Sen. Nancy Todd

The Colorado student leaders institute currently exists as a pilot program in the lieutenant governor's office. The bill relocates the institute to the department of higher education without change. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Transportation Legislation Review Committee. The bill increases the minimum weight for classification as a commercial vehicle subject to the statutory and regulatory standards for commercial vehicles from 10,001 pounds to 16,001 pounds unless the vehicle is registered for use in interstate commerce. With respect to vehicles that would be classified as commercial vehicles but for the fact that they weigh between 10,001 and 16,000 pounds, the chief of the Colorado state patrol is authorized to adopt rules that authorize the Colorado state patrol to: Annually inspect these vehicles; Enforce with respect to these vehicles all requirements for the securing of loads that apply to commercial vehicles; and Enforce with respect to these vehicles all requirements relating to the use of coupling devices for commercial vehicles.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill makes findings regarding partnerships between military installations and their host communities in the state with regard to the shared-service opportunities that can cut costs and increase efficiencies in providing governmental services. The bill directs the department of local affairs to support cooperative intergovernmental agreements between military installations and local governments to the extent that the department may do so within existing programs, resources, and technical expertise. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill requires the Colorado office of economic development to establish and maintain an international sister-state relationship program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill repeals the requirement that Colorado participate in a consortium of states that develops a set of assessments and the requirement that the state use the assessments that the consortium develops. Under existing law, each local education provider must administer the state assessments in math and English language arts to ninth-grade students and must administer a state-selected assessment to tenth-grade students. Under the bill, each local education provider decides whether to administer to ninth-grade students the state assessments in English language arts and math for ninth-grade students or one of the 2 assessments selected by the department of education (department) for tenth-grade students. Under existing law, the department must select an assessment for students enrolled in tenth grade that is aligned with the standardized, curriculum-based, achievement college entrance exam (exam) that the department must select for students enrolled in eleventh grade. The bill requires the department to select 2 tenth-grade assessments and 2 exams. Each local education provider must decide which assessment and which exam to administer. The state will pay the costs of administering the assessments and exams. The bill directs the department and the state board of education to provide the greatest flexibility possible under federal law to local education providers in selecting and administering state assessments. The bill requires each local education provider to review with each student and his or her parent the results of the ninth-grade and tenth-grade assessments and the eleventh-grade exam and the effect the results may have on the student's individual career and academic plan. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Under current law, home inspectors are not subject to regulation by any state agency. Section 1 of the bill makes it unlawful for a person to act as a home inspector without first registering with the department of regulatory agencies (DORA). Section 2 requires a review of the board's duties and functions in registering home inspectors after 5 years under the existing sunset laws. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)