The bill creates the Urban Peak Housing and Support Services for Youth Experiencing Homelessness fund (fund) in the state treasury. A voluntary contribution designation line for the fund will appear on the state individual income tax return form (form) for the 5 income tax years following the year that the executive director of the department of revenue (department) certifies to the revisor of statutes that: There is a space available on the form; and The fund is next in the queue. Once the fund is placed on the form, the department is directed to determine annually the total amount contributed to the fund and report that amount to the state treasurer and the general assembly. The state treasurer is required to credit that amount to the fund, and the general assembly appropriates from the fund to the department the costs of administering moneys designated for the fund. After that amount is deducted, the moneys remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year are transferred to Urban Peak, a nonprofit organization. Following the statutory 2-year grace period for new tax check-offs, the fund is required to achieve the minimum contribution amount of $50,000 per year to remain on the form. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The district attorney of each judicial district, with the approval of the boards of county commissioners comprising the district, currently fixes the salaries of any assistant district attorney, chief deputy district attorney, and deputy district attorney in the district. There are currently no minimum salary amounts in law for these positions. The bill establishes minimum salary amounts for these positions based upon the salary ranges of certain employees of the state public defender's office. The county or counties making up a judicial district currently pay the entire amount of the salaries of all deputy, chief deputy, and assistant district attorneys working in the district. The bill requires the state to pay a percentage of the salaries, starting at a lower percentage and scaling up to the following percentages after 4 years: Assistant district attorney - 80%; Chief deputy district attorney - 50%; Deputy district attorney - 20%. The bill allows the boards of county commissioners of the counties within a judicial district, in consultation with the district attorney, to make a one-time irrevocable election to require an assistant district attorney to become a member of the public employees' retirement association's defined benefit plan. In such case, the state would pay 80% and the counties would pay 20% of the employer contribution for an assistant district attorney. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Under current law, peer support team members for certain first responders and a first responder may not be required to testify about communications made during the peer support process without the first responder's consent. The bill clarifies that the communication need not be during an individual peer support meeting. Under current law, there is an exception to the privilege if the information provided to the peer support team member indicates certain actual or suspected crimes. The bill adds crimes against at-risk persons to the list of crimes. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill removes certain data-gathering factors currently required to be taken into consideration in determining a fiscal year's child welfare allocation formula for counties and replaces those with a broader scope of factors that directly affect the population of children in need of child welfare services, as determined by the state department of human services and the child welfare allocations committee. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Committee on Legal Services. Under current law, if an executive branch agency rule, including a form incorporated into a rule, contains a citation to statute and the general assembly later relocates the statute in a way that renders the rule's citation to the statute inaccurate, to update the statutory citation the agency must conduct a rule-making hearing, including issuing a notice and receiving comments. The bill allows agencies to correct statutory citations in the code of Colorado regulations without notice, comment, or a hearing by submitting to the secretary of state a specific, written determination by the attorney general. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Currently, the Colorado school of mines (institution) must use its state fee-for-service contract money to provide merit- and need-based scholarships and graduate support funding to reduce tuition for in-state students. In addition to tuition supports, the bill allows the institution to use state fee-for-service contract money to fund services and programs described in the bill, including but not limited to counseling, academic support, student recruiting, and precollegiate programs. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill makes findings regarding partnerships between military installations and their host communities in the state with regard to the shared-service opportunities that can cut costs and increase efficiencies in providing governmental services. The bill directs the department of local affairs to support cooperative intergovernmental agreements between military installations and local governments to the extent that the department may do so within existing programs, resources, and technical expertise. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill requires that any complaint filed with the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies against a mental health professional alleging a maintenance-of-records violation must be commenced within 7 years after the alleged act or failure to act giving rise to the complaint. Mental health professionals must give notice to former clients that a client's records may not be retained after the 7-year period. Complaints subject to the 7-year filing period must be resolved by the agency within 2 years after the date the complaint was filed. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill specifies that the department of revenue may not require physical inspection of a vehicle, including a vehicle identification number inspection, to verify information about the vehicle before registering or titling the vehicle if: The applicant for a new registration for the vehicle presents either a copy of a manufacturer's certificate of origin or a purchase receipt from the dealer or the out-of-state seller and either document indicates that the applicant purchased the vehicle as new; or At the time of application, the vehicle is currently registered or titled in another Colorado county. The bill also creates a pilot program that issues a permit to a transportation association to verify information for the purposes of titling and registration of commercial vehicles. To qualify the association must:. Employ verifiers who demonstrate knowledge of the process and standards and who have not been convicted of violating property crimes within the last 10 years; and Provide a $10,000 bond to hold harmless any person who suffers loss or damage arising from the issuance of a certificate of title that included a verification done by the permit holder. A permit holder may charge only $25 for a verification, and a permit may be revoked for failing to meet the standards of the bill or any rules promulgated under the bill. The chief of the Colorado state patrol may promulgate rules to implement the program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Signed by the Speaker of the House
Currently, the board of trustees (board) of the public employees' retirement association (PERA) is comprised of the following 15 trustees: The state treasurer; Three elected members of the state division; Four elected members of the school division; One elected member of the local government division; One elected member of the judicial division; Two elected retirees; and Three trustees appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate who are not PERA members or retirees and who are experts in certain fields. In addition, there is one ex officio trustee from the Denver public schools division. The bill modifies the composition of the board by: Eliminating one elected member trustee position from the state division; Eliminating 2 elected member trustee positions from the school division; Requiring at least one elected member from both the state division and the school division to be at least 20 years from retirement eligibility; and Adding 3 more trustees appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate who are not PERA members or retirees and who are experts in certain fields to replace the eliminated elected member trustee positions. The additional appointed trustees must have significant experience and competence in investment management, finance, banking, economics, accounting, pension administration, or actuarial analysis. The bill does not change the inclusion on the board of the state treasurer, the elected members from the local government division and the judicial division, or the ex officio trustee from the Denver public schools division. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill requires the state housing board to work cooperatively with the Colorado housing and finance authority to promulgate rules that will result in the reduction of duplicative inspections required by low-income housing programs. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
