The bill increases the penalty level for a second degree on a peace officer or firefighter by one class. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
The bill requires each state agency to conduct an analysis of noncompliance with its rules to identify rules with the greatest frequency of noncompliance, rules that generate the greatest amount of fines, how many first-time offenders were given the opportunity to cure a minor violation, and what factors contribute to noncompliance by regulated businesses. The analysis will guide each department on how to improve its education and outreach to regulated businesses on compliance with the department's rules. Each state agency is required to forward that analysis to the department of regulatory agencies, which shall compile and summarize those analyses into one combined analysis of noncompliance to be presented at the department of regulatory agencies' 'State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act' hearing. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Under existing law, private occupational schools and certain private degree-granting schools are required to provide a bond or other form of surety that is used to facilitate transfer or to provide tuition and fee reimbursement for students in the event that the school closes. When a private occupational school closes, that school's records must be maintained by the private occupational school board in the division of private occupational schools. The department of higher education (department) takes possession of the records from private degree-granting schools. The bill allows the department to make a claim on a surety bond for reimbursement of actual administrative costs associated with a school closure. After the surety bond has been used to facilitate transfer or provide tuition and fee reimbursement for students, the department may retain any remaining amount as reimbursement for administrative costs associated with the school closure. In the instance of a closed private occupational school, the bill clarifies that the school's records may be maintained by the division of private occupational schools at any location. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Pursuant to current law, when a person, company, firm, corporation, or contractor (contractor) enters into a contract with certain governmental entities or governmental bodies to perform work in connection with certain projects, the contractor is required to execute performance bonds and payment bonds. The bill specifies that these bonding requirements apply to all construction contracts situated or located on public real property using public or private money, public or private financing, or public real property; except that the bonding requirements do not apply in the case of contracts for the development, restoration, or enhancement of wildlife habitat. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill creates the emergency completion and retention grant program (grant program) in the department of higher education (department). The Colorado commission on higher education implements the grant program by annually distributing an amount to each state institution of higher education (institution) to use in awarding emergency assistance grants to eligible students who are experiencing qualifying fiscal emergencies. The bill describes minimum procedures an institution must adopt for the financial aid director at the institution to award the emergency assistance grants. The commission is required to include in the annual financial aid report submitted to the joint budget committee a summary of the implementation of the grant program and an evaluation of its effect in increasing the retention and completion rates at institutions. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill creates a 3-year pilot program in the division of employment and training (division) in the department of labor and employment (department) to provide emergency employment support services to rural and nonrural counties in the state. The bill requires the division to contract with an administering entity to operate the pilot program to provide reimbursement for emergency employment support services provided to eligible individuals in the eligible counties. In order to be eligible for services for which a service provider may be reimbursed under the pilot program, an individual must be 16 years or older, eligible to work in the United States, have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, and be actively pursuing employment or job training. The bill sets forth a list of services that are eligible for reimbursement. The bill requires the administering entity to report to the division at the end of the pilot program. The division is required to devise a formula for poverty reduction, employment, and workforce development programs for the distribution of money within the program area. The bill establishes the emergency employment support services pilot program cash fund to consist of gifts, grants, and donations, and any other money that the general assembly may transfer to the fund. The pilot program is subject to sunset review at the end of the 3-year period. The division is required to promulgate rules to implement and set parameters for the operation of the pilot program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill establishes the state access to resources and training grant program for persons experiencing homelessness (START grant program) in the department of local affairs (department). The purpose of the START grant program is to make grant money available to public safety, social services, or nonprofit agencies that have contact with persons experiencing homelessness. A grant recipient shall use grant money only to provide personnel and resources to persons experiencing homelessness. The START grant program is also designed to develop and institute community-centered programs with proactive solutions to provide assistance to persons experiencing homelessness and may include, but need not be limited to, training, work programs, housing vouchers, transportation, counseling or therapy, and food assistance. The department is responsible for establishing procedures, timelines, and criteria for the START grant program. A public safety, social services, or nonprofit agency may apply for a grant, provided it clearly demonstrates a plan for collaboration with municipal or county courts, local law enforcement, local human or social services agencies, and nonprofit agencies that have contact with persons experiencing homelessness. The general assembly is authorized to make an appropriation from the marijuana tax cash fund to fund the START grant program. Each START grant recipient is required to provide a report to the department on activities and outcomes related to the START grant, and the department is required to provide a summary of the outcomes of the START grant program in its annual report to the general assembly. The bill establishes the state access to resources and training grant program for persons experiencing homelessness (START grant program) in the department of local affairs (department). The purpose of the START grant program is to make grant money available to public safety, social services, or nonprofit agencies that have contact with persons experiencing homelessness. A grant recipient shall use grant money only to provide personnel and resources to persons experiencing homelessness. The START grant program is also designed to develop and institute community-centered programs with proactive solutions to provide assistance to persons experiencing homelessness and may include, but need not be limited to, training, work programs, housing vouchers, transportation, counseling or therapy, and food assistance. The department is responsible for establishing procedures, timelines, and criteria for the START grant program. A public safety, social services, or nonprofit agency may apply for a grant, provided it clearly demonstrates a plan for collaboration with municipal or county courts, local law enforcement, local human or social services agencies, and nonprofit agencies that have contact with persons experiencing homelessness. The general assembly is authorized to make an appropriation from the marijuana tax cash fund to fund the START grant program. Each START grant recipient is required to provide a report to the department on activities and outcomes related to the START grant, and the department is required to provide a summary of the outcomes of the START grant program in its annual report to the general assembly. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill creates the school leadership pilot program (program) to provide professional development for public elementary, middle, and high school principals. During the 2018-19 budget year, the department of education (department) is directed to design and implement the program or contract with a nonprofit entity to design and implement the program. The program must include identification of high-quality school principals who will interact with the school principals selected to receive professional development through the program. The program must also include professional development in distributive and collaborative leadership skills with the goal of improving educator retention, school climate and culture, and student outcomes. School principals may apply to receive professional development through the program during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 budget years. The department or the contracted entity must review the applications and recommend participants to the state board of education (state board), who shall select the participants. Subject to available appropriations, the state board must provide grants to the employing entities of the school principals who participate in the program either as high-quality school principals or to receive professional development. The grants are paid from money appropriated to the school leadership pilot program fund created in the bill. By March 15, 2019, the department must report to the education committees of the general assembly concerning the design of the program. By January 15, 2021, the department must report to the education committees concerning implementation of the program, including recommendations for whether the program should be continued. The program is repealed, effective July 1, 2021. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Current law allows a child care licensing exemption for certain facilities, including shopping centers and churches, that provide on-site child care for children for less than 3 hours while people are making use of the facility or attending church services. The bill retains the 3-hour limit on the licensing exemption for facilities like shopping centers but increases the time limit for religious organizations to 6 hours, provided that the child care is being offered contemporaneously with services or other programs at the on-site child care location of the religious organization. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill requires podiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, and optometrists, starting July 1, 2021, and dentists and practitioners serving rural communities or in a solo practice, starting July 1, 2022, to prescribe schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances only via a prescription that is electronically transmitted to a pharmacy unless a specified exception applies. Prescribers are required to indicate on license renewal questionnaires whether they have complied with the electronic prescribing requirement. Pharmacists need not verify the applicability of an exception to electronic prescribing when they receive an order for a controlled substance in writing, orally, or via facsimile transmission and may fill the order if otherwise valid under the law. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
