The bill appropriates the following amounts from the Colorado water conservation board (CWCB) construction fund (fund) to the CWCB or the division of water resources for the following projects: $380,000 for continuation of the satellite monitoring system maintenance ( section 1 ); $500,000 for continuation of the Colorado floodplain map modernization program ( section 2 ); $200,000 for continuation of the Colorado decision support system operation and maintenance ( section 3 ); $175,000 for continuation of the weather modification program ( section 4 ); $154,000 for the support of the Colorado Mesonet, a spatially coherent network of weather stations reporting in near real-time via major data portals ( section 5 ); $800,000 for continuation of the water forecasting partnership project ( section 6 ); $1,000,000 for continuation of the alternative agricultural transfer methods grant program ( section 7 ); $500,000 for continuation of technical assistance for the federal irrigation improvement cost-sharing program ( section 8 ); $1,100,000 for implementation of the Colorado water loss control initiative ( section 9 ); $10,000,000 for continuation of the Rio Grande cooperative project ( section 12 ); $5,000,000 for continuation of the watershed restoration program ( section 13 ); and $10,000,000 for implementation of the Colorado water plan ( section 14 ). Section 10 appropriates $260,000 from the public and private utilities sector fund to the water quality control division in the Colorado department of public health and environment for updating regulations related to nonpotable water reuse and graywater usage. Section 11 authorizes the CWCB to make loans in the amount of up to $90,000,000 from the fund for the Windy Gap firming project. The bill directs the state treasurer to transfer the following amounts from the fund: Up to $500,000 to the flood and drought response fund ( section 15 ); $1,300,000 to the litigation fund ( section 16 ); $300,000 to the feasibility study small grant fund ( section 17 ); $1,500,000 to the fish and wildlife resources fund ( section 18 ); $260,000 to the public and private utilities sector fund ( section 19 ). Section 21 transfers the following amounts from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the fund: On July 1, 2017, $10,000,000 for the Rio Grande cooperative project; On July 1, 2017, $5,000,000 for the watershed restoration program; On July 1, 2017, and each July 1 thereafter, $10,000,000 for implementation of the state water plan; and On July 1, 2017, $10,000,000 to supplement the water supply reserve fund. Section 21 also transfers, on July 1, 2017, $30,000,000 from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the loan guarantee fund, which fund is created in section 20 for use by the CWCB for the purpose of guaranteeing the repayment of loans for water projects with multiple participants; except that, if, on or before June 30, 2017, the CWCB informs the state treasurer that an amount less than $30,000,000 should be transferred from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the loan guarantee fund, the state treasurer is required to transfer that lesser amount on July 1, 2017.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Sponsored bills
The bill permits a county clerk and recorder to preserve an original plat in an electronic format, with the plat scanned at a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch. If an electronic filing system is established, then the board of county commissioners is authorized to provide additional funding and space suitable for a county surveyor or any other appropriate local government official to store original mylar, paper, or polyester sheets of subdivision plats and land survey plats. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Beginning January 1, 2018, the bill closes the Torrens title registration system to new applications to register land title in this state. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Water Resources Review Committee. The water quality control commission in the department of public health and environment (commission) is responsible for developing requirements, prohibitions, and standards that protect public health and water quality for the use of graywater for nondrinking purposes. Scientific research on graywater that might involve graywater uses and systems that do not strictly comply with the requirements, prohibitions, and standards developed by the commission would not be permitted under the control regulations. To facilitate scientific research related to graywater uses and systems, the bill creates an exemption from the commission's graywater control regulations for scientific research whereby a water utility, an institution of higher education in Colorado, or a public or private entity that a water utility or an institution of higher education in Colorado contracts with to conduct graywater research may collect, treat, and use graywater for purposes of scientific research if the entity: Utilizes a graywater treatment works system that incorporates a secondary water supply to provide an alternative source of water if any portion of the system does not function properly; however, scientific research involving the use of graywater exclusively for irrigation purposes need not incorporate a secondary water supply; and Collects, treats, and uses graywater in accordance with the terms and conditions of the decrees, contracts, and well permits applicable to the use of the source water rights or source water and any return flows. Only an institution of higher education or a person contracting with an institution of higher education may collect, treat, and use graywater for research involving human exposure. The entity conducting the research is required to report to the water resources review committee on an annual basis the results of periodic monitoring conducted to assess the continued functioning of the graywater treatment works system used in the project and, if the scientific research involves human exposure, the project's compliance with federal rules concerning the protection of human research subjects. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill amends the definition of 'durable medical equipment supplier' to include a person or entity that bills or bids or plans to bill or bid in the current calendar year for services or products listed in the centers for medicare and medicaid services durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies in a current bidding program or pursuant to any successor bidding program.. The bill clarifies the requirements for a durable medical equipment supplier to do business in Colorado. For each of its physical locations providing services in Colorado, a durable medical equipment supplier must be licensed by the Colorado secretary of state and attest that each of its physical locations providing services in Colorado are within 100 miles of any Colorado-resident medicare beneficiary being served by the supplier in Colorado or any Colorado medicaid recipient who is being served by the provider in Colorado. The bill includes language relating to licensing durable medical equipment suppliers that prohibits a supplier from meeting the requirements through a durable medical equipment warehouse or repair facility, but does allow a supplier to domicile a fully accredited facility within a durable medical equipment warehouse or repair facility. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill creates a process whereby an owner of a storage water right may obtain a decree that authorizes releases from storage to a downstream point of diversion or delivery for decreed beneficial uses to be dedicated to, and used by, the Colorado water conservation board in the intervening stream reach to preserve or improve the natural environment to a reasonable degree if specified conditions are satisfied. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill prohibits a health benefit plan or third-party administrator plan covering services by licensed chiropractors, optometrists, or pharmacists (providers) from: Limiting or restricting a covered person's ability to select a provider of the covered person's choice if certain conditions are met; Imposing a copayment, fee, or other cost-sharing requirement for selecting a provider of the covered person's choosing; Imposing other conditions on a covered person or provider that limit or restrict a covered person's ability to use a pharmacy of the covered person's choosing; or Denying a provider the right to participate in any of its network contracts in this state or as a contracting provider in this state, so long as the provider agrees to specified conditions.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
There is a current crime of knowingly destroying, breaking, removing, or otherwise tampering with equipment associated with oil or gas gathering operations. The bill increases the penalty from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill strengthens existing legal protections under the federal 'Volunteer Protection Act of 1997' and Colorado's 'Volunteer Service Act' for individual volunteers and nonprofit entities who build or maintain recreational trails and related facilities pursuant to grants received under Colorado's 'Recreational Trails System Act of 1971'. Specifically, the bill: Establishes either gross negligence or willful and wanton conduct as the minimum basis for liability, depending on whether the subject is an individual volunteer, a nonprofit entity, or a director, officer, or trustee of a nonprofit entity; Prohibits a grant agreement or procurement contract from requiring a nonprofit entity or volunteer to obtain insurance coverage for liability arising from completed operations; and Extends qualified immunity to a volunteer who operates a motor vehicle, including an off-highway vehicle or snowmobile, as part of a land stewardship activity.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)