The act implements recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies in its sunset review and report on the division of racing events (division) and the Colorado racing commission (commission) in the department of revenue. Specifically: The division and the commission are continued 9 years from the current repeal date of September 1, 2023, until September 1, 2032; Certain language from the definition of the term "in-state simulcast facility" is relocated, with amendments; and Certain greyhound kennel inspection requirements that have become redundant with inspection requirements imposed upon the department of agriculture are repealed. APPROVED by Governor June 2, 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.)
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Starting July 1, 2024, the act prohibits employers from inquiring about a prospective employee's age, date of birth, and dates of attendance at or date of graduation from an educational institution on an initial employment application. An employer may request an individual to verify compliance with age requirements imposed pursuant to or required by: A bona fide occupational qualification pertaining to public or occupational safety; A federal law or regulation; or A state or local law or regulation based on a bona fide occupational qualification. The act allows an employer to request or require an individual to provide additional application materials, including copies of certifications, transcripts, and other materials created by third parties, at the time of an initial employment application if the employer notifies the individual that the individual may redact information that identifies the individual's age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. The department of labor and employment (department) is charged with enforcing the requirements of the act and may issue warnings and orders of compliance for violations and, for second or subsequent violations, impose civil penalties. A violation of the restrictions does not create a private cause of action. The department is directed to adopt rules regarding procedures for handling complaints against employers. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, $56,468 is appropriated from the general fund to the department for use by the division of labor standards and statistics to pay program costs related to labor standards. APPROVED by Governor June 2, 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.)
No later than September 1, 2023, the act requires the department of health care policy and financing (state department) to engage in a stakeholder process to address concerns and identify viable solutions related to individuals who receive long-term services and supports. No later than January 2025, the act requires the state department to report on the stakeholder process, including identifying any administrative resources needed to address any concerns identified during the stakeholder process. The act appropriates $75,000 from the general fund to the state department for use by the office of community living. It is anticipated that the state department will receive $75,000 in federal funds to implement the act. APPROVED by Governor May 30, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 30, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires a carrier that offers a health benefit plan (carrier) or a pharmacy benefit management firm that administers or manages contraception coverage under a health benefit plan (PBM) to provide coverage for, and reimburse a prescribing provider or in-network dispensing entity for, the single dispensing or furnishing of contraception intended to last the covered person for a duration of 12 months, as permitted by the covered person's prescription, dispensed or furnished at one time, unless requested otherwise by the covered person. A carrier or PBM is subject to certain requirements, as applicable, including: Allowing coverage of continuous use of contraception, as determined by the prescribing provider; A prohibition against implementing utilization management practices that prevent the dispensing of a 12-months' duration of contraception; Allowing for alternate prescribed contraception, if medically necessary; and Providing coverage for over-the-counter contraception without a prescription and without prior authorization, step therapy, utilization management, or cost sharing. The act requires carriers to report annually to the division of insurance in the department of regulatory agencies concerning contraception coverage and requires PBM's to provide information to carriers for purposes of this reporting. The act authorizes the commissioner of insurance to promulgate rules regarding the coverage. APPROVED by Governor May 30, 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 stegosaurus state fossil license plate for motor vehicles. The department of revenue (department) must designate a nonprofit organization to qualify applicants for issuance of the license plate. The organization must provide educational services about the science and history of dinosaurs and support the stewardship and preservation of dinosaur fossils, tracks, and paleontology sites in Colorado. An applicant qualifies for issuance of the license plate if the applicant makes a donation to the organization and pays all required taxes and fees. In addition to the standard motor vehicle fees, the applicant must pay 2 one-time fees of $25 for issuance of the license plate. One fee is credited to the highway users tax fund and the other fee is credited to the licensing services cash fund. To implement this act, $39,151 is appropriated to the department for use by the division of motor vehicles. This appropriation consists of $5,492 from the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account in the highway users tax fund and $33,659 from the license plate cash fund. APPROVED by Governor May 22, 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 directs the office of future of work (office) in the department of labor and employment (department) to create a two-year apprenticeship navigator pilot program (program) with 2 full-time apprenticeship navigators, with each apprenticeship navigator assigned to a different school district selected by the office. The purpose of the program is to increase awareness of registered apprenticeship programs among graduating high school students in the selected school districts. Upon completion of the program, the act requires that the department issue a report detailing the direct and indirect costs of the operation and administration of the program to specified legislative committees of reference. The act directs the