The bill permits a municipality or county to adopt a local ordinance or resolution regulating the operation of bicycles approaching intersections with stop signs or illuminated red traffic control signals. The ordinance shall not, however, apply to any portion of the state highway system. Under a local regulation, a bicyclist approaching a stop sign must slow to a reasonable speed and, when safe to do so, may proceed through the intersection without stopping. A bicyclist approaching an illuminated red traffic control signal must stop at the intersection and, when safe to do so, may proceed through the intersection. The bill sets the reasonable speed limit at 15 miles per hour. However, a municipality or county may lower the reasonable speed to 10 miles per hour or raise the limit to 20 miles per hour at any individual intersection. If the local government sets a lower or higher reasonable speed limit, the local government must post signage indicating that speed limit at the intersection. If the municipality or county adopts an ordinance or resolution pursuant to the act, it must be consistent with the act. An ordinance adopted before the effective date of the act that similarly regulates bicycles remains valid. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
House Bill 16-1316 amended the venue statute for transferring child welfare proceedings between counties and inadvertently struck the word 'not' in one sentence. Due to this error, courts are not allowed to transfer child welfare proceedings between counties after adjudication even though the intent of House Bill 16-1316 was to allow post-adjudication transfers. The bill reinserts the word 'not' to allow such transfers. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires each state agency to conduct an analysis of noncompliance with its rules to identify rules with the greatest frequency of noncompliance, rules that generate the greatest amount of fines, how many first-time offenders were given the opportunity to cure a minor violation, and what factors contribute to noncompliance by regulated businesses. The analysis will guide each department on how to improve its education and outreach to regulated businesses on compliance with the department's rules. Each state agency is required to forward that analysis to the department of regulatory agencies, which shall compile and summarize those analyses into one combined analysis of noncompliance to be presented at the department of regulatory agencies' 'State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act' hearing. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Under existing law, private occupational schools and certain private degree-granting schools are required to provide a bond or other form of surety that is used to facilitate transfer or to provide tuition and fee reimbursement for students in the event that the school closes. When a private occupational school closes, that school's records must be maintained by the private occupational school board in the division of private occupational schools. The department of higher education (department) takes possession of the records from private degree-granting schools. The bill allows the department to make a claim on a surety bond for reimbursement of actual administrative costs associated with a school closure. After the surety bond has been used to facilitate transfer or provide tuition and fee reimbursement for students, the department may retain any remaining amount as reimbursement for administrative costs associated with the school closure. In the instance of a closed private occupational school, the bill clarifies that the school's records may be maintained by the division of private occupational schools at any location. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill extends the advanced placement incentives pilot program (pilot program) for 3 years to 2021. The bill requires the department of education to report the number of students in the pilot program who enrolled in advanced placement courses during the prior school year and to collect disaggregated data from the advanced placement exam vendor to capture the performance of students who are participating in the pilot program on the end-of-course advanced placement exams. The bill requires the department of education to report to certain committees of the general assembly the information specified in the bill, including data relating to the number and amount of financial incentives distributed to each participating school district. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires the commissioner of insurance to conduct an actuarial analysis to determine if the sale of catastrophic health plans to Colorado residents 30 years of age and older and not meeting a hardship requirement would result in a reduction in advanced premium tax credits received by Colorado residents or increase the average premiums of individual health plans. If the actuarial analysis demonstrates that there would not be a reduction in advanced premiums tax credits or an increase in average premiums of individual health plans, the commissioner shall apply to the secretary of the United States department of health and human services for a 5-year waiver of the federal law restricting catastrophic health plans offered through the Colorado health benefit exchange. The waiver, if approved, would permit the offering of catastrophic health plans to any individual residing in Colorado rather than only individuals under the age of 30 or meeting a hardship requirement. Catastrophic health plans under the waiver must only be sold through the health benefit exchange and would not be eligible for advanced premium tax credits. If the waiver is denied, the statutory section is repealed. The bill appropriates $9,200 to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of insurance for personal services. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill enacts the 'Patient Drug Costs Savings Act' (act). The act prohibits a carrier that has a contract with a pharmacy or pharmacist, or a pharmacy benefit management firm acting on behalf of a carrier, from: Prohibiting a pharmacy or pharmacist from, or penalizing a pharmacy or pharmacist for, providing a covered person information on the amount of the covered person's cost share for the covered person's prescription drug and the clinical efficacy of any more affordable alternative drugs that are therapeutically equivalent; or Requiring a pharmacy to charge or collect a copayment from a covered person that exceeds the total submitted charges by the network pharmacy. The act requires the commissioner of insurance to act when the commissioner determines that a carrier or pharmacy benefit management firm has not complied with the above prohibitions. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Joint Budget Committee. The transitional jobs program is currently set to end on June 30, 2019, and no new transitional jobs are to be offered after December 31, 2018. The bill extends the program for 5 additional years. The bill appropriates money to the department of human services for the program.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Sunset Process - House Education Committee. The bill implements the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies to concerning the Colorado youth advisory council and extends the sunset date to September 1, 2023.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Joint Budget Committee. On July 1, 2019, the bill repeals the local government retail marijuana impact grant program, under which the department of local affairs (department) awards grants to eligible local governments for documented marijuana impacts. Any encumbered money from the fiscal year 2017-18 appropriation to the department remains available for expenditure in the next fiscal year. The bill also repeals a reporting requirement regarding the effectiveness of the grant program.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill codifies rules promulgated by the water quality control commission (commission) of the Colorado department of public health and environment (department) concerning allowable uses of reclaimed domestic wastewater, which is wastewater that has been treated for subsequent reuses other than drinking water. Section 3 of the bill defines 3 categories of water quality standards for reclaimed domestic wastewater, sets forth the allowable uses for each water quality standard category, and adds toilet and urinal flushing in multifamily residential and nonresidential structures as allowable uses for reclaimed domestic wastewater. Section 3 also authorizes the commission to establish new categories of water quality standards and to recategorize any use of reclaimed domestic wastewater to a less stringent category of water quality standard. The commission may develop more stringent standards by rule if it determines that the existing standards and categories are not protective of public health and identifies a specific health risk posed by the use of reclaimed domestic wastewater under the existing standards. Section 3 also authorizes the water quality control division, after conducting a public stakeholders' process, to develop policy, guidance, or best management practices for use of reclaimed domestic wastewater. Finally, section 3 authorizes the division of administration in the department to grant variances for uses of reclaimed domestic wastewater. Section 5 authorizes the state plumbing board to promulgate rules governing the installation and inspection of toilet and urinal systems and structures for which reclaimed domestic wastewater is used. Section 6 appropriates $25,054 in the 2018-19 fiscal year from the general fund to the department for use by the water quality control division to implement the bill. Sections 1, 2, and 4 make conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Joint Budget Committee. The bill creates in the department of higher education (department) the collaborative educator preparation grant program (grant program) to support joint initiatives among educator preparation programs, alternative teacher programs, school districts, boards of cooperative services, and public schools for preparing and placing educators. The department, working with the rural education coordinator, is directed to convene meetings of educator preparation programs, alternative teacher programs, school districts, boards of cooperative services, and public schools to assist them in jointly preparing grant initiatives. The department must review the grant initiatives that are submitted and, taking into account specified criteria, select initiatives to receive one-time grants. Each grant recipient must report specified information to the department concerning the use of the grant money. The department must submit a report to the joint budget committee and the education committees of the general assembly concerning implementation of the grant program and whether it was successful in addressing the teacher shortage in the state. The grant program repeals July 1, 2021.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
