The act creates the Colorado adult high school program (program) in the office responsible for adult education within the department of education (department). The purpose of the program is to create a pathway for Coloradans who are 21 years of age or older and do not have a high school diploma to attend high school and earn a diploma at no cost. Students may also earn industry-recognized certificates, career and technical education certificates, or college credits at no cost through the program. The act requires the department to award a grant to a Colorado community-based nonprofit organization (organization) to operate the program as an education provider. The education provider is required to: Secure and maintain a building for the program; Contribute funding annually for operating and facility costs; Hire educators and school personnel, including life coaches who help students navigate academic and personal challenges; Propose an academic accountability system with the approval of the department; Establish minimum graduation requirements; Award Colorado high school diplomas to students who successfully complete the graduation requirements; Use an evidence-based educational model that a third-party evaluator has proven effective; Develop courses that may be offered to student in person; Develop online courses for students who take classes in person and demonstrate academic readiness for remote course work; Consult with a nonprofit organization that has successfully implemented an evidence-based educational model for adults in another state; Serve all students, regardless of immigration status; Enroll no more than 400 students at one time; Comply with state and federal laws concerning students with disabilities, including students with accommodations pursuant to section 504 of the federal "Rehabilitation Act of 1973"; Create individualized education programs for students with disabilities; Collaborate with local district colleges, community colleges, area technical colleges, or local career and technical education programs to ensure access to courses that can lead students to graduate with industry-recognized certificates; Fund industry-recognized and career and technical certificate programs at no cost to students; Create a plan in collaboration with institutions of higher education to authorize teachers to teach courses for students to obtain college credit and to align teacher qualification requirements with the state concurrent enrollment program; Operate a licensed, on-site child care center for students with children; and Offer transportation assistance to students who enroll in the program. The department is required to establish a fair and transparent application process in order to select an organization to operate the program. The application process must include input from the office within the department responsible for adult education. On or before July 31, 2025, July 31, 2026, and March 30, 2027 the education provider is required to report to the department on the status of the program. On or before November 30, 2025, November 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the department is required to report the status of the program to the house of representatives education committee and the senate education committee, or their successor committees, including but not limited to: Student demographic data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, gender, and disability; Accountability measure outcomes; and The number of industry-recognized certificates, college credits, and overall average credit attainment that students earn each term. The program repeals July 1, 2027. The act appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the department for the program and for legal services. APPROVED by Governor June 6, 2023 EFFECTIVE June 6, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Sponsored bills
Current law authorizes the director of the division of labor standards and statistics in the department of labor and employment (director) to create and administer a process to accept and mediate wage complaints, to provide legal resources concerning alleged wage inequity, and to promulgate rules as necessary for this purpose. The act changes these authorizations to requirements and further requires the director to create and administer a complaint mediation process by July 1, 2024. Additionally, the act requires the director to: Investigate complaints or other leads concerning employer violations of wage inequity; Upon finding a violation, order compliance and relief; and Promulgate rules to enforce the act. The act also requires an employer to: For each job opportunity, follow specific guidelines for posting the opportunity and provide specific information to employees regarding the compensation, benefits, and date that the application window is anticipated to close; and Make reasonable efforts to make known information regarding the candidate who is selected for the job opportunity. For positions with career progression, the act requires an employer to disclose and make available to all eligible employees the requirements for the career progression. $412,438 is appropriated from the general fund to implement the act. Of that sum, $292,590 is appropriated to the department of labor and employment and $119,848 is appropriated to the department of personnel. APPROVED by Governor June 5, 2023 EFFECTIVE January 1, 2024 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act consolidates the review and approval process for educator preparation programs under the department of education and the state board of education. The act creates an advisory committee to the state board of education and the department to provide input on relevant topics related to educator preparation and educator quality. The act anticipates an appropriation of $108,990 from the educator licensure cash fund to the department of education for the office of professional services. APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die; except that section 22-60.5-121 (2)(h) takes effect only if House Bill 23-1231 becomes law and takes effect on the effective date of this act or the effective date of House Bill 23-1231, whichever is later. House Bill 23-1231 took effect May 15, 2023. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act creates the Colorado universal preschool program provider participation bonus program (bonus program). The bonus program requires a one-time bonus payment to any eligible preschool provider (provider) that participates in the preschool program established in the department of early childhood (department). The department can award additional bonus payments to eligible recipients that maintain or increase their licensed capacity to serve infants and toddlers between April 1, 2022, and April 1, 2024. Subject to available appropriations, the department shall also award bonus payments to eligible recipients located in low-capacity preschool areas. The purpose of the bonus program is to: Increase provider participation in the Colorado universal preschool program (preschool program) to ensure that all children have access to a universal preschool classroom in their communities; Strengthen the mixed delivery system by supporting providers that have not previously participated in the Colorado state-run preschool program; and Preserve access to infant and toddler