The bill allows an employer to participate in a voluntary firefighter cancer benefits program, as a multiple employer health trust to provide benefits to firefighters by paying contributions into the established trust. The bill requires the trust to provide benefits to each firefighter based on the cancer diagnosis and award level. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Beginning January 1, 2019, section 1 of the bill waives the continuing education requirement, otherwise applicable upon every renewal or reinstatement of an electrician's license, for the first renewal or reinstatement of the license of an electrician who passed the appropriate written examination in connection with his or her initial license application. Section 2 phases out an existing provision allowing the hiring of inspectors of 1- to 4-family dwellings who have specified certifications and experience but may not have passed Colorado's written residential wireman's examination. The provision is repealed as of January 1, 2019, except for inspectors hired on or before that date by a city, town, county, or city and county who meet the existing requirements. Those individuals have until January 1, 2023, to meet the new requirements.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Under current law, certain identified persons are mandated to report if they know or suspect that a child has been subject to abuse or neglect (mandatory reporters). If a mandatory reporter continues to be involved with a child who was the subject of the report, he or she is entitled to access to records and reports of the abuse or neglect. The bill adds to the list of mandatory reporters officials and employees of county departments of health, human services, or social services. Current law requires the county department of human or social services to report certain information to a mandatory reporter within 30 days after the filing of a report. The bill extends the period to 60 days. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Sunset Process - Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. The bill implements the recommendations contained in the department of regulatory agencies' (department) sunset report on the office of boxing (office) within the division of professions and occupations in the department and the Colorado state boxing commission (commission) within the office. Sections 8 and 9 of the bill implement recommendation 1 of the sunset report to continue the office, including the commission, until 2026. Sections 5 and 7 implement recommendation 2 of the sunset report to vest the director of the division of professions and occupations (director) within the department with all licensing and enforcement authority, as well as the authority to recognize boxing sanctioning authorities, and to limit the authority of the director of the office of boxing (office director) to the day-to-day operations of the office. Section 1 updates definitions to further effectuate recommendation 2 of the sunset report. Section 1 also adds martial arts to the definition of 'boxing' and defines 'martial arts'. Section 2 renames the office the 'office of combative sports', and conforming amendments are made throughout the bill. Section 3 implements recommendation 3 of the sunset report to change the commission members' terms from 3 years to 4 years. Section 3 also renames the commission the 'Colorado combative sports commission', and conforming amendments are made throughout the bill. Section 4 implements recommendation 4 of the sunset report to provide the director with the authority to issue a nondisciplinary denial or suspension of a license for medical or administrative reasons and the authority to lift such denial or suspension if sufficient evidence has been provided that the denial or suspension is no longer needed. Section 1 updates definitions to further effectuate recommendation 4 of the sunset report. Section 6 implements recommendation 5 of the sunset report to update the grounds for discipline to: Reword the ground for discipline concerning excessive drinking or drug use to comport with the language used for other regulated professions and occupations; Create a ground for discipline for unsportsmanlike or dangerous conduct; and Create a ground for discipline for a licensee's failure to comply with a license restriction. Section 6 also implements recommendation 6 of the sunset report to change the requirement that the director send a letter of admonition by certified mail to a requirement that the director send a letter of admonition by first-class mail. Sections 1, 3, 4, and 6 implement recommendation 7 of the sunset report to make technical changes. Section 10 appropriates $10,000 from the division of professions and occupations cash fund to the department for use by the division of professions and occupations for personal services.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Joint Budget Committee. The bill creates the open educational resources council (council) in the department of higher education (department). The council includes persons appointed by the executive director of the department from public institutions of higher education, the executive director of the department, the commissioner of education, and the state librarian. The bill directs the department to contract with an entity to evaluate the existing use of open educational resources by public institutions of higher education. The council must facilitate the work of the contracting entity, and, taking into account the findings of the contracting entity, recommend initiatives to expand the use of open educational resources. The council must report the findings of the contracting entity and its recommended initiatives to the joint budget committee and the education committees of the general assembly by November 20, 2017. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Colorado's law concerning bias-motivated crimes prohibits the intimidation or harassment of another person because of that person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation. However, Colorado's harassment statute makes harassment a class 1 misdemeanor if the offender commits harassment with the intent to intimidate or harass another person because of that person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, or national origin. The bill adds physical or mental disability and sexual orientation to the categories described in the harassment statute to make the statute consistent with Colorado's law concerning bias-motivated crimes. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
When a water right owner wishes to change a water right, the amount of water that can be changed is limited to the historical consumptive use of the water right. Current law provides that the reduced water usage that results from participation in a government-sponsored water conservation program will not be considered in analyzing the historical consumptive use of the water right, but only in water divisions 4, 5, or 6. The bill applies this rule statewide, includes water conservation pilot programs, and limits state agencies that can approve a water conservation program to only those that have explicit statutory jurisdiction over water conservation or water rights. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Committee on Legal Services. Based on the findings and recommendations of the committee on legal services, the bill extends all state agency rules and regulations that were adopted or amended on or after November 1, 2015, and before November 1, 2016, with the exception of the rules and regulations specifically listed in the bill. Those specified rules and regulations will expire as scheduled in the 'State Administrative Procedure Act' on May 15, 2017, on the grounds that the rules and regulations either conflict with statute or lack or exceed statutory authority.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Sunset Process - Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. The restorative justice coordinating council (council) is scheduled for repeal on July 1, 2017, with a corresponding sunset review. The bill extends the council based on the recommendation of the sunset review. The bill moves the council from title 19, Colorado Revised Statutes, which relates to the juvenile code, to title 13, Colorado Revised Statutes, which relates to the judicial code, since restorative justice use has expanded from juvenile cases to adult cases.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
House Bill 16-1309, which was enacted by the 2016 general assembly, concerned a defendant's right to counsel in certain cases considered by municipal courts. The bill delays the implementation of House Bill 16-1309 until July 1, 2018. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Statutory Revision Committee. Pursuant to section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), Colorado Revised Statutes, any report that is required to be made to the general assembly by an executive agency or the judicial branch on a periodic basis expires on the day after the third anniversary of the date on which the first report was due unless the general assembly, acting by bill, continues the requirement. The bill addresses reporting requirements of the department of transportation. Sections 1 and 2 and 4 through 9 of the bill repeal a report that was scheduled to repeal according to section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I). Currently there is no repeal date listed in the organic statute. Section 3 of the bill adds a repeal date in the organic statute that coincides with the scheduled repeal date specified in section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I).(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Statutory Revision Committee. Pursuant to section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), Colorado Revised Statutes, any report that is required to be made to the general assembly by an executive agency or the judicial branch on a periodic basis expires on the day after the third anniversary of the date on which the first report was due unless the general assembly, acting by bill, continues the requirement. The bill addresses reporting requirements of the department of human services. Sections 3 through 6, 8, 10 through 12, and 14 through 17 of the bill continue the reporting requirements indefinitely. Sections 1, 2, 13, and 18 repeal reports that were scheduled to repeal according to section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I). Currently there is no repeal date listed in the organic statute. Sections 7 and 9 add repeal dates in the organic statute that coincide with the scheduled repeal date specified in section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I). Sections 19 and 20 make conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
