Colorado Bills

The bill creates the innovative teacher preparation program (program) in the department of education (department). In implementing the program, the department will create a system to collect data concerning teacher preparation programs and create multiple pilot programs to support and investigate innovative approaches to teacher preparation and teacher induction, identify effective strategies, and share best practices among local education providers, alternative teacher programs, and institutions of higher education. The commissioner of education will convene a volunteer advisory committee that includes representatives from institutions of higher education, alternative teacher programs, and local education providers to assist the department in implementing the program. The department will share the data it collects and best practices it identifies through the program with local education providers, alternative teacher programs, and institutions of higher education. Beginning in January 2018, the department will prepare an annual report concerning implementation of the program, including reporting on the effectiveness of the pilot programs. The department must submit the report to the state board of education, the Colorado commission on higher education, the executive director of the department of higher education, the governor's office, and the education committees of the general assembly. The program will be funded by gifts, grants, and donations as well as any money the general assembly may appropriate to the program, which may include an appropriation from the state education fund. A local education provider, alternative teacher program, or institution of higher education may also make in-kind contributions for the operation of the pilot programs. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

In 2010, pursuant to the enactment of federal law that allowed each state to establish a health benefit exchange option through state law or opt to participate in a national exchange, the general assembly enacted the 'Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Act' (act). The act created the state exchange, a board of directors (board) to implement the exchange, and a legislative health benefits exchange implementation review committee to make recommendations to the board. The bill repeals the act, effective January 1, 2018, and allows the exchange to continue for one year for the purpose of winding up its affairs. The bill also requires the board, on the last day of the wind-up period, to transfer any unencumbered money that remains in the exchange to the state treasurer, who shall transfer the money to the general fund. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill grants veterans of the armed forces a free lifetime small game hunting and fishing license, or any big game license the veteran qualifies for under rules of the parks and wildlife commission, if the veteran has been a resident of Colorado for at least the previous 2 years, served in the armed forces for at least 2 years, and was separated under honorable conditions.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Under current law, a retail liquor store licensee that was licensed on or before January 1, 2016, and is a Colorado resident is permitted to obtain one additional retail liquor store license on or after January 1, 2017; 2 additional retail liquor store licenses on or after January 1, 2022; and 3 additional retail liquor store licenses on or after January 1, 2027. Additionally, current law permits a liquor-licensed drugstore licensee that was licensed on or before January 1, 2016, to obtain additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, as follows, but only if the licensee applies to transfer ownership of, change location of, and merge and convert 2 retail liquor store licenses located within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the drugstore premises to a single liquor-licensed drugstore license and only if the drugstore premises will not be located within 1,500 feet of any other licensed retail liquor store in the same local licensing jurisdiction or, if within a municipality with a population of not more than 10,000 people, the drugstore premises will not be located within 3,000 feet of any other licensed retail liquor store in the same local licensing jurisdiction: On or after January 1, 2017, up to 4 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; On or after January 1, 2022, up to 7 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; On or after January 1, 2027, up to 12 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; On or after January 1, 2032, up to 19 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; and On or after January 1, 2037, an unlimited number of additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses. Section 3 of the bill modifies provisions governing the ability of a retail liquor store to obtain additional retail liquor store licenses as follows: Allows a retail liquor store that was licensed on or before April 1, 2017, to obtain 3 additional retail liquor store licenses between July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018; on or after January 1, 2022, to obtain a maximum of 6 total retail liquor store licenses; and on or after January 1, 2027, a maximum of 9 total retail liquor store licenses; For additional licenses obtained on or after January 1, 2022, requires a person seeking additional licenses to apply to transfer ownership of, change location of, and merge 2 retail liquor store licenses located within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the applicant's premises into a single retail liquor store license; and Requires the majority of the owners of a retail liquor store seeking additional retail liquor store licenses to have either resided in Colorado for at least 2 years or operated a business in Colorado for at least 10 years. Additionally, the bill prohibits a retail liquor store from allowing customers to use a self-checkout to complete an alcohol beverage purchase and requires a retail liquor store to: Verify the age of a customer attempting to purchase an alcohol beverage by examining the customer's valid identification; and Maintain certification as a responsible alcohol beverage vendor. An employee of a retail liquor store who is under 21 years of age cannot deliver or otherwise have contact with alcohol beverages offered for sale on, or sold and removed from, the licensed premises. For liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, section 4 : Allows a licensee that applied for a liquor-licensed drugstore license on or before October 1, 2016, and a corporation within a controlled group of corporations to obtain additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; and Caps the total number of additional licenses at 19, for a total of 20 liquor-licensed drugstore licenses. Sections 5 and 6 set state and local application fees for a retail liquor store licensee applying for a transfer of ownership, change of location, and merger of 2 retail liquor store licenses. Sections 1 and 2 make conforming amendments. The bill takes effect July 1, 2017. