Rep. Jennifer Bacon

The act requires a transportation network company (TNC) operating in the state to provide various disclosures to the TNC's drivers regarding payments that a consumer makes to the TNC and the amount that the TNC then pays to a driver. On or before May 1, 2025, a TNC is required to develop a driver deactivation and suspension policy describing the TNC's procedures for deactivating or suspending a driver from the TNC's digital platform and describing procedures for reconsideration of a TNC's decision to deactivate a driver. The TNC is required to disclose to drivers its driver deactivation and suspension policy, and, on and after June 1, 2025, the TNC is required to comply with certain deactivation and suspension requirements regarding its policy, including a prohibition against deactivating or suspending a driver unless the deactivation or suspension is consistent with the TNC's policy. The TNC is prohibited from including specified requirements in a contract between the TNC and a driver, including that a dispute related to deactivation reconsideration be adjudicated out of state or that the driver pay the TNC's costs or attorney fees related to the dispute. The act also requires a TNC to provide specified disclosures to its drivers and to consumers regarding payments that the consumer makes to the DNC and the amount that the DNC then pays to the driver. Beginning October 1, 2025, and every 3 years thereafter, the division of labor standards and statistics (division) in the department of labor and employment is required to certify a driver support organization (organization) to represent and support drivers through deactivation and suspension procedures. The division reviews the certified organization's budget, which budget must not exceed 7 cents per transportation task based on the previous year's total transportation tasks for all TNCs operating in the state. After the first certification period, the division may authorize an increased budget, not to exceed an increase above the rate of inflation for the previous 3-year certification period, to cover the certified organization's costs. Upon approval of the certified organization's budget, the division is required to direct each TNC to remit a quarterly share of the budget to the certified organization. Drivers may make voluntary, per-trip deductions on their earnings to help finance the certified organization. On a semiannual basis commencing August 1, 2026, a TNC is required to disclose to the division information regarding transportation tasks completed and any deactivations of drivers during the previous reporting period. The division may impose fines against a TNC for violations of the act occurring on and after June 1, 2025. A person aggrieved by a TNC's violation of the act may file a civil suit against the TNC seeking damages or injunctive relief. The director of the division may adopt rules to implement the act. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, $164,741 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of labor and employment for use by the division to implement the act. APPROVED by Governor June 5, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

In common interest communities for real property, Colorado law allows a unit owners' association (association) to require, without starting a legal proceeding, a unit owner to reimburse the association for collection costs, attorney fees, or other costs resulting from the owner failing to timely pay assessments or other money owed. The act limits the reimbursement amount for attorney fees to $5,000 or 50% of the original money owed. Colorado law allows the association to require, also without starting a legal proceeding, a unit owner to reimburse the association for collection costs and attorney fees resulting from the owner failing to obey the bylaws or rules of the association. The act limits the reimbursement amount for attorney fees to $5,000 or 50% of the actual costs the association incurred for the failure to obey. Colorado law requires a court to award an association reasonable attorney fees, costs, and collection costs in an action in which the association seeks to collect unpaid assessments or enforce or defend the association's bylaws or rules and the association prevails in the matter. The act limits the award for attorney fees to $5,000 or 50% of the balance owed to the association; except that the court may award attorney fees in excess of these limits if the court finds that the unit owner was able to comply but willfully failed to comply. Each of the mentioned limitation is adjusted for inflation. The court, when determining reasonable attorney fees, is required to consider relevant factors, including the amount of the unpaid assessments, whether foreclosure action was contested, and whether the attorney fees incurred are disproportionate to the needs of the case. Colorado law grants an association a lien on a unit for amounts owed to the association by the unit owner. The act prohibits foreclosing on the lien until: The association has: Obtained a personal judgment against the unit owner in a civil action; Attempted to bring a civil action against the unit owner but was prevented by the death of or incapacity of the unit owner; or Attempted to bring a civil action against the unit owner but the association was unable to serve the unit owner within 180 days; or The unit owner is in a bankruptcy civil action. These foreclosure requirements: Apply to a unit owned by an individual who occupies the unit as a principal residence; Do not apply to a unit owned by an entity other than an individual or a unit that is not occupied as the unit owner's principal residence; and Apply to a unit used for workforce housing. At least 30 days before initiating legal action to foreclose a lien under the act, an association must provide notice to the unit owner that the unit owner has the right to engage in mediation prior to litigation. The association must also provide notice to all lienholders identified on the unit owner property records of the pending legal action for foreclosure. The notice must include the amount of any outstanding assessment and other money owed. Colorado law requires the association to attempt to enter into a payment plan to collect amounts due from a unit owner. The act prohibits foreclosure on a lien if the unit owner is in compliance with the payment plan. Colorado law prohibits certain persons from purchasing the property foreclosed upon under an association lien as a conflict of interest. The act adds the following