Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee. Section 1 of the bill establishes in statute the opioid and other substance use disorders study committee, consisting of 5 senators and 5 representatives from the general assembly, to: Study data and statistics on the scope of the substance use disorder problem in Colorado; Study current prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery resources available to Coloradans, as well as public and private insurance coverage and other sources of support for treatment and recovery resources; Review the availability of medication-assisted treatment and the ability of pharmacists to prescribe those medications; Examine measures that other states and countries use to address substance use disorders; Identify the gaps in prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery resources available to Coloradans and hurdles to accessing those resources; and Identify possible legislative options to address gaps and hurdles to accessing prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery resources. The committee is authorized to meet 6 times in a calendar year and may report up to 6 legislative measures to the legislative council, which bills are exempt from bill limitations and introduction deadlines. The committee is repealed on July 1, 2020. Section 2 requires the governor to direct the Colorado consortium for prescription drug abuse prevention to: Create a process to develop a plan that addresses the full continuum of recovery services; Develop a definition for recovery residences and recommend whether the residences should be licensed; and Report recommendations to the general assembly. Section 3 specifies school-based health care centers may apply for grants from the school-based health center grant program to expand behavioral health services to include treatment for opioid and other substance use disorders and requires the department of public health and environment to prioritize funding to the centers that serve communities with high-risk factors. Section 4 directs the department of health care policy and financing, starting July 1, 2018, to award grants to organizations to operate a substance abuse screening, brief intervention, and referral program. Section 5 creates the Charlie Hughes and Nathan Gauna opioid prevention pilot program in the Tony Grampsas youth services program for preventing opioid use among the youth population and supporting youth whose family members experience addiction. The Tony Grampsas youth services board shall oversee a grant process for the pilot program using specific criteria. The Tony Grampsas youth services program shall award the grants on or before October 1, 2018. The bill creates a fund for the direct and indirect costs associated with the program. The department of human services is required to work with the grant recipients and submit a report to the general assembly on or before January 1, 2021, regarding the progress of the grant recipients. Section 6 directs the center for research into substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery to develop and implement continuing medical education activities to help prescribers of pain medication to safely and effectively manage patients with chronic pain, and when appropriate, prescribe opioids. Sections 3 through 6 also direct the general assembly to appropriate money to implement those sections. Section 7 appropriates: $675,00 to the department of health care policy and financing from the marijuana tax cash fund to implement the bill; $750,000 to the department of higher education from the marijuana tax cash fund for research purposes; $1,500,000 to the youth opioid and substance use prevention fund from the marijuana tax cash fund; $500,000 to the department of human services from reappropriated funds for use by the division of child welfare; $90,928 to the department of humans services from the marijuana tax cash fund for use by the division of child welfare; $39,249 to the legislative department from the general fund; and $775,00 to the department of public health and environment from the marijuana tax cash fund for use by the prevention services division.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee. The bill modifies the Colorado health service corps program administered by the primary care office in the department of public health and environment as follows: For purposes of determining areas in the state in which there is a shortage of health care professionals and behavioral health care providers to meet the needs of the community, allows the primary care office, under guidance adopted by the state board of health, to develop and administer state health professional shortage areas using state-specific methodologies; Allows behavioral health care providers, which include licensed and certified addiction counselors, licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed psychologists, licensed physician assistants with specific training in substance use disorders, advanced practice nurses, and physicians certified or trained in addiction medicine, pain management, or psychiatry, and candidates for licensure as an addiction counselor, professional counselor, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or psychologist, to participate in the loan repayment program on the condition of committing to provide behavioral health care services in health professional shortage areas for a specified period; Directs the advisory council to prioritize loan repayment and scholarships for those behavioral health care providers, candidates for licensure, or addiction counselors who provide behavioral health care services in nonprofit or public employer settings but permits consideration of applicants practicing in a private setting that serves underserved populations; Establishes a scholarship program to help defray the education and training costs associated with obtaining certification as an addiction counselor or with progressing to a higher level of certification; Adds 2 members to the advisory council that reviews program applications, which members include a representative of an organization representing substance use disorder treatment providers and a licensed or certified addiction counselor who has experience in rural health, safety net clinics, or health equity; Modifies program reporting requirements and requires annual reporting that coincides with required SMART Act reporting by the department; and Requires the general assembly to annually appropriate $2.5 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the primary care office to provide loan repayment for behavioral health care providers and candidates for licensure participating in the Colorado health service corps and to award scholarships to addiction counselors participating in the scholarship program. The bill appropriates $2.5 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of public health and environment for use by the primary care office in the prevention services division to implement the bill. