Current law does not address reliance on perpetual water treatment as the means to minimize impacts to water quality in a reclamation plan for a mining operation. Section 1 of the bill requires most reclamation plans to demonstrate, by substantial evidence, an end date for any water quality treatment necessary to ensure compliance with applicable water quality standards. Current law allows a mining permittee to submit an audited financial statement as proof that the operator has sufficient funds to meet its reclamation liabilities in lieu of a bond or other financial assurance. Section 2 eliminates this self-bonding option and also requires that all reclamation bonds include financial assurances in an amount sufficient to protect water quality, including costs for any necessary treatment and monitoring costs.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Current law requires motor vehicles having an empty weight of 16,000 or more pounds or a motor vehicle that weighs 26,001 or more pounds fully loaded to clear a port of entry within 5 miles of its route. The bill exempts motor vehicles using trailers primarily used in the transport of agriculture commodities or livestock. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill requires the department of labor and employment to create the Colorado state apprenticeship resource directory. The department shall collect detailed information on apprenticeship programs in this state, including the application process, requirements for enrollment, costs, and program outcomes. The department shall promote the availability of the directory. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill extends the right to use deadly force against an intruder under certain conditions to include owners, managers, and employees of a business. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill repeals statutory provisions: Prohibiting the possession of certain ammunition magazines; and Requiring each of certain ammunition magazines that are manufactured in Colorado on or after July 1, 2013, to include a permanent stamp or marking indicating that the magazine was manufactured or assembled after July 1, 2013.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
Under current law, members of the restorative justice coordinating council may not be reimbursed for expenses. The bill allows reimbursement of expenses. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill enacts the 'Genetic Counselor Licensure Act'. On and after June 1, 2019, a person cannot practice genetic counseling without being licensed by the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies. To be licensed, a person must have graduated with an appropriate genetic counseling degree and have been certified by a national body, except that the director may issue a provisional license to a candidate for certification pursuant to requirements established by rule. The bill gives title protection to genetic counselors and standard licensing, rule-making, and disciplinary powers to the director. Genetic counselors must have insurance unless the director, by rule, finds that insurance is not reasonably available. The bill repeals the act on September 1, 2025. Genetic counselors are subject to the mandatory disclosures of the 'Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act of 2010'. $22,677 is appropriated to the department of regulatory agencies from the division of professions and occupations cash fund to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill enacts the 'Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Transparency Act'. Federal bankruptcy law provides companies with asbestos liabilities the ability to channel their future liabilities into trusts. Plaintiffs harmed from asbestos exposure may file claims with the trusts and file lawsuits against companies that are still solvent. The bill addresses the disconnect between these separate compensation systems. The bill sets forth requirements for the filing of asbestos trust claims and provides for their admissibility so that juries are informed about all of a plaintiff's exposure to asbestos and can properly determine fault. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill implements conflict-free case management for individuals enrolled in home- and community-based services under Colorado's medicaid program. The definition of conflict-free case management is included in the bill and reflects the policy that case management services are provided to an individual who is enrolled in home- and community-based services by an agency that is not also providing the same individual services and supports. The bill defines and authorizes case management agencies that will provide case management services and contains provisions for the department of health care policy and financing's oversight of case management agencies. The medical services board shall promulgate rules upon the enactment of the bill for the certification and decertification of case management agencies, as well as rules that ensure that an individual enrolled in home- and community-based services has access to case management services and that there is a process for a person to select the case management agency of his or her choice. The bill authorizes the department of health care policy and financing to seek a federal exemption from conflict-free case management for rural single entry point agencies, as defined in the bill. The bill contains time frames for the implementation of conflict-free case management in Colorado, and includes a date by which all persons receiving home- and community-based services will be served through a system of conflict-free case management. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Section 1 of the bill disqualifies an internet service provider from receiving money from the high cost support mechanism if the internet service provider engages in any of the following practices: Blocking lawful internet content, applications, services, or devices unless such blocking is conducted in a manner consistent with reasonable network management practices; Engaging in paid prioritization of internet content; Regulating network traffic by throttling bandwidth or otherwise impairing or degrading lawful internet traffic on the basis of internet content, application, service, or use of a device unless such impairment or degradation is conducted in a manner consistent with reasonable network management practices; or Not providing transparency of its reasonable network management practices. Section 1 also requires that, if the public utilities commission, after reviewing any federal agency or federal court decision against an internet service provider, determines that, based on the federal decision, the internet service provider has engaged in any of the practices listed above, the commission shall issue an order requiring the internet service provider to refund any money that the internet service provider received in the prior 24 months from the high cost support mechanism or from any other state support mechanism or other state funding source established to help finance broadband deployment. Section 2 requires the broadband deployment board to periodically review the websites of the federal trade commission and the federal communications commission to determine if either agency issued a decision concerning a broadband deployment grant applicant or recipient. If, upon the board's review of any such agency decision, the board determines based on the federal agency's decision that a grant applicant or recipient has engaged in any of the practices listed above in section 1, the board shall deny the application and inform the public utilities commission about the grant recipient. Section 3 requires the attorney general or the attorney general's designee, in collaboration with the broadband deployment board, to develop guidance for consumers on how to file a complaint with the federal trade commission to allege that an internet service provider has engaged in any of the practices listed above. Section 4 requires a governmental body, when contracting for broadband internet access service, to give a preference to an internet service provider that certifies to the governmental body that it will not engage in any of the practices listed above in section 1.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill prohibits a licensed physician specializing in psychiatry or a licensed, certified, or registered mental health care provider from engaging in conversion therapy with a patient under 18 years of age. A licensee who engages in these efforts is subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate licensing board. 'Conversion therapy' means efforts that seek to change an individual's sexual orientation, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Section 1 of the bill requires oil and gas operators to file written reports with the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission and other affected stakeholders for each major and minor 'reportable event'. Operators must also give oral notice of major reportable events. A 'major reportable event' includes an incident involving: The unauthorized release of more than 25 barrels of oil, produced water, oilfield chemicals, or exploration and production waste; and The unauthorized flaring, venting, or wasting of: More than 500,000 cubic feet of gas at any drilling or producing well site or at any injection or disposal facility; or More than 1,500,000 cubic feet of gas at any transportation, gathering, or processing facility; A fire that consumes at least these volumes of liquid or gas; A spill, venting, or fire, regardless of the volume involved, that occurs within 500 feet of: A sensitive area, as that term is defined by rule; or A park, recreation site, wildlife refuge, lake, reservoir, stream, or urban or suburban area; An accident that involves a fatal injury; A blowout or loss of control of a well; and An uncontrolled release of gas containing 100 or more parts per million of hydrogen sulfide. A 'minor reportable event' includes an incident involving: The unauthorized release of more than 5 barrels and up to 25 barrels of oil, produced water, oilfield chemicals, or exploration and production waste; The unauthorized flaring, venting, or wasting of more than 50,000 cubic feet and up to 500,000 cubic feet of gas at a drilling or producing well site or at an injection or disposal facility; The unauthorized venting or wasting of more than 50,000 cubic feet and up to 1,500,000 cubic feet of gas at a transportation, gathering, or processing facility; Any uncontrolled fire or explosion; and An accident involving serious bodily injury. The commission will post the reports, notifications, and an annual summary on its website in a database that is searchable by operator, location, type of event, date, and other criteria established by the commission. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
