The bill specifies that, if a student enrolled in kindergarten or one of grades one through 3 is an English language learner, the school district or charter school in which the student is enrolled will decide whether the student takes the reading assessments in English or in the student's native language if there is an approved assessment available in the student's native language. If the student takes the assessments in his or her native language, the school district or charter school may also administer the assessments in English if requested by the student's parent. If a student who is an English language learner takes the reading assessments in his or her native language, the school district or charter school must determine the level of English proficiency at which the student will take the reading assessments in English and communicate that proficiency level to the student's parent. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Sponsored bills
A qualified investor who, prior to January 1, 2018, makes an equity investment in a qualified small business from an advanced industry is allowed an income tax credit that is equal to a percentage of the investment, up to a maximum credit of $50,000. The Colorado office of economic development (office) determines the eligibility for the tax credits and issues nontransferable tax credit certificates that are used to claim the credit. The maximum amount of tax credits allowed for a calendar year is $750,000. The bill extends the credit by allowing qualified investments made on or after January 1, 2018, but prior to January 1, 2023, to qualify for the tax credit. From 2019 through 2022, the total maximum amount of credits for a calendar year is increased to $1.5 million. Beginning with the 2018 calendar year, if the office authorizes less than this amount in a year, then the remaining, unused credits are added to the next year's total maximum amount. In addition, the definition of 'qualified small business' is expanded to include a company that has annual revenues of less than $5 million or that has been actively operating and generating revenue for less than 5 years. Currently, a business must meet both criteria, in addition to other criteria that will continue to apply. The advanced industry investment tax credit cash fund, which was started with money transferred from another cash fund and has no current revenue source, is repealed. In 2022, the office is required to submit to legislative committees a report that includes information about the tax credits issued after January 1, 2018, and the economic benefits from the related qualified investments. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill amends the statutes relating to the early childhood leadership commission (commission) in the department of human services (department) as follows: Makes changes to the legislative declaration, mission, and duties of the commission to include consideration of families of pregnant women and children; Repeals the early childhood leadership commission fund. Changes the title of the person appointed to assist the department in fulfilling the duties of the commission from 'executive director' to 'director'; Removes the requirement that the director be compensated from money credited to the early childhood leadership commission fund, and instead requires that the director be compensated with federal funds or gift, grants, or donations, and not with money from the general fund; Permits the commission to seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations for the expenses of the commission; and Extends the repeal date and sunset review of the commission prior to its repeal from 2018 to 2023.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill requires the center of excellence (center) within the division of fire prevention and control within the department of public safety (department), upon receiving sufficient money in the form of gifts, grants, and donations, to conduct a study concerning the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within state and local government operations that relate to certain public-safety functions (study). At a minimum, the study must: Identify the most feasible and readily available ways to integrate UAS technology within local and state government functions relating to firefighting, search and rescue, accident reconstruction, and emergency management; and Include consideration of privacy concerns, costs, and timeliness of deployment. The bill also creates, upon receipt of sufficient money in the form of gifts, grants, and donations, a UAS pilot program (pilot program) to integrate UAS within state and local government operations that relate to certain public-safety functions. The bill requires the center to operate the pilot program. Not later than one month after completing the study, the center shall submit a report to the wildfire matters review committee and to the judiciary committees of the house of representatives and senate, or to any successor committees. The report must address each item of the center's study, as well as the results of the pilot program. The bill adds the study and the pilot program as permissible uses of money from the existing Colorado firefighting air corps fund. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill provides that the state board of education may issue an alternative teacher license to an applicant who agrees to participate fully in a one- or 2-year alternative teacher program provided by a designated agency, which may include working in a nonpublic child care facility or other preschool facility. