The bill allows a person who is preregistered to vote in school district elections beginning at 16 years of age. A school district election is defined as an election to recall a school district officer or an election called under title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes, including elections for: The state board of education; School district officers; Referred measures to impose or increase mill levies or to raise and expend property taxes; Referred measures relating to the organization of or plan of representation for school districts; and Referred measures related to the financial obligations and indebtedness of school districts. A preregistrant's voter information is required to be kept confidential. When a person preregisters, they must receive information concerning their eligibility to vote in school district elections, how to update their preregistration information and obtain and cast a ballot, and their confidential status and actions that could cause their information to become public even while in confidential status. A preregistrant is automatically registered to vote in all elections upon turning age 18. Individuals committed to juvenile detention facilities must be given information about their right to preregister and vote in school district elections. A preregistrant can circulate and sign petitions to nominate or recall a school district officer or to initiate an election under title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes. A preregistrant cannot run for office or be appointed to fill a vacancy. If a juvenile is charged with an election offense and no other crime is charged, the juvenile court is prohibited from transferring the charge to a district court. For any election in which preregistrants are eligible to vote and in which the county clerk and recorder has responsibilities for the election, the state is required to reimburse the county for the direct costs associated with ballots sent to preregistrants. The school district's share of the costs of the election in a cost-sharing agreement must be reduced by the amount of the state's reimbursement. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2021, and applies to elections conducted on or after that date. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More
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Prohibition on local government requiring license or permit for a business operated on an occasional basis by a minor - minor business must be located sufficient distance from commercial entity - general police powers still apply. The act prohibits any county, municipality, or city and county (local government) or any agency of a local government from requiring a license or permit for a business that is: Operated on an occasional basis by a minor (a person under the age of 18 years); and Located a sufficient distance from a commercial entity, determined by the local government, that is required to obtain a permit or license from the local government or an agency of the local government to prevent the minor's business from becoming a direct economic competitor of the commercial entity. The act defines "occasional basis" to mean the business does not operate more than 84 days in any one calendar year. The act specifies that it does not prohibit a local government from enacting and enforcing local laws under the local government's general police power in regard to the manner in which a business may be conducted by a minor with the exception of a requirement that the minor obtain a permit or license prior to engaging in the business. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
The bill establishes continuing professional competency requirements for psychotherapists registered in Colorado by the state board of registered psychotherapists (board). The requirements mirror the continuing professional competency requirements established for social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and addiction counselors. On or before March 1, 2020, the board is required to adopt rules establishing a continuing professional competency program that includes the following elements: A self-assessment of the knowledge and skills of a registered psychotherapist; The development, execution, and documentation of a learning plan; and Periodic demonstration of knowledge and skills through documentation of activities.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More
A taxpayer who makes a monetary contribution to promote child care in the state is allowed an income tax credit that is equal to 50% of the total value of the contribution. This exemption is currently available for income tax years that commence prior to January 1, 2020. The bill extends the credit for 5 years. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
The bill requires the Colorado department of education and the Colorado department of higher education to create the framework for a grow your own educator program that includes the following provisions: Enrollment in a grow your own educator program at a participating institution of higher education; Employment with a school district or a district or institute charter school (charter school) under a teacher of record license during the student's final year of the grow your own educator program; Payment of tuition by the school district or charter school for up to the student's last 36 credit hours of the grow your own educator program; In exchange for payment of tuition, the student's commitment to work in the same school district or charter school for 3 years after completion of the grow your own educator program; and A state grant to the employing school district or charter school to pay a portion of up to the final 36 credit hours of the student's in-state tuition at the institution of higher education, limited to 50 new students annually, with a limit on the number of grants distributed to each school district and to institute charter schools. Institutions of higher education and participating school districts or charter schools are required to enter into an agreement that includes provisions set forth in the bill. Further, school districts or charter schools and teachers of record employed by the school district or charter school are required to enter into an agreement that includes provisions set forth in the bill. The bill prioritizes the award of grants to participating school districts or charter schools first for graduates of Colorado high schools who commit to teaching in a community that is experiencing a teacher shortage in a grade level or content area and second to students who commit to teach in a rural school with a teacher shortage in a grade level or content area. The department of education shall report to the education committees of the general assembly in any year in which a grant is awarded concerning information on students and school districts or charter schools participating in the program. The bill establishes a teacher of record license for a student who has completed all or substantially all of the course work requirements for a baccalaureate degree, but has not completed teacher field work requirements. A student who holds a teacher of record license may be employed by a school district or charter