Rep. Andy Boesenecker

The water quality control division (division) administers a program to test for and remediate water quality issues for mobile home parks (program). The program tests for water quality issues that pose a risk to not only health or safety but also the welfare of park residents. The act authorizes the division to require remediation of welfare-related water quality violations.     One of the requirements of the program is for the park owner to certify that the park owner has made certain water-quality-related notices to park residents. The act authorizes the division to issue an order requiring the park owner to comply with the park resident notice certification requirement.     Under the program, the park owner is prohibited from imposing the cost of compliance with certain remediation-related requirements on park residents. The act authorizes a park owner who is also a park resident to bear this cost.     The program authorizes the division to issue orders requiring the park owner to perform additional water testing, perform temporary measures necessary to address acute health risks, make additional reports to the division, create a remediation plan, implement a remediation plan, or respond to the division in connection with a remediation plan. The act clarifies that a park owner may ask for a hearing only regarding the orders that concern remediation plans.     The act also clarifies that:The division has authority to enforce the requirements of the program; andThe division has authority to issue cease-and-desist orders to address violations related to the program, regardless of whether the issues are related to water quality violations.     The act also provides that:An additional monthly penalty of up to $5,000 for a continuing violation may be imposed for the first 30 days of noncompliance; andA park owner is not entitled to an administrative hearing to contest an imposed civil penalty but may seek judicial review.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires a law enforcement entity that receives a report alleging an offense involving sexual assault or abuse of a child to conduct a minimal facts interview and record certain information, including the child's name, the alleged offender's name, and a summary of the alleged incident. After receiving the report, a law enforcement entity must notify a child advocacy center within the judicial district where the alleged crime occurred, or another appropriate child advocacy center, within one week after taking the report. The law enforcement entity is required to collaborate with the child advocacy center in requesting a forensic interview for the alleged child victim if the law enforcement entity deems a forensic interview is necessary and appropriate.     The act changes the definition of a child witness for purposes of testifying using closed-circuit television from a person who is 12 years old or younger, to a person who is younger than 18 years old. The act requires a judge to make findings on the record regarding a witness who is a child or a person who has an intellectual and developmental disability, specifically, if the witness will suffer serious emotional distress or trauma from courtroom testimony when the defendant is present.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Maddy summaryHB 1305 allows remote psychiatric inpatient facilities in Colorado to operate under a main hospital's general license instead of needing separate psychiatric hospital licensing, provided they meet specific criteria. These facilities must be located within 35 miles of a main hospital in a rural area, offer 17+ inpatient beds, meet all psychiatric hospital standards, and maintain federal provider-based status. The main hospital remains responsible for all licensing enforcement actions related to the remote location, and the facility must pay a separate licensing fee. This change aims to streamline operations while maintaining regulatory oversight through the main hospital's license.

Existing law specifies that an individual must be a certified death investigator or forensic pathologist to be eligible to hold the office of county coroner in a county with a population greater than 150,000. The act changes this requirement to apply in a county with a population greater than 300,000. The act also requires a county coroner to disclose, on the coroner's website, their financial interest in businesses regulated by their office, including a mortuary, funeral home, crematory, embalming service, or other death-care business. A coroner who has disclosed a financial interest shall not participate in an official action that would directly and specifically affect the business in which the coroner has a financial interest. The act does not prohibit a coroner or candidate for coroner from operating a death-care business.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill provides that, on or after December 31, 2027, subject to an administrative approval process, a subject jurisdiction shall approve the a lot split of an original lot into 2 new lots if the following conditions are met: The area of the original lot is 2,000 square feet or greater before the split; The lot split does not create a new lot that is smaller than 1,200 square feet in area;If the 2 new lots are not equal in area, the area of the smaller of the 2 new lots is equal to or greater than 40% 30% of the area of the original lot;The original lot is not subject to any previously recorded was never subject to another lot split;Residential use is allowed on the original lot; It is feasible for both of the new lots to be accessed; for utility easements to serve both new lots; and for both new lots to meet land survey plat and monument records requirements;The original lot is not an exempt lot; andThe original lot is not located within a common interest community that was created on or before December 31, 2027.      A subject jurisdiction may establish procedures to review and accept information related to a proposed lot split, including lot information related to:Property ownership;Physical characteristics of the lot, including geology and soils;Proposed new lot lines and new lot areas;Adequacy of water supply, sewer service, and drainage systems to serve the new lots;Adequacy of electric power and natural gas service to serve the new lots;Dedication for schools, parks, streets, and other public areas, or payment of money in lieu of such dedication; andGuarantees of necessary public improvements.      A subject jurisdiction:Shall not apply a setback standard that requires a setback from the lot line adjoining 2 new lots created through a lot split if no structure existed on the original lot immediately preceding the lot split; andMay apply a setback standard that requires a setback from the lot line adjoining 2 new lots created through a lot split if a structure existed on the original lot immediately preceding the lot split and if the setback is equal to or less than 5 feet.     If an original lot or any structure built on the original lot is subject to an evidence of debt constituting a residential mortgage loan lien , then prior to approving the split of an original a lot split , a subject jurisdiction shall verify that the holder of the evidence of debt constituting a residential mortgage loan (holder) lienholder has received notice of the proposed lot split and has consented to the lot split in writing. The holder lienholder may condition consent to the lot split on the satisfaction of specified conditions.     The written consent of the holder must be executed in a form that is eligible for recording in the real property records of the county in which the original lot is located and must include:The notarized signature of the holder lienholder or the agent of the holder lienholder ;The name of the record owner or ground lessee of the original lot;The legal description of the original lot; andThe identities of all parties with an interest in the original lot, as reflected in the real property records. records, including any easements and encumbrances.     The written consent of the holder lienholder must be recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the original lot is located. If the holder lienholder does not provide written consent to the lot split, the subject jurisdiction shall not approve the lot split. A lot split that is approved before the written consent of the lienholder has been obtained and recorded is void.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes that Colorado lawmakers consider adding guaranteed lifetime income options to the state public employees' retirement defined contribution plan and voluntary savings plans. The measure aims to ensure public employees have access to a reliable income stream in retirement, similar to what is already available in the state's traditional defined benefit plan. By allowing workers to choose options that provide lifetime payouts, the bill seeks to improve retirement security and financial confidence for over 226,000 active public employees. The resolution encourages the General Assembly to study how these new options could help workers retire with dignity while maintaining the portability of their savings.