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2018, but prior to January 1, 2022, the bill creates a state income tax credit for a donation a taxpayer makes to a sponsor that is used solely for the costs associated with an employer-assisted eligible activity in a rural area. The bill defines 'sponsor' to mean the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, a housing authority operated by a county or municipality, or a nonprofit corporation that has been designated as community development corporation under the federal tax code. The amount of the credit allowed by the bill is 20% of the approved amount of the donation as documented in a form and manner acceptable to the department of revenue (department); except that the aggregate amount of the credit awarded to any one taxpayer is limited to $400 in any one income tax year. If the amount of the credit allowed exceeds the amount of the taxpayer's income tax liability in the income tax year for which the credit is being claimed, the amount of the credit not used as an offset against income taxes in such income tax year is not allowed as a refund but may be carried forward and applied against the income tax due in each of the 5 succeeding income tax years, but must first be applied against the income tax due for the earliest of the income tax years possible. A taxpayer claiming the credit allowed by the bill is required to submit, maintain, and record any information that the department may require by rule regarding the taxpayer's donation to the sponsor, including the certificate received evidencing the donation. The bill specifies various verification procedures that the taxpayer and sponsor must follow for the taxpayer to be able to claim the credit. The bill requires each sponsor that has issued certificates evidencing donations in a calendar year in the cumulative amount of $10,000 or more to report to the general assembly by the deadlines specified in the bill on the overall economic activity, usage, and impact to the state from the employer-assisted eligible activity for which it has certified a donation eligible for a tax credit under the bill. The bill requires the department and the division of housing within the department of local affairs (division) to promulgate any rules necessary to facilitate the effective implementation of this tax credit. The department and the division may each develop policies and procedures necessary to facilitate the effective implementation of the tax credit. The bill prohibits a taxpayer from claiming the tax credit under the bill for a donation for which the taxpayer is claiming any other state tax credit or deduction. By the deadlines specified in the bill, the division is required to provide the department with an electronic report on the taxpayers who have received a tax credit under the bill for the calendar year that conforms to the income tax year for which the credit is allowed. The bill specifies information the report must contain. The statutory provisions created by the bill are repealed, effective July 1, 2031. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Section 1 of the bill provides a nonstatutory legislative declaration. Section 2 adds 'preference point' to the documents listed under the definition of 'license'. Sections 3 and 18 add 'sponsorships' and 'donations' to the list of money transfers that the parks and wildlife commission (commission) is authorized to receive and expend. Section 3 also adds 'contributions'. Section 4 requires the commission, in using revenue generated from increased license fee amounts authorized by the bill for property purchases, to emphasize easement acquisition and ensure other avenues have been pursued before fee simple acquisition of property. Sections 6, 15, 16, and 19 raise the maximum fee amounts that the commission may assess by rule for certain licenses, permits, and passes. Sections 6, 15, 16, and 19 also authorize the commission to apply a consumer price index adjustment to a fee that has been set at the maximum fee amount allowed, which fee adjustment does not count toward the maximum fee amounts set. Section 7 allows the division of parks and wildlife (division) to grant up to 25% of the money derived from sales of the state migratory waterfowl stamp to nonprofit organizations implementing the North American waterfowl management plan, for the sole benefit of migratory waterfowl habitat conservation and related capital improvements. Section 8 removes references to the fee assessed for the youth small game hunting license since the maximum fee amount for the license is listed in another part of statute. Section 8 also authorizes the commission to establish by rule a special licensing program for young adult hunters and anglers and requires that, if the commission establishes such a licensing program by rule, the commission must define 'young adult' in a manner that does not include adults 26 years of age or older. Section 9 changes the name of the wildlife management public education advisory council to the wildlife council. Section 10 requires the division to prepare reports on the status of certain license fee increases that the commission is authorized to promulgate pursuant to the bill and nonconsumptive users' use of division-managed land, and to present the reports to the agriculture committees in the house of representatives and the senate. Section 11 increases the fine imposed against a person who violates a wildlife statute or