The state constitution does not limit the general assembly's ability to amend, repeal, or otherwise supersede a statutory law initiated by the voters and specifies that bills will not become law unless approved by a majority vote of all members elected to each house. The bill states that it is the intent of the general assembly that it will not amend, repeal, or otherwise supersede an initiated law in the Colorado revised statutes that was approved at an election after the 2016 general election for a period of 3 years from the date the law takes effect unless such amendment, repeal, or supersession is approved by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Before March 1, 2010, state law exempted from state sales and use taxes all articles sold to sellers of food, meal, or beverage items that sellers furnish to their customers along with the items without adding a separate charge. Effective March 1, 2010, House Bill 10-1194 narrowed the exemptions by subjecting to state sales and use taxes any such articles that the department of revenue determined to be nonessential to the customer. Effective January 1, 2018, the bill reinstates the exemptions from state sales and use taxes for nonessential articles. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill: Specifies that no state action may burden a person's exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless it is demonstrated that applying the burden to a person's exercise of religion is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest; Defines 'exercise of religion' as the practice or observance of religion. The bill specifies that exercise of religion includes the ability to act or refuse to act in a manner substantially motivated by a person's sincerely held religious beliefs, whether or not the exercise is compulsory or central to a larger system of religious belief; except that it does not include the ability to act or refuse to act based on race or ethnicity. Provides a claim or defense to a person whose exercise of religion is burdened by state action; and Specifies that nothing in the bill creates any rights by an employee against an employer unless the employer is a government employer.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Under existing law, the 'Public School Finance Act of 1994' funds kindergarten students as half-day pupils plus the supplemental kindergarten enrollment. Under existing law, the supplemental kindergarten enrollment is an additional .08 of a full-day pupil. The bill increases the supplemental kindergarten enrollment for the 2017-18 budget year and each budget year thereafter to .15 of a full-day pupil. The bill expresses the general assembly's intent to increase funding annually for full-day kindergarten starting in the 2018-19 budget year and continuing through the 2022-23 budget year so that by the 2022-23 budget year, the general assembly is funding kindergarten students as full-day pupils. Pursuant to referendum C passed by the voters in 2005, the state is currently authorized to retain and spend up to a capped amount of revenues each year that would otherwise be refunded in accordance with the taxpayer's bill of rights. Subject to a vote of the people, the bill authorizes the state to retain and spend all additional excess revenues beginning in the 2017-18 fiscal year. The general assembly is required to appropriate the additional retained money first to fund kindergarten pupils as full-day pupils and then to fund the state's share of total program funding. The state treasurer must transfer any amount of remaining additional excess revenues to the state education fund. The director of research of the legislative council must prepare an annual report concerning how the retained excess revenues are expended. The secretary of state is directed to place the question of whether to allow the state to retain excess revenues on the ballot for the 2017 general election. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws. Athlete agents first became regulated in Colorado through the enactment of the 'Uniform Athlete Agents Act' in 2008, which, among other requirements, required athlete agents to register with the department of regulatory agencies. The general assembly repealed the registration requirement in 2010. The bill enacts the 'Revised Uniform Athlete Agents Act (2015)', drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. The revised act establishes new provisions for registration and renewal of registration for athlete agents, to be administered by the secretary of state. The revised act is subject to sunset review in 2026. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
For any county with at least 25,000 active electors, the bill requires the county clerk and recorder to measure and report the amount of time it takes to vote at each voter service and polling center in a general election. The bill also directs the secretary of state to promulgate rules that provide for uniform data-gathering and reporting. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws. Colorado has adopted the 'Uniform Unsworn Foreign Declarations Act', which allows the use of foreign unsworn declarations in a wide variety of situations. The bill expands the uniform law to include domestic unsworn declarations as contemplated by the 'Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act'. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Under existing law, the 'Public School Finance Act of 1994' funds kindergarten students as half-day pupils plus the supplemental kindergarten enrollment, which is an additional .08 of a full-day pupil. The bill increases the supplemental kindergarten enrollment for the 2017-18 budget year and each budget year thereafter to .16 of a full-day pupil. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