The act requires the state board of veterinary medicine (board) to review and update the existing process by which an individual who has a license to practice veterinary medicine in another state may be licensed by endorsement to practice veterinary medicine in Colorado. The board shall adopt rules with the intent to expedite the licensure by endorsement process, including eliminating duplicative requirements and streamlining the pathway to licensure.     The act clarifies that a veterinarian who administers, dispenses, distributes, or prescribes medicine to a patient in an emergency situation is not acting as a pharmacist or conducting the practice of pharmacy, and, as such, is not subject to discipline by the state board of pharmacy.     The act relocates certain provisions specific to the practice of veterinary medicine from regulation by the state board of pharmacy to regulation under Colorado's veterinary practice act.     Under current law, the board must approve a credentialing organization for the purpose of credentialing veterinary technicians, which credentialing organization must require the completion of an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited program for veterinary technicians. The act updates the requirement to require the completion of an accredited program for veterinary technicians offered by other associations.     The act also establishes a veterinary prescription drug donation program. An owner of an animal may donate unused veterinary drugs that have been prescribed to the owner to a licensed veterinarian or an animal shelter. A licensed veterinarian may use any drugs accepted through donation if the veterinarian and drugs meet certain conditions.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act clarifies that municipal court defendants have a right to counsel and that municipal defense counsel have the same notice requirements, case information, and opportunity to meet with their clients as do state-level defense counsel. Current law prohibits paying indigent municipal defense counsel on a fixed or flat-fee payment structure if the municipality prosecutes domestic violence cases. The act applies the prohibition to all municipalities and allows a flat fee arrangement if the flat fee is the same or higher than a resulting fee based on hourly compensation.     Current law requires municipal court proceedings to be open to public observation. The act requires virtual observation for all in-custody proceedings and prompt resolution of municipal cases.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

If a mental health provider, substance use disorder provider, or psychiatric nurse (provider) has not submitted a claim for a period of at least 12 months, the act requires a commercial insurance carrier (carrier) to contact the provider to confirm the provider's participation in the carrier's provider network and to determine whether the provider is accepting new patients.     The act includes mental health providers, substance use disorder providers, and psychiatric nurses as providers who may participate in a carrier's provider network.     The act requires carriers to admit prelicensed providers into the carrier's network and to reimburse prelicensed providers for services rendered when provided under the supervision of a mental health provider, substance use disorder provider, or psychiatric nurse.     The act requires a clinical social worker to complete 3,000 hours of practice prior to licensure.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill requires that, on or after October 1, 2031, a subject jurisdiction shall not require:That a parcel lot have an area larger than 2,000 square feet if the parcel's lot's residential use is limited to a single family home; or Minimum lot frontage, setbacks, open space, or maximum lot coverage dimensions that have the practical effect of preventing the construction of a single family home on a lot that has an area of 2,000 square feet and that has a residential use limited to a single family home.The bill exempts certain types of parcels lots from this requirement.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)