persons to the prohibition: A community association management company representing the association; and An individual or a community association management company that was, at any time during the 5-year period immediately preceding the sale of the foreclosed unit, a person that was subject to, or that was owned by or affiliated with a person that was subject to, the prohibition. A person that purchases a unit through the foreclosure of a lien held by an association acquires the unit subject to any covenants or limitations on the use or sale of the unit to which the previous unit owner was subject. The act creates a right of redemption for 180 days following a foreclosure sale. In general, the procedures for the act's right of redemption are based on the procedures in current law. A person wanting to redeem the unit under the act must file a notice of intent to redeem within 30 days after the foreclosure sale. The following people have the right of redemption in order of priority: The unit owner; A tenant of the unit; A nonprofit entity whose primary purpose is the development or preservation of affordable housing; A community land trust; A cooperative housing corporation; and The state of Colorado or a political subdivision of the state of Colorado. If 2 or more people with the right of redemption attempt to redeem the property, the person with the highest priority is awarded the property. If the highest priority lienor has not redeemed the property, each subsequent lienor is entitled to redeem, in succession, within five business days. To redeem a unit, the redeemer must reimburse the foreclosure purchaser or association in accordance with the standards set by the act. APPROVED by Governor June 5, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act imposes the following duties on each large hub airport (airport), as defined by federal law, in Colorado for accessibility-related functions at the airports: To establish an advisory committee for the cross-disabled community; To consult with the disabled community and confer with the advisory committee during the construction of walkways and other facilities at the airport; To incorporate wayfinding technology to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired to navigate the airport; To create, maintain, and update an electronic dashboard to report and track basic access shortcomings and violations throughout the travel process; To develop and provide ongoing, comprehensive training programs for airport staff on disability cultural competency, including the presence of, use of, and best practices related to mobility devices, medical equipment, adaptive sports equipment, wayfinding, and access to the airport's accessibility features and amenities; To install and maintain restrooms for individuals with disabilities that include companion care changing tables, including at least one accessible public restroom in every terminal; and To use elevators to transport power wheelchairs from the tarmac to the jetway and give priority usage of an elevator to power wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Each airport shall monitor the completion and ongoing upkeep of compliance with the duties and functions according to the timelines established in the act. APPROVED by Governor June 5, 2024 EFFECTIVE June 5, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

In determining whether an applicant for a state-regulated occupation is qualified to be registered, certified, or licensed, the act allows the entity with regulatory authority concerning the occupation (regulator) to consider an applicant's conviction for a crime for a 3-year period beginning on the date of conviction or the end of incarceration, whichever date is later. If an individual's conviction is directly related to the profession or occupation for which the individual has applied for registration, certification, or licensure, the regulator may consider the conviction after the 3-year period has passed. A regulator may only deny or refuse to renew a registration, certification, or license if the regulator determines that the applicant has not been rehabilitated and is unable to perform the duties and responsibilities of the profession or occupation without creating an unreasonable risk to public safety. An applicant's conviction for a crime does not, in and of itself, disqualify the applicant from being issued a registration, certification, or license. The act allows an individual to petition a regulator to determine whether a criminal conviction will preclude the individual from becoming registered, certified, or licensed prior to that individual completing any other requirements for such credentialing. If a regulator determines that an individual's conviction will likely be considered, the regulator shall advise the individual of any actions the individual may take to remedy the disqualification. The act places the burden of proof for denial of an applicant on the regulator to demonstrate that denial based on the applicant's criminal conviction directly connects to potential performance in the profession or occupation for which the applicant seeks credentialing. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act creates the Arie P. Taylor sickle cell disease outreach program (outreach program) in the department of public health and environment (department). To implement the outreach program, the act requires the department to contract with one or more community-based nonprofit organizations (outreach organizations) to provide outreach and support services in the community to individuals living with sickle cell disease and their families. The department is required to solicit applicants and administer the outreach program. On or before January 1, 2025, the department is required to contract with one or more outreach organizations to implement the outreach program and to give priority to outreach organizations with experience in providing services and support to the sickle cell community and that meet other criteria in the act. The outreach program may include informal counseling and health guidance, direction and support to individuals and their families in locating and accessing services in the community, outreach concerning activities and programs available to individuals and families living with sickle cell disease, peer support and referrals, advocacy regarding the interests of the sickle cell disease community, referrals for screening, and other services and support identified by the department. The department is required to approve the services