office to promote apprenticeship programs to high school students by creating and maintaining a web-based job board of apprenticeships and incorporating apprenticeships in the state's career planning tools. The department may promulgate rules for the administration of the program. The program is repealed, effective January 1, 2027. The act appropriates $342,638 from the general fund to the department for use by the department's executive director's office for the 2023-24 state fiscal year. The act also appropriates $44,000 to the department of education from the general fund for the 2023-24 state fiscal year. APPROVED by Governor May 16, 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 adopts federal regulations concerning the "Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978" as state law so that Colorado will continue to ensure that Indian children are protected in cases of guardianship and adoption. APPROVED by Governor May 4, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 4, 2023(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires a public school or school district to allow a qualified student to wear and display traditional Native American regalia at a school graduation ceremony and applies to pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school graduation ceremonies. The act requires public colleges and universities to allow a qualified student to wear and display traditional Native American regalia at a college graduation ceremony. APPROVED by Governor May 4, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 4, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The bill requires state and local public bodies (public bodies), including the general assembly, and political parties to comply with certain accessibility requirements within specified periods. Access to ballot by candidates. The bill requires the general assembly, the secretary of state, and each political party to ensure that the caucus process or any future alternative process by which candidates may access the ballot that is accessible to persons with disabilities remains an option in the state. The bill specifies that the petition process is not a means of ballot access that is accessible to persons with disabilities. In addition, the bill requires that within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, any person, upon request, must be able to participate in a precinct caucus or a party assembly with the use of a video conferencing platform that is accessible to persons with disabilities unless the precinct caucus or party assembly is held in a geographic location that lacks broadband internet service. Auxiliary aids and services for members of the general assembly. The house of representatives and the senate are required to provide auxiliary aids and services to any member of the general assembly upon request of the member for use by the member while the member is in the capitol building or any other building in the capitol complex where legislative business regularly occurs. Video conferencing platforms in court proceedings. Within 5 years of the effective date of the bill, all courts in the state are required to allow a person to appear in court by the use of a video conferencing platform upon request of the person who is required to appear in court; except that the court may make a finding of fact that the person's physical presence in the courtroom is required. The supreme court is required to prescribe rules of procedure to implement the use of a video conferencing platform. The bill includes an exemption for courts that are in a geographic location that lacks broadband internet service. Accessibility of meetings of public bodies. Each public body is required to ensure that the following accessibility requirements are implemented: Within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, any public meeting at which public business is discussed, formal action may be taken, or recommendations to the governing body of the public body may be discussed (meeting) held by a public body is required to be accessible in real time by live streaming video or audio that is recorded and accessible to persons with disabilities; A public body is required to post on its website, within specified periods, any documents that will be distributed during a meeting; Within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, for any meeting of a public body during which public testimony will be heard, the public body is required to allow any person to participate in the meeting and offer public testimony by using a video conferencing platform unless the meeting occurs in a geographic location that lacks broadband internet service; A public body may require that a request for auxiliary aids or services to attend a meeting of the public body with the use of the video conferencing platform be made up to 7 days before the date of the meeting; A public body is required to provide any auxiliary aids or services requested in time for the meeting for which they were requested without an explanation of the need for the auxiliary aids and services. A public body is required to postpone a meeting if it is unable to provide the requested auxiliary aids or services in time for the meeting and is required to document the reason for the additional time required. State capitol building accessibility requirements. Within 4 years of the effective date of the bill, the legislative department, acting through the executive committee of the legislative council, is required to ensure that an audio and way-finding program that allows a person who is blind or visually impaired to independently navigate the state capitol building is implemented and available to any person who works in or visits the capitol building. The failure of any political party or public body to comply with the applicable requirements of the bill constitutes discrimination on the basis of disability. Any person who is subjected to a violation is entitled to seek relief as currently provided in law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Current law allows a person who is 18 years of age or older to knowingly possess or purchase a firearm. The act increases the age to legally purchase a firearm to 21 years of age or older. The act makes the unlawful purchase of a firearm by a person who is less than 21 years of age a class 2 misdemeanor and makes it unlawful for a licensed or unlicensed gun dealer to facilitate such a sale. Exceptions include: The person is an active member of the United States armed forces; or The person is a peace officer or certified by the P.O.S.T. board. APPROVED by Governor April 28, 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.)