Rep. Ron Weinberg

The concurrent resolution creates a constitutional right that children have equal opportunity to and access to a quality education, that parents, guardians, and legal custodians have the right to direct the education of their children through school choice, and that parents, guardians, and legal custodians may choose school choice options for their children, including neighborhood schools, charter schools, private schools, home schools, open enrollment options, or future innovations in education.(Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as introduced.)

The snowmobile recreation fund is used to, among other things, establish and maintain snowmobile trails and related facilities. A resident of Colorado who uses a snowmobile on publicly owned land must register the snowmobile and pay a fee, which is deposited in the snowmobile recreation fund. The act replaces a $5 per registration cap with a 17% cap on the amount of the fee that can be used for administration purposes. The act creates an out-of-state snowmobile permit that an owner or operator of an out-of-state snowmobile must obtain and display to drive the snowmobile on publicly owned land. To get the permit, the owner must pay a fee in an amount set by the parks and wildlife commission. Exceptions are created for snowmobiles: Owned by governments; Operated in an organized event authorized by the government with jurisdiction over the land on which the snowmobile is operated; and Operated on publicly owned land for nonrecreational purposes. Concerning the requirement to register a snowmobile, the current exception on private-land commercial use is extended to all private land use by repealing the commercial use element. The fine for a violation is $100. Permits are valid for one year from October 1 to September 30 and are issued by agents of the director of the division of parks and wildlife. A search and rescue program pays for backcountry search and rescue operations. Snowmobile and off-highway vehicle registrations require the payment of a search and rescue fee, which entitles the payer of the fee to be covered by the program. The act adds the search and rescue fee to out-of-state snowmobile permits and off-highway use permits. APPROVED by Governor April 11, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act authorizes the driver of a 2-wheeled motorcycle to overtake or pass another motor vehicle in the same lane if: The traffic is stopped; The road has lanes wide enough to pass safely; The motorcycle is moving at 15 miles per hour or less; and Conditions permit prudent operation of the motorcycle while overtaking or passing. A motorcycle driver overtaking or passing under the act must not overtake or pass: On the right shoulder; To the right of a vehicle in the farthest right-hand lane if the highway is not limited access; or In a lane of traffic moving in the opposite direction. The authorization to overtake or pass is repealed, effective September 1, 2027. Before the repeal, the Colorado department of transportation will analyze safety data on the act and issue a report to the general assembly. APPROVED by Governor April 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill requires that schools built, purchased, or leased and school buses purchased or leased on or after July 1, 2024, be air conditioned. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Beginning January 1, 2025, for services or procedures for which informed consent is required and that are being provided or performed in a licensed health-care facility, the bill requires a health-care provider (provider) providing or performing the service or procedure and the provider obtaining informed consent, if a different provider, to disclose to patients, in writing and through the wearing of a photo identification badge when in a patient's presence, the following identification information relevant to the service or procedure provided or performed: The provider's name; The provider's employer and job title; The provider's academic degree, credentials, or training; and The provider's professional credential issued by the department of regulatory agencies or a professional board or commission. Willful or repeated failure to comply with this requirement constitutes unprofessional conduct or grounds for discipline under the law governing the provider's professional license, certificate, or registration. In addition, the bill requires that health-care facilities licensed or certified in this state require that health-care providers comply with the identification and badge requirements. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Colorado Youth Advisory Council Review Committee. The bill creates the licensed school mental health professional loan repayment program (program) in the department of higher education. The purpose of the program is to provide loan repayment of up to $10,000 to eligible school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers who provide mental health services to students who have limited access to mental health services. The commission on higher education (commission) administers the program. The bill creates in the state treasury the licensed school mental health professional loan repayment program fund. The bill requires that the commission submit an annual report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate on or before October 31 of each year the program is operational. The program repeals on July 1, 2029. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

For the purpose of determining eligibility for workers' compensation benefits for a mental impairment caused by an accidental injury that consists of a psychologically traumatic event arising out of and sustained in the course of employment, the bill establishes that a worker who, while working, experiences complex trauma that causes posttraumatic stress disorder is experiencing a "psychologically traumatic event".(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

A bill is exempt from the referendum power described in the state constitution if there is a safety clause on the bill. This bill creates a referendum power committee of the house of representatives and a referendum committee of the senate (committees) to review the use of the safety clause on bills. These committees are required to meet during the legislative session to review every bill that is introduced with a safety clause. More specifically, these committees determine whether the use of the safety clause on a bill is appropriate. If one of the committees determines that the use of the safety clause on a bill is not appropriate, the committee is required to replace the safety clause on the bill.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

For the 2023 property tax year, the bill increases the maximum amount of actual value of the owner-occupied residence of a qualifying senior, veteran with a disability, or surviving spouse of a veteran with a disability that is exempt from property taxation from $200,000 to $325,000. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)