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The bill directs the parks and wildlife commission (commission) to create the grand slam wildlife raffle, which will annually issue one hunting license for each of the following species: Shiras moose; Rocky mountain elk; Mule deer; White-tailed deer; Rocky mountain bighorn sheep; Desert bighorn sheep; Rocky mountain goat; Pronghorn antelope; Black bear; and Mountain lion. Raffle tickets cost $50 each. An individual may purchase up to 25 tickets. One ticket enters the purchaser into the raffle drawing for each of these species, so 10 raffle winners will each be able to hunt one of the big game species in Colorado. The hunting season runs from August 15 through December 31for each of the species except for black bear and mountain lion. The hunting season for black bear is September 2 through December 31 and for mountain lion is August 15 through April 15 of the following year. The proceeds from the sale of tickets are used to administer the raffle, increase the big game population, and create a grant program. The grants will be made to nongovernmental organizations that engage in: Wildlife habitat conservation or restoration; The recruitment of new hunters; or Fostering and protecting the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. The grants are made by the grand slam grant committee, which consists of the director of the division of parks and wildlife and 4 members who are big game hunters and each of whom represent one quarter of the state. Procedures and duties are established for the grant committee. Before the end of each year, the grant committee will make a report to the agriculture, livestock, and natural resources committee of the house of representatives and the agriculture, natural resources, and energy committee of the senate. The grant committee may authorize a nonprofit organization to conduct the raffle. The organization may retain up to 5% of the ticket sales to conduct the raffle and to fund projects of its own choosing that benefit wildlife in Colorado. The commission may promulgate rules governing raffle licenses, the conduct of the raffles, record-keeping requirements, the expenditure of proceeds, and any other rules necessary to implement the raffle. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
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As a pilot program to promote employer-assisted housing projects in rural areas, for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2018, but prior to January 1, 2022, the bill creates a state income tax credit for a donation a taxpayer makes to a sponsor that is used solely for the costs associated with an employer-assisted eligible activity in a rural area. The bill defines 'sponsor' to mean the Colorado housing and finance authority, a housing authority operated by a county or municipality, or a nonprofit corporation that has been designated as a community development corporation under the federal tax code. The amount of the credit allowed by the bill is 20% of the approved amount of the donation as documented in a form and manner acceptable to the department of revenue (department); except that the aggregate amount of the credit awarded to any one taxpayer is limited to $400 in any one income tax year. If the amount of the credit allowed exceeds the amount of the taxpayer's income tax liability in the income tax year for which the credit is being claimed, the amount of the credit not used as an offset against income taxes in such income tax year is not allowed as a refund but may be carried forward and applied against the income tax due in each of the 5 succeeding income tax years, but must first be applied against the income tax due for the earliest of the income tax years possible. A taxpayer claiming the credit allowed by the bill is required to submit, maintain, and record any information that the department may require by rule regarding the taxpayer's donation to the sponsor, including the certificate received evidencing the donation. The bill specifies various verification procedures that the taxpayer and sponsor must follow for the taxpayer to be able to claim the credit. The bill requires each sponsor that has issued certificates evidencing donations in a calendar year in the cumulative amount of $10,000 or more to report to the general assembly by the deadlines specified in the bill on the overall economic activity, usage, and impact to the state from the employer-assisted eligible activity for which it has certified a donation eligible for a tax credit under the bill. The bill requires the department and the division of housing within the department of local affairs (division) to promulgate any rules necessary to facilitate the effective implementation of this tax credit. The department and the division may each develop policies and procedures necessary to facilitate the effective implementation of the tax credit. The bill prohibits a taxpayer from claiming the tax credit under the bill for a donation for which the taxpayer is claiming any other state tax credit or deduction. By the deadlines specified in the bill, the division is required to provide the department with an electronic report on the taxpayers who have received a tax credit under the bill for the calendar year that conforms to the income tax year for which the credit is allowed. The bill specifies information the report must contain. The tax credit is repealed, effective July 1, 2032. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
Current law requires a naturopathic doctor to use the term "registered" in the doctor's title. The bill changes the titles that naturopathic doctors may use by eliminating the word "registered". (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill creates the state women veterans office in the governor's office to ensure that Colorado women veterans have equitable access to federal and state veterans services and benefits. The bill also establishes the state women veterans steering committee. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
