Rep. Barbara McLachlan

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

The bill clarifies that a local government does not violate state rules if it imposes the following requirements on a driver of an off-highway vehicle: Require seat belts if the vehicle is designed to use them; Require the use of a child restraint system if the vehicle was designed for it; Require the use of eye protection for all occupants; Require the use of a helmet for occupants under the age of 18; or Limit the number of occupants to the number that the off-highway vehicle was designed by the manufacturer to hold or to 2 for all-terrain vehicles. This applies when a person is driving an off-highway vehicle only on a road that has been opened to off-highway vehicle use by the local government or when crossing streets, railroad tracks, bridges, or culverts. A local government may require a driver's license or liability insurance when crossing streets, railroad tracks, bridges, or culverts. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Current law requires the general assembly to make an appropriation from the 'Hesperus account' (account), which comprises the proceeds of or income from the property formerly known as the 'Fort Lewis school', to the board of trustees for Fort Lewis college prior to spending. The bill eliminates the requirement that spending from the account is subject to an appropriation by the general assembly. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill encourages school districts, public schools, charter schools, and institute charter schools (schools) to develop and adopt a student suicide prevention policy (prevention policy) and to designate a staff person to serve as a student suicide prevention coordinator for the school. Each school may select the type of training and programs to use that best suit its individual needs, but schools are encouraged to include in prevention policies: A tiered training approach for school personnel; Life skills, social emotional learning, and resiliency training for students that is integrated throughout all areas of the curricula, to the extent possible; Training for students to effectively educate their peers about suicide risk factors, signs, and symptoms, as well as the importance of reaching out to a trusted adult when needed; Parent education about suicide; and The use of curricula and professional development materials, training, and other resources from the office of suicide prevention (OSP) in the department of public health and environment (department), the school safety resource center in the department of public safety, and the Colorado parent and teacher association. The student suicide prevention grant program for schools (grant program) is created in the department, to be administered by the department. The purpose of the grant program is to provide financial assistance to schools in the development and implementation of prevention policies. The grant program may authorize up to 25 grants per year, ranging between $5,000 and $10,000. The state board of health shall promulgate rules concerning the guidelines and criteria for the grant program. An advisory board is created in the OSP to work in collaboration with the department to make recommendations concerning guidelines and criteria, assist with reviewing grant applications, and make recommendations concerning grant awards. The student suicide prevention grant program for schools fund is created and authorized to accept appropriations from the general assembly, as well as gifts, grants, and donations. The department is required to post on its website available evidence-based best practices and other resources for persons involved in student suicide prevention. The bill makes conforming amendments that authorize the existing office of suicide prevention in statute. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More

The bill makes changes to the teacher loan forgiveness program, renaming it the educator loan forgiveness program (program), and revising the eligibility criteria for the program. The program: Repays up to $5,000 of qualified educational loans for up to 5 years for teachers and other educators employed in qualified positions under the program; and Targets teachers and other educators employed in hard-to-fill positions due to geography or content area. The department of education is required to annually identify the shortage areas that qualify for the program. Subject to available appropriations, the Colorado commission on higher education (commission) shall approve up to 100 new participants in the program each year, and the bill specifies the criteria the commission shall use to prioritize applicants, if necessary. The program includes the educator loan forgiveness fund, and the commission shall adopt policies that ensure that loan repayment is made only on qualified loans for educators in qualified positions. The commission shall prepare an annual report for the general assembly that includes information concerning the shortage areas identified by the department of education and information concerning the program participants. The bill extends the repeal date of the program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More

The bill directs the department of public health and environment (department) to establish a grant program to test for lead in public schools' drinking water. The department will give the highest priority to the oldest public elementary schools, then the oldest public schools that are not elementary schools, and then all other public schools. The department may also consider ability to pay in administering the program. The department is directed to use its best efforts to complete all testing and analysis by June 30, 2020. The public school must provide at least 10% local matching funds and give the test results to its local public health agency, its supplier of water, its school board, and the department. The department may use up to $300,000 per year for 3 years for grants beginning on or after July 1, 2017, from the water quality improvement fund if there is money available after fully funding existing programs. The department shall provide 4 annual reports to the general assembly regarding implementation of the grant program, including any legislative proposals that may be warranted. The bill appropriates $431,803 and 1.3 FTE to the department of public health and environment for the implementation of the act. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current law allows a service retiree of any division of the public employees' retirement association (PERA) to work for a PERA employer for limited periods and to receive a salary without reduction in benefits under certain circumstances. Several rural school districts in the state have recently experienced a shortage of teachers, school bus drivers, and school food services cooks and would ideally address the shortages by hiring service retirees. PERA's employment after retirement provisions, including the limitation on the number of days in a calendar year that a service retiree may work for a PERA employer without a reduction in benefits, make it difficult for school districts to fill their vacancies with retired teachers, school bus drivers, and school food services cooks. The bill modifies the current PERA employment after retirement provisions for certain retirees hired by an employer in the school division if: The employer that hires the service retiree is a rural school district as determined by the department of education based on certain criteria and the school district enrolls 6,500 students or fewer in kindergarten through 12th grade; The school district hires the service retiree for the purpose of providing classroom instruction or school bus transportation to students enrolled by the district or for the purpose of being a school food services cook; and The school district determines that there is a critical shortage of qualified teachers, school bus drivers, or school food services cooks, as applicable, and that the service retiree has specific experience, skills, or qualifications that would benefit the district. A service retiree who is a teacher, a school bus driver, or a school food services cook and who is hired by an employer in the school division that satisfies the criteria above may receive salary without a reduction in benefits for any length of employment in a calendar year if the service retiree has not worked for any PERA employer during the month of the effective date of retirement. In addition, the bill requires the employer that hires the service retiree to provide full payment of all PERA employer contributions, disbursements, and working retiree contributions. The bill also specifies that a service retiree who is a teacher, school bus driver, or food services cook and who is hired by an employer in the school division: Is not required to resume PERA membership; Will not receive a PERA health care premium subsidy; Is eligible to participate in the health plan offered by the employer; May not receive salary without reduction in benefits and without limitation in a calendar year for more than 6 consecutive years; and May not be employed by the school district from which he or she retired until 2 years after retirement if he or she retired without a full service retirement benefit. By December 1, 2020, PERA is required to submit a report including specified information to the general assembly regarding the additional employment after retirement provisions for teachers, school bus drivers, and food services cooks. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current law exempts 'agricultural and livestock products' from the levy and collection of property tax and defines 'agriculture', for purposes of applying the exemption, to include silviculture. Current law also exempts 'agricultural equipment which is used on the farm or ranch in the production of agricultural products' from the levy and collection of property tax. The bill repeals the current exemption and instead clarifies that agricultural equipment includes silviculture personal property that is designed, adapted, and used for the planting, growing, maintenance, or harvesting of trees in a raw or unprocessed state. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill requires the department of higher education in partnership with the department of education to examine recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers and to prepare a strategic plan to address teacher shortages in school districts and public schools within the state. The departments must collaborate with institutions of higher education, school districts, and other education interest groups in preparing the plan. The department of higher education must submit the plan to the Colorado commission on higher education, the state board of education, and the education committees of the general assembly by December 1, 2017. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)