The bill creates the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' continuation of benefits board (board) in the department of the treasury. The board is required to review submissions from counties or municipalities offering law enforcement or fire protection service or any special district or county improvement district in the state offering fire protection service (employers) for the continuation of medical and dental benefits for the dependants of any employee who dies in a work-related death and to oversee the payment of such benefits. The board is composed of the state treasurer, the executive director of the department of public safety, and the executive director of the fire and police pension association, or their designees. The bill specifies that any employer may enter into an agreement with the board to make quarterly contributions to the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' continuation of benefits fund (fund), which is created in the bill, on behalf of each person it employs whose duties are directly involved with the provision of law enforcement or fire protection. Only employers that make contributions to the fund are eligible to have the continuation of benefits for the dependants of an employee who died in a work-related death paid from the fund. The board shall determine the amount of the contribution required by each employer and shall determine the method by which each employer shall pay the quarterly contribution to the fund. The bill does not prohibit an employer that chooses not to make contributions to the fund from independently paying for the continuation of benefits for the dependents of any person it employs and who dies in a work-related death. The bill specifies that the dependents of an employee who dies in a work-related death are automatically qualified for the continuation of medical and dental benefits through the employer's medical and dental benefit coverage for 12 months from the end of the month in which the work-related death occurred, so long as the dependents had medical or dental benefits through the employer at the time of the employee's work-related death. The board will pay the cost of providing medical or dental benefits on behalf of the employee's dependents from the fund only if the employer has an agreement with the board to make contributions to the fund. At any time, if an employee dies from a work-related death and the money in the fund is insufficient to cover the costs of continuation of benefits for the dependents of the employee, the bill directs the state treasurer to advance sufficient money from the state treasury to cover such costs and to be repaid by the board on a schedule to be set by the board. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
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The bill allows foster parents access to certain information regarding a foster child or prospective foster child, including judicial information and education records. The bill requires that a county prioritize child care assistance for certified foster parents and certified kinship foster parents and for noncertified kinship care providers that provide care for children with an open child welfare case. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The starting point for determining state income tax liability is federal taxable income. This number is adjusted for additions and subtractions (deductions) that are used to determine Colorado taxable income, which amount is multiplied by the state's 4.63% income tax rate. The bill allows an individual who is under 55 years old and whose military retirement benefits are less than $40,000 to claim a deduction in the following amount: For the 2019 income tax year, 25% of the individual's military retirement benefits; For the 2020 income tax year, 50% of the individual's military retirement benefits or $10,000, whichever is less; and For the 2021 and 2022 income tax years, the individual's military retirement benefits or $10,000, whichever is less. The bill also requires the department of revenue, as part of its tax profile and expenditure report, to estimate the number of individuals who claim the new deduction for the 2019 income tax year, and of those, the number who are first-time filers in the state. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill creates a pilot program in the department of human services (department) to determine and, if appropriate, establish the safety and effectiveness of allowing a licensed psychiatrist to petition the court for authority to administer medications in a jail over the objection of a respondent. The advisory board to the department (advisory board) shall approve any applying jail for participation in the pilot program if it has established a contract with a facility designated by the department and also meets the minimum criteria established in the bill. Prior to approving a jail to participate in the pilot program, the advisory board shall seek input from a membership association that represents defense attorneys with experience working with respondents with mental health issues. The advisory board shall only authorize a maximum of 5 jails to participate in the pilot program. The pilot program will be monitored by the office of behavioral health. The office of behavioral health and the sheriff or appropriate law enforcement for a jail applying to participate in the pilot program shall collaboratively develop requirements for a participating jail. Requirements for information and affirmations are to be included in the petition to the court. The department is required to report on the pilot program on or before December 31, 2021. The pilot program is repealed, effective September 1, 2022. Language is clarified concerning hearings and jurisdiction in cases brought to the court for mental health proceedings, including involuntary administration of medications and certifications. If such a case is presented to a jury, the jury shall only hear evidence on the issue of whether the person has a mental health disorder and, as a result of such mental health disorder, is a danger to others or to himself or herself or is gravely disabled. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
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The bill allows private employers to give preference to veterans when hiring, promoting, and retaining employees as long as the veterans are equally as qualified as other individuals. The bill clarifies that employers who adopt a program that gives preferences to veterans are not committing a discriminatory or unfair labor practice. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill creates a new license, referred to as a 'freestanding emergency department license', for the department of public health and environment (CDPHE) to issue on or after July 1, 2021, to a health facility that offers emergency care, that may offer primary and urgent care services, and that is either: Owned or operated by, or affiliated with, a hospital or hospital system and is located more than 250 yards from the main campus of the hospital; or Independent from and not operated by or affiliated with a hospital or hospital system and is not attached to or situated within 250 yards of, or contained within, a hospital. The state board of health is to adopt rules regarding the new license, including rules to set licensure requirements and fees, safety and care standards, and staffing requirements. A health facility with a freestanding emergency department license is limited in the amount of facility fees the facility can charge patients. CDPHE may fine or take action on the license of a freestanding emergency department that charges facility fees in violation of the limits established in the bill, in accordance with the rules established by the state board of health. The bill appropriates $29,411 from the health facilities general licensure cash fund to the department of public health and environment to implement the bill. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The concurrent resolution denies a person the right to bail if the person has committed a serious felony offense or a serious offense involving driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as determined by law, when the proof is evident or presumption is great as to the commission of the offense and the person is in this country illegally.(Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as introduced.) 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
The bill repeals the behavioral health transformation council (council). Section 1 of the bill repeals the council, and section 2 repeals the automatic termination date of the council pursuant to the sunset law. Sections 3 to 6 make conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More