Sen. Kevin Priola

Senate Bill 18-067 (enacted in 2018) allows certain organizations conducting a special event to auction alcohol beverages in sealed containers if certain conditions were met. The bill expands on SB 18-067 by also allowing organizations conducting a special event to open the sealed containers and sell the alcohol beverages by the drink to persons attending the special event, for consumption only on the licensed premises or unlicensed premises where the special event is held.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More

The election provisions for the urban drainage and flood control district (district) have not been changed since 1992. The bill makes the following changes to provisions relating to district elections: Section 1 of the bill adds definitions of 'elector' or 'registered elector' and 'special election' or 'election' to conform the district's laws with the 'Uniform Election Code' (code). The bill clarifies the definition of 'publication' so that it conforms with the code. The bill amends the definition of 'taxpaying elector,' eliminating the ability to vote based on a spouse or civil union partner owning taxable property within the district. Section 2 clarifies that district elections may be held independently at a special election in conformance with the 'Colorado Local Government Election Code' or in coordination with the county clerk and recorders of counties included in the district. It also calls for the district to pay the district's costs related to a coordinated election. Section 3 deletes an obsolete provision specifying the date in advance of an election that the board of directors of the district must adopt a resolution calling a district election. Section 4 conforms annexation elections to current requirements of the 'Colorado Local Government Election Code' and makes ballot questions for district annexation elections similar to the procedures used for special district inclusion elections.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Current law prohibits: A person from selling alcohol beverages at retail in sealed containers unless the person holds a retail liquor store or liquor-licensed drugstore license; A person from removing alcohol beverages from an establishment that is licensed under the 'Colorado Liquor Code' to sell alcohol beverages only for consumption on the licensed premises; and A person licensed to sell alcohol beverages at retail to have on the licensed premises any alcohol beverage that the licensee is not permitted under its license to sell. These prohibitions preclude an organization holding a special event at a premises licensed to sell alcohol beverages for consumption on the licensed premises from bringing alcohol beverages in sealed containers onto the premises in order to auction the alcohol beverages for fundraising purposes. The bill provides exceptions to these prohibitions and specifically allows certain organizations to bring onto and remove from the premises where the event will be held, whether licensed or unlicensed, alcohol beverages in sealed containers that were donated to or otherwise lawfully obtained by the organization and will be used for an auction for fundraising purposes as long as the alcohol beverages remain in sealed containers at all times and the licensee does not realize any financial gain related to the alcohol beverage auction. The exceptions are authorized for an organization that is eligible to apply for a special event permit, is exempted from special event permit requirements, or is holding a special event at a retail premises licensed to sell alcohol beverages for on-premises consumption. The retail value of alcohol beverages donated by a retail liquor store, liquor-licensed drugstore, or fermented malt beverage retailer is not included in the calculation of the $2,000 limit on the purchase of alcohol beverages from those retailers by persons licensed to sell alcohol beverages for on-premises consumption. Additionally, a retailer that donates alcohol beverages is liable for unlawful acts committed by the organization or other person involving the donated alcohol beverages or on the licensed premises where the event is held. If an unlawful act is committed on a licensed premises where a special event is held, the licensing authorities are required to consider mitigating factors, including the licensee's lack of knowledge of the violation, in determining whether to hold the licensee responsible. The bill applies to the following types of organizations: An organization formed for a social, fraternal, patriotic, political, or athletic purpose and not for pecuniary gain; An organization that is a regularly chartered branch, lodge, or chapter of a national organization or society organized for social, fraternal, patriotic, political, or fraternal purposes and is nonprofit in nature; An organization that is a regularly established religious or philanthropic institution; An organization that is a state institution of higher education; or A political candidate.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill amends current statutory language in the 'Colorado Children's Trust Fund Act' to place a greater priority on preventing child maltreatment fatalities and continuing to prevent child maltreatment. This includes reducing the occurrence of prenatal drug exposure and drug endangerment and reducing the occurrence of other adverse childhood experiences. The current membership of the Colorado children's trust fund board (board) is increased from 9 members to 21 members, to reflect a broader approach to child maltreatment prevention issues. Duties and powers of the board are expanded to include: Advising and making recommendations to the governor, state agencies, and other entities concerning child maltreatment prevention; Developing strategies and monitoring efforts to decrease incidences of child maltreatment, child maltreatment fatalities, and other adverse childhood experiences; and Monitoring and implementing, as appropriate, the ongoing development and implementation of programs and factors that affect work in the area of childhood maltreatment. The bill expands the accepted uses for grants from the Colorado children's trust fund to include programs working to reduce the incidence of child maltreatment fatalities, child maltreatment, and other adverse childhood experiences. The repeal date for the act is extended from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Current law requires a landlord to provide a tenant 3 days to cure a violation for unpaid rent before the landlord can initiate eviction proceedings based on that unpaid rent. The bill allows landlords to initiate an eviction proceeding after providing 3 days' notice but requires landlords to accept payment of all outstanding amounts due before the date by which a tenant is required to appear in court in an eviction proceeding. For a second or subsequent violation of the same agreement within 6 months of a violation, a landlord may require payment within 3 days.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More

The bill specifies that, if a student enrolled in kindergarten or one of grades one through 3 is an English language learner, the school district or charter school in which the student is enrolled will decide whether the student takes the reading assessments in English or in the student's native language if there is an approved assessment available in the student's native language. If the student takes the assessments in his or her native language, the school district or charter school may also administer the assessments in English if requested by the student's parent. If a student who is an English language learner takes the reading assessments in his or her native language, the school district or charter school must determine the level of English proficiency at which the student will take the reading assessments in English and communicate that proficiency level to the student's parent. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The secretary of state currently charges uniform commercial code (UCC) filing fees. Of this fee, $3 is transferred for deposit in the Colorado identity theft and financial fraud cash fund to support activities of the Colorado fraud investigators unit. Legislation enacted in 2014 increased the portion of the UCC filing fee that is transferred to the Colorado identity theft and financial fraud cash fund from $3 to $4, which increase is scheduled to repeal in 2017. The bill extends the scheduled repeal date for the increased fee, and for an associated report to the general assembly, until 2018. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Under existing law, each local education provider must administer the state assessments in math and English language arts to ninth-grade students and must administer a state-selected assessment to tenth-grade students. The bill repeals the requirement to administer the state assessment to ninth-grade students. Instead, local education providers must administer a state-selected ninth-grade assessment that is aligned with the ninth-grade content standards and the assessment administered to tenth-grade students. The department of education must ensure that, under the testing schedule, ninth-grade students take the state-selected assessment in the spring semester. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Currently, a tenancy of one month or more but less than 6 months may be terminated by either party with 7 days' notice. The bill extends the notice to 21 days. The bill also requires 21 days' notice for a landlord to increase rent in tenancies of one month or longer but less than 6 months. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Under existing law, when a school district submits an innovation plan for a school or multiple schools of the school district, the state board of education (state board) must approve the plan and designate the school district as a district of innovation unless the plan is likely to decrease academic achievement or is not fiscally feasible. Once the plan is approved, the state board must grant any statutory waivers requested in the plan. The bill changes the standard for approving an innovation plan. The state board must approve an innovation plan if it finds that the plan is likely to enhance educational opportunity and quality within the school district, which is similar to the standard for approving statutory waivers under other circumstances, and the plan is fiscally feasible. Later, if the district of innovation seeks additional statutory waivers under the innovation plan, the state board must grant the waivers if it finds that the waivers are likely to enhance educational opportunity and quality within the school district and are fiscally feasible. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)