Colorado Bills

In 2018, the division of motor vehicles (division) will be replacing its current computer system, known as the Colorado state titling and registration system (CSTARS), with a new computer system, known as Colorado driver's license, record, identification, and vehicle enterprise solution ( Colorado DRIVES). Several sections of the bill amend the statutes to replace CSTARS with Colorado DRIVES, including renaming the account associated with these programs. Currently, the statutes create a CSTARS advisory committee. Section 4 of the bill replaces the current advisory committee with a Colorado DRIVES county governance committee, which consists of the following 9 members: Two authorized agents (county clerks) from a category I or category II county; Two authorized agents from a category III or category IV county; Two authorized agents from a category V or category VI county; Two employees of the department of revenue; and One employee of the governor's office of information technology. The committee's duties are to: Approve the annual operation budget proposal; Fix the time when and place where meetings are held; and Establish subcommittees and working groups to report to the committee. Currently, county clerks and recorders are designated the 'authorized agents' of the department of revenue for vehicle titling and registration. The motor vehicle statutes use the phrase 'county clerk and recorder', and the equivalent in Denver and Broomfield, interchangeably with the phrase 'authorized agent'. Several sections of the bill define the term 'authorized agent' and replace the occurrences of 'county clerk and recorder' with 'authorized agent' to make the usage consistent. Section 2 of the bill authorizes the division to share driver's license and identification card images with the driver licensing agency of any other state. Section 3 clarifies that the authorized agent is responsible for title and registration documents until verified by the division, and the division is responsible for the documents digitally stored by the division. Current law excepts some classes of identification cards from expiring in the same manner as most cards, which is after 5 years. Sections 5 and 6 authorize county clerks to transfer money collected from motor vehicle transactions to the division via electronic funds transfer. Finally, several sections of the bill repeal obsolete provisions. Provisions of the bill that deposit money in the CSTARS account take effect on September 1, 2018. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Legislative Audit Committee. Current law requires the creation of a child protection team for any county or group of contiguous counties receiving more than 50 referrals related to child abuse or neglect in a year. Other counties or groups of contiguous counties are encouraged, but not required, to establish a child protection team. The bill makes it optional for all counties and groups of contiguous counties to establish a child protection team, at the discretion of the county director or the directors of a contiguous group of counties. The state department of human services is directed to include a summary and description of the work of child protection teams in its annual 'State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act' presentation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill increases the accessibility of legal child care by expanding the circumstances under which an individual can care for children from multiple families for less than 24 hours without obtaining a child care license. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill directs stakeholders interested in the Runyon-Fountain lakes state wildlife area (including the Colorado division of parks and wildlife, the city of Pueblo, and the Pueblo conservancy district) to cooperatively engage in a long-term process to promote the maximum beneficial development and maintenance of the area. The stakeholders are to report to the general assembly's committees of reference with jurisdiction over natural resources by March 1, 2018, regarding the progress of the cooperative effort. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill allows a professional nurse to delegate to another person, after appropriate training, the dispensing authority of an over-the-counter medication to a minor with the signed consent of the minor's parent or guardian. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill provides the purposes of community corrections programs. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Currently, the state engineer must promulgate rules for the permitting and use of waters artificially recharged into 4 named aquifers. The bill adds the requirement that the state engineer also promulgate rules for the permitting and use of waters artificially recharged into nontributary groundwater aquifers. The rules must be promulgated on or before July 1, 2018. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current law requires the department of revenue to meet certain deadlines in sending out income tax refunds: 14 days for returns filed in January; 21 days for returns filed in February; 28 days for returns filed in March; and 45 days for returns filed in April. If these statutory deadlines are not met, a penalty and interest is added as specified in statute. Current law also identifies certain exceptions to these requirements. The bill specifies that if the department of revenue makes a determination, in good faith, that there is a suspicion of identity theft or other refund-related fraud, then the deadlines do not apply. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Statutory Revision Committee. Section 15-16-919 (2)(j)(I) of the 'Colorado Uniform Trust Decanting Act' refers to a second trust when discussing the decanting power of an authorized fiduciary. This conflicts with the uniform law commission's corrected version of the 'Colorado Uniform Trust Decanting Act'. The bill changes one reference to the second trust to the first trust. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Under current law, there is an exception to the hearsay rule for a person with an intellectual and developmental disability if the out-of-court statement relates to certain specified crimes. Current law also provides increased penalties if certain crimes are committed against at-risk persons. The bill clarifies that the hearsay exception applies if the defendant is charged under the increased penalties for crimes against at-risk persons. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill repeals the fallen heroes memorial commission and requires the state capitol building advisory committee to take on any remaining duties of the commission. The bill requires the state capitol building advisory committee to perform any remaining duties with the assistance of the department of personnel and the Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund, Inc., a Colorado 501(c)(3) organization established to raise money for the construction of the memorial. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)