Under existing law, the state board of education (state board) is required to adopt an approved list of reading assessments, and the department of education (department) is required to adopt advisory lists of literacy programming and professional development in literacy. With regard to the list of approved assessments and the advisory lists, the bill: Clarifies that the assessments and literacy programming must be evidence-based or scientifically based and must be aligned with the state academic standards; Directs the state board and the department to review the approved list of assessments every 4 years and the advisory lists of literacy programming and professional development programs every 2 years; Requires the process for appealing the materials placed on the assessment list or the advisory lists to include appeals by school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools (local education providers) and directs the department to consider certain materials provided by appellants; and Requires the department to ensure that the process for reviewing and adding assessments to the approved list and materials to the advisory lists must include consultation with local education providers and be transparent. The existing statutes specify the portion of the early literacy fund that the department must distribute as grants through the early literacy grant program. The bill allows for an increase in the amount distributed through the early literacy grant program. The bill requires a local education provider, upon the request of the department, to provide specific information explaining how the local education provider spent the per-pupil intervention money it received. The bill expands the purposes for which a local education provider may use the per-pupil intervention money and requires the local education provider to use the money for early-grade reading initiatives rather than replacing money received from other sources. The bill directs the state board, in adopting rules for applying for grants through the early literacy grant program, to ensure that rural school districts and small rural school districts, and district and institute charter schools located within rural and small rural school districts, can submit simplified grant applications. The bill directs the state board to award specified percentages of the total amount allocated for the grant program to applications to fund certain types of programs. The bill directs the commissioner of education (commissioner), by September 1, 2018, to convene a working group to review the creation and use of reading-to-ensure-academic-development (READ) plans by local education providers and to recommend any necessary regulatory or implementation changes to continue and improve the use and effectiveness of READ plans. The commissioner must submit a report of the findings and recommendations to the state board and the education committees of the general assembly by February 1, 2020. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
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Under current law, the department of labor and employment (department) administers the skilled worker, outreach, recruitment, and key training (WORK) grant program, which provides matching grants to eligible public or private entities or organizations that provide skilled worker training programs in partnership with industry. The general assembly is directed to appropriate $10 million for the WORK grant program for the 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 fiscal years. The bill: Extends the program for 3 fiscal years; Specifies deadlines for the department to award and issue matching grants to recipients; Requires the department to develop an expedited application process for eligible applicants; Specifies that the state work force development council (council), rather than the governor, is to appoint members to the WORK grant review committee; Authorizes the executive committee of the council to make grant award determinations; Requires the WORK grant review committee to submit its annual report to the general assembly by December 31 instead of by May 1 and to include the report as part of the Colorado talent pipeline report; Requires the general assembly to appropriate an additional $7.6 million for the WORK grant program for the 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 fiscal years, with not more than $3.3 million in any fiscal year; specifies how the money available for matching grants must be allocated, to the extent possible; and allows the department to expend in the next fiscal year, without further appropriation, money that was not expended or encumbered in the fiscal year for which it was appropriated. $1,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the WORK fund and is further appropriated to the department for the WORK grant program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Wildfire Matters Review Committee. The wildfire matters review committee (WMRC) is currently scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2018. The bill defers the repeal date to September 1, 2025. The bill also eliminates obsolete provisions relating to the WMRC's consideration of codifying the wildland and prescribed fire advisory commission, an entity created by executive order. The WMRC discharged its obligation by considering this issue during the 2014 legislative session. The bill also appropriates $49,125 from the general fund to the legislative department for the 2018-19 state fiscal year for its implementation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
A low-income senior or individual with a disability is currently eligible for 2 types of annual state assistance grants administered by the department of revenue related to his or her property: A grant for their property taxes or rent paid, with the latter being deemed a tax-equivalent payment (property tax and rent assistance grant), and a grant for heat or fuel expenses (heat assistance grant). Together these are commonly known as the 'PTC' rebate. The bill expands the property tax and rent assistance grant by repealing the requirement that rent must be paid to a landlord that pays property tax. For grants claimed for 2018, the bill also increases the: Maximum property tax and rent assistance grant from $700 to $753; Maximum heat assistance grant from $192 to $206; and Flat grant amount, which is the minimum grant amount, from $227 to $244 for the property tax and rent assistance grant and from $73 to $78 for the heat assistance grant, assuming that the actual expenses exceed these amounts. All of these increases reflect inflationary growth since 2014, and all of these amounts will continue to be adjusted annually for inflation. Under current law, the maximum eligible income amounts and the phase-out amount are also annually adjusted for inflation, albeit without being defined as such. The amounts specified for grants claimed for 2018 are the inflation-adjusted amounts, and they will continue to be adjusted for inflation in the future. Obsolete provisions relating to grants claimed for past years are repealed and other provisions relating to grants prior to 2018 are repealed after they become obsolete in the future. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
The bill creates the emergency completion and retention grant program (grant program) in the department of higher education (department). The Colorado commission on higher education implements the grant program by annually distributing an amount to each state institution of higher education (institution) to use in awarding emergency assistance grants to eligible students who are experiencing qualifying fiscal emergencies. The bill describes minimum procedures an institution must adopt for the financial aid director at the institution to award the emergency assistance grants. The commission is required to include in the annual financial aid report submitted to the joint budget committee a summary of the implementation of the grant program and an evaluation of its effect in increasing the retention and completion rates at institutions. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
At the first appearance of a defendant in court or upon arraignment, and before accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the court shall ascertain whether the defendant is currently serving in the United States armed forces or is a veteran of such forces. The court shall inform any such defendant that he or she may be entitled to receive mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, or other services as a veteran. Under current law, the chief judge of a judicial district may establish an appropriate program for the treatment of veterans and members of the military. The bill states that, in establishing any such program, the chief judge, in collaboration with the probation department, the district attorney, and the state public defender, shall establish program guidelines and eligibility criteria. The bill requires a court, in determining whether to issue an order to seal criminal records of a petitioner who has successfully completed a veterans treatment program, to consider such factor favorably in making the determination. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Under current law, in order to receive assistance under the aid to the needy disabled program, an applicant must be examined by a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse, or registered nurse. The bill adds to the list of persons authorized to perform an examination a licensed psychologist, or any other licensed or certified health care personnel the department of human services deems appropriate. Any person who performs an examination is required to certify the diagnosis, prognosis, and other relevant medical or mental factors relating to the applicant's disability. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires a residential landlord to provide each tenant with a copy of a written rental agreement signed by the parties and to give a tenant a contemporaneous receipt for any payment made in person with cash or a money order. For payments not made in person with cash or a money order, the landlord must provide a receipt if the tenant requests it. The landlord may provide the tenant with an electronic copy of the agreement or the receipt unless the tenant requests a paper copy. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
A state employee (employee) is eligible for benefits through the 'State Employee Group Benefits Act' (act) if the employee works or is on paid leave one or more regularly scheduled full workdays in a month. When an employee dies, the benefits provided to the employee and any dependents of the employee through the act end at the end of the month in which the employee died. The bill specifies that dependents of an employee who dies in a work-related death are automatically qualified for the continuation of dental or medical benefits through the act for 12 months from the end of the month in which the work-related death occurred, so long as the dependents had dental or medical benefits pursuant to the act at the time of the employee's work-related death. The dental or medical benefits allowed to dependents shall be the same coverage that the dependents were enrolled in at the time of the employee's work-related death. The state agency that employs an employee at the time of his or her work-related death is required to pay the cost of providing dental or medical benefits on behalf of the employee's dependents for the 12-month period. The director of the department of personnel or the director's designee may promulgate rules necessary to implement the dental or medical benefit coverage continuation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More