The act implements recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' sunset review and report on the registration functions of the commissioner of agriculture (commissioner) regarding the "Colorado Seed Act" by: Continuing the commissioner's registration functions for 11 years, until 2031; Setting fees for registration in statute and allowing the commissioner to adjust the registration fees by rule up to a maximum amount set in statute; Removing the fee discount afforded to registrants with respect to registering a second and any additional locations; and Authorizing the commissioner to establish a registration renewal schedule by rule and repealing language that made each registration effective for one year from March 1 through the last day in February, regardless of when the registration was approved.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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The act creates the rural economic development initiative (REDI) grant program in the department of local affairs (department) to provide grants for projects that create new jobs through a new employer or the expansion of an existing employer and for projects that create diversity and resiliency in the local economies of rural communities. The department is required to administer the REDI grant program in consultation with the Colorado office of economic development. Entities eligible to receive REDI grant program money include local governments and organizations or individuals working in partnership with a local government, where the local government serves as the grant administrator, including intergovernmental agencies, councils of government, housing authorities, beginning farmers, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, nonprofit economic development organizations, and private employers. The act specifies criteria that the department is required to consider when evaluating grant applications and requires the department to prioritize applications that would create new jobs. The act specifies the types of projects for which REDI grants may be awarded to eligible recipients and requires grant recipients to provide matching funds. If the department determines that a rural community needs resources or assistance because it has been impacted by a significant economic event or an anticipated event that has been announced, the department may use all or a portion of the money appropriated for the purposes of the REDI grant program for the purposes of the "Rural Economic Advancement of Colorado Towns (REACT) Act". The executive director of the department is required to adopt policies and procedures for the administration of the REDI grant program and is also required to produce a report summarizing the use of all money that was awarded as grants from the REDI grant program in the preceding fiscal year. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The state treasurer is authorized to enter into a contract or contracts to establish a small business recovery loan program (loan program). The purpose of the loan program is to assist the state's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by leveraging private investment for loans to Colorado small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 crisis. The treasurer is authorized to contract with the Colorado housing and finance authority or a private entity selected through an open and competitive process. Subject to the availability of proceeds from insurance premium tax credit purchases, the state treasurer may invest up to $30 million in first loss capital from the small business recovery fund established in the act in fiscal year 2020-21, and up to $30 million in first loss capital in fiscal year 2021-22; except that the total invested across both fiscal years may not exceed $50 million. The investments must be made in tranches of no more than $10 million each. Each tranche must be matched at a 4-to-1 ratio by money invested from other sources before it is committed or deployed. Once the money in a tranche is matched, it must be used to make loans of working capital to Colorado businesses with between 5 and 100 employees that meet eligibility criteria. The loans must be between $30,000 and $500,000, with a maturity of up to 5 years. The state treasurer may not invest a new tranche of state money until the prior tranche is at least 90% invested in small business loans. When each tranche is deployed, it is subject to an initial period of time in which a portion of the money is allocated to each county on a basis proportionate to the county's share of small businesses or small business employees relative to the state, or a similar metric, or based on a formula that accounts for how affected each county has been by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time period, the money allocated to the county is reserved for eligible borrowers located in that county. After the initial period of time passes, the money remaining in the tranche is available on a statewide basis. The small business recovery loan program oversight board (oversight board) is created in the department of the treasury (department). The oversight board consists of the state treasurer, the director of the minority business office on behalf of the office of economic development, a member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, a member appointed by the president of the senate, and a member appointed by the governor. The oversight board consults with the treasurer on the selection of a loan program manager, establishes certain terms and criteria applicable to the loan program in consultation with lending industry leaders and small business representatives, and provides oversight and guidance to the loan program to ensure it complies with statutory requirements and fulfills the purpose of assisting Colorado small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 crisis. The loan program manager must report on a quarterly basis to the oversight board. The oversight board must file written reports with the joint budget committee twice each fiscal year, and must report once each fiscal year for the first 2 years to the business committees of the house and senate. The department is authorized to issue insurance premium tax credits to insurance companies that are authorized to do business in Colorado and incur premium tax liability, subject to procedures established by the department. The department may contract or consult with an independent third party to manage the bidding process. The department is required to issue a tax credit certificate to each successful purchaser. The department is authorized to issue up to $40 million in tax credit certificates in fiscal year 2020-21. The department is authorized to issue up to an additional $28 million in tax credits in fiscal year 2021-22, unless an equivalent amount of federal money is appropriated or allocated to the program. A qualified taxpayer may claim the tax credit against its premium tax liability. For a tax credit certificate issued in fiscal year 2020-21, the qualified taxpayer may claim up to 50% of the credit in calendar year 2026, and may claim the remaining amount of the credit beginning in calendar year 2027. For a tax credit certificate issued in fiscal year 2021-22, the qualified taxpayer may claim the credit beginning in calendar year 2028. The amount of the credit claimed cannot exceed the taxpayer's premium tax liability for a given year. The unused amount carries forward and may be claimed in subsequent years; except that a credit cannot be claimed for premium tax liability incurred in a taxable year that begins after December 31, 2031. The act creates the small business recovery fund in the treasury. The fund consists of tax credit sale proceeds, any revenues, disbursements, or money returned to the state from the loan program, and any other money the general assembly appropriates or transfers to the fund. The money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the department to implement the loan program and to pay for the department's direct and indirect costs in administering the loan program and in issuing the tax credits. Beginning in fiscal year 2025-26, the treasurer must credit any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year to the general fund. The fund is repealed on July 1, 2029, and all unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund is transferred to the general fund. