The bill creates the remote instruction family stipend program (program) within the department of revenue (department). The program provides stipends to the parents of students who participate in remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The parent must use the stipend to cover education-related expenses for the student, which may include child care. The bill establishes eligibility criteria for receiving a stipend and requires an applicant to submit a sworn affidavit attesting that the applicant meets the criteria and describing the education-related expenses for which the applicant expects to use the stipend. The department must pay a stipend to each applicant, subject to available appropriations. The bill specifies the amount of the stipend. Each parent who receives a stipend must retain for one year the receipts for the services and items that the parent purchases using the stipend. The department must conduct a representative sample audit of the stipend recipients to confirm eligibility and the use of the stipends. The department must bring legal action to recover any amount that is illegally distributed or used for an illegal purpose. The program is repealed, effective July 1, 2023. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
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The act removes the requirement that a state assessment in social studies be administered to high school students. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act adds language to Colorado's children's code to clarify that refusing an immunization on the grounds of medical, religious, or personal belief considerations or opting to exclude immunization notification information from the immunization tracking system does not alone constitute child abuse or neglect. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Under current law, the safe2tell program is required to provide awareness and educational materials to preschools. The act removes this requirement. The act clarifies that safe2tell does not have to provide information about a call to law enforcement and school personnel if the call was forwarded to the statewide behavioral crisis response system. The act requires the safe2tell program to develop training materials outlining appropriate responses to safe2tell tips to ensure standardized messaging. The act directs the department of law to devise a process and develop standardized protocols so that any communication related to mental health or substance use received by safe2tell may be transferred to the statewide behavioral crisis response system. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The bill extends indefinitely the voluntary income tax return check-off for contributions to the Colorado domestic abuse program fund (fund). The bill also authorizes the department of human services to seek gifts, grants, and donations for the fund and to expend such money for domestic abuse programs. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill directs the department of higher education and the department of education to convene a workgroup on diversity in the educator workforce (workgroup). The department of higher education and the department of education shall select the members of the workgroup, which shall include but are not limited to those agencies, persons, and organizations specified in the bill. The department may seek recommendations or nominations from interested stakeholders. The workgroup shall investigate barriers to the preparation, retention, and recruitment of a diverse educator workforce and shall consider strategies to increase diversity in the educator workforce. The bill includes specific issues for the workgroup to consider. The workgroup shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the education committees of the general assembly no later than September 30, 2021. The workgroup may submit interim findings and recommendations during the 2021 legislative session. Under current law, the department of higher education reports annually concerning educator preparation programs, including enrollment, graduation rates, outcomes of graduates, and performance on assessments administered for licensure. The bill requires the department to include the required information disaggregated by the candidates' or graduates' gender, race, and ethnicity. Further, the information contained in the annual report must be posted on the department of higher education's and the department of education's websites. (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.)
The concurrent resolution authorizes the governor to declare a state of disaster emergency that continues for up to 30 days. At the end of 30 days, if the governor has not previously terminated the state of disaster emergency, it automatically terminates unless extended by the general assembly. To extend a state of disaster emergency, the general assembly, prior to the date of automatic termination, must adopt a joint resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of each house. The joint resolution must specify the length of time for which the state of disaster emergency is extended and does not require approval by the governor. If the general assembly has not extended the state of disaster emergency before the date of termination and is not in session as of the date of termination, the governor may call the general assembly into special session to extend the state of disaster emergency. The governor may terminate the state of disaster emergency before the date to which it is extended, and the general assembly may adopt subsequent joint resolutions to further extend the state of disaster emergency if not previously terminated by the governor.(Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as introduced.)
The concurrent resolution authorizes the governor to declare a state of disaster emergency that continues for up to 30 days. At the end of 30 days, if the governor has not previously terminated the state of disaster emergency, it automatically terminates unless extended by the general assembly. To extend a state of disaster emergency, the general assembly, prior to the date of automatic termination, must adopt a joint resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of each house. The joint resolution must specify the length of time for which the state of disaster emergency is extended and does not require approval by the governor. If the general assembly has not extended the state of disaster emergency before the date of termination and is not in session as of the date of termination, the governor may call the general assembly into special session to extend the state of disaster emergency. The governor may terminate the state of disaster emergency before the date to which it is extended, and the general assembly may adopt subsequent joint resolutions to further extend the state of disaster emergency if not previously terminated by the governor.(Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as introduced.)
The property tax administrator is required by law to prepare and publish manuals, appraisal procedures, instructions, and guidelines (property tax materials) concerning the administration of the property tax. Beginning January 1, 2021, section 1 of the bill requires the administrator to conduct a public hearing on a proposed change to the property tax materials prior to submitting the proposed change to the advisory committee to the property tax administrator (advisory committee). The administrator must publish notice of the hearing and mail notice to those people who so request. At the hearing, interested persons may submit information and the administrator is required to consider these submissions. Any interested person may also petition the administrator for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of any property tax material. At least 2 weeks prior to the advisory committee reviewing a proposed change to the property tax materials, section 2 requires the property tax administrator to publish notice about the proposed change.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)