The state department of transportation (department), the statewide bridge enterprise, and the high-performance transportation enterprise are currently authorized to solicit proposals and consider unsolicited proposals for public-private initiatives for certain public projects. The bill specifies that the department, the statewide bridge enterprise, and the high-performance transportation enterprise may consider proposals, whether solicited or unsolicited, for a public-private initiative that anticipates using federal moneys only if the proposal includes labor costs for construction that use no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits for corresponding work on similar projects in the area set by the United States department of labor as directed by the federal 'Davis-Bacon Act'. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill limits the damages that a vehicle rental company can recover for the loss of use of the vehicle to the actual lost profits suffered by the company due to the loss of use of the vehicle. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Governor Signed
The bill provides immunity from civil and administrative penalties for the unauthorized practice of a profession by an individual who meets certain requirements. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Not later than 90 days after the end of the first fiscal year of an urban renewal authority (authority) after the governing body of a municipality has approved an urban renewal plan (plan) that allocates any incremental property or sales tax revenues of any taxing entity other than the municipality, and on the same day each year thereafter, the bill requires the authority to prepare a report for public distribution. The authority is required to send a copy of the report by first class mail and by e-mail to each taxing entity other than the municipality whose incremental property or sales tax revenues will be allocated under the plan. The bill specifies items the report is to address. With the annual report, the bill also requires an authority to submit an independent audit of its financial status that is prepared by a certified public accountant attesting to the accuracy of the annual report. As part of the audit, the certified public accountant is also required to report whether the authority has used any incremental property or sales tax revenues for any unauthorized purposes other than for eligible costs. In connection with the preparation of the report, the authority must also provide any other financial information that is reasonably required by the governing body of the municipality. If the audit finds that any incremental property or sales tax revenues have been used for any unauthorized purposes, the authority is liable for the repayment of such incremental tax revenues to the taxing entities whose incremental property or sales tax revenues were allocated under the plan. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Signed by the President of the Senate
Current law relating to performance evaluations for teachers and principals (educator evaluations) includes a requirement that at least 50% of an evaluation must be determined by the academic growth of the teacher's students or the students in the principal's school. The bill eliminates that requirement but grants school districts the flexibility to continue to use student academic growth, in an amount not to exceed 20%, in educator evaluations. The bill also allows a local board of education or board of cooperative services that adopts its own local licensed personnel evaluation system to exempt teachers or principals who have either an existing effective or highly effective rating from the annual requirements of such system for a period not to exceed 3 years. If a local board of education or board of cooperative services decides to provide such an exemption, the teacher or principal retains the rating he or she received on his or her most recent evaluation for the exemption period. A teacher or principal who has been exempt from evaluations pursuant to this bill may request a new evaluation prior to the end of the exemption period. The rating from such a new evaluation will become the teacher's or principal's new performance evaluation rating. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill sets forth the conditions under which a probation officer may arrest a defendant who has been granted a deferred judgment and sentence. The bill also makes corresponding amendments to the conditions under which a probation officer may arrest a probationer. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Supplemental appropriations are made to the department of law. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill repeals the requirement that Colorado participate in a consortium of states that develops a set of assessments and the requirement that the state use the assessments that the consortium develops. Under existing law, each local education provider must administer the state assessments in math and English language arts to ninth-grade students and must administer a state-selected assessment to tenth-grade students. Under the bill, each local education provider decides whether to administer to ninth-grade students the state assessments in English language arts and math for ninth-grade students or one of the 2 assessments selected by the department of education (department) for tenth-grade students. Under existing law, the department must select an assessment for students enrolled in tenth grade that is aligned with the standardized, curriculum-based, achievement college entrance exam (exam) that the department must select for students enrolled in eleventh grade. The bill requires the department to select 2 tenth-grade assessments and 2 exams. Each local education provider must decide which assessment and which exam to administer. The state will pay the costs of administering the assessments and exams. The bill directs the department and the state board of education to provide the greatest flexibility possible under federal law to local education providers in selecting and administering state assessments. The bill requires each local education provider to review with each student and his or her parent the results of the ninth-grade and tenth-grade assessments and the eleventh-grade exam and the effect the results may have on the student's individual career and academic plan. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill repeals the death penalty in Colorado for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2017, and makes conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill requires a health insurance carrier or an intermediary that conducts credentialing, utilization management, or utilization review to: Base health care coverage authorizations and medical necessity determinations on generally accepted and evidence-based standards and criteria of clinical practice; Disclose to a carrier's policyholders and providers the evidence-based standards and criteria of clinical practice and processes that the carrier uses for coverage authorizations and medical necessity determinations of health care services; Ensure that coverage authorizations and medical necessity determinations are performed by a health care provider; Categorize a condition as a new episode of care if the same provider has not treated the policyholder for the condition within the previous 30 days; and Ensure that tiered prior authorization criteria are based on generally accepted and evidence-based standards and criteria of clinical practice. The bill prohibits: An intermediary from requiring coverage authorization or a medical necessity determination prior to the evaluation and management services provided by a health care provider to a policyholder during an initial health care visit; and A carrier from creating incentives to reduce or deny coverage authorizations or medical necessity determinations.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
