recreates the purchasing program and the grant program, and extends the programs through the 2024-25 budget year. The act eliminates the authorization for department expenditures in excess of the appropriated amount to participating school food authorities for the wage increase or stipend program. The act amends appropriations related to the program, the purchasing program, and the grant program in the general appropriations act for the 2024-25 state fiscal year. Senate Bill 23-221, enacted in 2023, appropriated money from the general fund for the program. The act amends this appropriation so that the money for the program is appropriated from the state education fund created in section 17(4) of article IX of the state constitution. APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024 EFFECTIVE April 29, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