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill creates a state sales tax exemption, commencing January 1, 2018, for the sale, storage, and use of diapers. The bill further specifies that local statutory taxing jurisdictions may choose to adopt the same exemption by express inclusion in their sales and use tax ordinance or resolution. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill creates a state sales tax exemption, commencing January 1, 2018, for all sales, storage, and use of feminine hygiene products. The bill further specifies that local statutory taxing jurisdictions may choose to adopt the same exemption by express inclusion in their sales and use tax ordinance or resolution. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill specifies that on and after July 1, 2018, the use of any north interstate highway 25 express lane that is operated or managed by the high-performance transportation enterprise or by a partner of the transportation enterprise under the terms of a public-private partnership is free for any motor vehicle that is occupied by 2 or more individuals, including the driver.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill creates definitions of a student 'threat assessment' and a student 'suicide assessment'. The bill requires that when a student transfers to a new public school, including a charter or pilot school (public school), if the student's file contains a threat or suicide assessment and if the new public school, or a person acting on behalf of the student, requests copies of the student's records, the previous public school, or out-of-home placement if applicable, is required to transfer the student's threat or suicide assessment to his or her new public school with the other records requested. If a request for records is not made, the previous public school is not required to independently transfer the threat or suicide assessment. Current law allows for the transfer of threat or suicide assessments, but it does not require it.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Currently, the 'Colorado End-of-life Options Act' requires an attending physician or hospice medical director to sign the death certificate of an individual who obtained and self-administered aid-in-dying medication. The bill removes this requirement. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The concurrent resolution deletes the prohibition in the state constitution on new or increased transfer tax rates on real property. The concurrent resolution imposes a tax upon the recording of each real property deed at the rate of 1/10 of one percent of the value of the real property as specified in the deed for the privilege of transferring the title to real property (tax). A conveyance from one spouse or other marital partner to another or a correction deed are exempt from payment of the tax. At the time any deed evidencing a transfer of title subject to the tax imposed is offered for recording, the county clerk and recorder is required to ascertain and compute the amount of the tax due and to collect the same from the purchaser of the real property as a prerequisite to acceptance of the deed for recording. The amount of tax is computed on the basis of the value of the transferred property as specified in the deed. The county clerk and recorder is required to collect the amount due under the tax and certify the date of payment and the amount collected on the deed. The county clerk and recorder is authorized to retain 5% of the amount collected as his or her fee for collection and to further remit the balance on a quarterly basis to the county treasurer. The county treasurer is then required to transmit the same to the state treasurer for the deposit of such money into the already existing state housing investment trust fund (fund). Under existing legal requirements not changed by the concurrent resolution, the fund is administered by the division of housing within the department of local affairs (division). In addition to the permissible uses of money deposited into the fund under existing statutory requirements, the concurrent resolution specifies that permissible uses of the money collected from the imposition of the tax that are deposited into the fund pursuant to the resolution include the uses specified in the resolution. The concurrent resolution specifies the type of new or existing programs that must be supported with money collected by the tax. The concurrent resolution requires that any new or existing programs supported by the tax are to be administered by the division. The concurrent resolution contains additional requirements governing the use of money in the fund. The concurrent resolution specifies that its approval by the registered electors of the state voting on the ballot issue at the general election held in November 2017 constitutes a voter-approved revenue change to allow the retention and expenditure of state revenues in excess of the limitation on state fiscal year spending. The general assembly may modify any of the provisions as necessary in order to facilitate a more effective administration of the provisions. However, such legislation shall not limit or restrict the imposition of the tax or the use of the money raised by the tax to promote the provision of affordable housing. (Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as introduced.)

Currently, Columbus day is one of 10 legal holidays in Colorado. Section 2 of the bill repeals Columbus day as a state legal holiday. Consequently, in order to maintain the number of days off enjoyed by state employees, section 3 grants state employees an annual 'floating' holiday, on a day in October of each employee's choice, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of personnel and subject to approval by each employee's supervisor. Section 1 contains a nonstatutory legislative declaration, and sections 4 and 5 make conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)