Current law allows contributions to a qualified state tuition program, also known as a 529 account, so long as the distributions are used for qualified higher education expenses (and some additional exceptions), but not for kindergarten through twelfth grade school expenses. The federal 'Tax Cuts and Jobs Act', which became law in December 2017, added distributions for kindergarten through twelfth grade expenses as qualified distributions thereby allowing, on the federal level, income tax-free distributions for elementary and secondary education expenses in addition to already authorized income tax-free distributions for higher education expenses. The bill makes similar changes to Colorado law to allow contributions to qualified state tuition programs for kindergarten through twelfth grade expenses thereby allowing a taxpayer to claim a deduction for such contributions and clarifying that such expenses are qualified distributions, ensuring that a taxpayer does not encounter tax recapture of any claimed deductions when such contributions are distributed for kindergarten through twelfth grade school expenses. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
The bill allows, with board approval, a community college that is part of the state system of community and technical colleges (community college) to offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing as a completion degree (nursing degree). In considering a request from a community college to offer a nursing degree, the board shall consider student and workforce demand, cost effectiveness for students, and accreditation and licensing requirements. At least 90 days prior to requesting board approval to offer a nursing degree, a community college shall provide notice of its request to all state institutions of higher education. A reporting requirement is added providing that each state-supported institution of higher education that offers a nursing degree provide the department of higher education with an annual report concerning its nursing degree program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Committee on Legal Services. Current law directs the office of legislative legal services to study the organizational recodification of title 12 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which relates to professions and occupations. One recommendation of the study is to relocate laws located in title 12 that are administered by the department of revenue to a new title 44, which will consist solely of laws administered by the department of revenue that regulate a variety of activities. To implement this recommendation, section 1 of the bill creates title 44 and section 2 relocates article 43.3 of title 12, medical marijuana, to a new article 11 in a new title 44, Colorado Revised Statutes; and section 3 of the bill relocates article 43.4 of title 12, retail marijuana, to a new article 12 in a new title 44, Colorado Revised Statutes. Sections 4 through 28 of the bill make conforming amendments, and section 29 repeals the articles where the law was previously codified.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Under current law, a school district, board of cooperative services, district charter school, or institute charter school (local education provider) must notify students and their parents of opportunities for concurrent enrollment in postsecondary courses. The bill requires the notice to include information regarding the local education provider's timelines that affect student eligibility to take these courses and a statement informing students that they may significantly reduce college expenses, increase the likelihood of completing college, and earn marketable workforce skills by taking concurrent enrollment courses. Prior to the beginning of the enrollment period for postsecondary concurrent enrollment courses, the local education provider shall provide students and their parents with written notice of postsecondary courses offered at the local education provider's facility and the cost of those courses, as well as notice regarding postsecondary courses offered at the postsecondary institution's facility and the cost of those courses. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Wildfire Matters Review Committee. Section 1 of the bill states that any person who starts or maintains a campfire commits the offense of leaving a campfire unattended if he or she knowingly or recklessly: Fails to reasonably attend the campfire at all times; or Fails to thoroughly extinguish the campfire before leaving the site. A person who commits the offense of leaving a campfire unattended commits a class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction of the offense, is punished by a fine of $50. A person who commits the offense of leaving a campfire unattended where the campfire is located in a forested or grassland area commits a class 3 misdemeanor and, upon conviction of the offense, is punished by a minimum sentence of a $50 fine up to a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment or a $750 fine, or both. This section also deletes existing statutory provisions requiring a county to post notices concerning unattended campfires. With respect to a fire on any property under the control of the division of parks and wildlife, section 2 makes it unlawful for any person to start or maintain a fire if he or she knowingly or recklessly fails to reasonably attend the fire at all times or fails to thoroughly extinguish the fire before leaving the site. Any person who violates this section of the bill is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, is punished by a minimum sentence of a $50 fine up to a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment or a $750 dollar fine, or both. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
Under existing law, a public school may become an innovation school by submitting an innovation plan to its local school board and having the local school board approve that plan. The bill defines 'community school' and permits a public school to include in its innovation plan that it will operate as a community school. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
Joint Budget Committee. If the state receives any federal mineral lease revenue from oil and gas production on naval oil shale reserve land that was set aside prior to January 1, 2009, and withheld by the federal government, then instead of depositing the money in the mineral leasing fund the state treasurer is required to distribute the money to the following counties or a related federal mineral lease district, if applicable: 40% to Garfield county; 40% to Rio Blanco county; 10% to Mesa county; and 10% to Moffat county. The 'Federal Mineral Lease District Act' is amended to permit these distributions to be made to a federal mineral lease district, if one exists, on behalf of a county. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires a residential landlord to provide each tenant with a copy of a written rental agreement signed by the parties and to give a tenant a contemporaneous receipt for any payment made in person with cash or a money order. For payments not made in person with cash or a money order, the landlord must provide a receipt if the tenant requests it. The landlord may provide the tenant with an electronic copy of the agreement or the receipt unless the tenant requests a paper copy. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Current law allows licensed mental health care professionals and level III certified addiction counselors who have documented that they have undergone auricular acudetox training to perform auricular acudetox. The bill allows registered psychotherapists who have documented that they have undergone the same training requirements to also perform auricular acudetox. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Statutory Revision Committee. The bill modernizes the language in statutory sections by replacing the terms 'pauper' and 'paupers' with 'indigent' or 'indigent persons'.(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 public health and environment to provide individualized patient information from the department's EMS agency patient care database to health information organization networks for any use allowed under the federal 'Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996' (HIPAA). By contract with health information organization networks, the department must control access to patient information and limit the use of patient information to only those purposes allowed under HIPAA. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill declares that consumers of electricity have a right to install, interconnect, and use energy storage systems on their property, and that this will enhance the reliability and efficiency of the electric grid, save money, and reduce the need for additional electric generation facilities. The bill directs the Colorado public utilities commission to adopt rules governing the installation, interconnection, and use of customer-sited energy storage systems. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
