The act removes the $1 million limit for the grant share of individual projects under the forest restoration and wildfire risk mitigation grant program (program). The act also adds a requirement that when the technical advisory panel (panel) considers hazardous fuel reduction projects for the program, the panel shows preference to applicants that are adopting local measures that reduce wildfire risks to people, property, and infrastructure that complement funds provided through the program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
For fiscal year 2021-22 and any subsequent fiscal years while increased reimbursements and payments associated with the federal public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic are still available, the act specifies that:If a provider or a school district submits a certification of public expenditure pursuant to federal law, the provider or school district shall receive federal matching funds in the amount of 50% of the amount certified, and any federal financial participation in excess of 50% of the amount certified must be transferred to the general fund for the medical assistance program; The amount of increased federal financial participation in excess of 50% generated from appropriations out of the healthcare affordability and sustainability fee cash fund must be used to offset other general fund appropriations for the medical assistance program; The amount of increased federal financial participation in excess of 50% for reimbursements and payments must be transferred from the medicaid nursing facility cash fund to the general fund for the medical assistance program expenditures; and The appropriation to the university of Colorado for fee-for-service contracts for health services is reduced by the amount of federal financial participation that exceeds 50%. The act adjusts the 2021-22 long bill appropriations as follows:The general fund appropriation for medical services premiums is decreased by $57,330,334; The appropriation for medical services premiums is reduced by $10,231,185 from reappropriated funds received from the department of higher education; The appropriation for medical services premiums is increased by $57,330,334, from fund the healthcare affordability and sustainability fee cash fund from the medicaid nursing facility cash fund; and The decrease of the appropriation of $10,231,185 is based on the assumption that the anticipated amount of federal funds received for the 2021-22 state fiscal year by the department of health care policy and financing for medical services premiums will decrease by $13,127,686. The act adjusts the 2021-22 long bill appropriations to the department of higher education as follows:The general fund appropriation for fee-for-service contracts with state institutions for specialty education programs is decreased by $10,231,185; and The appropriation for the regents of the university of Colorado is reduced by $10,231,185.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act authorizes a state payment to qualified hospice providers, as defined in the act, that provide hospice services in a licensed hospice facility to persons enrolled in the medical assistance program who are eligible for care in a nursing facility but who are unable to secure a bed in a nursing facility due to the presence of COVID-19 in the state or for other reasons described in the act. The eligible patient, as defined in the act, must have a hospice diagnosis.To receive a payment, the qualified hospice provider must provide residential services to an eligible patient during the fourth quarter of the 2020-21 fiscal year or during the 2021-22 fiscal year. The state payment to a qualified hospice provider is limited to not more than 28 days for each eligible patient. The state payment is an amount equal to one-half of the statewide average per diem rate for nursing facilities.The department of health care policy and financing shall administer the state payment and shall seek input from qualified hospice providers concerning the administration of the payment and the allocation of available appropriations.For the 2020-21state fiscal year, the act appropriates $684,000 of general fund to the department of health care policy and financing to implement the act. Unexpended money is further appropriated for the 2021-22 state fiscal year for the same purpose.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act repeals the state recovery audit program, effective July 1, 2022, and reduces the state fiscal year 2021-22 general fund appropriation to the department of personnel for use by financial operations and reporting for personal services by $64,714 and the related FTE by 1.0 FTE.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act creates the "Pet Store Consumer Protection Act", which requires each pet store licensed to sell or offer to sell dogs or cats to:Include on all advertisements, including website postings, the purchase price of the dog or cat and any applicable federal or state license numbers for the breeder of the dog or cat; Post on the enclosure of each dog or cat the purchase price of the dog or cat and certain information on the dog's or cat's breeder; and Make certain written disclosures to a prospective consumer prior to selling a dog or cat. The act preserves the right of a statutory or home rule local government to enact requirements for pet stores that are more stringent than the requirements of the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Current law provides for the establishment of a single entry point system that consists of single entry point agencies throughout the state for the purpose of enabling persons 18 years of age or older in need of long-term care to access appropriate long-term care services.The act requires the state board of the department of health care policy and financing (department) to adopt rules providing for the establishment of a redesigned case management system (system), no later than July 1, 2024, that consists of case management agencies throughout the state for the purpose of enabling individuals in need of long-term care to access appropriate long-term services and supports. No later than December 31, 2021, the department shall work with stakeholders to develop a timeline for the implementation of the system. No later than December 31, 2022, the department shall issue a competitive solicitation in order to select case management agencies for the system.The act makes conforming amendments to replace the terms "community-centered board" and "single entry point agency" with "case management agency".(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Section 1 of the act is a nonstatutory legislative declaration stating the critical need for the provision and financing of auxiliary services throughout rural areas of the state. Auxiliary services are aids and services that assist in effective communication with a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind.Section 2 requires the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind (commission) to arrange for the provision of auxiliary services in rural areas of the state, including the provision of training and outreach regarding the auxiliary services. The commission is required to report annually on the program to the joint budget committee.Section 3 amends the definition of "entity" regarding entities eligible to apply to the commission for grant money to remove the requirement that a not-for-profit organization must be a community-based organization to be eligible to apply for grant money.Section 4 directs the public utilities commission to implement a cost-recovery mechanism to support the provision of auxiliary services in rural areas of the state.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
All money in the Colorado avalanche information center fund (CAIC fund) has been subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly to the department of natural resources (DNR) for the direct and indirect costs associated with the Colorado avalanche information center (CAIC). Pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement between the DNR and the Colorado department of transportation (CDOT), state highway fund money that is continuously appropriated to CDOT is credited to the CAIC fund to provide funding to the CAIC for work associated with the highway avalanche safety program that reduces avalanche risk on state highways. Beginning with state fiscal year 2021-22, the act continuously appropriates to the DNR for CAIC's costs associated with the highway avalanche safety program all money that is credited to the CAIC fund from the state highway fund and all interest or income derived from the deposit and investment of that money.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The economic gardening pilot project, which was administered by the office of economic development and international trade, was created in 2013 and repealed on July 1, 2017. At the time of the repeal, there was money remaining in the related economic gardening pilot project fund. Additionally, the public school energy efficiency fund was created in 2007 and repealed on July 1, 2017. At the time of the repeal, there was money remaining in the fund.On July 1, 2021, the act requires the state treasurer to transfer to the general fund the money from the repealed cash funds and any related interest and income.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
To avoid a fund deficit in the severance tax operational fund, the act reverses 5 transfers made from the fund to other cash funds after the fiscal year 2019-20. Specifically, the state treasurer is required to transfer the following amounts to the fund:$1,998,205 from the species conservation trust fund; $1,600,964 from the parks and wildlife aquatic nuisance species fund; $219,803 from the water efficiency grant program cash fund; $297,759 from the interbasin compact committee operation fund; and $3,996,410 from the water supply reserve fund.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
On June 1, 2022, the state treasurer is required to transfer $100 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the public school capital construction assistance fund (BEST fund).(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Joint Budget Committee. The bill expands the definition of "electronic monitoring services" to include other remote supports as the definition relates to the home- and community-based services waiver program for the elderly, blind, and disabled.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
