The current definition of 'special respondent' in the Children's Code only allows a party to be involuntarily joined in a dependency or neglect proceeding. The bill amends that definition to allow a party to be voluntarily joined in a dependency or neglect proceeding. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Sunset Process - Senate Education Committee. The bill implements the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies to continue the education data advisory committee.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill requires that each mammography report provided to a patient include information that identifies the patient's breast tissue classification based on the breast imaging reporting and data system established by the American college of radiology. If the health care facility that performed the mammography determines that a patient has dense breast tissue, the facility is required to notify the patient of the determination using specific language. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Statutory Revision Committee. The bill modernizes current practices relating to warrants and checks not timely presented to the state treasurer for payment by: Repealing the requirement that a list of the state's outstanding warrants and checks from the prior completed fiscal year be posted in the offices of the state treasurer and controller; and Aligning the expiration of such warrants and checks with the 'Unclaimed Property Act'.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill strengthens existing legal protections under the federal 'Volunteer Protection Act of 1997' and Colorado's 'Volunteer Service Act' for individual volunteers and nonprofit entities who build or maintain recreational trails and related facilities pursuant to grants received under Colorado's 'Recreational Trails System Act of 1971'. Specifically, the bill: Establishes either gross negligence or willful and wanton conduct as the minimum basis for liability, depending on whether the subject is an individual volunteer, a nonprofit entity, or a director, officer, or trustee of a nonprofit entity; Prohibits a grant agreement or procurement contract from requiring a nonprofit entity or volunteer to obtain insurance coverage for liability arising from completed operations; and Extends qualified immunity to a volunteer who operates a motor vehicle, including an off-highway vehicle or snowmobile, as part of a land stewardship activity.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill creates the 'Transparency in Health Care Prices Act', which requires health care professionals and health care facilities to make available to the public the health care prices they assess directly for common health care services they provide. Health care professionals and facilities are not required to submit their health care prices to any government agency for review or approval. Additionally, the act prohibits health insurers, government agencies, or other persons or entities from penalizing a health care recipient, provider, facility, employer, or other person or entity who pays directly for health care services or otherwise exercises rights under or complies with the act. The bill takes effect January 1, 2018. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill prohibits a court from imposing as a bond condition a ban on marijuana use if the person possesses a valid medical marijuana registry identification card. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Under current law, a conveyance by warranty deed carries the presumption that the grantor's interest in an adjoining vacated street, alley, or other right-of-way is included with the property whose legal description is contained in the deed. However, this presumption does not apply to other types of deeds or to a lease, mortgage, or other conveyance or encumbrance. The bill removes the language containing the presumption from the warranty deed statute and relocates it, with amendments, so as to broaden the application of the presumption of conveyance of an adjoining vacated right-of-way to include not only warranty deeds but also all forms of deeds, leases, and mortgages and other liens. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Currently, the department of revenue issues special license plates to members and veterans of the United States Army special forces. The plates are restricted to people whose orders or DD214 form show an awarded prefix '3' or suffix 'S' or a designation of '5G', 18/180 series MOS, special forces tab, OSS, or UNPIK-8240. The bill removes the ability to get the special license plate based on an awarded 'S' suffix. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill prohibits public institutions of higher education (public institution) from limiting or restricting student expression in a student forum. 'Expression' is defined to mean any lawful verbal or written means by which individuals communicate ideas to one another, including all forms of peaceful assembly, protests, speaking verbally, holding signs, circulating petitions, and disstributing written materials. 'Expression' also includes voter registration activities but does not include speech that is primarily for a commercial purpose. A public institution shall not subject a student to disciplinary action as a result of his or her expression. A public institution shall not designate any area on campus as a free speech zone or otherwise create policies that imply that its students' expressive activities are restricted to a particular area of campus. Additionally, a public institution shall not impose restrictions on the time, place, and manner of student speech unless such restrictions are reasonable, justified without reference to the speech's content, are narrowly tailored to serve a significant government interest, and leave open ample alternative channels for communication of the information or message. The bill states that it does not grant other members of the college or university community the right to disrupt previously scheduled or reserved activities in a portion or section of the student forum at that scheduled time. Additionally, the bill clarifies that it is not to be interpreted as preventing the public institution from prohibiting, limiting, or restricting expression that is not protected under the 1st Amendment. A student who has been denied access to a student forum for expressive purposes may bring a court action to recover reasonable court costs and attorney fees. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill states that when a peace officer or community parole officer has probable cause to believe that an offender in an intensive supervision program has committed an escape by knowingly removing or tampering with an electronic monitoring device that he or she is required to wear as a condition of parole, the officer shall immediately seek a warrant for the offender's arrest or arrest the offender without undue delay if the offender is in the presence of the officer. However, before an officer arrests an offender, the officer, if practicable, shall determine that the notification of removal or tampering was not merely the result of an equipment malfunction. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Under existing law, the department of education may accept gifts, grants, and donations to use in making monetary awards to certain high-performing public schools and in purchasing tangible items of recognition for the schools. The bill specifies that the department may expend any amount received as a gift, grant, or donation for this purpose without further appropriation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
