The bill creates the victim towing and impound fee grant program (program) in the division of criminal justice (division) in the department of public safety. The division shall make a grant to a statewide nonprofit organization that serves victims of crime (nonprofit organization) to reimburse a victim who has paid a towing or impound fee as a result of criminal activity. The nonprofit organization is required to submit annual reports to the division, and the division is required to submit annual reports to specified committees of the general assembly. The program is repealed, effective July 1, 2023.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill adds definitions for "peer support professional" and "recovery support services organization" for the purposes of permissible claims submitted for reimbursement under the medical services program. A recovery support services organization (recovery organization) may bill and submit for reimbursement certain eligible peer support services (support services) provided by peer support professionals. The department of human services (department) is responsible for approving a recovery support services organization for reimbursement for support services. The bill sets forth detailed criteria for approval by the department, and the department is given rule-making authority to establish other criteria and standards as necessary. The bill creates a refundable income tax credit available for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2021, but before January 1, 2031, for eligible peer support professionals (eligible individuals) who have worked in Colorado at least part-time for at least 3 years in the behavioral health sector and who either return to school or who graduate and return to work in the public or private health care sector. The tax credit is available for 4 consecutive years for eligible individuals who return to school and for 3 consecutive years for eligible individuals who return to work after attending school. The office of behavioral health in the department of human services (office) shall, in conjunction with the department of human services, review documentation supplied by eligible individuals seeking the tax credit and provide certification to the department of revenue if eligibility criteria for the tax credit is met. The office may not issue tax credit certificates that total more than $100,000 per income tax year. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the emergency completion and retention grant program (grant program) in the department of higher education (department). The department implements the grant program by annually distributing an amount to each state institution of higher education (institution) to use in awarding emergency assistance grants to eligible students who are experiencing qualifying financial emergencies. The bill describes minimum procedures an institution shall adopt for the financial aid director at the institution to award the emergency assistance grants. The department is required to include in the annual financial aid report submitted to the joint budget committee a summary of the implementation of the grant program and an evaluation of its effect in increasing the retention and completion rates at institutions.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill updates language in the "Colorado Homeless Youth Services Act" and establishes the services for youth experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness grant program (grant program) in the department of local affairs (department). The age requirement for such youth is increased to 24 years of age or younger from more than 11 years of age to less than 21 years of age. The department shall promulgate rules concerning the grant program, and the office of homeless youth services shall administer and monitor the grant program. The grant program consists of up to 5 awards of up to $250,000 each awarded on or before January 1, 2021. Grant awards may only be awarded to existing providers of services to youth experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, with priority given to those service providers that can expand services to underserved areas of the state, including street and community outreach, drop-in centers, emergency shelters, and supportive housing and transitional living programs. The bill requires the department to prepare and submit a report to the appropriate committees of the general assembly on the outcomes of the grant program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill allows a person who is preregistered to vote in school district elections beginning at 16 years of age. A school district election is defined as an election to recall a school district officer or an election called under title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes, including elections for: The state board of education; School district officers; Referred measures to impose or increase mill levies or to raise and expend property taxes; Referred measures relating to the organization of or plan of representation for school districts; and Referred measures related to the financial obligations and indebtedness of school districts. When a person preregisters, they must receive information concerning their eligibility to vote in school district elections and how to update their preregistration information and obtain and cast a ballot. The bill repeals the requirement that the voter information of preregistrants be kept confidential. A preregistrant is automatically registered to vote in all elections upon turning age 18. Individuals committed to juvenile detention facilities must be given information about their right to preregister and vote in school district elections. A preregistrant can circulate and sign petitions to nominate or recall a school district officer or to initiate an election under title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes. A preregistrant cannot run for office or be appointed to fill a vacancy. If a juvenile is charged with an election offense and no other crime is charged, the juvenile court is prohibited from transferring the charge to a district court. For any election in which preregistrants are eligible to vote and in which the county clerk and recorder has responsibilities for the election, the state is required to reimburse the county for the direct costs associated with ballots sent to preregistrants. The school district's share of the costs of the election in a cost-sharing agreement must be reduced by the amount of the state's reimbursement. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill: Clarifies when payments for benefits and penalties payable to an injured worker are deemed paid ( section 1 ); Adds guardian and conservator services to the list of medical aid that an employer is required to furnish to an employee who is incapacitated as a result of a work-related injury or occupational disease ( section 2 ); Requires a claimant for mileage reimbursement for travel related to obtaining compensable medical care to submit a request to the employer or insurer within 120 days after the expense is incurred and requires the employer or insurer to pay or dispute mileage within 30 days of submittal and to include in the brochure of claimants' rights an explanation of rights to mileage reimbursement and the deadline for filing a request ( sections 2 and 7 ); Clarifies that offsets to disability benefits granted by the federal "Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Amendments of 1965" only apply if the payments were not already being received by the employee at the time of the work-related injury ( section 3 ); Prohibits the reduction of an employee's temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, or medical benefits based on apportionment under any circumstances; limits apportionment of permanent impairment to specific situations; and declares that the employer or