The bill amends current statutory language in the 'Colorado Children's Trust Fund Act' to place a greater priority on preventing child maltreatment fatalities and continuing to prevent child maltreatment. This includes reducing the occurrence of prenatal drug exposure and drug endangerment and reducing the occurrence of other adverse childhood experiences. The current membership of the Colorado children's trust fund board (board) is increased from 9 members to 21 members, to reflect a broader approach to child maltreatment prevention issues. Duties and powers of the board are expanded to include: Advising and making recommendations to the governor, state agencies, and other entities concerning child maltreatment prevention; Developing strategies and monitoring efforts to decrease incidences of child maltreatment, child maltreatment fatalities, and other adverse childhood experiences; and Monitoring and implementing, as appropriate, the ongoing development and implementation of programs and factors that affect work in the area of childhood maltreatment. The bill expands the accepted uses for grants from the Colorado children's trust fund to include programs working to reduce the incidence of child maltreatment fatalities, child maltreatment, and other adverse childhood experiences. The repeal date for the act is extended from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
In the law governing common interest communities, the bill invalidates any covenant that prohibits the keeping of certain types of dogs based solely on a breed, weight, or size classification. Other regulations, such as the prevention of nuisance barking and requirements concerning the number of dogs per household and the disposal of waste, remain valid. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
The bill creates a registration in both the medical marijuana and retail marijuana codes for a fibrous waste recycling facility. A fibrous waste recycling facility takes marijuana waste and makes it into industrial products like rope, paper, and building material. The state licensing authority shall issue the registration to an applicant if the applicant demonstrates that its processes render the fibrous waste unusable as medical or retail marijuana.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More
The bill prohibits terminating the life of an unborn child and makes a violation a class 1 felony. The following are exceptions to the prohibition: A licensed physician performs a medical procedure designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant mother, if the physician makes reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the mother and the life of her unborn child in a manner consistent with conventional medical practice; and A licensed physician provides medical treatment, including chemotherapy and the removal of an ectopic pregnancy, to the mother that results in the accidental or unintentional injury to or death of the unborn child. The pregnant mother upon whom termination of the life of an unborn child is performed or attempted is not subject to a criminal penalty. The sale and use of contraception is not prohibited by the bill. A conviction related to the prohibition of the termination of the life of an unborn child constitutes unprofessional conduct for purposes of physician licensing. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
Before the enactment of Senate Bill 17-267, the state levied 2 sales taxes on retail marijuana sales: The 2.9% general state sales tax levied pursuant to article 26 of title 39, C.R.S., and the retail marijuana sales tax, a 10% special sales tax levied on retail marijuana sales only pursuant to article 28.8 of title 39, C.R.S. Senate Bill 17-267 increased the total rate of state sales tax levied on retail marijuana sales, as authorized by prior voter approval, by exempting retail marijuana sales from the 2.9% general state sales tax and increasing the rate of the retail marijuana sales tax from 10% to 15%, effective July 1, 2017. Because enabling statutes specify that the regional transportation district (RTD), the scientific and cultural facilities district (SCFD), and health services districts (HSD) may levy sales tax only on transactions upon which the state levies sales tax 'pursuant to the provisions of article 26 of title 29, C.R.S.,' the exemption of retail marijuana sales from the general state sales tax had the unintended consequence of exempting such sales from RTD, SCFD, and HSD sales taxes even though the state continues to levy the retail marijuana sales tax pursuant to article 28.8 of title 39, C.R.S. In addition, other statutes that empower certain special districts and authorities to levy sales taxes only upon transactions upon which the state levies sales tax, but do not specifically reference article 26, are sufficiently ambiguous that they could be interpreted to no longer authorize those special districts to levy sales tax on retail marijuana sales. The bill clarifies that: Retail marijuana sales remain subject to the sales taxes of the RTD, SCFD, and HSD and any other sales taxes that limited purpose governmental entities levied on retail marijuana sales before July 1, 2017; and A special district or other limited purpose governmental entity that was not levying sales tax on retail marijuana before July 1, 2017, may not levy sales tax on retail marijuana sales.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill ensures that women are fully and accurately informed about their personal medical conditions regarding their pregnancies and health care options. Current medical procedures already use ultrasound technology to provide information regarding the gestational age of a child in utero. The bill ensures that a woman has the opportunity to see or forego seeing her ultrasound. The bill gives the woman a choice between an abdominal or vaginal ultrasound. The bill allows a woman the opportunity to find a provider of ultrasound technology that will provide the service free of charge. The bill requires that a woman be given full and accurate information regarding her abortion. The bill describes the information that the physician performing the abortion provides to the woman and gives the woman an opportunity to sign or refuse to sign a receipt of information. The bill requires the abortion provider to provide certain information to the woman at least 24 hours prior to performing an abortion. The bill creates a civil right of action for noncompliance with the requirements, making a physician's noncompliance with the requirements unprofessional conduct and making a violation of the requirements a crime. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
