Life care institutions - reserve requirement - surety bond option. Current law requires life care institutions to maintain reserves through 1 or more of several options that all require liquidity. The act allows a surety bond as a type of allowable reserve.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Public utilities commission - railroads - freight trains - number of crew members required - exemptions - definitions - fines. The act requires a common carrier engaged in the transportation of property by railroad to have at least 2 crew members aboard a railroad train or light engine operated in connection with carrying freight while the railroad train or light engine is moving. A violation of the requirement is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of $250 to $1,000 for a first offense, $1,000 to $5,000 for a second offense committed within 3 years, or $5,000 to $10,000 for a third or subsequent offense committed within 3 years.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Metropolitan district - fire protection - sales tax. A metropolitan district is authorized to levy a property tax to provide services; however, the district can also levy a sales tax for safety protection, street improvement, and transportation purposes. The act allows a metropolitan district to also levy a sales tax to provide fire protection in the areas of the district in which the sales tax is levied.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
The bill prohibits a carrier that offers or issues a health benefit plan that covers pharmaceutical services, including prescription drug coverage, or a pharmacy benefit management firm managing those benefits for a carrier, from: Limiting or restricting a covered person's ability to select a pharmacy or pharmacist if certain conditions are met; Imposing a copayment, fee, or other cost-sharing requirement for selecting a pharmacy of the covered person's choosing; Imposing other conditions on a covered person, pharmacist, or pharmacy that limit or restrict a covered person's ability to use a pharmacy of the covered person's choosing; or Denying a pharmacy or pharmacist the right to participate in any of its pharmacy network contracts in this state or as a contracting provider in this state if the pharmacy or pharmacist has a valid license in Colorado and the pharmacy or pharmacist agrees to specified conditions(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More
The bill creates the submarine service license plate. In addition to the standard motor vehicle fees, the plate requires 2 one-time fees of $25. One fee is credited to the highway users tax fund and the other to a fund that provides licensing services. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill changes the name of the 'Colorado commission for the deaf and hard of hearing' to the 'Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind'. The bill expands the commission's duties to include establishing a community access program for one-on-one system navigation and changes the membership on the committee reviewing grant applications under the act. The bill creates the deafblind citizens council to advise the commission on assisting the deafblind community. The commission must also establish a pilot program to provide auxiliary services to executive agencies. The pilot program must be evaluated by an independent contractor and the evaluation must be provided to the governor and general assembly. Currently the laws of the state refer to 'deaf or hard of hearing'. The bill updates the references to 'deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind'. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The starting point for determining state income tax liability is federal taxable income. This number is adjusted for additions and subtractions (deductions) that are used to determine Colorado taxable income, which amount is multiplied by the state's 4.63% income tax rate. The bill allows an individual who is under 55 years old and whose military retirement benefits are less than $40,000 to claim a deduction in the following amount: For the 2019 income tax year, 25% of the individual's military retirement benefits; For the 2020 income tax year, 50% of the individual's military retirement benefits or $10,000, whichever is less; and For the 2021 and 2022 income tax years, the individual's military retirement benefits or $10,000, whichever is less. The bill also requires the department of revenue, as part of its tax profile and expenditure report, to estimate the number of individuals who claim the new deduction for the 2019 income tax year, and of those, the number who are first-time filers in the state. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill authorizes the director of the division of labor standards and statistics in the department of labor and employment (director) to administer and enforce the law that prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee on the basis of sex and to issue awards to employees and impose penalties on employers for violations. The bill removes the director's enforcement authority and instead permits an aggrieved person to bring a civil action in district court to pursue remedies specified in the bill. The bill allows exceptions to the prohibition if the employer demonstrates that a wage differential is based upon one or more factors including a seniority system, a merit system, or a system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production or a bona fide factor other than sex. The bill prohibits an employer from discharging or retaliating against an employee for actions by an employee asserting the rights established by the bill against an employer. An employer is required to announce to all employees employment advancement opportunities and the pay range for the opportunities. The director is authorized to enforce actions against an employer concerning transparency in pay and employment opportunities, including fines of between $500 and $10,000 per violation. $85,034 is appropriated from the employment support fund to the department of labor and employment for use by the division of labor standards and statistics. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill allows a unit of local government to enact laws increasing the minimum wage within its jurisdiction. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill establishes that family protection safeguards for a parent or prospective parent with a disability are critical to family preservation and the best interests of the children of Colorado. These safeguards include: That a parent's disability must not serve as a basis for denial or restriction of parenting time or parental responsibilities in a domestic law proceeding pursuant to title 14, without a clear nexus to the parent's ability to meet the needs of the child; in a minor guardianship proceeding pursuant to title 15, without a clear nexus to the parent's ability to meet the needs of the child; or a dependency and neglect proceeding pursuant to title 19, except when it impact the health or welfare of the child; That a parent's disability must not serve as a basis for denial of participation in a public or private adoption, or for denial of foster care or guardianship, when it is otherwise determined to be in the best interest of the child; and That the benefits of providing supportive parenting services must be considered by a court when determining parental responsibilities, parenting time, adoption placements, foster care, and guardianship, and the court may require that such supportive parenting services be provided or implemented, given the resources of the family.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
