The bill authorizes a school district, board of cooperative services, district charter high school, or institute charter high school (local education provider) to grant a high school diploma endorsement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to students who demonstrate mastery in STEM. To obtain the endorsement, a student must complete the high school graduation requirements at a high level of proficiency, successfully complete 4 STEM courses selected by the local education provider in addition to the high school graduation requirements in these subjects, achieve a minimum score specified in the bill on one of several specified mathematics assessments, and successfully complete a final capstone project. To successfully complete the capstone project, the student must achieve a high proficiency level of mastery, as set by the local education provider, for each of the competencies specified in the bill. The local education provider is required to work with STEM-related business and industrial leaders and institutions of higher education in setting the high proficiency levels of mastery. The local education provider must annually notify students and their parents beginning in sixth grade of the requirements for obtaining a STEM diploma endorsement. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
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To promote demand-side management programs for electricity, the public utilities commission (commission) was authorized in 2007 to establish the following electricity goals for investor-owned electric utilities to achieve by 2018: A demonstrated reduction of peak demand by at least 5% of the retail peak demand level in 2006; and Demonstrated energy savings of at least 5% compared to the energy sales in 2006. The bill extends the programs to 2028 and requires the commission to set goals of at least 5% peak demand reduction and 5% energy savings by 2028 for demand-side management programs implemented during 2019 through 2028 when compared to 2018 numbers. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill creates the discipline strategies pilot program (pilot program) to provide money to school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools for professional development for educators in the use of culturally responsive methods of student discipline for students enrolled in preschool through third grade and developmentally appropriate responses to the behavioral issues of students enrolled in preschool through third grade. The department of education (department) and the state board of education (state board) must implement the pilot program by reviewing applications, awarding grants, and preparing a report concerning implementation of the pilot program, including its success in reducing the use of exclusionary discipline practices. The department must submit the report to the state board, the joint budget committee, and the education committees of the general assembly. The pilot program must be paid for exclusively with gifts, grants, and donations, and the department and the state board are not required to implement the pilot program in a year in which they do not receive a sufficient amount in gifts, grants, and donations. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill creates the innovative teacher preparation program (program) in the department of education (department). In implementing the program, the department will create a system to collect data concerning teacher preparation programs and create multiple pilot programs to support and investigate innovative approaches to teacher preparation and teacher induction, identify effective strategies, and share best practices among local education providers, alternative teacher programs, and institutions of higher education. The commissioner of education will convene a volunteer advisory committee that includes representatives from institutions of higher education, alternative teacher programs, and local education providers to assist the department in implementing the program. The department will share the data it collects and best practices it identifies through the program with local education providers, alternative teacher programs, and institutions of higher education. Beginning in January 2018, the department will prepare an annual report concerning implementation of the program, including reporting on the effectiveness of the pilot programs. The department must submit the report to the state board of education, the Colorado commission on higher education, the executive director of the department of higher education, the governor's office, and the education committees of the general assembly. The program will be funded by gifts, grants, and donations as well as any money the general assembly may appropriate to the program, which may include an appropriation from the state education fund. A local education provider, alternative teacher program, or institution of higher education may also make in-kind contributions for the operation of the pilot programs. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019, but prior to January 1, 2022, the bill allows an individual taxpayer to claim an income tax credit for a contribution of money, securities, or property to an eligible endowment that is equal to 25% of the contribution. An 'eligible endowment fund' is defined in the bill as an endowment fund that is managed in accordance with the 'Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act'. A Colorado charitable organization that receives the credit is required to provide a credit certificate to the taxpayer, who must submit the certificate to the department of revenue along with his or her tax return. The maximum credit an individual may claim for an income tax year is $25,000. Unused credits are not refunded but may be carried forward for up to 5 income tax years. A taxpayer may not claim the credit if he or she claims any other state income tax credit for the same charitable contribution. