Current law requires the department of higher education (department) and higher education institutions to develop a framework for evaluating the quality of nondegree credentials. The act formally recognizes the resulting quality and in-demand nondegree credentials framework (framework) as the primary tool for assessing the quality of nondegree credentials offered in the state. The act requires the department to collaborate with various agencies to ensure the effective integration of the framework within the state's education and workforce systems. Beginning January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the act requires the department to evaluate nondegree credentials offered through state-recognized programs to ensure the credentials meet the framework's quality standards. Beginning January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the department shall supply a list of nondegree credential programs that meet the framework's quality standards for inclusion in the Colorado talent report and in a credential registry endorsed by the state. The department shall engage state agencies, educational institutions, international organizations, industry associations, and other stakeholders to study and make recommendations about the adoption of the international standard classification of education (ISCED) as the state's standard framework for classifying nondegree credentials and ISCED's wider application in the state's education and workforce systems. The recommendations must include a process for assigning ISCED equivalency levels to nondegree credentials included in stackable credential pathways and apprenticeship programs. The act requires the department to report its findings and recommendations on or before July 31, 2025. Current law requires the department to create stackable credential pathways in growing industries. The act requires the department to assign appropriate ISCED equivalency levels to the stackable credential pathways on or before July 31, 2025. Beginning January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the act requires the office of future of work to coordinate with various agencies to determine ISCED equivalency levels for each apprenticeship program registered on and after July 31, 2025. The office of future of work shall then determine ISCED equivalency levels for each apprenticeship program registered before July 31, 2025. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $124,287 from the general fund to the department of higher education for use by the Colorado commission on higher education and higher education special purpose programs. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $30,000 from the general fund to the department of labor and employment for use by the office of future of work. APPROVED by Governor May 10, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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In the "Construction Defect Action Reform Act" (act), Colorado law establishes procedures for bringing a lawsuit for a construction defect (claim). Section 2 Section 4 of the bill clarifies that a person that has had a claim brought on the person's behalf is also considered a claimant, and therefore, the act applies to the person for whom the claim is brought. Sections 3 and 6 create a right for a construction professional to remedy a claim made against the construction professional by doing remedial work or hiring another construction professional to perform the work. The following applies to the remedy: The construction professional must notify the claimant and diligently make sure the remedial work is performed; and Upon completion, the claimant is deemed to have settled and released the claim, and the claimant is limited to claims regarding improper performance of the remedial work. Currently, a claim may be held in abeyance if the parties have agreed to mediation. Section 3 also adds other forms of alternative dispute resolution for which the claim would be held in abeyance. Alternative dispute resolution is binding. If a settlement offer of a payment is made and accepted in a claim, the payment constitutes a settlement of the claim and the cause of action is deemed to have been released, and an offer of settlement is not admissible in any subsequent action or legal proceeding unless the proceeding is to enforce the settlement. To bring a claim or related action, section 4 section 2 requires a unit owners' association (association) to obtain the written consent of at least two-thirds 60% of the actual owners of the units in the common interest community. The consent must contain the currently required notices must be signed by each consenting owner, and must have certain attestations. Under the act, a claimant is barred from seeking damages for failing to comply with building codes or industry standards unless the failure results in: Actual damage to real or personal property; Actual loss of the use of real or personal property; Bodily injury or wrongful death; or A risk of bodily injury or death to, or a threat to the life, health, or safety of, the occupants. Section 5 requires the actual property damage to be the result of a building code violation and requires the risk of injury or death or the threat to life, health, or safety to be imminent and unreasonable. Section 3 changes the standard concerning the risk of bodily injury or death to a verifiable danger to the occupants and adds another option to bring a claim if the defect results in a failure or lack of capacity of a building component to perform the intended purpose of the building component. Under current law, an association may institute, defend, or intervene in litigation or administrative proceedings in its own name on behalf of itself or 2 or more unit owners on matters affecting a common interest community. For a construction defect matter to affect a common interest community, section 7 requires that the matter concern real estate that is owned by the association or by all members of the association. Section 7 also establishes that, when an association makes a claim or takes legal action on behalf of unit owners when the matter does not concern real estate owned by the association: The association and each claim are subject to each defense, limitation, claim procedure, and alternative dispute resolution procedure that each unit owner would be subject to if the unit owner had brought the claim; and The association has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of each unit owner. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
