Youth services - pilot program - second location - appropriation. There is currently a pilot program to aid in the establishment of a division-wide therapeutic and rehabilitative culture (pilot program) in the division of youth services that operates in one location. The act expands the pilot program to a second location and requires a second evaluation and report on the pilot program. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $529,562 from the general fund to operate and evaluate the second location. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Lottery winnings offsets - court fines, fees, costs, or surcharges. The act allows lottery winnings to be intercepted for the payment of outstanding court fines, fees, costs, or surcharges.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Property tax and rent assistance grant - heat assistance grant - expansion - increase. A low-income senior or individual with a disability is currently eligible for 2 types of annual state assistance grants administered by the department of revenue related to his or her property: A grant for their property taxes or rent paid, with the latter being deemed a tax-equivalent payment (property tax and rent assistance grant), and a grant for heat or fuel expenses (heat assistance grant). Together these are commonly known as the "PTC" rebate. The act expands the property tax and rent assistance grant by repealing the requirement that rent must be paid to a landlord that pays property tax. For both types of grants allowed under the PTC rebate program, the act increases the: Maximum grant amounts; Phase-out amounts, which are the income levels at which a person's maximum grant begins to decrease; and Flat grant amounts, which are the minimum grant amounts assuming that the actual expenses exceed them. All of these amounts will also continue to be adjusted for inflation in the future. Obsolete provisions relating to grants claimed for past years are repealed and other provisions relating to grants prior to 2019 are repealed after they become obsolete in the future. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Peace officers - peace officers mental health support grant program - eligible applicants - use of grant money - reports required. Under current law, only county sheriffs' offices and municipal police departments may apply for a grant from the peace officers mental health support grant program (program). The act opens the program to additional "eligible applicants", which include other types of law enforcement agencies, a statewide association of police officers and former police officers, and organizations that provide services and programs that promote the mental health wellness of peace officers. The act also specifies new permissible uses of grant money and requires grant recipients to report to the department of local affairs concerning their use of grant money.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Concurrent enrollment - transfer of credits - website - concurrent enrollment expansion and innovation grant program - appropriations. The act clarifies the differences between concurrent enrollment, dual enrollment, and other programs that enable a student to earn postsecondary credits while the student is enrolled in high school. Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, each school district, charter school, and public school operated by a board of cooperative services (local education provider) that enrolls students in grades 9 through 12 is required to provide the opportunity for concurrent enrollment. A local education provider cannot unreasonably deny approval for concurrent enrollment or limit the number of postsecondary courses in which a qualified student may enroll unless the local education provider is unable to provide access due to technological capacity. A local education provider may determine the manner in which it provides opportunities for concurrent enrollment. The act clarifies the information that a local education provider must provide to qualified students and their parents concerning concurrent enrollment, the transferability of postsecondary course credits, and the costs that a qualified student or the student's parent may incur by enrolling in a postsecondary course through concurrent enrollment. The act clarifies that a qualified student and the student's parent are not required to pay tuition for concurrent enrollment. The act requires the department of education and the department of higher education to create a concurrent enrollment website to provide information to the public concerning the various types of programs available to enable students to earn postsecondary credits while enrolled in high school. The act creates the concurrent enrollment expansion and innovation grant program (grant program) to provide grants to local education providers to use in starting to offer concurrent enrollment or expanding the availability of concurrent enrollment. The department of education shall administer the grant program, including providing an annual report that explains how the grant money is used, who is enrolling in concurrent enrollment and the types of courses they are enrolling in, and the number and transferability of postsecondary credits earned through concurrent enrollment. The department shall submit the report to the state board of education, the department of higher education, the Colorado commission on higher education, and the education committees of the general assembly. The department shall also post the report to the concurrent enrollment website. The act directs the state board for community colleges and occupational education to provide management and coordination of efforts to implement efforts to maximize participation in concurrent enrollment through the community college system. For the 2019-20 fiscal year, the act appropriates $44,916 from the general fund to the department of education for college and career readiness, $1,500,000 from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of education for the concurrent enrollment expansion and innovation grant program, and $105,000 from the general fund to the department of higher education for a limited purpose fee-for-service contract with the state board of community colleges and occupational education. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Medicaid - 1115 demonstration waiver - criminal or juvenile justice system prevention - mental health institute admission criteria - community behavioral health safety net system - appropriation. The act requires the department of health care policy and financing (state department) to develop measurable outcomes to monitor efforts to prevent medicaid recipients from becoming involved in the criminal or juvenile justice system. The act requires the state department to work collaboratively with managed care entities to create incentives for behavioral health providers to accept medicaid recipients with severe behavioral health disorders. The act requires the state department to determine if seeking a 1115 demonstration waiver is the necessary response to ensure inpatient services are available to individuals with a serious mental illness. If the state department determines it is not appropriate, the state department shall submit a report to the general assembly with the state department's reasoning and an alternative plan and proposed timeline for the implementation of the alternative plan. The act requires the state department to develop and implement admission criteria to the mental health institutes at Pueblo and Fort Logan. The act creates a community behavioral health safety net system (safety net system) and requires the department of human services, in collaboration with the state department, to conduct the following activities: Define what constitutes a high-intensity behavioral health treatment program (treatment program), determine what an adequate network of high-intensity behavioral health treatment services includes, and identify existing treatment programs; Develop an implementation plan to increase the number of treatment programs in the state; Identify an advisory body to assist the department in creating a comprehensive proposal to strengthen and expand the safety net system; Develop a comprehensive proposal to strengthen and expand the safety net system that provides behavioral health services for individuals with severe behavioral health disorders; Implement the comprehensive proposal and the funding model no later than January 1, 2024; and Provide an annual report from January 1, 2022, until July 1, 2024, on the safety net system to the public through the annual SMART Act hearing. The act appropriates $75,000 to the department of health care policy and financing from the general fund. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Small game hunting and fishing license - columbine annual pass - property tax work-off program - first responders with a permanent occupational disability. The act grants first responders with a permanent occupational disability free lifetime small game hunting and fishing licenses and a free columbine annual pass for entrance into state parks. The act also allows first responders with a permanent occupational disability to be eligible to participate in a property tax work-off program established by a taxing entity. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Regulation of lobbyists - clarification of term "client" - heightened disclosure requirements - secretary of state to convene working group to consider upgrades to electronic filing system used by lobbyists - appropriation. The act clarifies that the term "client" used in connection with statutory provisions regulating lobbyists means the person who employs or retains the professional services of one or more lobbyists to undertake lobbying on behalf of that person. The act also clarifies that a professional lobbyist is not, for purposes of the statute, a client of either a lobbying firm or any other person that employs or retains one or more professional lobbyists to undertake lobbying on behalf of one or more clients. The act clarifies that existing provisions that require heightened disclosure when a lobbyist enters into an agreement to engage in lobbying apply when the general assembly is in regular or special session. In addition to any other disclosure, during the period that the general assembly is in regular or special session, the act also requires a professional lobbyist to notify the secretary of state (secretary) by means of the electronic filing system within 72 hours after: The lobbyist agrees to undertake lobbying in connection with new legislation, standards, rules, or rates for either a new or existing client of the lobbyist; or The lobbyist takes a new position on a new or existing bill for a new or existing client of the lobbyist. During this period, where the lobbyist agrees to undertake lobbying in connection with new or existing legislation for either a new or existing client, the disclosure required by the act includes the bill number of the legislation at issue and whether the lobbyist's client is supporting, opposing, amending, or monitoring the legislation at the time the lobbyist agrees to undertake lobbying in connection with the legislation or takes a new position. The act also states that an attorney who is a professional lobbyist may not decline to disclose his or her lobbying as such lobbying is required to be disclosed on the grounds that the lobbying is protected against disclosure as confidential matters between an attorney and a client. In connection with any requirement under existing law to disclose the identity of a client, a professional lobbyist who is a natural person and who is employed or retained by a lobbying firm or any other firm or entity may disclose the name of the lobbying firm or other person or entity by means of which, or under the name of which, a professional lobbyist does business, but to satisfy such disclosure requirement the lobbyist is also required to disclose the name of the client who employs or retains the professional services of the lobbyist, or a lobbying firm or any other person or entity that employs or retains the lobbyist, to undertake lobbying on its behalf. The act also requires the secretary to convene a working group to consider upgrades to the electronic filing system used by lobbyists to file their disclosure reports. The act specifies the mission of the working group and requirements affecting its organization and membership. The working group is required to report its conclusions to the general assembly. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $38,160 to the department of state from the department of state cash fund for use by the information technology division. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
State board of accountancy - continuing education requirements - continuation under sunset law. The automatic termination date of the regulation of accountants by the state board of accountancy is extended until September 1, 2030, pursuant to the provisions of the sunset law. The act implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' sunset review and report on the state board of accountancy by: Making the use of fraudulent, coercive, or dishonest practices, or the demonstration of incompetence, untrustworthiness, or financial irresponsibility, grounds for discipline (section 9 of the act); Clarifying that foreign corporations operating a Colorado office must register with the board and adding "limited liability partnership" to the list of business types that must register (section 8); Permitting a person that is not certified or registered to use an accounting designation that includes the word "management" conferred by a bona fide nationally recognized accounting organization if the designation does not purport to confer the right to perform audit or attest services (sections 4 and 7); Authorizing the board to take disciplinary action against uncertified or unregistered persons, including resident managers, if they provide services that require certification or registration (section 9); Allowing a person to request inactive status via any board-approved method (section 5); and Making technical changes (sections 5, 10, and 11). Section 3 updates the names of several regional accrediting agencies. Section 6 specifies that a nonresident certificate holder's completion of continuing education requirements in the holder's home state satisfies the Colorado continuing education requirements. Specified provisions of the act are contingent upon House Bill 19-1172 becoming law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Colorado state university global campus - national guard tuition assistance. The act adds Colorado state university - global campus to the list of designated institutions of higher education for purposes of tuition assistance for members of the National Guard.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Violation of rental agreements - notice requirements - time to cure violation. The act concerns the time frames in which certain landlords must give notice to tenants prior to commencing eviction proceedings for failure to pay rent or for a first or subsequent violation of any other condition or covenant other than a substantial violation. Under most residential agreements, a landlord is required to give 10 days notice. Under a nonresidential or an employer-provided housing agreement, a landlord is required to give 3 days notice. For an exempt residential agreement, meaning for the lease of a single family home by a landlord who owns 5 or fewer single family rental homes, 5 days notice is required.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Self-contained breathing apparatus - testing and certification - administration by department of public safety - rule-making authority - appropriation. Currently, local fire departments and other users of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) rely on certification under standards promulgated by the United States department of transportation (DOT) or the national institute for occupational safety and health (NIOSH) for quality control of pressure vessels. These certifications are considered valid through the vessel's recommended service life, but that service life is finite. Section 1 of the act declares that, with the emergence of new technology to test the continuing safety of vessels that are at the end of their initial recommended service life, vessels that remain safe can and should be recertified for an additional period rather than discarded, resulting in a saving of tax dollars for local governments. Sections 2 and 3 give the director of the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety the authority to inspect SCBA equipment and, if necessary, to write rules governing the inspection and certification of pressure vessels. Any such rules must incorporate or recognize current DOT or NIOSH standards for certification and recertification with regard to any technology that is accepted by those federal agencies. $40,291 is appropriated to the department of public safety for use by the division of fire prevention and control to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