school through the grow your own educator program or through a teacher of record program established in the bill. The student must work for a school district or charter school that has identified a critical teacher shortage and has a vacant position for which no other qualified applicant has applied. A teacher of record license is valid for 2 years. The bill creates a second program that authorizes local education providers, as defined in the bill, to implement a one- or 2-year teacher of record program. As part of a teacher of record program, a local education provider, as defined in the bill, may employ a person holding a teacher of record license in a vacant position if there are no other qualified, licensed applicants to fill the position. The department of education shall report annually to the education committees of the general assembly concerning information relating to teacher of record programs. The bill amends the special services intern authorization to allow the authorization to be renewed for a second academic year if the intern is employed by a school district or board of cooperative services and the intern has not completed a program of preparation for a special services provider due to unforeseen circumstances or hardship. The bill amends the school counselor corps grant program to define 'school counselor' to include a person who holds a special services intern authorization. The bill amends the behavioral heath care professional matching grant program to include state-certified professionals qualified to provide services to children and adolescents. The bill creates the partnership for rural education (partnership) at the Denver campus of the university of Colorado to collaborate with other institutions of higher education to bring customized solutions to local education providers experiencing teacher shortages. The partnership shall prepare and submit an annual report to the department of education, the department of higher education, and to the general assembly concerning data collected and strategies identified by the partnership to address teacher shortages in the state. The bill make appropriations to implement the bill. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Under current law a records custodian may deny access to records of investigations conducted by or of intelligence information or security procedures of any sheriff, district attorney, or police department or any criminal justice investigatory files compiled for any other law enforcement purpose on the ground that disclosure would be contrary to the public interest. The bill states that prior to determining whether disclosure would be contrary to the public interest, the custodian shall perform an individualized analysis of each of the specific records requested by balancing: The privacy interests of the individual who may be impacted by a decision to allow inspection; The agency's interest in keeping confidential information confidential; The agency's interest in pursuing ongoing investigations without compromising them; The public purpose to be served in allowing inspection; and Other pertinent considerations relevant to the particular request. The bill further applies the following provisions to records regarding an internal investigation related to the on-duty or in-uniform conduct of a peace officer involving a member of the public: When the custodian is performing the balancing test described above, the custodian shall adhere to the following principles: There is a compelling public interest in public inspection of completed internal investigation files related to a peace officer's on-duty or in-uniform conduct involving a member of the public; public access to internal investigation files enhances the effectiveness of internal investigations, rather than impairing them; and transparency enhances public confidence in the agency. Peace officers do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in on-duty or in-uniform conduct involving a member of the public. If, after performing the balancing test described above, the custodian makes a preliminary determination that the factors weigh against release, the custodian shall consider whether redaction of the records would satisfy the objective of disclosure while also addressing privacy concerns. The custodian shall redact sparingly in order to maximize the amount of information available to the public. If, after performing the required balancing test and considering redaction, the custodian determines that the factors weigh against release, the custodian may deny disclosure of the records or any portion thereof. If the custodian denies disclosure of the records, the custodian shall upon request provide a written explanation of the basis for the denial, including articulation of the custodian's balancing of the public and private interests. Any local policy, local rule, or ordinance that prohibits custodians from disclosing records of closed internal investigations related to on-duty or in-uniform conduct of a peace officer involving a member of the public is unenforceable; except that the custodian of an internal investigation may deny inspection if the inspection is prohibited by rules promulgated by the supreme court or by a court order and the custodian may deny inspection pursuant to application of the bill.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill creates the Young Americans Center for Financial Education fund (fund) in the state treasury. A voluntary contribution designation line for the fund will appear on the state individual income tax return form (form) for the 5 income tax years following the year that the executive director of the department of revenue (department) certifies to the revisor of statutes that: There is a space available on the form; and The fund is next in the queue. Once the fund is placed on the form, the department is directed to determine annually the total amount contributed to the fund and report that amount to the state treasurer and the general assembly. The state treasurer is required to credit that amount to the fund, and the general assembly appropriates from the fund to the department the costs of administering money designated for the fund. After that amount is deducted, the money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year is transferred to the Young Americans Center for Financial Education, a nonprofit organization. Following the statutory 2-year grace period for new tax check-offs, the fund is required to achieve the minimum contribution amount of $50,000 per year to remain on the form. The fund is repealed in the sixth income tax year following the year in which the director files the certification, unless it is continued by the general assembly before then. (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 makes it an unfair employment practice for an employer to seek wage or salary history information, including compensation and benefits, about an applicant for employment, unless the employer notifies the applicant of the wage or salary range for the current employment opening or the applicant agrees to discuss his or her wage or salary history. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
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