care. Providers are required to use the bonus payments to implement or support the preschool program or maintain or expand infant and toddler care. The department is required to report to the joint budget committee on or before September 1, 2024, on the number and types of providers that receive bonus payments and the number and types of bonus payments awarded. The bonus program is repealed, effective July 1, 2025. The act appropriates $2,500,000 from the general fund to the department for purposes of the program. APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2023 EFFECTIVE June 2, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Not later than September 1, 2023, the act requires the department of health care policy and financing (state department) to initiate a stakeholder process to promote the expansion and utilization of doula services for pregnant and postpartum medicaid recipients (recipients). The act requires the state department to work with a maternity advisory committee to create a report detailing the findings and recommendations from the stakeholder process and submit the report to the general assembly during the state department's "SMART Act" hearing. Not later than July 1, 2024, the act requires the state department to seek federal authorization for medicaid providers to provide doula services for pregnant and postpartum people. The act creates a doula scholarship program to provide financial support to eligible individuals to pursue doula training and certification. To be eligible for a scholarship, individuals must agree to enroll as a doula provider and provide doula services to recipients. The act requires the division of insurance (division) to contract with an independent entity to study the potential health-care costs and benefits of providing coverage for doula services in health benefit plans. The act requires the division to submit a report to the general assembly during the state department's "SMART Act" hearing detailing the results and recommendations from the study during state fiscal year 2024-25. The act appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to the state department for use by the other medical services division for the doula scholarship program. The act appropriates $100,000 from the division of insurance cash fund to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of insurance to use for personal services. APPROVED by Governor May 30, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 30, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Current law requires a male person who is applying for enrollment or reenrollment to a state-supported institution of higher education (institution) and who is at least 17 years and 9 months of age but younger than 26 years of age (applicant) to provide the institution with a statement of registration compliance for the United States selective service system (selective service). The act removes the requirement that an applicant register for selective service to enroll in an institution but requires institutions to provide information about selective service to eligible males prior to registration. APPROVED by Governor May 16, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act directs the state board of community colleges and occupational education (board) to administer the in-demand short-term credentials program (program) to support the expansion of the number of available and qualified professionals who are able to meet Colorado's in-demand workforce needs. Under the program, the board is required to allocate funds to community and technical colleges, area technical colleges, local district colleges, and Colorado Mesa university to provide assistance to students for eligible expenses that support their enrollment in eligible programs. If unexpended resources exist, the funds must be used to pay for a student's housing, transportation, child or dependent care, or food expenses. The act requires the Colorado commission on higher education to submit a report regarding the program to the house of representatives and senate education committees during its annual "SMART Act" hearing. The act requires the office of future work (office) to provide grants to registered apprenticeship programs that provide training in the building and construction trade at no cost to apprentices (grant program). The act requires the office to submit a report regarding the grant program to the house of representatives business affairs and labor committee and senate business, labor, and technology committee during its annual "SMART Act" hearing. In the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly appropriated $10 million to the department of public health and environment (department) for the purpose of recruitment and re-engagement efforts with health-care professionals with licenses and staffing. The act extends the authority for the department to use the appropriation through December 30, 2024. In the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly appropriated $3 million to the department for the school nurse grant program, which provides grants for hiring school nurses for public schools. The act extends the authority for the department to use the appropriation through December 30, 2024. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, $43,600,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of higher education, of which: $38,600,000 for the program; and $5,000,000 to establish 2 new short-term degree nursing programs at community or technical colleges. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, $1,400,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of labor and employment for the grant program. APPROVED by Governor May 16, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 16, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires the department of human services to promulgate rules that facilitate communication and family time between children and their parents who are incarcerated. The act requires the court to appoint counsel for a respondent parent who is incarcerated, unless the court determines the respondent is able to financially secure counsel or chooses to proceed without counsel. The act requires the court and the prison or jail where the parent is incarcerated to facilitate the parent's attendance and participation in proceedings for the parent's dependency and neglect case. Under current law, after an order of adjudication in a dependency and neglect case, the court holds a dispositional hearing. The act requires, except in instances when the proposed disposition is termination of the parent-child legal relationship, if a child's parent is incarcerated, that the county department of human services include information in the report that details the services and treatment available to a parent at the facility or jail where the parent is incarcerated. Under current law, the court may terminate the parent-child legal relationship based on statutorily created circumstances. The act eliminates the parent's incarceration and related conditions as a basis for terminating the parent-child relationship. Under current law, if the court finds that there is not a substantial probability that the child will be returned to a parent or legal guardian within 6 months and the child satisfies criteria for adoption, the court may require the county department of human services