rule that does not have a specific penalty listed for the violation from $50 to $100. Section 12 requires all fines collected for violations of wildlife provisions to be split equally between the general fund and the wildlife cash fund; except that, once the general fund has been credited $214,174 of the fines, all of the fines collected thereafter are credited to the wildlife cash fund. Similarly, section 27 requires all fines collected for violations of parks and recreation provisions to be split between the general fund and the wildlife cash fund; except that, once the general fund has been credited $6,250 of the fines, all of the fines collected thereafter are credited to the wildlife cash fund. Section 13 raises the penalty for a number of wildlife-license-related offenses to an amount equal to twice the cost of the most expensive license for the species. Section 13 also clarifies that engaging in conduct that requires a license without a license is a violation subject to an assessment of 5 license suspension points and a fine amount equal to twice the cost of the most expensive license issued for the activity that the person unlawfully engaged in without the requisite license; except that a violation based on fishing without a license is subject to a $125 fine and an assessment of 10 license suspension points. Section 13 also raises the age for youth who are exempted from having to obtain a fishing license from youth under 16 years of age to youth under 18 years of age. Section 14 increases the fine for unlawfully transporting, importing, exporting, or releasing native wildlife from $50 to $150. Section 25 requires a person to purchase an aquatic nuisance species sticker to operate or use a vessel on the waters of the state or possess a vessel at a vessel staging area. The fees collected on the sale of aquatic nuisance species stickers are credited to the division of parks and wildlife aquatic nuisance species fund to help fund inspections of vessels and associated conveyances for the presence of aquatic nuisance species, decontamination of vessels or conveyances with the presence of aquatic nuisance species, lake monitoring for the presence of aquatic nuisance species, and outreach efforts. Under current law, 'pass' or 'registration' is defined as a document issued by the division authorizing the use of land or water under the division's control. Section 17 adds 'sticker' to the definition to encompass the aquatic nuisance species sticker created in section 23. Section 20 establishes that a violation of the requirement to obtain an aquatic nuisance species sticker is a class 2 petty offense, punishable by a fine equal to twice the cost of a nonresident motorboat or sailboat aquatic nuisance species sticker. Section 21 repeals the division of wildlife aquatic nuisance species fund and renames the division of parks and outdoor recreation aquatic nuisance species fund as the division of parks and wildlife aquatic nuisance species fund, combining the 2 existing funds into one fund. Sections 5 and 28 make conforming amendments regarding the combining of the 2 funds into one renamed fund. Section 22 removes the $5 cap on the fee that the division may charge a person for replacement of a lost or destroyed pass or registration. The fee is set at 50% of the cost of the original pass or registration. Section 24 defines 'nonmotorboat' and 'stand-up paddleboard', and redefines 'sailboat' to exclude a sailboard for purposes of obtaining an aquatic nuisance species sticker. Section 26 changes the penalty for a violation of statutes and rules concerning parks and recreation for which a specific penalty is not listed from a class 2 petty offense to a misdemeanor and raises the fine from $50 to $100. Section 23 establishes that engaging in certain unlawful conduct involving a permit, pass, license, registration, or sticker issued by the division is a misdemeanor violation subject to a $200 fine.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Under current law, a county seeking to establish a local improvement district to fund a telecommunications service improvement may construct the improvement if the county has an agreement with a telecommunications service provider to provide service, facilities, plants, or systems in the area in which the improvement will be constructed. The improvement must then be owned, operated, and maintained by the telecommunications service provider. The bill allows a rural county with a population of fewer than 50,000 inhabitants to establish a local improvement district to fund an advanced service improvement in an unserved area of the county under the same conditions that apply to the funding of a telecommunications service improvement through a local improvement district. The bill also defines the terms 'advanced service', 'rural county', and unserved area'. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill increases the accessibility of legal child care by expanding the circumstances under which an individual can care for children from multiple families for less than 24 hours without obtaining a child care license. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill authorizes a school district, BOCES, or institute charter high school to grant a diploma endorsement in biliteracy to a student who demonstrates proficiency in English and at least one foreign language. The bill establishes the requirements a graduating high school student must meet to obtain the biliteracy endorsement. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)