Rep. Alex Valdez

The bill specifies the standard of care that each animal shelter and pet animal rescue is required to provide each dog and cat held in its custody. The bill also requires each animal shelter and pet animal rescue to adopt out each dog and cat in its custody, return the animal to its owner, or transfer it to another animal shelter or pet animal rescue if the dog or cat: Exhibits no signs of illness or injury or exhibits signs of illness or injury for which there is a realistic prognosis for a good quality of life; Demonstrates a willingness to interact socially with humans; and Has not exhibited behavior that is likely to result in bodily injury or death to another animal or human being.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Instead of the international symbol of accessibility icon of a character in a wheelchair, any required accessibility signage in a facility must depict an accessible icon with a more dynamic character who leans forward in the wheelchair and who shows a sense of movement. This requirement applies to the construction, acquisition, or substantial renovation of any facility that contains 5,000 or more gross square feet, undertaken on and after the date the state architect obtains approval from the United States department of justice that, on a statewide basis, the accessible icon provides equal or greater access to persons with disabilities and is thus an equivalent facilitation under the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990". The state architect is required, with assistance from the Colorado advisory council for persons with disabilities, to seek this approval no later than January 1, 2021. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill repeals language that prohibits local governments from banning the use or sale of specific types of plastic materials or restricting or mandating packaging or labeling of any consumer products. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Building regulations - energy efficient building code standards required - reporting. The act requires local jurisdictions to adopt one of the 3 most recent versions of the international energy conservation code at a minimum, upon updating any other building code, and encourages local jurisdictions to update the Colorado energy office on any changes to the jurisdictions' building and energy codes.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Electric utilities - solar energy - community solar gardens - allowable size and location - standards for construction and installation of components. The act amends the current statute authorizing the creation of community solar gardens (CSGs) by: Increasing the maximum size of a CSG from 2 megawatts to 5 megawatts, with the option for the public utilities commission (PUC) to authorize construction of a CSG up to 10 megawatts beginning July 1, 2023; Removing the requirement that a CSG subscriber's identified physical location be in the same county as, or a county adjacent to, that of the CSG, while retaining the requirement that it be within the service territory of the same investor-owned utility; and Requiring all photovoltaic electrical work on a CSG of greater than 2 megawatts to be supervised by a licensed master electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, or licensed residential wireman, and comply with all applicable electrical codes and standards. If an investor-owned utility owns all or part of a CSG, the utility is required to use either its own employees or a contractor whose employees have access to specified apprenticeship programs to operate and maintain the CSG. Beginning in 2020, all photovoltaic electrical work for installations of at least 300 kilowatts must be performed by a licensed master electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, licensed residential wireman, or properly supervised electrical apprentices and must comply with all applicable electrical codes and standards. The PUC shall determine the conditions under which a subscriber to a CSG may choose to retain or sell the renewable energy credits attributable to the subscriber's participation in the CSG. Section 4 of the act is contingent upon House Bill 19-1172 becoming law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Regulated marijuana - delivery - rule-making authority - surcharge - limitations - local authorization - appropriation. The act creates marijuana delivery permits for licensed medical marijuana centers and transporters and licensed retail marijuana stores and transporters that allow the centers, stores, and transporters to deliver medical marijuana, medical marijuana-infused products, retail marijuana, and retail marijuana products to customers. The act gives the state licensing authority rule-making authority over the permit and delivery system. The act specifies that a permit is valid for one year and may be renewed with the associated license. A one-dollar surcharge is assessed on each delivery, and that money is remitted to the municipality where the center or store is located, or to the county if the center or store is in an unincorporated area, for local law enforcement costs related to marijuana enforcement. Deliveries are limited to one per day, limited to private residences, and may not be made to college campuses. The act provides protection against criminal prosecution for those making the deliveries. Delivery is only allowed in a jurisdiction if that jurisdiction has voted to allow delivery either by referendum or by the governing board of the jurisdiction. Medical marijuana delivery permitting for medical marijuana centers begins on January 2, 2020, and medical marijuana delivery permitting for medical marijuana transporters, and all retail marijuana delivery permitting, begins on January 2, 2021. The act requires responsible vendor training programs to include marijuana delivery training. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $390,152 from the marijuana cash fund to the department of revenue. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Alcohol regulation - licensed premises - National Western Center. The act authorizes the city and county of Denver to promulgate an ordinance authorizing a person to remove an alcohol beverage from the licensed premises of a vendor within the National Western Center so long as the person does not leave the National Western Center.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More