Rep. Polly Lawrence

The bill declares that consumers of electricity have a right to install, interconnect, and use energy storage systems on their property, and that this will enhance the reliability and efficiency of the electric grid, save money, and reduce the need for additional electric generation facilities. The bill directs the Colorado public utilities commission to adopt rules governing the installation, interconnection, and use of customer-sited energy storage systems. (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

Section 2 of the bill authorizes a parent or legal guardian to request that a consumer reporting agency place a security freeze on the consumer report of a minor or other individual who is the legal guardian's ward (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 is required to create a consumer record for the protected consumer and place a security freeze on the consumer record. The protected consumer's guardian may request that the consumer reporting agency temporarily lift the security freeze placed on the protected consumer's consumer report or record, lift the security freeze with respect to a specific third party, or permanently remove the security freeze. A protected consumer who demonstrates to the credit reporting agency that he or she has reached 17 years of age or that his or her guardian'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. Section 1 defines the terms 'guardian', 'protected consumer', 'sufficient proof of authority', and 'sufficient proof of identification', and amends the definition of 'security freeze'. Sections 3 through 6 make conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

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When responding to a solicitation issued by the department of transportation (department), contractors are required to secure a bid in the form of a bond. If the contractor can furnish such bond in the required amount, the bill prohibits the department from eliminating the contractor from consideration of an award based on a financial statement that the contractor submitted to the department for the department's contractor prequalification determination process. The bill specifies that the prohibition applies even if the contractor's financial statement submitted for prequalification purposes indicates that the contractor may not be able to perform the applicable contract to the level and amount reflected in the bond. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The existing all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) program includes the state PACE ombudsman. The bill adds local PACE ombudsmen to the state ombudsman's office (office). The bill contains provisions relating to local PACE ombudsmen, including training, designation as representatives of the office, access to PACE centers and participants, authority to file complaints on behalf of PACE participants, and immunity from liability. The bill includes time frames for the state PACE ombudsman to complete duties and functions of the office, including establishing statewide policies and procedures for investigating and resolving complaints relating to PACE programs and training local PACE ombudsmen. The department of human services shall report to the joint budget committee and to its legislative committee of reference concerning the long-term care ombudsman program and the state PACE ombudsman program, including program caseloads and the need, if any, for additional local ombudsmen. The bill repeals statutory provisions relating to stakeholder recommendations and a report concerning the expansion of the PACE ombudsman program to include local PACE ombudsmen. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current law finances the state's water quality program with a mix of general fund money and fees that are paid by sources that discharge pollutants into the state's waters. Section 2 of the bill raises the fees and establishes goals for future adjustments of the ratio of revenue from fees and the general fund as follows: Commerce and industry sector: 50% general fund and 50% cash funds; Construction sector: 20% general fund and 80% cash funds; Municipal separate storm sewer: 50% general fund and 50% cash funds; Pesticides sector: 94% general fund and 6% cash funds; Public and private utilities sector: 50% general fund and 50% cash funds; and Water quality certifications sector: 5% general fund and 95% cash funds. Section 3 adjusts the reporting by the department of public health and environment on the uses of these funds. Section 5 transfers $809,107 from the water quality improvement fund to the general fund and further allocates that money to the commerce and industry, municipal separate storm sewer, and public and private utilities sector funds. Sections 6 through 13 make a variety of appropriations and adjustments to the 2017 long bill. Section 14 makes the fee increases take effect July 1, 2018.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill requires the division of criminal justice (division) within the department of public safety (department) to report annually to the general assembly certain data relating to substance-affected driving citations that occurred in the previous year. For the purpose of producing the report, the division shall collect certain data from: The state judicial branch; Forensic toxicology laboratories; The department of public health and environment; and The division of probation services. The bill creates a $2 surcharge for persons convicted of substance-affected driving. Money collected as such surcharges must be deposited in the substance-affected driving data-analysis cash fund, which is created in the bill. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Under current law, the commissioner of insurance (commissioner) is authorized to conduct financial examinations and market conduct examinations of companies engaged in the insurance business in Colorado. Financial examinations, which the commissioner conducts on every company domiciled in Colorado once every 5 years, are intended to ensure that regulated insurance companies have proper corporate governance and internal controls and are able to pay claims. Market conduct examinations are intended to ensure that regulated insurance companies are complying with applicable laws and rules and that policyholders, providers, and beneficiaries are treated equitably. Statutes pertaining to both financial examinations and market conduct examinations are intertwined and, in some cases, overlap and conflict. Because of the repeal and relocation of market conduct provisions under sections 2 through 10 of the bill, section 1 of the bill consolidates and relocates provisions that apply generally to the commissioner and the division of insurance (division) regarding confidential treatment of documents the commissioner obtains during an investigation, the subpoena powers of the division, and the commissioner's ability to contract with experts in conducting an investigation. Sections 2 through 10 separate the market conduct examination provisions from the financial examination provisions, repealing and relocating the market conduct examination provisions to a separate part and more clearly delineating the scope and functions of the 2 distinct types of examinations conducted by the commissioner. With regard to market conduct reviews, section 10 also uses the term 'market conduct surveillance' and specifies the types of activities that includes, such as market analysis, interrogatories, and market conduct examinations. Sections 11 through 16 make conforming amendments based on the repeal and relocation of the market conduct examination provisions.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Under current, law a driver who fails to exhibit due care and caution when approaching or passing a stationary emergency vehicle or towing carrier vehicle commits careless driving, which is a class A traffic offense. The bill adds stationary public utility service vehicles to the statute. The bill increases the penalty to a class 1 misdemeanor if the driver's actions are the proximate cause of bodily injury to another person and to a class 6 felony if the actions are the proximate cause of the death of another person. The short title of the bill is the 'Move Over for Cody Act'. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)