The bill enacts the 'Interstate Physical Therapy Licensure Compact Act' that allows physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed or certified in a compact member state to obtain a license or certificate to practice physical therapy in Colorado. The bill authorizes the physical therapy board to obtain fingerprints from applicants for a license or certification for the purposes of a fingerprint-based criminal history record check. The compact requires that the physical therapy board participate in the compact's data system and notify the compact commission of any adverse action taken by the board. Physical therapists and physical therapy assistants are subject to the requirements of the 'Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act of 2010'. $12,386 is appropriated to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of professions and occupations for implementation of the bill. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Sponsored bills
The bill requires: The state climate action plan to include specific, measurable goals, the achievement of which will both reduce Colorado's greenhouse gas emissions and increase Colorado's adaptive capability to respond to climate change, along with associated near-term, mid-term, and long-term deadlines to achieve the goals; and The annual climate report to the general assembly to include an analysis of the progress made in meeting the measurable goals and deadlines specified in the plan.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Section 2 of the bill requires an entity that services a student education loan pursuant to a contract with the federal government to be licensed by the administrator of the 'Uniform Consumer Credit Code'. 'Servicing' means receiving a scheduled periodic payment from a student loan borrower, applying the payments of principal and interest with respect to the amounts received from a student loan borrower, and similar administrative services. Section 4 makes the bill effective on September 1, 2018.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Under current law, a retail liquor store licensee that was licensed on or before January 1, 2016, and is a Colorado resident is permitted to obtain one additional retail liquor store license on or after January 1, 2017; 2 additional retail liquor store licenses on or after January 1, 2022; and 3 additional retail liquor store licenses on or after January 1, 2027. Additionally, current law permits a liquor-licensed drugstore licensee that was licensed on or before January 1, 2016, to obtain additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, as follows, but only if the licensee applies to transfer ownership of, change location of, and merge and convert 2 retail liquor store licenses located within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the drugstore premises to a single liquor-licensed drugstore license and only if the drugstore premises will not be located within 1,500 feet of any other licensed retail liquor store in the same local licensing jurisdiction or, if within a municipality with a population of not more than 10,000 people, the drugstore premises will not be located within 3,000 feet of any other licensed retail liquor store in the same local licensing jurisdiction: On or after January 1, 2017, up to 4 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; On or after January 1, 2022, up to 7 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; On or after January 1, 2027, up to 12 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; On or after January 1, 2032, up to 19 additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; and On or after January 1, 2037, an unlimited number of additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses. Section 3 of the bill modifies provisions governing the ability of a retail liquor store to obtain additional retail liquor store licenses as follows: Allows a retail liquor store that was licensed on or before April 1, 2017, to obtain 3 additional retail liquor store licenses between July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018; on or after January 1, 2022, to obtain a maximum of 6 total retail liquor store licenses; and on or after January 1, 2027, a maximum of 9 total retail liquor store licenses; For additional licenses obtained on or after January 1, 2022, requires a person seeking additional licenses to apply to transfer ownership of, change location of, and merge 2 retail liquor store licenses located within the same local licensing authority jurisdiction as the applicant's premises into a single retail liquor store license; and Requires the majority of the owners of a retail liquor store seeking additional retail liquor store licenses to have either resided in Colorado for at least 2 years or operated a business in Colorado for at least 10 years. Additionally, the bill prohibits a retail liquor store from allowing customers to use a self-checkout to complete an alcohol beverage purchase and requires a retail liquor store to: Verify the age of a customer attempting to purchase an alcohol beverage by examining the customer's valid identification; and Maintain certification as a responsible alcohol beverage vendor. An employee of a retail liquor store who is under 21 years of age cannot deliver or otherwise have contact with alcohol beverages offered for sale on, or sold and removed from, the licensed premises. For liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, section 4 : Allows a licensee that applied for a liquor-licensed drugstore license on or before October 1, 2016, and a corporation within a controlled group of corporations to obtain additional liquor-licensed drugstore licenses; and Caps the total number of additional licenses at 19, for a total of 20 liquor-licensed drugstore licenses. Sections 5 and 6 set state and local application fees for a retail liquor store licensee applying for a transfer of ownership, change of location, and merger of 2 retail liquor store licenses. Sections 1 and 2 make conforming amendments. The bill takes effect July 1, 2017. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates a state sales tax exemption, commencing January 1, 2018, for the sale, storage, and use of diapers. The bill further specifies that local statutory taxing jurisdictions may choose to adopt the same exemption by express inclusion in their sales and use tax ordinance or resolution. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Legislative Audit Committee. Under current law, of the 9 members of the board of directors of the state historical society (board), the board is to recommend 4 members for appointment by the governor. The bill repeals certain obsolete provisions, including the provision requiring recommendation by the board. Under current law, the directors council of the state historical society (council) was established. The bill changes the language from establishing the council to allowing the board to establish the council. If the council is not established by June 1, 2020, the bill repeals the section authorizing its establishment. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill creates the family and medical leave insurance (FAMLI) program in the division of family and medical leave insurance (division) in the department of labor and employment (department) to provide partial wage-replacement benefits to an eligible individual who takes leave from work to care for a new child or a family member with a serious health condition or who is unable to work due to the individual's own serious health condition. Each employee in the state will pay a premium determined by the director of the division by rule, which premium is based on a percentage of the employee's yearly wages and must not exceed .99%. The premiums are deposited into the family and medical leave insurance fund from which family and medical leave benefits are paid to eligible individuals. The director may also impose a solvency surcharge by rule if determined necessary to ensure the soundness of the fund. The division is established as an enterprise, and premiums paid into the fund are not considered state revenues for purposes of the taxpayer's bill of rights (TABOR). (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Currently, when the total consideration paid by the purchaser in a real property transaction exceeds $500, the county clerk and recorder collects a one cent documentary fee for each $100 of such consideration for the recording of real estate deeds or other instruments in writing. Section 1 of the bill raises the fee to 2 cents commencing January 1, 2018. Section 2 specifies that 50% of the moneys generated from the imposition of the total fee must be deposited with the county treasurer at least once each month and credited by him or her in the manner prescribed by law and the remaining 50% of the moneys generated from the imposition of the fee must be transmitted by the county treasurer to the Colorado housing and finance authority (authority) at least once each month to be credited to the statewide affordable housing investment fund (fund). Section 3 creates the fund in the authority. The bill specifies the source of moneys to be deposited into the fund and that the authority is to administer the fund. All moneys in the fund must be expended for the purpose of supporting new or existing programs that: Facilitate the construction or rehabilitation of housing containing residential units designated as affordable housing; and Provide financial assistance to any nonprofit entity and political subdivision that makes loans to households to enable the financing, purchase, or rehabilitation of residential units. The bill defines 'affordable housing' to mean housing that is designed to be affordable for households with an income that is: Up to 80% of the area median income for rental occupancy; and Up to 110% of the area median income for home ownership. This section of the bill also specifies the intent of the general assembly that, of the moneys made available to the authority to support the programs supported by the bill, the authority shall direct that a portion of such moneys be expended on programs in counties with a total population of 175,000 or fewer residents. New or existing programs supported by the fund are to be administered by the authority. The authority may determine how best to allocate and expend the portion of moneys deposited into the fund that support the programs that it administers under the bill. Section 3 also requires the authority to prepare a report, no later than November 1, 2021, and no later than November 1 of the last year of each 3-year period thereafter, specifying the use of the fund during the prior 3-year period.. The report must include information on all moneys allocated to, and expended from, the fund. The bill requires the department of local affairs to include a summary of the report in its departmental presentation to its oversight committee of reference made pursuant to the 'SMART Act' in connection with the departmental presentation made in the year following the calendar year in which the authority has prepared a report. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
The bill directs the department of public health and environment and the Colorado office of economic development to assist in increasing waste diversion in Colorado by establishing diversion goals, encouraging and requiring data collection and reporting by counties and landfills, respectively, and providing technical assistance to counties and landfills regarding the data collection and reporting. The bill appropriates $38,011 and .04 FTE to the office and $70,264 and 0.8 FTE to the department for implementation of the act. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Legislative Audit Committee. Current law requires the division of correctional industries in the department of corrections to establish programs that are responsible for vehicle maintenance, physical plant and facility maintenance, and food and laundry services for each of the state's correctional facilities. The bill removes this requirement.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)