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill creates definitions of a student 'threat assessment' and a student 'suicide assessment'. The bill requires that when a student transfers to a new public school, including a charter or pilot school (public school), if the student's file contains a threat or suicide assessment and if the new public school, or a person acting on behalf of the student, requests copies of the student's records, the previous public school, or out-of-home placement if applicable, is required to transfer the student's threat or suicide assessment to his or her new public school with the other records requested. If a request for records is not made, the previous public school is not required to independently transfer the threat or suicide assessment. Current law allows for the transfer of threat or suicide assessments, but it does not require it.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Beginning January 1, 2019, section 1 of the bill waives the continuing education requirement, otherwise applicable upon every renewal or reinstatement of an electrician's license, for the first renewal or reinstatement of the license of an electrician who passed the appropriate written examination in connection with his or her initial license application. Section 2 phases out an existing provision allowing the hiring of inspectors of 1- to 4-family dwellings who have specified certifications and experience but may not have passed Colorado's written residential wireman's examination. The provision is repealed as of January 1, 2019, except for inspectors hired on or before that date by a city, town, county, or city and county who meet the existing requirements. Those individuals have until January 1, 2023, to meet the new requirements.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Sunset Process - Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. The bill implements the recommendations contained in the department of regulatory agencies' (department) sunset report on the office of boxing (office) within the division of professions and occupations in the department and the Colorado state boxing commission (commission) within the office. Sections 8 and 9 of the bill implement recommendation 1 of the sunset report to continue the office, including the commission, until 2026. Sections 5 and 7 implement recommendation 2 of the sunset report to vest the director of the division of professions and occupations (director) within the department with all licensing and enforcement authority, as well as the authority to recognize boxing sanctioning authorities, and to limit the authority of the director of the office of boxing (office director) to the day-to-day operations of the office. Section 1 updates definitions to further effectuate recommendation 2 of the sunset report. Section 1 also adds martial arts to the definition of 'boxing' and defines 'martial arts'. Section 2 renames the office the 'office of combative sports', and conforming amendments are made throughout the bill. Section 3 implements recommendation 3 of the sunset report to change the commission members' terms from 3 years to 4 years. Section 3 also renames the commission the 'Colorado combative sports commission', and conforming amendments are made throughout the bill. Section 4 implements recommendation 4 of the sunset report to provide the director with the authority to issue a nondisciplinary denial or suspension of a license for medical or administrative reasons and the authority to lift such denial or suspension if sufficient evidence has been provided that the denial or suspension is no longer needed. Section 1 updates definitions to further effectuate recommendation 4 of the sunset report. Section 6 implements recommendation 5 of the sunset report to update the grounds for discipline to: Reword the ground for discipline concerning excessive drinking or drug use to comport with the language used for other regulated professions and occupations; Create a ground for discipline for unsportsmanlike or dangerous conduct; and Create a ground for discipline for a licensee's failure to comply with a license restriction. Section 6 also implements recommendation 6 of the sunset report to change the requirement that the director send a letter of admonition by certified mail to a requirement that the director send a letter of admonition by first-class mail. Sections 1, 3, 4, and 6 implement recommendation 7 of the sunset report to make technical changes. Section 10 appropriates $10,000 from the division of professions and occupations cash fund to the department for use by the division of professions and occupations for personal services.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill directs the department of public health and environment and the Colorado office of economic development to assist in increasing waste diversion in Colorado by establishing diversion goals, encouraging and requiring data collection and reporting by counties and landfills, respectively, and providing technical assistance to counties and landfills regarding the data collection and reporting. The bill appropriates $38,011 and .04 FTE to the office and $70,264 and 0.8 FTE to the department for implementation of the act. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill allows the banking board and the state bank commissioner to share records and other information about banks, trust companies, and money transmitters with banking or financial institution regulatory agencies of other states or United States territories if the governmental agency is required to maintain the confidentiality of the records and shares similar information with the division of banking. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)