Proposal for a state option for health care coverage - creation - division of insurance - appropriation. The act requires the department of health care policy and financing and the division of insurance in the department of regulatory agencies (departments) to develop and submit a proposal (proposal) to certain committees of the general assembly concerning the design, costs, benefits, and implementation of a state option for health care coverage. Additionally, the departments shall present a summary of the proposal at the annual joint hearings with the legislative committees of reference during the interim before the 2020 legislative session. The proposal must contain a detailed description of a state option and must identify the most effective implementation of a state option based on affordability to consumers at different income levels, administrative and financial burden to the state, ease of implementation, and likelihood of success in meeting the objectives described in the act. The proposal must also identify any necessary changes to state law to implement the proposal. In developing the proposal, the departments shall engage in a stakeholder process that includes public and private health insurance experts, consumers, consumer advocates, employers, providers, and carriers. Further, the departments shall review any information relating to a pilot program operated by the state personnel director as a result of legislation that may be enacted during the 2019 legislative session. The departments shall prepare and submit any necessary federal waivers or state plan amendments to implement the proposal, unless a bill is filed within the filing deadlines for the 2020 legislative session that substantially alters the federal authorization required for the proposal and the bill is not postponed indefinitely in the first committee. For the 2018-19 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $75,000 from the general fund to the department of health care policy and financing for professional services, and $115,500 from the general fund to the department of regulatory agencies for the division of insurance for personal services. For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $150,000 from the general fund to the department of health care policy and financing for professional services, and $231,000 from the general fund to the department of regulatory agencies for the division of insurance for personal services. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
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Health insurance - out-of-network health care services - disclosures - claims - reimbursement rates - deceptive trade practice - rules - appropriation. The act: Requires health insurance carriers, health care providers, and health care facilities to provide patients covered by health benefit plans with information concerning the provision of services by out-of-network providers and in-network and out-of-network facilities; Outlines the disclosure requirements and the claims and payment process for the provision of out-of-network services; Requires the commissioner of insurance, the state board of health, and the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies to promulgate rules that specify the requirements for disclosures to consumers, including the timing, the format, and the contents and language in the disclosures; Establishes the reimbursement amount for out-of-network providers that provide health care services to covered persons at an in-network facility and for out-of-network providers or facilities that provide emergency services to covered persons; and Creates a penalty for failure to comply with the payment requirements for out-of-network health care services. The act appropriates $33,884 from the general fund to the department of public health and environment and $63,924 from the division of insurance cash fund to the division of insurance to implement the act. Specified provisions of the act are contingent upon House Bill 19-1172 becoming law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Seed potato act - continuation under sunset law. The act continues the regulation of seed potato growers and implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' 2018 sunset review and report on the "Colorado Seed Potaato Act" by: Extending regulation of seed potato growers until 2028 (sections 1 and 7 of the act); Repealing an obsolete provision authorizing uncertified seed potatoes to be used before January 1, 2012 (section 2); Repealing the option to have an independent auditor perform the review of records required by the act (sections 3 and 4); Requiring the committee of area no. 2 to pay the fees that implement seed potato regulation (section 5); and Repealing the provision that limits the amount of a fine to $2,500 (section 6).(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Seed potato act - advisory committee - continuation under sunset law. The act implements the following recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies' 2018 sunset review and report on the "Colorado Seed Potato Act" and the seed potato advisory committee by: Extending the committee indefinitely, subject to review under the act in 2028; Replacing a member of the committee who is an employee of the department of agriculture with a member who is a potato grower who does not grow seed potatoes, with a preference for a potato grower with an operation in the western slope region of the state, but only when commercial cultivation begins in the western slope region; Repealing a requirement that one member of the committee who represents the Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association be the association's sitting president; and Repealing a provision that sets and staggers the initial terms of the members of the committee.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Food safety - produce - regulation - continuation under sunset law. The act establishes a state law to implement federal regulations regarding produce safety on farms. To implement this, the act: Authorizes the commissioner of agriculture to enter into a cooperative agreement with the United States food and drug administration and seek, accept, and expend federal funds; Authorizes the commissioner to cease implementing the state law if the commissioner does not receive adequate federal funding; Requires farms that are subject to federal law, selling more than approximately $25,000 of produce annually on average over a 3-year period, to register with the commissioner; Requires the commissioner to promulgate rules adopting 21 CFR 112, concerning produce safety, and gives the commissioner rule-making authority to administer the act; Authorizes the commissioner to enter farms and farm facilities during regular business hours to implement or enforce the act if the commissioner obtains consent from the farm or an administrative search warrant; Authorizes the commissioner to inspect records during regular business hours to implement or enforce the act and to subpoena witnesses and records; Authorizes the commissioner to issue cease-and-desist orders; Prohibits an officer, employee, or agent of the commissioner from misusing information gained during the course of the person's duties under the act; Authorizes the commissioner to impose administrative penalties; If requested, requires the commissioner to hold a hearing to issue a cease-and-desist order or impose an administrative penalty, and this process is subject to judicial review; Authorizes the commissioner to enforce cease-and-desist orders and administrative penalties in court; and Repeals these provisions in 2034, but requires a sunset review before the repeal.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
Property - rights-of-way and ditches - extent of right-of-way. The act clarifies that a ditch right-of-way, unless expressly inconsistent with the terms upon which the right-of-way was created, includes the right to construct, operate, clean, maintain, repair, and replace the ditch, to improve the efficiency of the ditch, including by lining or piping the ditch, and to enter onto the burdened property for such purposes, with access to the ditch banks, as the exigencies then existing may require, for all reasonable and necessary purposes related to the ditch.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More
The bill directs the Colorado water institute at Colorado state university to: Study the potential uses of blockchain technology to manage a database of water rights, to facilitate the establishment or operation of water markets or water banks, and for any other useful purpose in the administration of the institute's powers and duties; and Report the results to the general assembly.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More
The bill prohibits a carrier that offers or issues a health benefit plan that covers pharmaceutical services, including prescription drug coverage, or a pharmacy benefit management firm managing those benefits for a carrier, from: Limiting or restricting a covered person's ability to select a pharmacy or pharmacist if certain conditions are met; Imposing a copayment, fee, or other cost-sharing requirement for selecting a pharmacy of the covered person's choosing; Imposing other conditions on a covered person, pharmacist, or pharmacy that limit or restrict a covered person's ability to use a pharmacy of the covered person's choosing; or Denying a pharmacy or pharmacist the right to participate in any of its pharmacy network contracts in this state or as a contracting provider in this state if the pharmacy or pharmacist has a valid license in Colorado and the pharmacy or pharmacist agrees to specified conditions(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More
The bill requires a school district, charter school, or board of cooperative services that operates a secondary school to annually report to the department of education (department) the computer science courses offered in the school and additional information regarding those courses. The department shall also report information concerning the number and percentage of students taking computer science courses, with data disaggregated by student group, as well as information concerning the number and qualifications of computer science instructors. The department shall annually post the information online for public access. The bill prohibits the posting online of any personally identifying information relating to students. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) Read More