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act implements recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' sunset review and report on the coal mine board of examiners in the department of natural resources by: Continuing the board for 9 years, until 2029; Defining "commissioner" as the commissioner of mines in the statute that lists the board members; Replacing an obsolete reference to a "flame safety lamp" with a reference to a "digital gas detector"; and Repealing references to "assistant mine foreman" because that is no longer a position held in coal mines.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Beginning January 1, 2022, the bill requires a health insurance carrier (carrier) that offers an individual health benefit plan in this state to offer a Colorado option plan in the Colorado counties where the carrier offers the individual health benefit plan. The commissioner of insurance (commissioner) is required to develop and implement a Colorado option plan that must: Be offered to Colorado residents who purchase health insurance in the individual market; Implement a standardized plan that: Allows consumers to easily compare health benefit plans; and Provides first-dollar, predeductible coverage for certain services; Include the essential health benefits package; Provide different, specific levels of coverage; Include a hospital reimbursement rate formula; Require hospital participation; Require a minimum medical loss ratio of 85%; and Require carriers and pharmacy benefit management firms to pass rebate savings through to consumers and document the savings and pass-through in a form and manner determined by the commissioner. The Colorado option advisory board (board) is created to advise and make recommendations to the commissioner on all aspects of the Colorado option plan. The bill authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rules to develop, implement, and operate the Colorado option plan, including: Expanding the Colorado option plan to the small group market; Establishing a hospital reimbursement rate formula; and Requiring carriers to offer the Colorado option plan in specific counties. If a hospital refuses to participate in the Colorado option plan, the department of public health and environment may issue a warning, impose fines, or suspend, revoke, or impose conditions on the hospital's license. The commissioner, in consultation with the board, is required to evaluate the Colorado option plan beginning July 1, 2024, and each year thereafter. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Transportation Legislation Review Committee. The bill creates the foster children's driver education grant program (program) in the state department of human services (state department) to reimburse county departments of human or social services (county departments) for costs paid to private driving schools for providing driving instruction to persons in the custody of the county department who are at least 15 years and less than 18 years of age. The state department shall administer the program and award grants to county departments. On or before December 1, 2020, the state board of human services (state board) shall promulgate rules for the administration of the program. On or before November 1, 2021, and on or before January 1 each year thereafter, each county department that receives a grant through the program shall submit a report to the state department. At a minimum, the report must include the information required by rules promulgated by the state board. On or before January 1, 2021, and on or before January 1 each year thereafter for the duration of the program, the state department shall submit a summarized report to the appropriate reference committees of the general assembly. At a minimum, the report must include the information submitted to the state department by county departments. The program is repealed, effective September 1, 2030. Before the repeal, the program is scheduled for a sunset review by the department of regulatory agencies. The bill states that the program does not create any liability on behalf of a county department for contracting with a private driving school to provide driving instruction or for an injury alleged to have occurred while a person in the custody of the state department receives driving instruction from a private driving school, the cost of which instruction may be reimbursed to the county department from the program. The bill states that a certified court order is sufficient to establish the legal name, identity, date of birth, lawful presence in the United States, or Colorado residency of a person who is in the custody of the state department, is at least 15 years and less than 18 years of age, and is applying for a driver's license. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the emergency completion and retention grant program (grant program) in the department of higher education (department). The department 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 financial emergencies. The bill describes minimum procedures an institution shall adopt for the financial aid director at the institution to award the emergency assistance grants. The department 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 this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates the early college policy development advisory group (advisory group) to design and recommend policies and changes to law to support the statewide development of and funding for early college programs and p-tech schools. The bill specifies the membership of the advisory group, which is appointed by the governor and must include members of the education leadership council, and the specific duties of the advisory group. In completing its duties, the advisory group must coordinate with the education leadership council. The advisory group must prepare an interim report and a final report of its findings and recommendations, and submit the reports by December 1, 2020, and December 1, 2021, respectively, to the governor, the education leadership council, the state board of education (state board), the Colorado commission on higher education (CCHE), and the education committees of the general assembly. The bill creates a legislative advisory council to provide advice and comment to the advisory group. The bill expands the existing concurrent enrollment expansion and innovation grant program to include grants for specified purposes related to providing opportunities for students to simultaneously enroll in postsecondary courses or engage in work-based learning opportunities while enrolled in high school. The bill extends for 2 additional budget years funding for students who enroll in an early college program that was approved before June 6, 2018, and who enroll in postsecondary courses in the fifth or sixth year of high school. The bill authorizes the distribution of state financial assistance to students who enroll in postsecondary courses while still enrolled in high school. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to reimburse federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) for telemedicine services and clinical pharmacy services provided to medicaid recipients.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The act allows, upon approval of the county treasurer, a board of county commissioners or a city council of a city and county to temporarily reduce, waive, or suspend delinquent interest payments for property tax payments. The act also requires a board of county commissioners or city council to notify local taxing jurisdictions of the intent to reduce, waive, or suspend delinquent property tax interest payments. If a local taxing jurisdiction would be unable to meet its bond payment obligations after the proposed reduction, waiver, or suspension, the local taxing jurisdiction shall notify the board of county commissioners or city council. Finally, the act requires a treasurer to advance property tax payments to local taxing jurisdictions to assist the local taxing jurisdictions in the payment of bonded indebtedness payments and monthly operation costs, if the local taxing jurisdiction submits a letter to the board of county commissioners of the county or the city council of the city and county that contains the local taxing jurisdiction. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)