Sen. Kerry Donovan

Legislative Audit Committee. The bill permits the Colorado student loan program (program) to enter into an agreement with the department of higher education or another state entity to administer part or all of the college opportunity fund program. The program's authority to contract is effective on and after July 1, 2015.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The bill changes the salary categorization for locally elected officials in Lake county. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Section 1 of the bill updates the definition of a broadband network for purposes of telecommunications regulation and deregulation. Section 2 updates how the public utilities commission (commission) makes an effective competition determination for high cost support mechanism (HCSM) funding, which is financial assistance provided to telecommunications companies that provide basic telephone service or broadband service in areas that lack effective competition. Section 3 establishes that HCSM funding cannot be used to support more than one wireline and one wireless line per individual household or individual business. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill requires a health insurance carrier to offer and issue a catastrophic health insurance plan to eligible individuals who are under 30 years of age in certain geographic rating areas for a minimum of 3 years. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The bill authorizes the executive director of the department of local affairs (department) or the executive director's designee to coordinate the provision of nonmonetary resources to assist with job retention or creation in a rural community experiencing a significant economic event, such as a plant closure or layoffs, including industry-wide layoffs, that has a significant, quantifiable impact on jobs within that community. The bill also authorizes the executive director of the department or the executive director's designee to award money to qualifying rural communities experiencing a significant economic event and creates the rural economic advancement of Colorado towns fund (fund), to be administered by the executive director of the department for grant-making purposes over the next 3 years. For the 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20 state fiscal years, $500,000 is transferred each year from the general fund to the fund and the money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the department. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Cities, counties, special districts, and other local governments (local government) are currently prohibited, with certain limited exceptions, from providing cable television, telecommunications service, or high-speed internet access without first seeking voter approval. A local government that does provide any of these services is further required to comply with all state and federal laws and regulations governing the service and prohibited from granting certain preferences or discriminating in connection with providing the service. The bill repeals these restrictions on the provision of cable television, telecommunications service, or high-speed internet access by a local government. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)