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill establishes the community transition specialist program (program) in the office of behavioral health (office) in the department of human services (department). The program coordinates referrals of high-risk individuals to transition specialists by certain behavioral health facilities and programs. High-risk individuals are under an emergency or involuntary hold, have a significant mental health or substance use disorder, and are not in consistent behavioral health treatment. Transition specialists provide services related to housing, program placement, access to behavioral health treatment or benefits, advocacy, and other supportive services. The department is required to adopt rules to implement the program. The bill requires the office to collect data and make recommendations to the department, and the department is required to include program information in the department's annual SMART act report. $1,588,250 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of human services for use by the office of behavioral health to implement the community transition specialist program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee. The bill restricts the number of opioid pills that a health care practitioner, including physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, and veterinarians, may prescribe for an initial prescription to a seven-day supply and allows each health care practitioner to exercise discretion to include a second fill for a seven-day supply, unless, in the judgment of the practitioner, the patient: Has chronic pain that typically lasts longer than 90 days or past the time of normal healing, as determined by the podiatrist, or following transfer of care from another podiatrist who prescribed an opioid to the patient; Has been diagnosed with cancer and is experiencing cancer-related pain; or Is experiencing post-surgical pain that, because of the nature of the procedure, is expected to last more than 14 days. Additionally, an advanced practice nurse may prescribe a refill if the patient is undergoing palliative or hospice care. The restrictions repeal on September 1, 2021. Current law allows health care practitioners and other individuals to query the prescription drug monitoring program (program). The bill requires health care practitioners to indicate his or her specialty or practice area upon the initial query and to query the program prior to prescribing the second fill for an opioid unless the person receiving the prescription meets certain requirements. The bill requires the department of public health and environment to report to the general assembly its findings from studies regarding the prescription drug monitoring program conducted pursuant to a federal grant program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Wildfire Matters Review Committee. The wildfire matters review committee (WMRC) is currently scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2018. The bill defers the repeal date to September 1, 2025. The bill also eliminates obsolete provisions relating to the WMRC's consideration of codifying the wildland and prescribed fire advisory commission, an entity created by executive order. The WMRC discharged its obligation by considering this issue during the 2014 legislative session. The bill also appropriates $49,125 from the general fund to the legislative department for the 2018-19 state fiscal year for its implementation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Joint Budget Committee. The bill addresses numerous reforms to the funding structure for the state's child welfare services. Section 1 of the bill clarifies the types of child welfare services that must be available and provided, as necessary and appropriate, by county departments of human or social services (county departments). Sections 2 and 7 of the bill eliminate the option for county departments to maintain unspent general fund money from the child welfare services block allocation if they participate in the collaborative management program or the integrated care management program. Section 3 of the bill adds a statutory definition of and citation to the federal 'Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018'. Section 4 of the bill creates a program in the child welfare system for residential out-of-home placements for children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Section 5 of the bill: Changes the number of and process for appointments to the child welfare allocations committee; and Requires the development of a child welfare system funding model. Section 6 of the bill: Increases the percentage that counties are reimbursed by the state for adoption and relative guardianship subsidies from 80% to 90%; Formalizes the input process of the child welfare allocations committee; Allows the department of human services (state department) to submit supplemental budget requests for increases in out-of-home placement provider rates and adoption and relative guardianship expenditures; Modifies language concerning negotiations between county departments and providers for out-of-home placement rates; Requires capacity evaluations in counties or regions; Requires the state department to perform an analysis and cost projections to determine the fiscal impact on the state for changes in federal reimbursement rates for child welfare expenditures that result from the federal 'Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018'; Modifies the close-out process for child welfare expenditures; and Creates a child welfare prevention and intervention services cash fund into which unspent general fund money allocated to county departments through block allocations are transferred for sustainability of state-approved prevention and intervention programs and services. Section 8 of the bill creates the delivery of child welfare services task force.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill allows county departments of human or social services to extend the provision of certain services for a successful adulthood to foster care youth between the ages of 18 and 21 who have exited the foster care system (former foster care youth), including assistance with employment, housing, education, financial management, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment (services for a successful adulthood). The bill also tasks the state department of human services with establishing a former foster care youth steering committee. The purpose of the steering committee is to develop recommendations for an implementation plan that supports the long-term provision of services for a successful adulthood for former foster care youth. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Current law sets the fees paid by stationary sources of air pollutants by statute and allows the air quality control commission to set the fees below the cap by rule as needed to comply with TABOR. The bill increases the statutory caps as follows: Type of Fee Current Cap New Cap Air pollutant emission notices$152.90$191.13 Per-ton fee for regulated pollutants$ 22.90$ 28.63 Per-ton fee for hazardous pollutants$152.90$191.13 Per-hour permit processing fee$ 76.45$ 95.56 The maximum statutory fees automatically increase by the rate of inflation on each January 1 from 2019 to 2028, but the actual fees collected will be set at or below the statutory cap by the commission by rule. The division of administration in the department of public health and environment shall prioritize its use of the revenues generated by the fee increases to reduce permit processing times. The division will: Engage affected industries to identify and assess measures to improve billing practices, increase accounting transparency, and assess potential efficiency improvements with respect to division activities financed by the fees; and Report to the general assembly through 2022 to provide status updates on the stakeholder process. The bill appropriates $1,555,293 to the department to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires the department of labor and employment and the state medical services board in the department of health care policy and financing to promulgate rules