The act creates a small business COVID-19 grant program, financed by $20 million from the federal money allocated to the state pursuant to the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act", also referred to as the "CARES Act". The Colorado office of economic development (office) will administer the grant program and the Colorado economic development commission will contract with the Colorado housing and finance authority (CHFA) to operate the grant program. CHFA will work with nonprofit or community-based lenders that will underwrite and distribute the grants to small businesses pursuant to the program. To be eligible for a grant, a small business must have fewer than 25 employees and have been affected by economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A preference is given for a small business that did not qualify for or receive a paycheck protection program loan; is majority owned by veterans, women, or minorities; or is located in a rural area. Individual grant awards are capped at $15,000, and of the total amount allocated for the grant program, $5 million is earmarked, until October 1, 2020, for tourism businesses. The federal money must be spent by December 30, 2020. The office must submit reports on the grant program to the committees of the general assembly with jurisdiction over business affairs. The act appropriates $20,000,000 from the care subfund in the general fund to the office for administration of the small business COVID-19 grant program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Sponsored bills
The act implements recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' sunset review and report on the coal mine board of examiners in the department of natural resources by: Continuing the board for 9 years, until 2029; Defining "commissioner" as the commissioner of mines in the statute that lists the board members; Replacing an obsolete reference to a "flame safety lamp" with a reference to a "digital gas detector"; and Repealing references to "assistant mine foreman" because that is no longer a position held in coal mines.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The bill creates the early college policy development advisory group (advisory group) to design and recommend policies and changes to law to support the statewide development of and funding for early college programs and p-tech schools. The bill specifies the membership of the advisory group, which is appointed by the governor and must include members of the education leadership council, and the specific duties of the advisory group. In completing its duties, the advisory group must coordinate with the education leadership council. The advisory group must prepare an interim report and a final report of its findings and recommendations, and submit the reports by December 1, 2020, and December 1, 2021, respectively, to the governor, the education leadership council, the state board of education (state board), the Colorado commission on higher education (CCHE), and the education committees of the general assembly. The bill creates a legislative advisory council to provide advice and comment to the advisory group. The bill expands the existing concurrent enrollment expansion and innovation grant program to include grants for specified purposes related to providing opportunities for students to simultaneously enroll in postsecondary courses or engage in work-based learning opportunities while enrolled in high school. The bill extends for 2 additional budget years funding for students who enroll in an early college program that was approved before June 6, 2018, and who enroll in postsecondary courses in the fifth or sixth year of high school. The bill authorizes the distribution of state financial assistance to students who enroll in postsecondary courses while still enrolled in high school. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The Special Olympics Colorado fund voluntary contribution is currently scheduled to appear on the state income tax return form for income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, but prior to January 1, 2020. The bill extends the period during which the fund will appear on the form. The fund continues to appear on the form unless the fund fails to receive the minimum contribution required by statute in a certain tax year. The bill also creates a Special Olympics Colorado license plate. To be issued the plate, an applicant must pay a one-time $25 fee and make a donation to a nonprofit organization that: Is headquartered in Colorado; Has been in existence for at least 40 years; Provides year-round sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities; Collaborates with schools throughout Colorado to bring students together, with and without disabilities, through shared activities that include sports, leadership opportunities, and health education and fitness; and Ensures that the donation is spent in Colorado to support athletes with intellectual disabilities.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Current law creates the petroleum cleanup and redevelopment fund to fund corrective action plans for petroleum releases not covered by other programs. If it would enhance environmental protection or improve air quality, the bill authorizes the division of oil and public safety to use up to $2 million in the redevelopment fund to develop, in partnership with a private entity, fuel-cell electric-vehicle projects.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Wildfire Matters Review Committee. The bill establishes the wildfire mitigation resources and best practices grant program (grant program) within the division of local government in the department of local affairs. Grant recipients use grant money to conduct outreach among landowners to inform them of resources available for wildfire mitigation and best practices for wildfire mitigation. The grant program only awards grants to applicants conducting outreach to landowners in high wildfire hazard areas and prioritizes applications based on the potential impact of the applicant's proposed outreach. The bill also extends the increased wildfire mitigation income tax deduction that allows a landowner to claim 100%, rather than 50%, of the costs they incur in performing wildfire mitigation measures. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to reimburse federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) for telemedicine services and clinical pharmacy services provided to medicaid recipients.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill requires the owner or operator of a carpooling service internet application (internet application) to register annually with the department of transportation and disclose to users of the internet application that operational requirements for other transportation services are not being met by the carpooling services provided by drivers matched to users through the internet application. The bill also limits the amount that can be charged to a user through the internet application, the number of passengers that can receive carpooling service at any one time from a driver through the internet application, and the number of round trips that a driver providing carpooling service through the internet application may make in a single day.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Current law requires health insurance carriers (carriers) to provide preventive health insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screenings in accordance with U.S. preventive services task force guidelines. The bill requires carriers to instead provide coverage for colorectal cancer screenings in accordance with American Cancer Society guidelines. The coverage must include coverage for a colonoscopy or other medical test or procedure for colorectal cancer screening and a follow-up colonoscopy, if necessary, and coverage for high-risk individuals additionally provide coverage for persons 45 years of age and older. (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.)