Under current law, the number of in-state students enrolled at public institutions of higher education is governed by various percentage limits and requirements. The bill standardizes the calculation for public research institutions in the following ways: Requires the university of northern Colorado (UNC) and the Colorado school of mines (CSM), in addition to the university of Colorado (CU) and Colorado state university (CSU), to admit 100% of academically qualified Colorado first-time freshman students; Reduces the various percentages so that in-state students make up no less than 55% of total enrollments at each campus of CU and at CSU, UNC, and CSM, excluding foreign students and students enrolled solely in online courses; and Increases the cap on foreign students enrolled at CU and CSU to 15% of total student enrollment and includes UNC and CSM in the percentage limit. The department of higher education shall submit an annual report to specified committees of the general assembly demonstrating that the institutions included in the bill have met resident admission and enrollment requirements. The department and the public research institutions shall ensure that necessary data is available for the report. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
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The bill permits a municipality or county to adopt a local ordinance or resolution regulating the operation of bicycles approaching intersections with stop signs or illuminated red traffic control signals. The ordinance shall not, however, apply to any portion of the state highway system. Under a local regulation, a bicyclist approaching a stop sign must slow to a reasonable speed and, when safe to do so, may proceed through the intersection without stopping. A bicyclist approaching an illuminated red traffic control signal must stop at the intersection and, when safe to do so, may proceed through the intersection. The bill sets the reasonable speed limit at 15 miles per hour. However, a municipality or county may lower the reasonable speed to 10 miles per hour or raise the limit to 20 miles per hour at any individual intersection. If the local government sets a lower or higher reasonable speed limit, the local government must post signage indicating that speed limit at the intersection. If the municipality or county adopts an ordinance or resolution pursuant to the act, it must be consistent with the act. An ordinance adopted before the effective date of the act that similarly regulates bicycles remains valid. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires candidates for president and vice president of the United States to file with the secretary of state the candidates' federal income tax return forms for the last 5 completed tax years. Neither the name of any candidate who fails to comply with the filing requirement nor the name of that candidate's running mate shall be printed on the official ballot. The secretary of state is required to publish the tax returns on his or her official website within 7 days of the returns being filed. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires each institution of higher education (institution) to adopt, periodically review, and update a policy on sexual misconduct (policy). The bill establishes minimum requirements for the policies, including reporting options, procedures for investigations and adjudications, and protections for involved persons. Institutions are to promote the policy by posting information on their websites and annually distributing the policy and information. Institutions are required to provide training on awareness and prevention of sexual misconduct, the policy, and resources available to discuss such misconduct. The bill requires institutions to report to the department of higher education (department) on their policies and training, and the department posts information on the reports on its website. The department is to host biennial summits on sexual misconduct on institution campuses to facilitate communication, share information, and hear from experts. The bill identifies the membership of the planning committee for the summits. The planning committees are to report to specified committees of the general assembly on the summits. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill creates a new public school funding distribution formula to replace the existing formula (1994 formula). The new distribution formula is effective for the second budget year following voter approval of a ballot measure that increases state revenue for funding preschool through high school public education, which is not included in the bill. The new public school funding distribution formula: Calculates a school district's (district's) total program funding by starting with statewide base per pupil funding and adding additional funding for student and district characteristics in the form of district factor funding as follows: Size factor funding; Poverty factor funding for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals; English language learner factor funding, adjusted for district size; Gifted child factor funding, adjusted for district size; Special education factor funding, adjusted for disability and district size; and Cost of living factor funding, limited to a percentage of statewide cost of living factor funding. In calculating district total program funding, the new formula: Counts kindergarten students as half-day or full-day pupils depending on the length of the kindergarten program; Counts preschool students as half-day pupils, anticipating conforming changes to the Colorado preschool program, following enactment of the bill, to remove limits on the number of 4- and 5-year-old pupils attending state-funded preschool and the pupil eligibility criteria for 4- and 5-year-old pupils; Differentiates between pupils with specified disabilities for purposes of determining the new special education factor funding, anticipating conforming changes to categorical funding programs, following enactment of the bill, to use special education categorical funding only for high-cost disability reimbursement grants; and Applies English language learner factor funding for up to 7 years to all English language learners, except for those students with no English proficiency, anticipating conforming changes to categorical funding programs, following enactment of the bill, to use categorical funding only for students with no English proficiency. The bill creates a hold-harmless provision if a district's total program funding under the new public school funding distribution formula is less than it was under the 1994 formula without the budget stabilization reduction in funding. The bill takes effect only if voters approve a ballot measure no later than the 2022 statewide general election that increases funding for preschool through high school public education. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
Under current law, each school district, board of cooperative services that operates a school, and charter school (local education provider) must adopt a written policy and procedure by which a parent may excuse his or her student from participating in the state assessments. The bill clarifies that the local education provider determines whether notice from the parent must be in writing. Under current law, a local education provider shall not punish a student whose parent excuses him or her from taking a state assessment. The bill clarifies that a local education provider also shall not prohibit the student from participating in an activity or receiving any other form of reward that recognizes participation in the state assessments. . If the department of education or the state board of education receives a parent complaint concerning a local education provider's implementation of the statute concerning students excused from taking assessments, the department must notify the local education provider of the nature of the complaint. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires that, by the year 2050, statewide greenhouse gas emissions be reduced by at least 80% of the levels of greenhouse gas emissions that existed in the year 2005. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill allows persons with the following retail licenses to purchase alcohol beverages from another retail licensee when there is common ownership between the licensees and the seller has surrendered its license within the last 60 days: Beer and wine; Hotel and restaurant; Tavern; Retail gaming tavern; Brew pub; Club; Arts nonprofit; Racetrack; Vintner's restaurant; Distillery pub; or Lodging and entertainment facility. The seller must return all alcohol beverages bought on credit, allow wholesalers 30 days to purchase back inventory, have paid all wholesale bills, and sell to only one licensed premises. A wholesaler is prohibited from transporting the inventory from the seller's premises to the buyer's premises. The seller may transport the inventory. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Under existing law, the 'Public School Finance Act of 1994' funds kindergarten students as half-day pupils plus the supplemental kindergarten enrollment. Under existing law, the supplemental kindergarten enrollment is an additional .08 of a full-day pupil. The bill increases the supplemental kindergarten enrollment for the 2017-18 budget year and each budget year thereafter to .15 of a full-day pupil. The bill expresses the general assembly's intent to increase funding annually for full-day kindergarten starting in the 2018-19 budget year and continuing through the 2022-23 budget year so that by the 2022-23 budget year, the general assembly is funding kindergarten students as full-day pupils. Pursuant to referendum C passed by the voters in 2005, the state is currently authorized to retain and spend up to a capped amount of revenues each year that would otherwise be refunded in accordance with the taxpayer's bill of rights. Subject to a vote of the people, the bill authorizes the state to retain and spend all additional excess revenues beginning in the 2017-18 fiscal year. The general assembly is required to appropriate the additional retained money first to fund kindergarten pupils as full-day pupils and then to fund the state's share of total program funding. The state treasurer must transfer any amount of remaining additional excess revenues to the state education fund. The director of research of the legislative council must prepare an annual report concerning how the retained excess revenues are expended. The secretary of state is directed to place the question of whether to allow the state to retain excess revenues on the ballot for the 2018 general election. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
Sunset Process - Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. The bill implements one of the two recommendations contained in the department of regulatory agencies' (department) sunset report on the regulation of landscape architects by the division of professions and occupations, including the state board of landscape architects (board). Sections 1 and 2 of the bill implement recommendation 1 of the sunset report to continue the licensing of landscape architects for 11 years, until 2028.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)