Sen. Rachel Zenzinger

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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 makes changes to the teacher loan forgiveness program, renaming it the educator loan forgiveness program (program), and revising the eligibility criteria for the program. The program: Repays up to $5,000 of qualified educational loans for up to 5 years for teachers and other educators employed in qualified positions under the program; and Targets teachers and other educators employed in hard-to-fill positions due to geography or content area. The department of education is required to annually identify the shortage areas that qualify for the program. Subject to available appropriations, the Colorado commission on higher education (commission) shall approve up to 100 new participants in the program each year, and the bill specifies the criteria the commission shall use to prioritize applicants, if necessary. The program includes the educator loan forgiveness fund, and the commission shall adopt policies that ensure that loan repayment is made only on qualified loans for educators in qualified positions. The commission shall prepare an annual report for the general assembly that includes information concerning the shortage areas identified by the department of education and information concerning the program participants. The bill extends the repeal date of the program. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More

Currently, each county clerk and recorder collects a surcharge of one dollar for each document received for recording or filing in his or her office. The surcharge is in addition to any other fees permitted by statute. Section 2 of the bill allows counties to impose an increased surcharge in the amount of $5 for documents received for recording or filing on or after January 1, 2019. In a county that has elected to collect the increased surcharge of $5, out of each $5 collected, the bill requires the clerk to retain one dollar to be used to defray the costs of an electronic or core filing system in accordance with existing law. The bill requires the clerk to transmit the other $4 collected to the state treasurer, who is to credit the same to the statewide attainable housing investment fund (fund). Section 3 creates the fund in the Colorado housing and finance authority (authority). The bill specifies the source of money to be deposited into the fund and that the authority is to administer the fund. The bill directs that, of the money transmitted to the fund by the state treasurer, on an annual basis, not less than 25% of such amount must be expended for the purpose of supporting new or existing programs that provide financial assistance to persons in households with an income of up to 80% of the area median income for the purpose of allowing such persons to finance, purchase, or rehabilitate single family residential homes as well as to provide financial assistance to any nonprofit entity and political subdivision that makes loans to persons in such households to enable such persons to finance, purchase, or rehabilitate single family residential homes. Section 3 also requires the authority to submit a report, no later than June 1 of each year, specifying the use of the fund during the prior calendar year to the governor and to the senate and house finance committees. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More

The bill clarifies the applicability provisions of legislation enacted in 2015 and 2016 to promote an equitable financial contribution among affected public bodies in connection with urban redevelopment projects allocating tax revenues in the following respects: The bill clarifies that a substantial modification of an urban renewal plan (plan) is a proposed modification that substantially changes provisions of the plan regarding land area, land use, authorization to collect incremental tax revenue, the extent of the use of tax increment financing, the scope or nature of the urban renewal project, the scope of method of financing, design, building requirements, timing, or procedure, as previously approved, or where the modification will substantially clarify a plan that, when approved, was lacking in specificity as to the urban renewal project or financing. If the modification is substantial, the modification is subject to pertinent requirements of the urban renewal law addressing modifications. For plans to which a pledge of the revenues deposited into the special fund was made by an indenture or other legally binding document that is separate from the plan itself prior to January 1, 2016, a pledge to secure the payment of refunding bonds is not a substantial modification and is not subject to the modification requirements of the urban renewal law. Not less than 30 days prior to approving any modification of a plan, the bill requires the governing body or an urban renewal authority (authority) to provide a detailed written description of the proposed modification to each taxing entity that levies taxes on property located within the urban renewal area and a notice of the date and time of the meeting at which the governing body will consider the modification. Any taxing entity that levies taxes on property located within the urban renewal area may file an action in the state district court exercising jurisdiction over the county in which the urban renewal area is located for an order determining, under a de novo standard of review, whether the modification is a substantial modification. Further, if requested by the taxing entity, the court is required to enjoin any action by the authority pursuant to the modification until the court has determined whether the modification is a substantial modification and, if so, the court is required to further enjoin any action by the authority until there has been compliance with statutory provisions addressing the sharing of incremental property tax revenues. The bill prohibits any action from being brought to enjoin any undertaking or activity of the authority to a plan, including the issuance of bonds, the incurrence of other financial obligations, or the pledge of revenue, unless the action is commenced within 45 days after the date the authority provided notice of its intention regarding such undertaking or activity. The notice must describe the undertaking or activity proposed to be engaged in by the authority and specify that any action to enjoin the undertaking or activity must be brought within 45 days from the date of the notice. The notice must be published one time in a newspaper of general circulation within the county. On or before the date of publication of the notice, the bill also requires the authority to mail a copy of the notice to each taxing entity that levies taxes on property within the urban renewal area. Finally, the bill clarifies that legislation enacted in 2015 to promote an equitable financial contribution among affected public bodies in connection with urban redevelopment projects allocating tax revenues, legislation adopted in 2016 to clarify such 2015 legislation, and the bill apply to municipalities, authorities, and any plans created on or after January 1, 2016, and to any substantial modification of any plan approved on or after January 1, 2016.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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.)

The state constitution defines an 'electioneering communication' to mean certain communication that unambiguously refers to a candidate that is disseminated to the public within 30 days before a primary election or within 60 days before a general election. The bill requires any person who expends $1,000 or more per calendar year on electioneering communications or regular biennial school electioneering communications to state in the communication the name of the person making the communication in accordance with existing statutory requirements for communication constituting an independent expenditure. For purposes of the bill, an 'electioneering communication' includes a communication that satisfies all other requirements of the constitutional definition but that also is broadcast, printed, mailed, delivered, or distributed between the primary election and the general election. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

An electioneering communication is certain communication that unambiguously refers to a candidate that is disseminated to the public within 30 days before a primary election or within 60 days before a general election. For purposes of campaign finance disclosure, sections 1 and 2 of the bill expand the definition of this term in the 'Fair Campaign Practices Act' to include any communication that satisfies all other requirements of the definition of the term specified in the state constitution but that is broadcast, printed, mailed, delivered, or distributed between the primary election and the general election.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Sunset Process - Senate Education Committee. The bill implements the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies to continue the education data advisory committee.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)