Joint Budget Committee. Current law specifies that money in the healthcare affordability and sustainability fee cash fund is continuously appropriated to the Colorado healthcare affordability and sustainability enterprise for specified healthcare related purposes. Beginning with state fiscal year 2018-19, the bill makes the expenditure of money from the fund by the enterprise subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Joint Budget Committee. The bill provides that on and after November 1, 2018, the division of veterans affairs in the department of military and veterans affairs may operate a veterans one-stop center in Grand Junction for the purpose of providing a central and accessible location where veterans, service members, and their family members in the western portion of the state may have access to assistance and resources. The veterans one-stop center in Grand Junction is repealed, effective September 1, 2023. Before its repeal, the department of regulatory agencies shall review the veterans one-stop center. The bill makes an appropriation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Joint Budget Committee. The bill codifies the existing governor's commission on community service, which was created through executive order. The commission was created pursuant to the federal 'National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993' and allows the state to receive grants, allotments, and service positions under the act. The commission consists of at least 15, but not more than 20, members and is charged with implementing programs and administering funds received from the corporation for national and community service. The commission is established in the office of the lieutenant governor and receives staff and administrative support from that office. The bill authorizes the commission to receive gifts, grants, and donations to fulfill its functions.(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 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 food crop irrigation as an allowable use 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 of public health and environment to grant variances for uses of reclaimed domestic wastewater. Sections 1, 2, and 4 make conforming amendments. Section 5 appropriates $14,399 in the 2018-19 fiscal year from the general fund to the department of public health and environment for use by the water quality control division to implement the bill.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Current law requires an applicant to make a donation to Craig hospital in order to be issued a special Craig hospital license plate. The bill repeals the $20 donation requirement. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The state substance abuse trend and response task force is scheduled to be repealed effective July 1, 2018. The bill extends the repeal for 10 years to September 1, 2028. The bill appropriates $3,000 from the substance abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment cash fund to pay for expenses of the task force. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill gives the state licensing authority rule-making authority to address conditions under which a medical or retail marijuana licensee is authorized to transfer marijuana fibrous waste to a person for the purpose of producing only industrial fiber products. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws. Under current law, the administration of trusts is generally governed by certain provisions within the probate code. The bill repeals many of these provisions and creates a new Colorado uniform trust code (code) outside the probate code to address trust administration. The new code includes provisions concerning: Judicial proceedings; Representation; Creation, validity, modification, and termination of trusts; Duties and powers of trustees; and Liabilities of trustees and rights of persons dealing with trustees. The bill also makes conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Sunset Process - House Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee. Sections 1 and 2 of the bill continue the regulation of people who modify the weather until 2033. Section 3 repeals a provision that prohibits weather modification that benefits another state if the other state prohibits weather modification that benefits Colorado.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Section 2 of the bill requires an off-campus location of a hospital to apply for, obtain, and use on claims for reimbursement for health care services provided at the off-campus location a unique national provider identifier, commonly referred to as 'NPI'. The off-campus location's NPI must be used on all claims related to health care services provided at that location, regardless of whether the claim is filed through the hospital's central billing or claims department or through a health care clearinghouse. Section 3 requires all medicaid providers that are entities to obtain and use a unique NPI for each site at which they deliver services and for each provider type that the department of health care policy and financing has specified. Entity medicaid providers must use on all claims the unique NPI that identifies both the site where the services were provided and the provider type rendering the services, regardless of whether the claim is filed through the entity's central billing or claims department or through a health care clearinghouse.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill establishes that family protection safeguards for a parent or prospective parent with a disability are critical to family preservation and the best interests of the children of Colorado. These safeguards include: That a parent's disability must not serve as a basis for denial or restriction of parenting time or parental responsibilities in a domestic law proceeding pursuant to title 14, without a clear nexus to the parent's ability to meet the needs of the child; in a minor guardianship proceeding pursuant to title 15, without a clear nexus to the parent's ability to meet the needs of the child; or a dependency and neglect proceeding pursuant to title 19, except when it impact the health or welfare of the child; That a parent's disability must not serve as a basis for denial of participation in a public or private adoption, or for denial of foster care or guardianship, when it is otherwise determined to be in the best interest of the child; and That the benefits of providing supportive parenting services must be considered by a court when determining parental responsibilities, parenting time, adoption placements, foster care, and guardianship, and the court may require that such supportive parenting services be provided or implemented, given the resources of the family.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires a freestanding emergency department (FSED), whether operated by a hospital at a separate, off-campus location or operating independently of a hospital system, to provide any individual that enters the FSED seeking treatment a written statement of patient information, which an FSED staff member or health care provider must explain orally and which must indicate that: The facility is an emergency medical facility that treats emergency medical conditions; For FSEDs that do not include an urgent care clinic on site, the facility is not an urgent care center or primary care provider; For FSEDs that includes an urgent care clinic on site, the facility contains an urgent care center and operates at specified hours; The FSED will screen and treat the individual regardless of ability to pay; The individual has a right to ask questions about treatment options and costs and to receive prompt and reasonable responses; The individual has a right to reject treatment; The FSED encourages the individual to defer questions until after being screened for an emergency medical condition; and The facility will provide the patient a more comprehensive statement of patient's rights after initial screening or treatment, as applicable. The state board of health is authorized to update the patient information statement contents, by rule, as necessary. Additionally, an FSED must post a sign that states 'This is an emergency medical facility that treats emergency medical conditions.' The sign must also indicate whether the facility contains an urgent care clinic. After conducting an initial screening and determining that a patient does not have an emergency medical condition or after treatment has been provided to stabilize an emergency medical condition, the FSED must provide the patient a written disclosure that: Specifies whether the facility accepts patients enrolled in medicaid, medicare, the children's basic health plan, or TRICARE; Lists the particular health insurance provider networks and carriers with which the FSED participates or states that the FSED is not a participating provider in any provider networks; Specifies the price listed on the FSED's chargemaster or other fee schedule for the 25 most common health care services it provides; Contains the price listed on the FSED's chargemaster or other fee schedule for the facility fees associated with the 25 most common health care services the FSED provides; Contains a statement specifying that the price listed on the chargemaster or fee schedule for any given health care service is the maximum charge that any patient will be billed and that the actual charge for a health care service may be lower based on health insurance benefits and the availability of discounts and financial assistance; Contains a statement urging a person covered by health insurance to contact his or her health insurer for information about his or her financial responsibility and a person who is uninsured to contact the FSED's financial services office to discuss payment options and the availability of financial assistance prior to receiving health care services; Contains information about the facility fees that the FSED charges; and Includes the FSED's website address where the disclosure may be located. The FSED must also post the information in the written disclosure on its website and update the written and web-based disclosure at least once every 6 months. Additionally, the FSED must provide all information in a clear and understandable manner and in languages appropriate to the communities and patients it serves. The state board of health is authorized to adopt rules to implement and enforce the requirements of the bill. $34,725 is appropriated from the health facilities general licensure cash fund to the health facilities and emergency medical services division in the department of public health and environment for administration and operations. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