insurer bears the burden of proof, by a preponderance of evidence, at a hearing regarding apportionment of permanent impairment or permanent total disability benefits ( section 4 ); Adds the conditions that, in order for an employer or insurer to request the selection of an independent medical examiner when an authorized treating physician has not determined that the employee has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), an examining physician must serve a written report to the authorized treating physician specifying that the examining physician has determined that the employee has reached MMI; the authorized treating physician must examine the employee at least 20 months after the date of the injury and determine that the employee has reached MMI; the authorized treating physician must be served with a written report indicating MMI; and the authorized treating physician has responded that the employee has not reached MMI or has failed to respond within 15 days after service of the report ( section 5 ); Changes the whole person impairment rating applicable to an injured worker from 25% to 19% for purposes of determining the maximum amount of combined temporary disability and permanent partial disability payments an injured worker may receive ( section 6 ); Prohibits an employer or insurer from withdrawing an admission of liability 2 years after the date the admission of liability on the issue of compensability was filed, except in cases of fraud ( section 7 ); Prohibits the director of the division of workers' compensation or an administrative law judge from determining issues of compensability or liability unless specific benefits or penalties are awarded or denied at the same time ( section 8 ); Clarifies the scope of authority of prehearing administrative law judges ( section 9 ); Increases the threshold amount that an injured worker must earn in order for permanent total disability payments to cease and allows for annual adjustment of the threshold amount starting in 2021 ( section 11 ); and Clarifies the orders that are subject to review or appeal ( sections 10 and 12 ).(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill authorizes a transportation planning organization (TPO) to exercise the powers of a regional transportation authority (RTA). Among other powers, the powers of a RTA include the power to impose various charges, fees, and, with voter approval, visitor benefit, sales, and use taxes to generate transportation funding. Any additional transportation funding obtained by a TPO exercising the power of a RTA are intended to supplement and not supplant state transportation funding allocated within the boundaries. Therefore, the transportation commission and the department of transportation (CDOT) are prohibited from taking such additional transportation funding into account when determining the amount of state transportation funding to be allocated within the boundaries of a TPO, and CDOT, when submitting its annual proposed budget allocation plan, is required to provide evidence that the proposed allocation of state transportation funding within the boundaries of any TPO that has obtained such additional transportation funding has not been reduced in any way on account of the additional transportation funding.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Current law provides 2 means by which veterans with qualifying disabilities may be exempted from paying vehicle ownership tax and registration fees: The first exemption is associated with the issuance of a disabled veteran license plate, but the second exemption is not specifically associated with the issuance of the disabled veteran license plate. The bill clarifies that a veteran who is disabled need not obtain the disabled veteran license plate to qualify for the second exemption.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the early college policy development advisory group (advisory group) to design and recommend policies and changes to law to support the statewide development of and funding for early college programs and p-tech schools. The bill specifies the membership of the advisory group, which is appointed by the governor and must include members of the education leadership council, and the specific duties of the advisory group. In completing its duties, the advisory group must coordinate with the education leadership council. The advisory group must prepare an interim report and a final report of its findings and recommendations, and submit the reports by December 1, 2020, and December 1, 2021, respectively, to the governor, the education leadership council, the state board of education (state board), the Colorado commission on higher education (CCHE), and the education committees of the general assembly. The bill creates a legislative advisory council to provide advice and comment to the advisory group. The bill expands the existing concurrent enrollment expansion and innovation grant program to include grants for specified purposes related to providing opportunities for students to simultaneously enroll in postsecondary courses or engage in work-based learning opportunities while enrolled in high school. The bill extends for 2 additional budget years funding for students who enroll in an early college program that was approved before June 6, 2018, and who enroll in postsecondary courses in the fifth or sixth year of high school. The bill authorizes the distribution of state financial assistance to students who enroll in postsecondary courses while still enrolled in high school. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill phases out sub-minimum wage employment for employers that hold a special certificate from the United States department of labor that authorizes employers to pay employees whose earning capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental deficiency, or injury less than the minimum wage. The bill requires each employer that holds a special certificate to submit a transition plan to the Colorado department of labor and employment detailing how the employer plans to phase out sub-minimum wage employment. The bill requires the employment first advisory partnership in the department of labor and employment to develop actionable recommendations to address structural and fiscal barriers to phase out sub-minimum wage employment and successfully implement competitive integrated employment and report the recommendations to the general assembly. The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to grant money to private employers, not to exceed $25,000 per employer, to provide assistance in developing and implementing a transition plan to phase out sub-minimum wage employment. The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to add employment-related services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill directs the state department of health care policy and financing (department) to issue a request for proposals to contract with a vendor to provide a comprehensive care coordination and treatment training model (model) for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring behavioral health needs. The selected vendor must be able to provide the model using teleconferencing formats to better reach rural areas of the state. Community-centered boards, mental health centers, and program-approved service agencies shall nominate up to 20 providers to receive the training. The department may select an additional 10 providers from underserved areas of the state to receive the training.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill extends indefinitely the voluntary income tax return check-off for contributions to the Colorado domestic abuse program fund (fund). The bill also authorizes the department of human services to seek gifts, grants, and donations for the fund and to expend such money for domestic abuse programs. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