to show cause why it should not file a motion to terminate the parent-child legal relationship. The act states that such cause may exist if the parent is incarcerated, detained by the United States department of homeland security, or deported and has maintained a meaningful and safe relationship with the child while incarcerated, detained, or deported. If a child's parent is incarcerated and the parent has maintained a meaningful and safe relationship with the child while incarcerated, the court shall make findings regarding whether a permanent placement for the child exists that permits the parent to maintain a relationship with the child, including guardianship or allocation of parental responsibilities, giving primary consideration to the child's mental, physical, and emotional needs. The act requires the department of corrections to: Develop opportunities and promulgate policies to facilitate continued relationships between children and their parents who are incarcerated; Designate a family services coordinator, who is responsible for duties related to children and their parents who are incarcerated; and Create and submit an annual report to the judiciary committees of the senate and house of representatives concerning parents who are incarcerated, and make the report publicly available. The act requires each sheriff to designate one individual responsible for communicating between the jail and county department of human services concerning children subject to an open dependency and neglect case whose parents are incarcerated in the jail. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the act appropriates: $31,110 to the department of corrections from the general fund; $15,111 to the department of human services from the general fund, and assumes the department of human services will receive $4,481 in federal funds; and $7,425 to the judicial department from the general fund for use by the trial courts. APPROVED by Governor May 15, 2023 EFFECTIVE January 1, 2024 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
In 2021, the general assembly enacted Senate Bill 21-175, concerning the Colorado prescription drug affordability review board, which created the prescription drug affordability review board (board) in the division of insurance (division) and an affordability review process whereby the board may review costs associated with, and establish upper payment limits for, certain prescription drugs. The 2023 act makes certain changes concerning the board. Section 1 clarifies which actions taken by the board are "board activities", as this term is used elsewhere. Section 2 states that staff members and contractors of the division must disclose any conflict of interest related to a prescription drug for which the board is conducting an affordability review or establishing an upper payment limit. Such a disclosure remains confidential if it relates to a personal association. The board, upon review of a disclosure, may direct the staff member or contractor of the division to recuse themselves. Section 3 allows the chair of the board to cancel or postpone a board meeting for good cause. Section 4 makes certain changes to the procedure by which the board identifies prescription drugs that may be subjected to an affordability review, which changes take effect January 1, 2025, and requires the board to report on its public web page certain information regarding its considerations. Under current law, the board may not establish an upper payment limit for more than 12 prescription drugs per calendar year for 3 years, beginning April 1, 2022. Section 5 lets the board establish an upper payment limit for up to 18 prescription drugs per calendar year if the board determines that there is a need and has sufficient staff support. Section 6 establishes that an upper payment limit for a prescription drug is not a final agency action that is subject to judicial review until the board promulgates a rule establishing the upper payment limit. Sections 6 and 7 remove certain language concerning a process for appealing decisions of the board. Sections 8 and 9 extend the repeal and associated sunset review of the board from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2031. Section 10 establishes that a denial of a request for benefits for a prescription drug that is unavailable in the state because a manufacturer has withdrawn the prescription drug from sale or distribution within the state is an "adverse determination" for which an individual may request an independent external review. APPROVED by Governor May 10, 2023 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die; except that, section 4 of the act takes effect January 1, 2025. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
For the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and for each state fiscal year thereafter through the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2034, the bill allows a data center business or a data center operator (taxpayer) to claim a refund of all state sales and use tax that the taxpayer paid for construction materials or data center equipment that is for the construction or operation of an eligible data center. To be eligible to claim a sales and use tax refund, the taxpayer is required to obtain certification from the Colorado office of economic development (office) stating that the data center is an eligible data center and that the taxpayer may claim a refund of state sales and use tax (certification). An "eligible data center" is defined as a data center that creates a specified number of jobs, generates a specified amount of revenue, and requires a specified amount of power. The sales and use tax refund is allowed only for the sale, storage, or use of construction materials or data center equipment that occurs on or after the date that the taxpayer obtains certification from the office. When a taxpayer believes that the data center that will be identified in a sales and use tax refund application satisfies the criteria to be an eligible data center, the taxpayer may apply to the office for the certification. The taxpayer must demonstrate in the certification application that the data center is an eligible data center and the taxpayer is required to submit any documentation or proof that the office deems necessary to determine whether a data center satisfies the criteria to be an eligible data center. If, based on the information provided to the office and after consultation with the economic development commission, the office determines that a data center satisfies the criteria to be an eligible data center, the office is required to notify the department of revenue (department) and issue a certification to the taxpayer. To claim a sales and use tax refund, a taxpayer must submit a refund application and a copy of the certification from the office to the department. A taxpayer is required to submit certain documentation with the application. The bill allows a taxpayer to assign a certification to specified types of parties after it is awarded. The bill requires the office and the department to prepare an annual report including information regarding eligible data centers and state sales and use tax refunds allowed. The office is required to submit the report to the finance committees of the house of representatives and senate. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)