When the statewide internet portal authority (SIPA) was created, it was charged with offering information technology products and services to local governments and "state agencies". At that time, SIPA's statute defined "state agency" to have the same meaning as the term was defined in the statute that governed the former office of innovation and technology. That definition defined "state agency" to mean every state office, whether legislative, executive, or judicial, and all of its respective offices, departments, divisions, commissions, boards, bureaus, and institutions, excepting only state-supported institutions of higher education, the department of higher education, the Colorado commission on higher education, or other instrumentality thereof. Subsequent to SIPA's creation, the statutes that governed the former office of innovation and technology were amended to create the office of information technology (OIT), and the definition of "state agency" was narrowed to cover only the agencies to be served by OIT. The statute now excludes the legislative and judicial departments, the departments of law, state, and treasury, state-supported institutions of higher education, and the department of education. The changes to the OIT definition of "state agency" have inadvertently excluded these agencies from the scope of state agencies that may obtain services from SIPA. The act restores the definition of "state agency" in SIPA's statutes to its original scope and also includes higher education institutions and agencies, as the practice has been for SIPA to serve all state agencies, including higher education institutions and agencies. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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The act prohibits a student's assessment score from being indicated on the student's high school transcript. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act creates a requirement that of the 90 hours of professional development training currently required for renewal of a teacher's license during the term of the teacher's license, at least 10 of those hours must include some form of behavioral health training that is culturally responsive and trauma- and evidence-informed and increases awareness of laws and practices relating to educating students with disabilities in the classroom, including child find and inclusive learning environments. The 10 clock hours may be obtained by any combination of related courses, so long as at least 1 of the 10 clock hours is related to behavioral health training and at least 1 of the 10 clock hours is related to educating students with disabilities in the classroom. The act requires teacher preparation programs to include in program graduation requirements that each teacher candidate in an initial educator licensure program complete at least 1 semester- or quarter-length course in behavioral health training that is culturally responsive and trauma- and evidence-informed. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act continues the HOA information and resource center for 5 years, until 2025. The act also precludes an HOA governed by the "Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act" from prohibiting the display of a religious item or symbol on the entry door or entry door frame of a home or condominium, subject to the right of the HOA to limit such displays to a reasonable size or to prohibit displays that are obscene or unlawful or that threaten public health or safety. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Beginning March 1, 2021, the act requires a health care provider (provider) to disclose to patients if the provider has been convicted of a sex offense or has been subject to final agency action resulting in probation or a limitation on practice when the discipline is based in whole or in part on the provider's sexual misconduct. The act specifies the content of the disclosure and requires the provider to obtain the patient's signed agreement to treatment and acknowledgment of receipt of the disclosure before rendering services to the patient. The disclosure requirement ends when a provider has satisfied the requirements of probation or other limitations on the provider's ability to practice. Additionally, a provider is not required to make the disclosure before providing professional services to a patient who is unconscious or otherwise unable to comprehend or sign the disclosure and for whom a guardian is unavailable; who seeks care at an emergency room or freestanding emergency department or at an unscheduled visit; who is unknown to the provider until immediately before the start of the patient visit; or with whom the provider does not have a direct treatment relationship or direct contact. Failure to comply with the requirements of the act constitutes unprofessional conduct or grounds for discipline under the practice act that regulates the provider's profession but does not create a private right of action. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Correctional facilities, school districts, hospitals, and retail food establishments are encouraged to donate apparently wholesome food to local nonprofit organizations for distribution to needy or poor individuals. Correctional facilities, school districts, and hospitals that donate items of food to nonprofit organizations are provided limited immunity from civil and criminal liability, which limited immunity state law already provided to donor retail food establishments. The immunity does not apply to willful, wanton, or reckless acts of donors that result in injury to recipients of the donated foods. A farmer who allows one or more individuals to enter the farmer's property for the purpose of gleaning produce for donation to a nonprofit organization for use or distribution in providing assistance to needy or poor persons is not liable for damages in any civil action or subject to prosecution in any criminal proceeding resulting from an injury to any such individual unless the injury results from a willful or wanton act or omission of the farmer. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act allows a homeless youth who is 15 years of age or older (youth) to consent to receiving shelter or shelter services from a licensed homeless youth shelter. The state department of human services shall promulgate rules for licensed homeless youth shelters to follow when a youth consents to receiving shelter or shelter services. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The bill creates in the department of public health and environment (department) the menstrual hygiene products accessibility grant program (grant program) to provide awards to public schools or school districts in order to provide menstrual hygiene products at no expense to students. The state board of health is required to promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of the grant program. The department shall award grants subject to available appropriations, and may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Water Resources Review Committee. The bill requires the state engineer to employ a minimum of 4 water well inspectors in the state's water well inspection program. The bill requires the state board of water well construction and pump installation contractors, on or before November 1, 2020, to promulgate rules for identifying high-risk water wells that should be prioritized for inspection. Thereafter, the state engineer shall use the rules to identify high-risk water wells and shall prioritize the inspection of high-risk water wells. The bill clarifies that money in the well inspection cash fund shall be appropriated to and expended by the state engineer only for the well inspection program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)