Sen. Janet Buckner

Hospitals - regulation of surgical smoke - prevention of human exposure. The act requires each hospital with surgical services and each ambulatory surgical center to adopt and implement on or before May 1, 2021, a policy that prevents human exposure to surgical smoke via the use of a surgical smoke evacuation system during any planned surgical procedure that is likely to generate surgical smoke. Surgical smoke is a gaseous by-product produced by energy-generating surgical devices.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

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The bill amends the definition of 'marijuana' to exclude prescription drug products approved by the federal food and drug administration and dispensed by a pharmacy or prescription drug outlet registered by the state of Colorado. The bill also specifies that the change does not restrict or otherwise affect regulation of or access to: Marijuana that is authorized the Colorado constitution and statutes; or Industrial hemp and derivatives therefrom, as authorized by the Colorado constitution and statutes.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Sunset Process - House Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee. The bill partially implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies, as contained in the department's sunset review of nursing home administrators by continuing the regulation of nursing home administrators by the board of examiners of nursing home administrators in the division of professions and occupations for 5 years, until September 1, 2023. The bill requires the board of examiners of nursing home administrators to record by board member each vote imposing discipline or dismissing a complaint. The bill requires a nursing home administrator to report to law enforcement possible felony conduct by an employee. If the employee holds a state license, the administrator must also report the conduct to the appropriate occupational board or the director of the division of professions and occupations. Failure to report is grounds for discipline. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Advanced placement courses are offered to high school students and reflect the information found in a college-level course. Students taking such courses have the option to take an advanced placement exam following completion of the course. Some colleges, including all state institutions in Colorado pursuant to Colorado commission on higher education policy, offer credit based on a student's advanced placement exam score. Students who take an advanced placement exam must pay an exam fee. The bill creates the advanced placement exam fee grant program (grant program) in the department of education. The grant program provides funds to high schools to reduce or eliminate the advanced placement exam fee for low-income students. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill creates the retaining teachers grant program (grant program) to assist school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools (local education providers) in implementing initiatives to improve retention of teachers. The department of education (department) is directed to implement the grant program by reviewing applications and recommending grant recipients and grant amounts to the state board of education (state board), which awards the grants. The department is also directed to provide information to local education providers concerning the grant program and provide assistance in writing grant applications if requested. Each grant is awarded for 3 years, subject to annual review by the department and renewal by the state board. The grants are paid from the retaining teachers fund created in the bill. The department must submit annual reports to the state board and to the joint budget committee and the education committees of the general assembly concerning implementation of the grant program, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant program in reducing the teacher shortage in Colorado, any recommendations for changes to improve the effectiveness of the grant program, and a recommendation concerning continuation of the grant program. The grant program is repealed, effective July 1, 2022. (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 requires hospitals with surgical services and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt a policy to prevent human exposure to surgical smoke. Surgical smoke is a gaseous byproduct produced by energy-generating surgical medical devices. On or before March 1, 2019, the Colorado department of public health and environment shall promulgate rules regarding requirements for surgical smoke evacuation policies. A policy adopted in accordance with the bill applies to surgical procedures performed on or after July 1, 2019.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More