In 1942, Colorado entered into an interstate compact (compact) with Nebraska and Kansas regarding the allocation of water from the Republican river basin (basin). Colorado ratified the compact in 1943. In 2016, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas signed a resolution (resolution) regarding a dispute about Colorado's compliance with the compact, through which resolution and its amendment Colorado agreed to retire 25,000 acres of irrigated acreage in the basin by 2029. The act requires the Colorado water center (center) in the Colorado state university to study the anticipated economic effects of the forced elimination of groundwater withdrawals within and surrounding the Colorado portion of the Republican river basin that could occur if Colorado fails to comply with the resolution. The center is required to prepare a progress report and, on or before January 1, 2026, a final report of the center's findings and conclusions from the study and to post both reports on the center's website. The center must present the progress and final reports to certain legislative committees. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $146,286 from the general fund to the department of higher education for allocation to the Colorado water center. APPROVED by Governor June 3, 2023 EFFECTIVE June 3, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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The act requires the department of corrections (department) to contract with a third-party organization to assign an employee of the organization (program developer) to develop and study strategies for implementing a pre-release and reentry program (program) at the Sterling correctional facility (facility). The program must be designed in consultation with the facility's residents and provide program participants with resources to support their rehabilitation and to reduce recidivism. The act requires the department to allow the program developer to work in the facility with residents. The program must provide participants with training in skilled or professional trades and other employment-focused activities, education in skills beneficial to a participant following release from confinement, and mental and behavioral health counseling sessions. The program developer is required to report, on or before December 31, 2023, to the house of representatives judiciary committee, the senate judiciary committee, and the department, about the development of the program. The act requires the department to begin operating the program at the facility no later than September 1, 2024. The act appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to the department for contract services related to the program. APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2023 EFFECTIVE June 2, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies, as contained in the department's 2022 sunset review of the "Custom Processing of Meat Animals Act", by: Continuing the act for 9 years, to September 2032; Repealing obsolete provisions that concern the use of a stakeholder process to develop poultry labeling requirements; Consolidating statutory provisions imposing civil penalties for a violation into one provision; Standardizing criminal penalties by reducing the penalty for a violation of the act or a rule promulgated under the act from a class 2 misdemeanor with a fine of $750 and up to 364 days imprisonment to a petty offense, which is up to a $300 fine or 10 days in jail; and Directing that civil penalties be credited to the general fund. APPROVED by Governor April 28, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act encourages all public high schools and all high schools that participate in the Colorado comprehensive health education program in the state to provide instruction on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator to students in grades 9 through 12. APPROVED by Governor March 23, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The high cost support mechanism provides high cost support funding to telecommunications and broadband service providers that provide service in high-cost areas of the state. The high cost support mechanism was scheduled to conclude on December 1, 2023. The act continues support funding from the high cost support mechanism to 12 rural telecommunications providers in Colorado until September 1, 2024. The date aligns with the department of regulatory agencies' 2023 sunset review of the high cost support mechanism and the final determination of the high cost support mechanism by the general assembly in 2024. APPROVED by Governor March 23, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act expands the scope of the Colorado agricultural future loan program by amending the following definitions as follows: Includes in the definition of "eligible business" entities that will be in operation in the near future; Includes in the definition of "eligible farmer or rancher" farmers and ranchers that will own or operate a farm or ranch; and Includes in the definition of "farm-to-market infrastructure loan" the development or manufacturing of technology designed to benefit farmers and ranchers. The act also removes the repeal of the loan program. APPROVED by Governor March 22, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
On and after January 1, 2024, the bill allows an applicant who is applying for, renewing, or replacing a driver's license, including an instruction permit or a minor driver's license (driver's license), or a state identification card (identification card) to voluntarily submit proof of national citizenship status as specified in the bill. If the proof submitted establishes that the applicant is a United States citizen, the driver's license or identification card issued shall, if voluntarily requested by the applicant, include the notation "USA". If the notation "USA" is included on an applicant's driver's license or identification card, it must be included on any renewal or replacement driver's license or identification card subsequently issued to the applicant unless the applicant voluntarily requests that it not be included. The department of revenue may charge a fee to an applicant to defray the reasonable and necessary direct costs to the department and its authorized agents of receiving proof of national citizenship status and adding the "USA" notation to driver's licenses and identification cards. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Current law requires a county clerk and recorder to designate a minimum number of voter service and polling centers depending on the number of active electors. The bill allows a county clerk and recorder of a county with between 10,000 and 37,500 active electors to apply to the secretary of state for permission to reduce the number of required voter service and polling centers if the county clerk and recorder submits data showing how many registered electors voted at one or more of the county's required voter service and polling centers compared to the county's available resources and showing that the number of designated voter service and polling centers was not required for the number of registered electors. For partisan elections, current law requires a county clerk and recorder to appoint 3 election judges for each voter service and polling center. The bill allows a county clerk and recorder of a county with less than 37,500 active electors (small county) to appoint a member of the county clerk and recorder's staff to serve as one of the required election judges for each voter service and polling center. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)