Water Resources Review Committee. The bill codifies rules promulgated by the water quality control commission (commission) of the Colorado department of public health and environment concerning allowable uses of reclaimed domestic wastewater, which is wastewater that has been treated for subsequent reuses other than drinking water. Section 3 of the bill defines 3 categories of water quality standards for reclaimed domestic wastewater, sets forth the allowable uses for each water quality standard category, and adds industrial hemp cultivation as an allowable use for reclaimed domestic wastewater when the industrial hemp is not used as a food crop. Section 3 also authorizes the commission to establish new categories of water quality standards and to recategorize any use of reclaimed domestic wastewater to a less stringent category of water quality standard. Section 3 also authorizes the division of administration in the department of public health and environment to grant variances for uses of reclaimed domestic wastewater. Sections 1, 2, and 4 make conforming amendments.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
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The bill allows the public utilities commission to approve, and electric utilities to charge, economic development rates, which are lower rates for commercial and industrial users who locate or expand their operations in Colorado so as to increase the demand by at least 3 megawatts. To qualify for the economic development rates, these users must demonstrate that the cost of electricity is a critical consideration in their decision where to locate or expand their business and that the availability of lower rates is a substantial factor. The rates may be offered for up to 10 years. The bill also authorizes the expansion of a voluntary renewable energy program or service offering as necessary to meet the needs of a commercial or industrial customer that makes a capital investment of $250 million or more, requires the expansion in order to remain as a customer of a utility, or is a new customer. Utilities that offer economic development rates shall not cross-subsidize the economic development rates by raising rates on other customers, and a utility bears the burden of proof on this issue in any proceeding before the commission. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Committee on Legal Services - Revisor's Bill. To improve the clarity and certainty of the statutes, the bill amends, repeals, and reconstructs various statutory provisions of law that are obsolete, imperfect, or inoperative. The specific reasons for each amendment or repeal are set forth in the appendix to the bill. The amendments made by the bill are not intended to change the meaning or intent of the statutes, as amended.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
Under current law, a person may file a civil action in county court if the value of the claim is $15,000 or less. The bill increases that limit to $35,000 or less. When the debt, damage, or value of the personal property claimed is $15,000 or less, then attorney fees are not included in the value of the claim, but when the debt, damage, or value of the personal property claimed exceeds $15,000, then attorney fees are included in the value of the claim. The bill changes the filing fees in county court and sets those fees based on the amount of the money judgment sought. The bill increases the district court filing fee for specified parties. The bill allocates county court and district court filing fees. The bill is effective January 1, 2019. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Current law requires state agencies to give a licensee: Notice of facts or conduct that may warrant revocation, suspension, annulment, limitation, or modification of a license; An opportunity to submit written data, views, and arguments with respect to the facts or conduct; and A reasonable opportunity to comply with all lawful requirements except for a willful violation or violation that is a danger to public health and safety. When a matter pertains to an individual who is licensed to practice an occupation, if mediation is ordered, section 2 of the bill requires a state agency to do the following upon the motion of the agency or licensee after the licensee receives the notice of hearing: To include a person who has authority to make prehearing decisions concerning disposition of the issue in settlement and mediation meetings and communications with the licensee; and To include a public or private mediator—at the expense of the licensee when the mediator is privately retained—upon the licensee's request. Administrative law judges are instructed to make themselves available for mediation, without cost, if feasible. Procedures are set for mediation. If mediation fails, the agency may continue to seek discipline upon instituting a disciplinary hearing against a licensee. The office of administrative courts and the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies are required to report to specified legislative committees certain information about hearings, mediations, and proceedings held between July 2019 and July 2021. Section 3 of the bill clarifies that a court may overturn discipline for a failure to follow the requirements of current law or to submit to mediation. $125,356 is appropriated to the department of regulatory agencies from the division of professions and occupations cash fund to implement the bill. From that appropriation $19,917 is appropriated to the department of personnel for use by the office of administrative courts and $64,575 is appropriated to the department of law. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill permits a municipality or county to adopt a local ordinance or resolution regulating the operation of bicycles approaching intersections with stop signs or illuminated red traffic control signals. The ordinance shall not, however, apply to any portion of the state highway system. Under a local regulation, a bicyclist approaching a stop sign must slow to a reasonable speed and, when safe to do so, may proceed through the intersection without stopping. A bicyclist approaching an illuminated red traffic control signal must stop at the intersection and, when safe to do so, may proceed through the intersection. The bill sets the reasonable speed limit at 15 miles per hour. However, a municipality or county may lower the reasonable speed to 10 miles per hour or raise the limit to 20 miles per hour at any individual intersection. If the local government sets a lower or higher reasonable speed limit, the local government must post signage indicating that speed limit at the intersection. If the municipality or county adopts an ordinance or resolution pursuant to the act, it must be consistent with the act. An ordinance adopted before the effective date of the act that similarly regulates bicycles remains valid. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill prohibits the governor from involving Colorado in any state-level climate collaboration that attempts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions or to otherwise promote the goals of the Paris Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
Under current law, a person is required to register as a sex offender (registrant) in Colorado if he or she is a Colorado resident and is required to register in another state. The bill allows a person to petition the court for an order that discontinues the requirement for registration for offense classifications that would not be required to register for if convicted in Colorado. In addition, a registrant is required to register in person at his or her local law enforcement agency. The bill allows the law enforcement agency to waive the in-person registration requirement after initial registration if the person suffers from a chronic physical or intellectual disability to the extent that it is a severe hardship to register in person and there is a medical record of the disability. If the waiver is authorized, the law enforcement agency must reregister the registrant after verifying the registrant's address and provide documentation of the waiver to the Colorado bureau of investigation and any other law enforcement agency with which the person registers. Under current law, specified registrants can file a petition to discontinue registration. The bill requires the court to grant a petition to discontinue registration if the registrant has successfully completed his or her sentence, the registrant has not been convicted of a subsequent sex offense, and the required waiting period has expired unless the prosecuting attorney or victim objects and presents credible evidence that the registrant is likely to commit a subsequent offense of unlawful sexual behavior. Notwithstanding any statutory barriers to the contrary, the bill allows a registrant or his or her legal representative to file a petition to discontinue registration if the registrant is permanently incapacitated and does not present an unreasonable public safety risk. The court shall grant the petition if the petitioner shows that the registrant is incapacitated, does not present an unreasonable public safety risk, and is not likely to commit a subsequent sex offense. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires the broadband deployment board, on or before January 1, 2019, to petition the federal communications commission (FCC) for a waiver from the FCC's rules prohibiting a state entity from applying for federal money earmarked for broadband deployment in remote areas of the nation through the remote areas fund created as part of the connect America fund established by the FCC. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Last session, Senate Bill 17-115 expanded the group of people who, if they possessed sexually exploitative material in the performance of their duties, could not commit sexual exploitation of a child to all law enforcement personnel and defense counsel personnel. The bill clarifies that the sexual exploitation of a child statute does not change the discovery procedure for sexually exploitative materials and that the defendant and defense counsel personnel are not allowed to receive copies of the materials. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More