Colorado Bills

Water Resources Review Committee. The water quality control commission in the department of public health and environment (commission) is responsible for developing requirements, prohibitions, and standards that protect public health and water quality for the use of graywater for nondrinking purposes. Scientific research on graywater that might involve graywater uses and systems that do not strictly comply with the requirements, prohibitions, and standards developed by the commission would not be permitted under the control regulations. To facilitate scientific research related to graywater uses and systems, the bill creates an exemption from the commission's graywater control regulations for scientific research whereby a water utility, an institution of higher education in Colorado, or a public or private entity that a water utility or an institution of higher education in Colorado contracts with to conduct graywater research may collect, treat, and use graywater for purposes of scientific research if the entity: Utilizes a graywater treatment works system that incorporates a secondary water supply to provide an alternative source of water if any portion of the system does not function properly; however, scientific research involving the use of graywater exclusively for irrigation purposes need not incorporate a secondary water supply; and Collects, treats, and uses graywater in accordance with the terms and conditions of the decrees, contracts, and well permits applicable to the use of the source water rights or source water and any return flows. Only an institution of higher education or a person contracting with an institution of higher education may collect, treat, and use graywater for research involving human exposure. The entity conducting the research is required to report to the water resources review committee on an annual basis the results of periodic monitoring conducted to assess the continued functioning of the graywater treatment works system used in the project and, if the scientific research involves human exposure, the project's compliance with federal rules concerning the protection of human research subjects. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Section 2 of the bill requires an entity that services a student education loan pursuant to a contract with the federal government to be licensed by the administrator of the 'Uniform Consumer Credit Code'. 'Servicing' means receiving a scheduled periodic payment from a student loan borrower, applying the payments of principal and interest with respect to the amounts received from a student loan borrower, and similar administrative services. Section 4 makes the bill effective on September 1, 2018.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019, but prior to January 1, 2022, the bill allows an individual taxpayer to claim an income tax credit for a contribution of money, securities, or property to an eligible endowment that is equal to 25% of the contribution. An 'eligible endowment fund' is defined in the bill as an endowment fund that is managed in accordance with the 'Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act'. A Colorado charitable organization that receives the credit is required to provide a credit certificate to the taxpayer, who must submit the certificate to the department of revenue along with his or her tax return. The maximum credit an individual may claim for an income tax year is $25,000. Unused credits are not refunded but may be carried forward for up to 5 income tax years. A taxpayer may not claim the credit if he or she claims any other state income tax credit for the same charitable contribution. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Joint Budget Committee. For the 2017-18 state fiscal year, if the amount of revenue collected from the hospital provider fee is insufficient to fully fund all of the statutory purposes for the fee, the bill requires any reduction to be taken from hospital reimbursements. The bill reduces the cash funds appropriation from the hospital provider fee in the 2017 annual general appropriation act by $264,100,000. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Under current law, a retail liquor store licensee that was licensed on or before January 1, 2016, and is a Colorado resident is permitted to obtain one additional retail liquor store license on or after January 1, 2017; 2 additional retail liquor store licenses on or after January 1, 2022; and 3 additional retail liquor store licenses on or after January 1, 2027. Additionally, current law permits a liquor-licensed drugstore licensee that was licensed on or before January 1, 2016, to obtain additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, as follows, but only if the licensee applies to transfer ownership of, change location of, and merge and convert 2 retail liquor store licenses located within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the drugstore premises to a single liquor-licensed drugstore license and only if the drugstore premises will not be located within 1,500 feet of any other licensed retail liquor store in the same local licensing jurisdiction or, if within a municipality with a population of not more than 10,000 people, the drugstore premises will not be located within 3,000 feet of any other licensed retail liquor store in the same local licensing jurisdiction: On or after January 1, 2017, up to 4 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; On or after January 1, 2022, up to 7 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; On or after January 1, 2027, up to 12 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; On or after January 1, 2032, up to 19 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; and On or after January 1, 2037, an unlimited number of additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses. Section 3 of the bill modifies provisions governing the ability of a retail liquor store to obtain additional retail liquor store licenses as follows: Allows a retail liquor store that was licensed on or before April 1, 2017, to obtain 3 additional retail liquor store licenses between July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018; on or after January 1, 2022, to obtain a maximum of 6 total retail liquor store licenses; and on or after January 1, 2027, a maximum of 9 total retail liquor store licenses; For additional licenses obtained on or after January 1, 2022, requires a person seeking additional licenses to apply to transfer ownership of, change location of, and merge 2 retail liquor store licenses located within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the applicant's premises into a single retail liquor store license; and Requires the majority of the owners of a retail liquor store seeking additional retail liquor store licenses to have either resided in Colorado for at least 2 years or operated a business in Colorado for at least 10 years. Additionally, the bill prohibits a retail liquor store from allowing customers to use a self-checkout to complete an alcohol beverage purchase and requires a retail liquor store to: Verify the age of a customer attempting to purchase an alcohol beverage by examining the customer's valid identification; and Maintain certification as a responsible alcohol beverage vendor. An employee of a retail liquor store who is under 21 years of age cannot deliver or otherwise have contact with alcohol beverages offered for sale on, or sold and removed from, the licensed premises. For liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, section 4 : Allows a licensee that applied for a liquor-licensed drugstore license on or before October 1, 2016, and a corporation within a controlled group of corporations to obtain additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; and Caps the total number of additional licenses at 19, for a total of 20 liquor-licensed drugstore licenses. Sections 5 and 6 set state and local application fees for a retail liquor store licensee applying for a transfer of ownership, change of location, and merger of 2 retail liquor store licenses. Sections 1 and 2 make conforming amendments. The bill takes effect July 1, 2017. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill creates a state sales tax exemption, commencing January 1, 2018, for the sale, storage, and use of diapers. The bill further specifies that local statutory taxing jurisdictions may choose to adopt the same exemption by express inclusion in their sales and use tax ordinance or resolution. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)