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
Current law provides that the department of human services low-income energy assistance fund, the energy outreach Colorado low-income energy assistance fund, and the Colorado energy office low-income energy assistance fund receive conditional funding from the severance tax operational fund through the state fiscal year commencing July 1, 2018. The bill extends the conditional funding through the state fiscal year commencing July 1, 2023. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill updates language regarding the use of money from the high cost support mechanism (HCSM) for broadband deployment grant applications approved by the broadband deployment board to have money transferred directly from the HCSM to approved broadband deployment grant applicants. The public utilities commission is directed to determine the amount of HCSM money available for broadband deployment and related administrative costs, and the bill requires that amount to be held in a separate account. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Provides for the payment of expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state of Colorado, and of its agencies and institutions, for and during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, except as otherwise noted.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Joint Budget Committee. The state personnel director is required to submit an annual compensation report and recommendations and estimated costs for state employee compensation for the next fiscal year to the governor and the joint budget committee. Currently, the report is due by August 1 of each year. The bill changes the deadline for submission of the report to September 15 of each year beginning with the 2017 report.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill changes the name of 'Delta-Montrose technical college' to 'technical college of the Rockies'. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill repeals a performance-based funding plan for institutions of higher education (institutions) that was included in the master plan for Colorado postsecondary education. The performance-based funding plan was not implemented. The bill repeals the statutory provision requiring performance contracts between the department of higher education (department) and each institution, except for performance contracts with the Colorado school of mines and private institutions participating in the college opportunity fund program. Instead, the department and the public institutions shall affirm annually the institutions' contribution toward meeting master plan goals. The department shall report annually to legislative committees concerning the institutions' progress towards those goals using data collected for state and federal reporting and state funding purposes. The department shall post the information on its website. The bill makes conforming amendments relating to the repeal. The bill repeals a provision that allowed the Colorado commission on higher education (commission) to waive any provision of article 1 of title 23, Colorado Revised Statutes, for a governing board with a performance contract. The bill replaces this with provisions that modify statutory sections that are currently waived or modified for all the state higher education governing boards as part of their performance contracts. Specifically, the bill: Removes the requirement that an institution submit a proposal to obtain approval from the commission to create, modify, or discontinue an academic or vocational program, so long as the programs offered are consistent with the institution's statutory role and mission; Amends provisions relating to commission master plan approval and approval of capital construction projects. Under certain circumstances, and with the commission's approval, an institution is not required to seek facility master plan approval or approval of capital construction projects. Amends provisions related to student fees to enable the commission to waive fee policies. The bill makes other changes to commission responsibilities, including repealing an obsolete program for designating institutions' programs of excellence, allowing the commission to waive provisions relating to its oversight of graduate program duplication, requiring a report on student fees to continue indefinitely and to address student tuition, and modifying the commission's responsibilities related to the development of cooperative programs among state-supported institutions. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Joint Budget Committee. For the 2017-18 state fiscal year, if the amount of revenue collected from the hospital provider fee is insufficient to fully fund all of the statutory purposes for the fee, the bill requires any reduction to be taken from hospital reimbursements. The bill reduces the cash funds appropriation from the hospital provider fee in the 2017 annual general appropriation act by $264,100,000. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Health benefits are offered to state employees through the 'State Employees Group Benefits Act' (act), which is administered by the state personnel director. The bill authorizes the state personnel director, or a designee, to enter into an agreement with any local government to provide health benefits to employees of the local government through the group benefit plans offered to state employees pursuant to the act. The bill specifies that a local government is not required to offer health benefits to its employees through the group benefit plans offered to state employees pursuant to the act. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Joint Budget Committee. The bill authorizes the department of revenue to establish a renewal application fee for each liquor license issued by the state.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)