The act transfers $30 million from the general fund to the Colorado water conservation board construction fund and appropriates the money for use by the Colorado water conservation board (CWCB) to protect watersheds against the impacts of wildfires through the existing watershed restoration grant program and for conducting a statewide watershed analysis to investigate the susceptibility of life, safety, infrastructure, and water supplies to wildfire impacts. The CWCB can use up to 5% of the money to administer the grant program and up to 10% to provide technical engineering services to grantees. The CWCB is directed to:Spend up to $500,000 by December 31, 2022, to conduct the analysis; and Award at least $10 million dollars in grants under the grant program by July 1, 2022, and award the remaining money, less the money the CWCB uses to administer the grant program and provide technical engineering services, in grants by December 31, 2022.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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The act creates the rural jump-start zone grant program (grant program) and authorizes the Colorado economic development commission (commission) to issue grants, subject to available appropriations, as follows:Up to $20,000 to new businesses to establish operations; Up to $40,000 to new businesses to establish operations in a tier one transition community; Up to $2,500 to new businesses for each new hire; and Up to $5,000 to new businesses for each new hire who is hired for operations established in a tier one transition community. The act also authorizes the commission to issue grants, at its discretion and subject to available appropriations, not to exceed $30,000 per applicant, to a state institution of higher education or an economic development organization that collaborates with a new business in order to support the new business in meeting the requirements for the business under the grant program.The act creates the rural jump-start zone grant fund account in the Colorado economic development fund, which consists of any money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly, and may be used:By the commission to issue grants; and For the direct and indirect costs that the Colorado office of economic development incurs, not to exceed a specified amount, to administer the grant program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act allows the department of public health and environment, in contracting with certain grantees for the provision of services, to dispense up to 25% of the total value of the payments under the contract to the grantee immediately upon the execution or renewal of the contract.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires the medical professional collecting medical evidence for a rape kit to inform the rape victim of the contact information for the nearest sexual assault victim's advocate or confidential victim's advocate, the length of time that medical evidence must be preserved, and the victim's right to be notified of the destruction of the medical evidence.The act creates the following rights, upon request, for a victim of a sex crime:The right to be notified that evidence has been submitted for testing; The right to be notified when the law enforcement agency has received the results of the analysis; The right to be informed of whether a DNA sample was obtained from the analysis and whether or not there are matches to DNA profiles in state or federal databases; The right to be informed at least 60 days prior to the destruction of forensic medical evidence collected in connection with the alleged sex offense; The right to file, prior to the expiration of the 60-day period, an objection to the destruction of the forensic medical evidence; The right to be informed of any change in status of the case, including if the case has been closed or reopened; and The right to receive a physical document identifying the victim's rights under law after the exam has been completed. The act directs a law enforcement agency to maintain the medical evidence until the statute of limitation has run on the crime and for an additional 10 years if the victim objects to its destruction.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Current law allows a voter with a disability to use an electronic voting device that produces a paper record to vote in a mail ballot election. If a voter receives a ballot through an electronic voting device, the voter is required to print the ballot to return it to the applicable election official. The act allows a voter to either print and return the ballot or to return the ballot by electronic transmission if the voter affirms the voter is an "eligible person" as defined in the act. Regardless of the method of return, the act specifies that to be valid, a ballot must include a signed affidavit or a copy of an acceptable form of identification and must be received by the election official in the applicable jurisdiction before the close of polls on the day of the election.The act also requires the secretary of state to establish an electronic transmission system through which a voter with a disability may request and return a ballot.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
With regard to the Colorado professional fire fighters special license plate, the act:Reduces from 20 years to 15 years the length of time an organization must be in existence to qualify to issue the license plate; and Specifies the evidence an organization is to submit to demonstrate compliance with the requirement that an organization have at least 3,000 members residing in Colorado.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act implements the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies in its sunset review and report on the "Laura Hershey Disability Support Act" by continuing the act for 5 years, until 2026. This continues the Colorado disability funding committee, which auctions motor vehicle license plate numbers to raise money to aid persons with disabilities in accessing disability benefits.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act prohibits a health-care provider, hospital, or other entity involved in making a decision regarding a person's eligibility to receive an anatomical gift, organ transplant, or any related treatment or services from discriminating against that person solely on the basis of a disability. The act authorizes an aggrieved person to commence a civil action for injunctive and equitable relief in the appropriate district court.The act also prohibits a health insurance carrier that provides coverage for an organ transplant from denying or limiting coverage to a covered person for an anatomical gift, organ transplant, or any related treatment or services due to a disability. The act clarifies that a health benefit plan is not required to include coverage for an organ transplant.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
In honor and memory of Carrie Ann Lucas, the act names section 24-34-805 of the Colorado Revised Statutes the "Carrie Ann Lucas Parental Rights for People with Disabilities Act".(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)