The resolution makes the following changes regarding the operations of the general assembly: Decreases the maximum length of regular sessions of the general assembly from 120 calendar days to 90 calendar days in even-numbered years and 60 calendar days in odd-numbered years; Requires a biennial budget session to be held in every even-numbered year; Limits the number of bills that a member of the general assembly may introduce to 2 bills in any regular session of the general assembly, excluding bills for appropriations and bills recommended by legislative committees; Limits the number of resolutions that a member of the general assembly may introduce to 2 resolutions in any regular session of the general assembly. This includes resolutions, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions, but excludes resolutions on the question of adjournment or relating solely to the transaction of business between the 2 houses. Allows both houses of the general assembly to create a restrictive process to authorize an exemption from the specified bill and resolution limits; Beginning with the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2022, implements a biennial state budget cycle and specifies how the general assembly will apply existing constitutional requirements to the biennial budget process; and Establishes the process for consideration of a general appropriation bill.(Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as introduced.) Read More
The bill clarifies that the Colorado water conservation board may augment stream flows to preserve or improve the natural environment to a reasonable degree by use of an acquired water right that has been previously quantified and changed to include augmentation use, without a further change of the water right being required. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
State water plan - grant program - appropriations. Section 1 of the act: Creates the water plan implementation grant program (program); and Specifies criteria for expenditures by the Colorado water conservation board (board) for the program. The act appropriates: $8.3 million from the general fund to the department of natural resources (department) for use by the board to finance grants; and $1.7 million from the general fund to the department for use by the board for stakeholder outreach and technical analysis to develop a water resources demand management program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Emergency medical service providers - scope of practice - medical supervision of practice in a clinical setting - prehospital scope of practice - state board of health rules. The act expands an emergency medical service (EMS) provider's scope of practice by authorizing a provider to practice under the medical supervision of a licensed physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse, or registered nurse, who is immediately available and physically present at the clinical setting where the EMS provider is performing tasks and procedures within the EMS provider's scope of practice. The state board of health may promulgate rules regarding medical supervision of an EMS provider's performance of tasks and procedures in a clinical setting. The act also specifies the prehospital settings in which an EMS provider may perform patient care, which care is subject to medical direction by a physician.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
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Medicaid - PACE program funding - interim review of funding methodology - appropriation. The act directs the department of health care policy and financing (department) to negotiate the monthly contracted rate for PACE program services for the 2019-20 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, using an actuarially sound upper payment limit methodology that complies with federal law regarding PACE organizations. The act repeals provisions in statute directing the department to apply a grade of membership method in determining the upper payment limit methodology and tying the 2019-20 fiscal year appropriations to a new methodology or to the fiscal year 2016-17 appropriation. The act requires the department and PACE organizations to meet during the 2019 legislative interim to consider the appropriate funding methodology for PACE programs and other issues relating to PACE delivery models, administrative oversight and funding administrative services, and appropriations requests. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $6,755,479 to the department of health care policy and financing for medical assistance premiums for the PACE program, with the expectation of receiving the same amount in matching federal funds. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Under current law, the Colorado water conservation board (board), subject to procedural requirements established to prevent injury to water rights or decreed conditional water rights, may use loaned water for instream flows if the loaned water is used for preserving the natural environment of a stream reach that is subject to a decreed instream flow water right held by the board. The bill expands the number of years within a 10-year period that a loan may be exercised from 3 years to 5 years, but for no more than 3 consecutive years, and allows a loan to be renewed for up to 2 additional 10-year periods. The bill also expands the board's ability to use loaned water for instream flows to allow loans to improve the natural environment to a reasonable degree pursuant to a decreed instream flow water right held by the board. In considering whether to accept the new type of loan authorized by the bill, the board must evaluate the proposed loan based on a biological analysis performed by the division of parks and wildlife. The board is required to promulgate rules regarding the necessary steps for reviewing and accepting such a loan. The state or division engineer's decision to approve or deny a proposed loan may be appealed to a water judge, who is required to hear the matter on an expedited basis and to review the evidence presented to the state or division engineer on a de novo basis. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
Electric vehicle grant fund - administration. The act modifies the statute governing the electric vehicle grant fund (fund) as follows: Allows the fund to be used to administer grants for the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles; Allows the fund to prioritize the grants it will provide based on criteria defined by the Colorado energy office; Allows the fund to be used to fully fund the installation of charging stations and offset station operating costs; and Requires the money in the fund to be continuously appropriated to the Colorado energy office.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Children's basic health plan - dental services for pregnant women - appropriation. Current law requires the medical services board to include dental services for eligible children enrolled in a children's basic health plan. The act requires the board to include dental services to all eligible enrollees, which includes children and pregnant women. The act appropriates $66,955 to the department of health care policy and financing to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Sign language interpreters - title protection - certification - appropriation. The act adds "translator" and "certified translator" for sign language to the list of titles that a person certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., may use. The act also authorizes the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind to approve certifications of sign language interpreters to use the mentioned titles. $19,440 is appropriated from the Colorado telephone users with disabilities fund to the department of human services to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Consumer insurance council - recreation - membership - meetings - expense reimbursement - sunset review. The act recreates and reenacts the consumer insurance council and its duties and responsibilities, as they existed prior to the repeal of the council on July 1, 2018, with the following modifications: The council's authority to issue annual consumers' choice awards to health insurers is not reenacted; The council is to consist of at least 6 members and not more than 15 members, consumers not engaged in the insurance industry may serve on the council, the council is to reflect the state's demographic diversity in addition to geographic diversity but need not include representation from each congressional district in the state, and the commissioner is to timely appoint members to the council; Members are to be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in traveling to and from council meetings, including any required dependent care and dependent or attendant travel, food, and lodging expenses; The council is to meet quarterly and may request to meet up to 4 more times per year; and The council is authorized to submit recommendations to the commissioner, and the commissioner is required to timely respond to council recommendations. The council is scheduled for sunset review and repeal on September 1, 2029. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Criminal mental health programs - extension - report - appropriation. In 2018, the general assembly established the mental health criminal justice diversion pilot program (pilot program) and the mental health criminal justice grant program (grant program). The act extends the grant program an additional year and removes the cap on the total of all grants awarded per year. The act also requires the state court administrator to provide reports to specified committees of the general assembly concerning both the pilot program and the grant program. The act appropriates $442,543 to the judicial department for the grant program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
