Rep. Donald Valdez

Current law requires counties to give an indigent deceased person final disposition. The county may be reimbursed for this cost so long as the cost does not exceed $2,500, but if the cost exceeds $2,500, the county is not reimbursed. The bill: Raises this amount to $3,000; and Allows the county to be reimbursed, up to $3,000, when the cost exceeds $3,000.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Electric vehicle grant fund - administration. The act modifies the statute governing the electric vehicle grant fund (fund) as follows: Allows the fund to be used to administer grants for the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles; Allows the fund to prioritize the grants it will provide based on criteria defined by the Colorado energy office; Allows the fund to be used to fully fund the installation of charging stations and offset station operating costs; and Requires the money in the fund to be continuously appropriated to the Colorado energy office.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Consulting engineer contracts for transportation projects - study by efficiency and accountability committee - report. The act requires the efficiency and accountability committee of the department of transportation (CDOT) to study and report to the executive director of CDOT and the transportation commission its findings and any recommendations regarding the following issues relating to consulting engineer contracts for CDOT projects: Implementation of fixed bid procurement in lieu of bids based on hourly charges; The quality assurance process; The revolving door of retired CDOT employees going to work for consultants; Incentives for closing out project contracts, early project completion, and timely problem resolution; and Project staffing and implementation of a work plan for consistent CDOT and consultant construction project administration. CDOT must annually report to its legislative oversight committees, as part of its annual "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act" hearing, regarding the findings and any recommendations reported by the efficiency and accountability committee and the position of CDOT with respect to the findings and any recommendations. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Seed potato act - continuation under sunset law. The act continues the regulation of seed potato growers and implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' 2018 sunset review and report on the "Colorado Seed Potaato Act" by: Extending regulation of seed potato growers until 2028 (sections 1 and 7 of the act); Repealing an obsolete provision authorizing uncertified seed potatoes to be used before January 1, 2012 (section 2); Repealing the option to have an independent auditor perform the review of records required by the act (sections 3 and 4); Requiring the committee of area no. 2 to pay the fees that implement seed potato regulation (section 5); and Repealing the provision that limits the amount of a fine to $2,500 (section 6).(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Seed potato act - advisory committee - continuation under sunset law. The act implements the following recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' 2018 sunset review and report on the "Colorado Seed Potato Act" and the seed potato advisory committee by: Extending the committee indefinitely, subject to review under the act in 2028; Replacing a member of the committee who is an employee of the department of agriculture with a member who is a potato grower who does not grow seed potatoes, with a preference for a potato grower with an operation in the western slope region of the state, but only when commercial cultivation begins in the western slope region; Repealing a requirement that one member of the committee who represents the Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association be the association's sitting president; and Repealing a provision that sets and staggers the initial terms of the members of the committee.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Under current law, a landowner that grants access to another person, without charge, to use the landowner's land for recreational purposes, such as hunting, fishing, or camping, is not liable for any injuries the person sustains while using the land; except that a landowner is liable to the person for the landowner's willful and malicious failure to guard or warn against a known dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity on the land likely to cause harm. The bill removes the exception.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More

Current law requires a county to bury an unclaimed dead body after following certain procedures. The bill authorizes the county to also cremate the body or use any lawful method of final disposition. The bill also harmonizes conflicts in existing law to the standards required by the final disposition statute. Current law gives a coroner or other governmental official who has control over an unclaimed dead body between 24 and 48 hours to find any relatives or friends of the deceased. The bill extends this deadline to 5 days. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

Food safety - produce - regulation - continuation under sunset law. The act establishes a state law to implement federal regulations regarding produce safety on farms. To implement this, the act: Authorizes the commissioner of agriculture to enter into a cooperative agreement with the United States food and drug administration and seek, accept, and expend federal funds; Authorizes the commissioner to cease implementing the state law if the commissioner does not receive adequate federal funding; Requires farms that are subject to federal law, selling more than approximately $25,000 of produce annually on average over a 3-year period, to register with the commissioner; Requires the commissioner to promulgate rules adopting 21 CFR 112, concerning produce safety, and gives the commissioner rule-making authority to administer the act; Authorizes the commissioner to enter farms and farm facilities during regular business hours to implement or enforce the act if the commissioner obtains consent from the farm or an administrative search warrant; Authorizes the commissioner to inspect records during regular business hours to implement or enforce the act and to subpoena witnesses and records; Authorizes the commissioner to issue cease-and-desist orders; Prohibits an officer, employee, or agent of the commissioner from misusing information gained during the course of the person's duties under the act; Authorizes the commissioner to impose administrative penalties; If requested, requires the commissioner to hold a hearing to issue a cease-and-desist order or impose an administrative penalty, and this process is subject to judicial review; Authorizes the commissioner to enforce cease-and-desist orders and administrative penalties in court; and Repeals these provisions in 2034, but requires a sunset review before the repeal.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Property - rights-of-way and ditches - extent of right-of-way. The act clarifies that a ditch right-of-way, unless expressly inconsistent with the terms upon which the right-of-way was created, includes the right to construct, operate, clean, maintain, repair, and replace the ditch, to improve the efficiency of the ditch, including by lining or piping the ditch, and to enter onto the burdened property for such purposes, with access to the ditch banks, as the exigencies then existing may require, for all reasonable and necessary purposes related to the ditch.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

Teacher cadet program - early childhood education. The act clarifies that high school students who are interested in early childhood education may participate in the teacher cadet program in high schools.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More