Rep. Polly Lawrence

The bill states that, as used in the existing criminal offense of obstructing a peace officer, firefighter, emergency medical service provider, rescue specialist, or volunteer, the term 'obstacle' includes an unmanned aircraft system. The bill also adds language stating that the offense does not apply to an unmanned aircraft system operator who complies with certain operational requirements. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

The bill authorizes the state treasurer to invest state money in securities issued by a sovereign, national, or supranational entity that are rated at least investment grade by a nationally recognized rating organization. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Under current law, in connection with the use of a special fund (fund) of an urban renewal authority (authority) to collect the increment used to finance urban renewal projects, any additional revenues received by a municipality, county, special district, or school district (collectively, taxing entity) resulting because the voters have authorized the taxing entity to retain and spend such money under the TABOR requirements of the state constitution after the creation of the fund or as a result of an increase in the property tax mill levy approved by the voters of the taxing entity after the creation of the fund, to the extent the total mill levy of any taxing entity exceeds the respective mill levy in effect at the time of approval or substantial modification of the urban renewal plan, are not included in the amount of the increment that is allocated to and, when collected, paid into the special fund. Under the bill, such additional revenues that have been received because of the 2 specified forms of voter-approved revenue changes are restricted from being pledged by an authority for the payment of any bonds of, or any loans or advances to, or any indebtedness incurred by the authority without the consent of the relevant taxing entity. To the extent the authority has received a certain notification specified in the bill, such additional revenues shall then be promptly repaid by the authority to the municipality or other taxing entity. The bill requires the authority to be notified of the amount of additional revenues and the calculations used in computing the amount by the applicable municipality or other taxing entity prior to making repayment and, in any event, not later than February 1 in each fiscal year following the year in which a voter-approved revenue increase has taken effect. The bill permits an authority and a municipality or any other taxing entity to negotiate for the purpose of entering into an agreement on the issues of the amount of repayment, the mechanics of how repayment of the additional revenues will be accomplished, a method for resolving disputes regarding the amount of repayment, and whether the municipality or taxing entity will waive the repayment requirement, singularly or in combination, and are further authorized to enter into an intergovernmental agreement regarding any of these issues. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill requires the public utilities commission (commission) to annually publish a 'state of 911' report. The report must address the commission's activities related to 911 service, the current statewide architecture and operations related to 911 service, 911 network reliability and resiliency, any identified gaps or vulnerabilities in 911 service, national trends and activities, funding, and the implementation of next generation 911. The commission is required to consult with public safety answering points, local 911 governing bodies, and statewide organizations representing public safety agencies in creating the report. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Under the Colorado open records act (CORA), records related to sexual harassment complaints are not open records; except that those records are available to a person making a sexual harassment complaint and the subject of the complaint. The bill makes the judicial department subject to the sexual harassment provision of CORA until May 1, 2021. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The state historical society is currently governed by a board of directors with 9 members appointed by the governor. The bill expands the number of directors to 13. The governor is prohibited from appointing more than 7 members from the same major or minor political party. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Sunset Process - House Transportation and Energy Committee. The bill implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies in its sunset review of the certification of conservation easement holders by: Continuing the certification of conservation easement holders by the conservation easement oversight commission (commission) for 7 years until 2025 (Recommendation 1); and Authorizing the director of the division of real estate (director), in consultation with the commission, to share conservation easement information with a third-party vendor to develop a registry of conservation easements in the state for which conservation easement holders have received tax credits (Recommendation 4) and to annually report on the information as part of its 'State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Act' presentation.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

For income tax years commencing on and after January 1, 2018, the bill reduces both the individual and the corporate state income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.43%. The bill also reduces the state alternative minimum tax by 0.2% for income tax years commencing on and after January 1, 2018. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

The bill creates the veterans outdoor terrain restoration and recreation mental health grant program (program) in the division of veterans affairs within the state department of military and veterans affairs (division) to provide money to nonprofit and for-profit organizations that provide outdoor restoration and recreation activities for veterans. On or before January 1, 2019, the adjutant general, in consultation with the board of veterans affairs, shall adopt rules for the administration of the program, including a requirement that organizations receiving money from the program carry insurance. The veterans outdoor terrain restoration and recreation mental health grant program cash fund is created and consists of any money received by the division as gifts, grants, or donations and such money as is appropriated to the fund by the general assembly. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More

Section 2 of the bill authorizes a parent or legal guardian (representative) to request that a consumer reporting agency place a security freeze on the consumer report of either a minor less than 16 years of age or another individual who is a ward of the representative (protected consumer). If the consumer reporting agency does not yet have a consumer report for the protected consumer at the time that a security freeze is requested, the consumer reporting agency, if requested in writing by the representative, is required to create a consumer record for the protected consumer and place a security freeze on the consumer record. The protected consumer's representative may request that the consumer reporting agency remove the security freeze. A protected consumer who demonstrates to the consumer reporting agency that his or her representative's appointment is no longer valid may have the security freeze removed. A consumer reporting agency is not allowed to charge a fee for the placement, temporary lift, partial lift, or removal of a security freeze on a protected consumer's consumer report or record, or for the creation of a record for a protected consumer. Additionally, a consumer reporting agency is not allowed to charge a fee to place, temporarily lift, partially lift, or permanently remove a security freeze on a consumer report or record of a consumer who is under eighteen years of age. Section 3 requires consumer reporting agencies to provide a notice informing parents or other individuals serving as representatives that they may request a security freeze on the consumer report or record of their child or ward. Section 1 defines the terms "protected consumer", "record", "representative", "sufficient proof of authority", and "sufficient proof of identification", and amends the definition of "security freeze". Sections 4 through 7 make conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More