that require all providers of supported employment services for persons with disabilities to obtain a nationally recognized supported employment training certificate or earn a nationally recognized supported employment certification relating to supported employment services. The rules must specify time frames for completion of the training or certification. The time frames must provide for training to be completed over a 5-year period, subject to appropriations for reimbursement of vendors. The state medical services board shall adopt rules for administering the reimbursements to vendors, which must be $300 for each certification exam and $1,200 for each training program certificate, which includes reimbursement for both the cost of training and wages paid to employees during training. The bill requires that the department of labor and employment's fee schedule for rehabilitation services include the discovery process as an alternative comprehensive assessment if appropriate for persons with disabilities. The bill lists annual employment data, reported by county, that the department of health care policy and financing must collect. The bill corrects the repeal provision language for the employment first advisory partnership and its duties. The bill makes an appropriation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The Colorado constitution currently prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime for which an individual has been duly convicted. If approved at the November 6, 2018, general election by a statewide majority vote, the concurrent resolution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude in all circumstances by repealing the existing exception to the prohibition. The resolution also clarifies in a nonconstitutional legislative declaration that the purpose of the proposed constitutional amendment is not to disallow opportunities for persons convicted of crimes to work but instead to merely prohibit compulsory labor from such individuals. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this concurrent resolution as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The concurrent resolution amends the state constitution to create the independent legislative redistricting commission (commission) to divide the state into state senate and state representative legislative districts. Specifically, the concurrent resolution: Specifies that the commission is appointed after each federal decennial census of the United States; Specifies that the commission consists of 12 members, 4 of whom must be registered with the state's largest political party, 4 of whom must be registered with the state's second largest political party, and 4 of whom must not be registered with any political party; Establishes the qualifications to serve on the commission and the method by which commissioners are appointed; Authorizes the commission to adopt rules and specifies how the commission is staffed, how the commission is funded, how the commission is organized, and sets forth the ethical obligations of the commissioners; Requires the commission to provide the opportunity for public involvement, including multiple hearings, the ability to propose maps, and to testify at commission hearings, and requires hearings to comply with state statutes regarding open meetings; Mandates that paid lobbying of the commission be disclosed to the secretary of state by the lobbyist within 72 hours of when the lobbying occurred or when the payment for lobbying occurred, whichever is earlier; Establishes prioritized factors for the commission to use in drawing districts, including federal requirements, the preservation of communities of interest and political subdivisions, and maximizing the number of competitive districts; Prohibits the commission from approving a map if it has been drawn for the purpose of protecting one or more members of or candidates for state legislative office or a political party, and codifies current federal law and related existing federal requirements prohibiting maps drawn for the purpose of or that results in the denial or abridgement of a person's right to vote or electoral influence on account of a person's race, ethnic origin, or membership in a protected language group; Requires at least 8 of the 12 commissioners, including at least 2 of the commissioners who are not registered with any political party, to approve a redistricting map and specifies the date by which a final map must be approved; Specifies that nonpartisan staff will draft a preliminary redistricting map and up to 3 additional maps, and, in the event of deadlock by the commission, creates a process by which nonpartisan staff submit a final map to the Supreme Court for review based on specified criteria; and Allows for judicial review of a commission approved or nonpartisan staff submitted redistricting map, and limits Supreme Court review to whether the commission or the staff committed an abuse of discretion.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this concurrent resolution as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill creates the school access for emergency response grant program (grant program) in the division of homeland security and emergency management (division) in the department of public safety (department). The purpose of the grant program is to provide funding for interoperable communication hardware, software, equipment maintenance, and training to allow for seamless communications between existing school communications systems and first responder communications systems. Grant recipients may use the money received through the grant program to deliver training programs to teach effective communications with first responders in an emergency, to implement an interoperable technology solution to provide or upgrade a system for effective communication with first responders in an emergency, to maintain, improve, or provide interoperable communications hardware or software, and for any necessary radio system capacity expansions where school loading has been determined to have a significant impact on public safety system loading. The division, in consultation with the grant selection committee created in the bill, is required to implement the grant program and, subject to available appropriations, award grants to be paid from the grant program fund. The director of the division is required to promulgate rules necessary to implement the grant program. The grant selection committee is created to work with the director of the division to determine whether a grant applicant satisfies the criteria to receive a grant. To be eligible to receive a grant, a school district, school, charter school of the district, institute charter school, or state charter school institute must have a memorandum of understanding with its regional public safety 911 answering point or the local law enforcement agency that serves the school for communications interoperability and must submit an application, including specified information, to the division. The grant selection committee is required to review the applications received and consider certain criteria in awarding the grants. Each grant recipient is required to submit a report to the division and the department is required to provide an annual update to the general assembly regarding the grant program. The bill creates the grant program cash fund in the state treasury, which consists of a specified amount of money that the state treasurer transfers to the fund for each of the next 6 fiscal years. The bill also makes an appropriation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
