Child support commission recommendations - changes to the Colorado child support guidelines - administrative lien and levy - child support enforcement services fee - appropriation. The act makes changes to child support provisions recommended by the Colorado child support commission, including: Allocating "mandatory school fees", as defined in the act; Adding required federal factors that a court or delegate child support enforcement unit must consider when determining potential income of a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed; Reducing from 30 months to 24 months the length of time after birth that a custodial parent has before income is imputed to that parent, and changing how income is imputed for a parent sentenced to incarceration for 180 days or more or for a noncustodial parent who is attending postsecondary education; Increasing the self-support reserve for purposes of calculating child support from $1,100 to $1,500; Creating a $10 minimum order for noncustodial parents with income under $650 and making adjustments to the child support guidelines for parents with a combined, adjusted gross income up to $3,450; Requiring the noncustodial parent to notify the custodial parent if a child is eligible for dependent benefits based on the noncustodial parent's retirement or disability and establishing time frames for the custodial parent to apply for dependent benefits; Clarifying that the Colorado child support commission is required under federal law to consider child support guidelines at least once every 4 years and shall report to the general assembly; Requiring a verified copy of a support judgment to be provided to all parties upon filing with the court; Authorizing the state child enforcement agency to issue a notice of administrative lien and levy to any financial institution holding an obligor parent's account for an obligor who is past due on child support owed to a child for whom the obligee is receiving support enforcement services from the state; and Increasing the fee charged for child support enforcement services from $25, after the first $500 is collected, to $35 after the first $550 is collected, and creating a cash fund for the department of human services (department) to allow the department to spend a portion of the state share of the fee on program operations. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $143,650 from the child support deficit reduction act fee cash fund to the department of human services, office of self sufficiency, for the automated child support enforcement system. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Sponsored bills
Residential mental health facility - pilot program - appropriation. The act creates a new 3-year mental health facility pilot program to provide residential care, treatment, and services to persons with either a mental health diagnosis or a physical health diagnosis. It contains requirements for applicants and directs the department of public health and environment (department) to select one or 2 applicants for the pilot program. The act appropriates $30,370 to the department for use by the health facilities and emergency medical services division. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Foster care - bill of rights for sibling youth in foster care. The act establishes certain rights for sibling youth in foster care, unless the rights are not in the best interests of either sibling, regardless of whether the parental rights of one or more of the foster youth's parents have been terminated.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Emergency management - resiliency office - continuation - appropriation. The act continues the Colorado resiliency office, which administers the resiliency and community recovery program as part of the state's disaster recovery and response functions. The requirement that the office be funded solely through grant funding is repealed, making general funds available to pay for the work of the office. The office is repealed effective September 1, 2022, and is scheduled for a sunset review prior to its repeal. The act appropriates $249,454 to the department of local affairs from the implementation of the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Theft - wages - failure to pay wages - paying less than the minimum wage. The act defines wage theft as theft, which is a felony when the theft is of an amount greater than $2,000. The act adds refusing to pay wages or compensation with the intent to coerce a person who is owed wages as conduct that constitutes wage theft. The act removes the exemption from criminal penalties for an employer who is unable to pay wages or compensation because of a chapter 7 bankruptcy action or other court action resulting in the employer having limited control over his or her assets. The act defines "employee" as any person who performs labor or services for the benefit of an employer and provides factors that are relevant for determining whether a person is an employee. The act defines "employer" as having the same meaning as set forth in the federal "Fair Labor Standards Act" and specifically includes foreign labor contractors and migratory field labor contractors or crew leaders in the definition. The act defines intentionally paying a wage less than the minimum wage as theft, which is a felony when the theft is of an amount greater than $2,000. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Adoption assistance program - department of human services - appropriation. The act repeals and reenacts provisions of the state's adoption assistance program (adoption program) that provides cash subsidies and other noncash benefits to families who adopt eligible children and youth who might not otherwise be adopted in order to update the adoption program. The department of human services (state department) supervises the administration of the adoption program by county departments of human or social services (county departments). The act outlines eligibility for the adoption program and the available benefits. Determination of the type and amount of benefits to be provided through the adoption program must take into consideration the circumstances of the adopting family and the needs of the eligible child or youth being adopted. Specific benefits for an adoption made through the adoption program are detailed in a written adoption assistance agreement (agreement). The terms of an agreement are negotiated among all parties involved. The agreement must be reviewed at least every 3 years but may be reviewed sooner at the request of the adoptive parents or the county department. The adoptive parents may appeal any decision made pursuant to the provisions of the adoption program with a hearing before an administrative law judge. The act outlines the conditions under which adoption program subsidies may be suspended or terminated and under which the agreement may be terminated. The state department is required to keep data on the adoption program to help evaluate the adoption program's ongoing effectiveness in providing stability to families involved in the adoption of eligible children and youth. As appropriate, the state department, a county department, or a nonprofit child placement agency is required to provide prospective adoptive families, at the time the family is matched, with information on the various benefits available through the adoption program. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates: $42,143 from the general fund to the department of human services for information technology services relating to the TRAILS system, and anticipates the receipt of $18,061 in federal funds; and $60,204 from reappropriated funds to the office of the governor, to provide information technology services to the department of human services.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Assisted living residence - referral agency - disclosures required - documentation - penalties. The act requires an individual or entity who, for a fee, refers a prospective resident to an assisted living residence to disclose any business relationships that the referring party has with the assisted living residence. The individual or entity must also disclose that the assisted living residence pays for the referral. The act requires written or electronic documentation of the disclosure to be provided to and maintained by the assisted living residence. The referring party is subject to a civil penalty for a violation. The attorney general or district attorney in the appropriate county is authorized to bring a civil action to seek a civil penalty or to enjoin the referring party from any further violation. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
In 2013, the general assembly created a child tax credit against state income taxes for a resident individual. But the credit, which is a percentage of the federal child tax credit based on the taxpayer's income, is only allowed after the United States congress enacts a version of the "Marketplace Fairness Act". The bill repeals the contingent start of the tax credit and instead allows the credit to be claimed for any income tax year beginning with the 2019 income tax year. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More
Health care - required head trauma guidelines for organized school athletic activities - physical therapists may authorize youth athletes' return to play. Current law states that if a youth athlete is removed from play because a coach suspects the youth athlete has sustained a concussion in a game, competition, or practice, the coach or other designated personnel shall not permit the youth athlete to return to play or participate in any supervised team activities involving physical exertion until the youth athlete is evaluated by a health care provider and receives written clearance to return to play from the health care provider. The act adds licensed physical therapists with training in pediatric neurology or concussion evaluation and management to the definition of "health care provider" for this purpose.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
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