provided through a contract and may consult with the university of Colorado school of medicine's sickle-cell anemia treatment and research center to identify needed services and supports. Prior to the expiration of a contract, the outreach organization is required to prepare and submit a written report to the department describing the impact of the outreach program provided under the contract, and the department shall provide the report to the legislative health and human services committees or their successor committees. The act repeals the outreach program, effective July 1, 2030. The act appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to the department to implement the outreach program. APPROVED by Governor June 3, 2024 EFFECTIVE June 3, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act requires the state court administrator to annually report on probation supervision fees assessed in the previous year and the department of corrections to annually report on parole supervision fees assessed in the previous year during their respective "SMART Act" hearings. Unless inconsistent with another probation or parole condition, the act requires the court to allow an adult or juvenile on probation or parole to meet with the probation or parole officer through a telephone call or audio-visual communication technology. When scheduling probation or parole meetings, the probation or parole officer is required to schedule, in good faith, a mutually agreeable time for the meeting that does not conflict with the adult's or juvenile's essential obligations. The act eliminates non-payment of probation or parole fees as a grounds for the revocation of probation or parole. The act prohibits a court from requiring a defendant to pay probation supervision fees in more than one case when the defendant is granted probation in multiple cases. APPROVED by Governor June 3, 2024 EFFECTIVE September 1, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act establishes a bill of rights for a K-12 student who is involved in any capacity with the juvenile or criminal justice system (justice-engaged student). School districts, boards of cooperative services, charter schools, and institute charter schools (local education providers) must follow the bill of rights for justice-engaged students. The bill of rights includes, but is not limited to: Providing the justice-engaged student with alternative solutions to a general education, when appropriate; Prompt enrollment or re-enrollment no later than 10 business days after the first request to the local education provider, so long as the student is eligible for enrollment, as determined by the local education provider; Appropriate credit for coursework completed while justice-engaged, and for that coursework to be applied toward graduation or school continuation; Providing the justice-engaged student with a graduation plan, developed in consultation with the justice-engaged student, the student's family, caregiver or advocate; Privacy, including privacy when related to diversion, probation, or questioning about a crime; Protection by the federal "Individuals with Disabilities Act", section 504 of the federal "Rehabilitation Act of 1973", applicable foster care regulations, and the federal "McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act"; Creating evidence of and being evaluated for giftedness; and Allowing the justice-engaged student to participate in school activities or career readiness pathways in accordance with rules promulgated by the state board of education (board). Each local education provider shall publish on its website an explanation of the services and resources available for justice-engaged students, including the name, phone number, and email address of a designated, trained point-of-contact person (contact person) at the local education provider. For small and rural school districts that are not members of a BOCES, a designated support person within the department of education (department) may act as a contact person. The contact person shall read and understand the guidance developed by the department and be knowledgeable about alternative education options and wraparound services. Upon notification or request, a local education provider will work with the team of professionals, including the multi-tiered systems of supports, and appropriate intervention teams, families, and justice-engaged students to ensure a pathway to graduation, including workforce development opportunities, access to alternative educational programming, and mental health and other supports as and if appropriate and available. On or before July 1, 2024, the department shall convene an interagency working group to review and make recommendations to the department and joint education committees of the house of representatives and the senate no later than December 1, 2024 regarding justice-engaged students. The board shall promulgate rules to establish a process and framework for interpreting and transferring credits and schoolwork completed by a justice-engaged student while in custody. Local education providers retain the right to suspend or expel a justice-engaged student pursuant to applicable laws. The department shall provide guidance to local education providers on how to allow a justice-engaged student to receive an accommodation to participate in school activities, including, but not limited to, graduation ceremonies, sporting events, after-school activities, and college or career readiness pathways. On or before September 1, 2026, the act requires the department to select and contract with an entity to establish and maintain a statewide hotline for justice-engaged students, families and caregivers, justice system personnel, and education personnel. Each justice-engaged student shall be provided information about the hotline by law enforcement after ticketing or arrest, by the division of youth services after release from the division, and by local education providers after notification that a student has become justice-engaged. The act requires the entity operating the hotline to submit a written report to the department and board on or before June 30, 2025, and each June 30 thereafter. The report must categorize and summarize the number of calls received, the type of person calling, types of supports or referrals provided, and the geography of calls received so that service gaps can be identified. Beginning July 1, 2025, the department shall assist students from small and rural school districts who have been denied re-entry into school by a local education