Sen. Janice Marchman

The bill requires the department of education (department) to cap standardized summative assessments administered to the minimum extent possible, if requested by the local education provider. The bill requires the department to apply for a federal waiver for federal assessment requirements. The bill requires the department to support, through various means, local education providers and schools to innovate new assessments.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current law allows higher education faculty to take a sabbatical if the governing board of the institution where the faculty member works approves the sabbatical. The act extends sabbatical opportunities to staff of an institution of higher education who serve in a management position or similar capacity. APPROVED by Governor April 10, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

For a proposed metropolitan district that submits a service plan to one or more boards of county commissioners or one or more governing bodies of a municipality on or after January 1, 2024, the service plan is required to include: The maximum mill levy that may be imposed for the payment of general obligation indebtedness, as determined by the board of county commissioners of each county that is approving the service plan or the governing body of each municipality that is approving the service plan, as applicable; and The maximum debt that may be issued by the metropolitan district, as determined by the board of county commissioners of each county that is approving the service plan or the governing body of each municipality that is approving the service plan, as applicable. In addition to any other meetings held by the board of directors of a metropolitan district (board), beginning in the 2023 calendar year, the board is required to hold an annual meeting if the metropolitan district was organized after January 1, 2000, has residential units within its boundaries, and is not in inactive status. The board is prohibited from taking any official action at the annual meeting and shall ensure that the annual meeting includes a presentation from the metropolitan district regarding the status of public infrastructure projects within the metropolitan district and outstanding bonds, if any, a review of unaudited financial statements showing the year-to-date revenue and expenditures of the metropolitan district in relation to its adopted budget for that calendar year, and an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions about the metropolitan district. In addition, the board is required to provide a public comment period during the separate meeting at which the board adopts the annual budget for the metropolitan district. Prior to issuing debt to a director of a metropolitan district or to an entity with respect to which a director of a metropolitan district must make a disclosure pursuant to current law, the board is required to receive a statement of a registered municipal advisor certifying that specified limits on the maximum interest rate of the debt have been met. On and after January 1, 2024, the seller of residential real property that is located within a metropolitan district is required to provide the purchaser of the property with the official website established by the metropolitan district. The seller is required to provide the information on the Colorado real estate commission approved seller's property disclosure. APPROVED by Governor April 3, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current law requires that the owner of a groundwater well (well) permit file any change in name or contact information with the state engineer in person, by mail, or by fax. The act removes the requirement that the filing be in person, by mail, or by fax. Current law requires the buyers of certain wells to complete a change in owner name form before the closing of the transaction. The act removes the requirement that the form be submitted before the closing of the transaction. The act clarifies that if an existing well being sold has not been registered with the division of water resources (division), the buyer of the well must submit a registration of existing well form to the division within 63 days after closing the transaction. Current law states that the division is responsible for obtaining the necessary well registration information from the buyer after the purchase of a well. The act removes this requirement and clarifies that a person who provides a closing service in connection with the purchase of a well must submit a change in owner name form for the well to the division, even if the well has not yet been registered with the division. If a change in owner name form does not include a well permit number, the act requires the division to instruct the buyer of a well to complete a new change in owner name form or registration of existing well form and requires the buyer to submit the applicable form to the division. APPROVED by Governor March 31, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

To determine if a faculty or teacher at a state or nonprofit institution of higher education (institution) is a full-time employee under the federal public loan forgiveness program (program), the act requires the faculty's or teacher's credit or contact hours to be multiplied by at least 4.35 to determine the number of hours worked. The act directs institutions to either directly certify employment for the program or annually provide employees with partially completed forms to certify their employment. The act allows an institution to apply this calculation going back to October 1, 2007. APPROVED by Governor March 23, 2023 EFFECTIVE March 23, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act encourages all public high schools and all high schools that participate in the Colorado comprehensive health education program in the state to provide instruction on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator to students in grades 9 through 12. APPROVED by Governor March 23, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act creates the "Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact," which is designed to make it easier for teachers from member states, especially active military members and eligible military spouses, to receive a teacher's license from other member states. The compact becomes effective when 10 or more states enact it. APPROVED by Governor March 10, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The commercial property assessed clean energy program (C-PACE) is part of the new energy improvement program. C-PACE allows owners of eligible real property to apply to the Colorado new energy improvement district (district) to finance certain energy efficiency improvements. The act allows owners to also apply to the district to finance resiliency improvements and water efficiency improvements. Additionally, when the district approves a C-PACE application, an owner consents to the district levying a special assessment on an owner's eligible real property. Current law requires the district to notify district members and existing lienholders about the special assessment and the availability of a hearing to resolve any complaints or objections. After a hearing, current law further requires the district to pass a resolution resolving any complaints or objections. The act eliminates the requirements for the district to give notice about a hearing, conduct a hearing, and pass a resolution resolving complaints or objections. Instead of notifying district members and existing lienholders about the availability of a hearing, the act requires the district to send a notice of assessment, which specifies the amount of the special assessment to be levied on the eligible real property and explains that the special assessment constitutes a lien against the eligible real property. APPROVED by Governor March 8, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)