A metropolitan district is a type of special district that provides at least 2 types of services and may perform covenant enforcement similar to the role of a homeowners' association. The act requires a metropolitan district engaging in covenant enforcement and design review services to comply with certain procedural requirements, including: Adopting a written policy governing the imposition and collection of fines; Adopting a written policy governing how disputes between the metropolitan district and a resident are addressed; and Refraining from prohibiting residents from engaging in certain activities regarding the use of their property, including displaying flags and signs; parking a motor vehicle in a driveway; removing certain vegetation to create a defensible space for fire mitigation purposes; performing reasonable property modifications to accommodate disabilities; using xeriscape, nonvegetative turf grass, or drought-tolerant landscaping; using a rain barrel; operating a family child care home; using renewable energy generation devices; and installing or using an energy efficiency measure. Additionally, a metropolitan district is prohibited from requiring residents to use cedar shakes or other flammable roofing materials. The act prohibits a metropolitan district from foreclosing on any lien based on a resident's delinquent fees or other charges owed to the metropolitan district. The act also imposes certain procedural requirements regarding court actions filed by or against a metropolitan district based on an alleged violation of the metropolitan district's declaration, rules and regulations, or other instrument. A metropolitan district that engages in design review services, but does not engage in covenant enforcement or form a homeowners' association, cannot pursue other remedies against residents to enforce its design review requirements and need not adopt the written policies required under the act. APPROVED by Governor April 19, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires the department of higher education (department) to: Identify and designate state institutions of higher education (state institutions) as first-generation-serving institutions if: The average resident first-generation undergraduate population share for the most recent year and the 2 previous years equals or exceeds the statewide average resident first-generation undergraduate student population share for the fall 2022 term; or The state institution secured a First Scholars Network of Institutions designation from the Center for First-generation Student Success or a similarly rigorous independent third-party designation; Post on the department's website the names of the state institutions that are so designated; and Notify the state institutions and the Colorado general assembly of the designations. APPROVED by Governor April 11, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act prohibits a peer support team member or recipient of group peer support services from being examined as a witness without the consent of the person to whom the examination relates. APPROVED by Governor March 22, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The bill creates the "Colorado College Preparation and Enrichment Program" (program) in the department of higher education (department), to be administered by the office of educational equity (office). The purpose of the program is to create partnerships between local education providers (K-12 schools) and institutions of higher education (IHE). The goals of the program are to increase the number of students who graduate from high school, matriculate to an IHE, and ultimately graduate from an IHE. The department shall appropriate $500,000 annually to each IHE that participates in the program. An IHE may opt out of the program at any time. Each participating IHE shall partner with eligible K-12 schools, beginning in eighth grade, to provide a number of services to encourage students to apply to an IHE, apply for financial aid, and ultimately be accepted at an IHE. Participating IHEs shall create guaranteed admissions pathways so participating students are provided with the exact steps necessary for admission. Once enrolled in an IHE, participating students will be identified, organized, and monitored in cohorts at each IHE. A primary contact person will be appointed to communicate with and coordinate services for students from participating K-12 schools. As part of the allowable uses for program funding, each IHE may provide a number of services to students, including targeted academic and financial advising, community building, initiatives focused on retention and on-time completion, and recruitment and outreach and multi-language marketing. Eligibility criteria are set forth for both the IHEs and K-12 schools. The office shall submit an annual report to the department on the overview of the program and the program's return on investment. The department shall include this report in its annual "SMART Act" hearing. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill prohibits the offer for sale of any counterfeit lighter, unsafe lighter, or novelty lighter. The bill does not prohibit: The interstate transportation of counterfeit lighters, unsafe lighters, or novelty lighters through this state; or The storage of counterfeit lighters, unsafe lighters, or novelty lighters in any distribution center or warehouse if such distribution center or warehouse is closed to the public and does not distribute or sell, at retail, such lighters to the public.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Under current law, every year, the department of education (department) is required to prepare a report and evaluation on the successes or failures of charter schools, school reform efforts, and suggested changes to laws affecting charter schools. Beginning in the 2024-25 budget year, the bill requires the department to: Report additional school district information, that primarily compares district charter schools or institute charter schools located within the school district to traditional district schools, and report information relating to a school district that has no charter schools; and Publicly post the additional information on the department's website, with explanations in plain and easy-to-understand language.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill authorizes a fire station, hospital, or community clinic emergency center (authorized facility) to install a newborn safety device on its premises for parents who voluntarily relinquish their child who is 72 hours old or younger. A newborn safety device must be installed in a conspicuous location at the authorized facility and be equipped with a dual alarm system. An authorized facility that installs a newborn safety device is responsible for the cost of the installation and maintenance, shall ensure the dual alarm system is functioning, and shall make information available to the relinquishing parent. The bill makes conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the reentry workforce development cash assistance pilot program (pilot program) in the department of corrections (department) to provide cash assistance to persons who enroll and participate in workforce services or training programs after incarceration. The pilot program provides a total payment of up to $3,000 to eligible persons for basic life expenses. The bill requires the department to contract with an organization to administer the pilot program, perform an annual survey of pilot program recipients, and produce an annual report that is submitted to the judiciary committees of the senate and house of representatives. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)