Sen. Rhonda Fields

, Read More

The bill adds discrimination based on source of income as a type of unfair housing practice. 'Source of income' is defined to include any source of money paid directly, indirectly, or on behalf of a person, including income from any lawful profession or from any government or private assistance, grant, or loan program. A person is prohibited from refusing to show, rent, lease, or transmit an offer to rent or lease housing based on a person's source of income. In addition, a person cannot discriminate in the terms or conditions of a rental agreement against another person based on source of income, or based upon the person's participation in a third-party contract required as a condition of receiving public housing assistance. A person cannot include in any advertisement for the rent or lease of housing any limitation or preference based on source of income, or use representations related to a person's source of income to induce another person to rent or lease property. (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

Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. The bill requires the department of corrections to: Monitor the number of inmates who need sex offender treatment or services and the number who are not receiving such treatment or services; Develop an incentive plan to contract for more mental health professionals to provide sex offender treatment or services in difficult-to-serve geographic areas; and Report to the joint budget committee the number of inmates needing treatment or services, the number not receiving the treatment or services, and the impact of the incentive plan.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

Currently, Colorado criminalizes posting nude images of another person for harassment purposes or for pecuniary gain. The bill makes the following changes to those crimes: Adds images of sex acts that may not include nude images; Removes the requirement that the defendant intend to inflict serious emotional distress; Removes as an exception to the crimes that the image relates to a newsworthy event; and Clarifies that the images subject to the crimes may be disclosed by law enforcement personnel, human or social services personnel, prosecutors, and court personnel in the course of their normal business.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill mandates funding instruction in public schools of history and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including but not limited to the history, culture, and contributions of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. Current law requires school districts to convene community forums to discuss the content standards in history and civil government at least once every 10 years. The bill requires the forums to be held at least every 2 years. The history, culture, and civil government in education commission is established to make recommendations to the state board of education when the state board performs its scheduled 6-year review of education standards so those standards and programs accurately reflect the history, culture, and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including the contributions and influence of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill creates a 3-year pilot program in the division of employment and training (division) in the department of labor and employment (department) to provide emergency employment support services to rural and nonrural counties in the state. The bill requires the division to contract with an administering entity to operate the pilot program to provide reimbursement for emergency employment support services provided to eligible individuals in the eligible counties. In order to be eligible for services for which a service provider may be reimbursed under the pilot program, an individual must be 16 years or older, eligible to work in the United States, have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, and be actively pursuing employment or job training. The bill sets forth a list of services that are eligible for reimbursement. The bill requires the administering entity to report to the division at the end of the pilot program. The division is required to devise a formula for poverty reduction, employment, and workforce development programs for the distribution of money within the program area. The bill establishes the emergency employment support services pilot program cash fund to consist of gifts, grants, and donations, and any other money that the general assembly may transfer to the fund. The pilot program is subject to sunset review at the end of the 3-year period. The division is required to promulgate rules to implement and set parameters for the operation of the pilot program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill creates the law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice information-sharing grant program (grant program) within the division of homeland security and emergency management (division). During the 2018-19 fiscal year, the grant program shall award grants to any state governmental entity, state quasi-governmental entity, or separate legal entity formed by an intergovernmental agreement. Money received from the grant program may be used for: Enhancing, maintaining, operating, or improving any existing statewide law enforcement, public safety, or criminal justice information-sharing system; Assisting law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice agencies in gaining access to the information-sharing system; or Increasing communication, interoperability, or data sharing among law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice agencies. The bill requires the executive director of the department of public safety to promulgate rules for the administration of the grant program. At a minimum, the rules must specify the time frames for applying for grants, the form of the grant program application, and the time frames for distributing grant money. In determining whether to award a grant, the division shall consider: The applicant's capacity to serve law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice agencies statewide; and The applicant's ability to operate and maintain a law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice information-sharing system. The bill creates the law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice information-sharing grant program fund (fund) and directs the general assembly to appropriate $1 million to the fund from the marijuana tax cash fund for the 2018-19 fiscal year. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

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 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 initially 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.) , Read More

Read More