provider. Under current law, if a child or youth is within a court's jurisdiction, a preliminary investigation is made to determine whether further actions be taken to protect the interests of the child or youth or the community. The court or judge or magistrate is encouraged to take into consideration a juvenile's educational progress and ability to achieve credits toward graduation when considering release options. If the court commits a justice-engaged student to the department of human services who does not include a physical threat or bodily injury to another person, the court is encouraged to order that the commitment take place in a manner that allows the justice-engaged student to continue to attend school prior to commitment to avoid disruption of the justice-engaged student's academic progress and ability to achieve credits for a semester. The act appropriates $82,883 from the general fund for the 2024-25 state fiscal year to the department of education for use by student pathways. APPROVED by Governor May 31, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies (department), as contained in the department's 2023 sunset review and report of the "Private Occupational Education Act of 1981" by: Continuing the regulation of private occupational schools and their agents; Continuing the functions of the private occupational school division and the private occupational school board (board) for 11 years, until September 1, 2035; and Requiring the board to grant prior approval when a private occupational school changes ownership. APPROVED by Governor May 28, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act authorizes the department of education (department) to commission a financial study (study) with an independent contractor to analyze the costs to the state and school districts, district charter schools, institute charter schools, and boards of cooperative services (local education providers) and potential cost savings to provide students the opportunity to obtain college credits, industry credentials, and work-based learning experiences. The study must also include an analysis of the effects of consolidating certain postsecondary and workforce readiness programs. The department shall submit the report by December 1, 2024, including recommendations for implementation in the 2025-26 state budget year. The act requires the office of information technology (office) to build, or contract with a third-party vendor to build, the Colorado statewide longitudinal data system (data system) to establish a consistent, appropriate, secure, and legal means of data sharing and connecting multiple data sets into the data system to support effective state investments, inform policy research, and assist Colorado citizens in making choices related to their education and training pathways. The office shall work with contributing state agencies, local education providers, institutions of higher education, partner entities, and policymakers. The act creates the Colorado state longitudinal data system governing board (governing board) to support the office with the development and implementation of the data system. The governing board is required to convene the systems build and implementation interagency advisory group and the sustainability interagency advisory group to support and advise the governing board on the technical development, implementation, use, and function of the data system. The act requires the office to submit an interim report on or before January 15, 2025, on the progress of the data system, the data governance processes and procedures, and recommendations for legislative changes and funding, as necessary, to the general assembly, the state board of education, and the governor. Beginning April 15, 2026, and each April 15 thereafter, the office shall submit an annual report summarizing key findings from the data system on education and workforce outcomes and education and workforce readiness to the general assembly, the state board of education, and the governor. The act creates the statewide longitudinal data system cash fund (cash fund). On July 1, 2024, the state treasurer shall transfer $5 million to the cash fund for purposes of the data system. Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly for the 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 state fiscal years, the office and the department may expend money from the cash fund for purposes of the data system. The state treasurer shall transfer all unexpended and unencumbered money in the cash fund to the general fund on September 1, 2027. The act appropriates $4,432,419 from the cash fund to the office for purposes of the data system. The act appropriates $800,005 from the general fund to the department for purposes of the study. The act appropriates $202,992 from the cash fund to the department for purposes of the data system. APPROVED by Governor May 23, 2024 EFFECTIVE May 23, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act creates the out-of-school time program grant program (grant program) to provide grants to eligible 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations to provide academic enrichment and related services to public school students during times when school is not in session. The department of education (department) is required to administer the grant program. Grants must be used for: Academic enrichment; Opportunities for development in literacy, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and other subject matters for students and families; A safe learning environment and resources to increase student engagement in school and reduce chronic absenteeism; Programs and services that provide a well-rounded education and are designed to reinforce and complement school-based academic programs, including youth development activities, art, music, outdoor programs, recreational programs, technology education programs, physical health activities, and social and emotional wellness services; and Opportunities to develop meaningful workforce readiness and life skills. Grantees are required to annually report to the department, and the department is required to annually provide a report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $3.5 million from the general fund to the department for the grant program. The act requires the general assembly to appropriate $3.5 million to the department for the grant program in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 state fiscal years. APPROVED by Governor May 23, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)