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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
The concurrent resolution authorizes the general assembly to provide by law for the general supervision of the public schools of the state, but prohibits the general assembly from creating a state board of education. The concurrent resolution repeals the provision that creates and assigns duties to the state board of education and all other constitutional references to the state board of education.(Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as introduced.) , Read More
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Current law does not address reliance on perpetual water treatment as the means to minimize impacts to water quality in a reclamation plan for a mining operation. Section 1 of the bill requires most reclamation plans to demonstrate, by substantial evidence, an end date for any water quality treatment necessary to ensure compliance with applicable water quality standards. Current law allows a mining permittee to submit an audited financial statement as proof that the operator has sufficient funds to meet its reclamation liabilities in lieu of a bond or other financial assurance. Section 2 eliminates this self-bonding option and also requires that all reclamation bonds include financial assurances in an amount sufficient to protect water quality, including costs for any necessary treatment and monitoring costs.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill clarifies that the offenses of intimidating a witness or victim and retaliation against a witness or victim apply to witnesses in criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Current law requires motor vehicles having an empty weight of 16,000 or more pounds or a motor vehicle that weighs 26,001 or more pounds fully loaded to clear a port of entry within 5 miles of its route. The bill exempts motor vehicles using trailers primarily used in the transport of agriculture commodities or livestock. (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. Section 1 of the bill enacts the 'Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act' (act), as adopted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 2016 with Colorado-specific amendments. The act responds to current transactions and practices, in particular electronic records, and seeks to promote uniformity among state laws regarding the disposition of unclaimed property. The act is subdivided into 15 parts, which are summarized as follows: Part 1 establishes general provisions for the act, including definitions for terms used in the act and authority for the administrator, who is the state treasurer, to make rules related to the act; Part 2 establishes standards to determine if property is abandoned. Under the act, property is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by its apparent owner after a specified period of time known as the dormancy period. Some of the dormancy periods in the act are shorter than current law. This part also includes a number of sections that are included in current law to exempt property from the act. Part 3 establishes priority rules for determining when the state may take custody of property that is presumed abandoned; Part 4 requires a holder of property presumed to be abandoned to provide a report to the administrator and to retain certain records; Part 5 establishes the notice that the administrator must provide to the apparent owner; Part 6 establishes how the administrator takes custody of property after it has been abandoned; Part 7 permits the administrator to sell property at a public sale after notice; Part 8 relates to the administration of property and keeps the requirement that the proceeds of property sold be deposited in the existing unclaimed property trust fund and the unclaimed property tourism promotion trust fund; Part 9 addresses claims to recover property from the administrator and includes existing provisions to allow offsets against the claim for child support; judicial restitution, fines, fees, or surcharges; and delinquent taxes and claims of the state; Part 10 permits the administrator to request a report from a person and to examine records to determine compliance with the act; Part 11 provides a holder with the right to appeal the administrator's determination concerning the holder's liability to deliver property or payment to the state; Part 12 establishes penalties for a holder that fails to comply with the act; Part 13 governs agreements between an apparent owner and a person commonly known as a 'finder' who locates and recovers abandoned property on behalf of the owner; Part 14 addresses the confidentiality and security of information related to the abandoned property; and Part 15 includes miscellaneous provisions relating to the uniformity of construction, electronic signatures, and transitional interpretation. Colorado-specific sections of the prior version of the act, known as the 'Unclaimed Property Act', are retained and indicated by their former statutory section numbers. Sections 2 through 21 make conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
The bill requires the department of labor and employment to create the Colorado state apprenticeship resource directory. The department shall collect detailed information on apprenticeship programs in this state, including the application process, requirements for enrollment, costs, and program outcomes. The department shall promote the availability of the directory. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill establishes the medicaid fraud control unit (unit) in the department of law. The unit is responsible for investigation and prosecution of medicaid fraud and waste, as well as patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Prior to initiating a criminal prosecution, the unit must consult with the district attorney of the judicial district where the prosecution would be initiated. The department of health care policy and financing is authorized to require medicaid providers to include information about reporting medicaid fraud to the unit in any explanation of benefits provided to a medicaid beneficiary. The bill creates offenses related to making false statements on applications, medicaid fraud, and credit and recovery of medicaid payments. The bill makes it unlawful to receive certain kickbacks, bribes, and rebates related to the administration of a medicaid service. Actions brought under the provisions of the bill must commence within 3 years after the discovery of the offense, but no later than six years after the commission of the offense. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill extends the right to use deadly force against an intruder under certain conditions to include owners, managers, and employees of a business. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill repeals statutory provisions: Prohibiting the possession of certain ammunition magazines; and Requiring each of certain ammunition magazines that are manufactured in Colorado on or after July 1, 2013, to include a permanent stamp or marking indicating that the magazine was manufactured or assembled after July 1, 2013.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
