The bill creates the emergency completion and retention grant program (grant program) in the department of higher education (department). The Colorado commission on higher education implements the grant program by annually distributing an amount to each state institution of higher education (institution) to use in awarding emergency assistance grants to eligible students who are experiencing qualifying fiscal emergencies. The bill describes minimum procedures an institution must adopt for the financial aid director at the institution to award the emergency assistance grants. The commission is required to include in the annual financial aid report submitted to the joint budget committee a summary of the implementation of the grant program and an evaluation of its effect in increasing the retention and completion rates at institutions. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
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The bill enacts the 'Patient Drug Costs Savings Act' (act). The act prohibits a carrier that has a contract with a pharmacy or pharmacist, or a pharmacy benefit management firm acting on behalf of a carrier, from: Prohibiting a pharmacy or pharmacist from, or penalizing a pharmacy or pharmacist for, providing a covered person information on the amount of the covered person's cost share for the covered person's prescription drug and the clinical efficacy of any more affordable alternative drugs that are therapeutically equivalent; or Requiring a pharmacy to charge or collect a copayment from a covered person that exceeds the total submitted charges by the network pharmacy. The act requires the commissioner of insurance to act when the commissioner determines that a carrier or pharmacy benefit management firm has not complied with the above prohibitions. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill enacts the 'Genetic Counselor Licensure Act'. On and after June 1, 2019, a person cannot practice genetic counseling without being licensed by the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies. To be licensed, a person must have graduated with an appropriate genetic counseling degree and have been certified by a national body, except that the director may issue a provisional license to a candidate for certification pursuant to requirements established by rule. The bill gives title protection to genetic counselors and standard licensing, rule-making, and disciplinary powers to the director. Genetic counselors must have insurance unless the director, by rule, finds that insurance is not reasonably available. The bill repeals the act on September 1, 2025. Genetic counselors are subject to the mandatory disclosures of the 'Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act of 2010'. $22,677 is appropriated to the department of regulatory agencies from the division of professions and occupations cash fund to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The Colorado department of human services (department) operates numerous facilities in the state that provide direct care to vulnerable people, including veterans and their families, youth in rehabilitation programs, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and people with mental health diagnoses. Current law specifies when an employee of the department (employee) will be suspended or dismissed after being charged with specified criminal offenses. However, the department has encountered difficulty in suspending, dismissing, or otherwise disciplining employees through the administrative process when the employee was involved in an egregious incident of mistreatment of a vulnerable person but was not convicted of a criminal offense. The bill specifies that: In considering a disciplinary action against an employee for engaging in mistreatment, abuse, neglect, or exploitation, against a vulnerable person, the appointing authority shall give weight to the safety of vulnerable persons over the interests of any other person. If the appointing authority finds that the employee has engaged in mistreatment, abuse, neglect, or exploitation against a vulnerable person, the appointing authority may take such disciplinary action as the appointing authority deems appropriate, up to and including termination, taking into consideration the harm or risk of harm to vulnerable persons created by the employee's actions.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires the department of education (department) to research approaches, policies, and practices in other states related to bullying prevention and education, and to develop a model bullying prevention and education policy after considering its research. The department is required to publish the results of that research and its model policy on the department's website by July 1, 2019, as guidance for school districts, charter schools, and the charter school institute in developing and implementing bullying prevention and education policies. The research and model policy must be updated and published every 3 years. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission. The bill creates a license within the department of human services (department) for a substitute placement agency that places or that facilitates or arranges placement of substitute child care providers in licensed child care facilities providing less than 24-hour care. The bill requires the state board of human services to establish rules for substitute child care providers and substitute placement agencies, including a requirement that substitute child care providers submit to a fingerprint-based criminal history records check and a review of records of child abuse and neglect maintained by the department. The bill allows the department to establish and collect a fee for licensing substitute placement agencies. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill allows, with board approval, a community college that is part of the state system of community and technical colleges (community college) to offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing as a completion degree (nursing degree). In considering a request from a community college to offer a nursing degree, the board shall consider student and workforce demand, cost effectiveness for students, and accreditation and licensing requirements. At least 90 days prior to requesting board approval to offer a nursing degree, a community college shall provide notice of its request to all state institutions of higher education. A reporting requirement is added providing that each state-supported institution of higher education that offers a nursing degree provide the department of higher education with an annual report concerning its nursing degree program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
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Section 1 of the bill changes the name of the Emily Maureen Ellen Keyes organ and tissue donation awareness fund to the Emily Keyes - John W. Buckner organ and tissue donation awareness fund (fund). The bill clarifies that designation as an organ and tissue donor (donor) by an applicant for a driver's license, instruction permit, or license renewal remains in effect until revoked by the applicant. Section 1 also removes the repeal date of the fund and adds a requirement that the recipient of money from the fund (Donor Alliance, Inc.) must file an annual report with the department of revenue detailing the amounts and uses of all funds received. The report must be presented by the department of revenue at the hearing required by the State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act. Section 2 of the bill continues the option that allows applicants for a driver's license, instruction permit, or license renewal to donate to the fund and, if not already a donor, to volunteer to become a donor. Section 3 of the bill provides for an appropriation from the fund to the department of revenue for costs necessary to implement the act.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)