The bill creates the retaining teachers grant program (grant program) to assist school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools (local education providers) in implementing initiatives to improve retention of teachers. The department of education (department) is directed to implement the grant program by reviewing applications and recommending grant recipients and grant amounts to the state board of education (state board), which awards the grants. The department is also directed to provide information to local education providers concerning the grant program and provide assistance in writing grant applications if requested. Each grant is awarded for 3 years, subject to annual review by the department and renewal by the state board. The grants are paid from the retaining teachers fund created in the bill. The department must submit annual reports to the state board and to the joint budget committee and the education committees of the general assembly concerning implementation of the grant program, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant program in reducing the teacher shortage in Colorado, any recommendations for changes to improve the effectiveness of the grant program, and a recommendation concerning continuation of the grant program. The grant program is repealed, effective July 1, 2022. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
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In the speedy trial statute, there is a list of time periods that are excluded from the speedy trial calculation. The bill adds the period of delay caused by a continuance ordered by the court to the list, if the court finds that the continuance is necessary to protect the defendant's constitutional rights. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill specifies that if the governor nominates an individual for appointment to a state office and the senate rejects the nomination, the rejected individual is deemed legally unfit for and ineligible to hold the office. The governor is prohibited from nominating the rejected individual a second time for the same office or, if the senate is not in session, appointing the rejected individual to temporarily discharge the duties of the office. However, rejection by the senate of the nomination of an individual for any state office does not preclude the governor from nominating the rejected individual for an opening in the same office that occurs after an individual other than the rejected individual has filled the immediate opening. The bill also provides that if the governor nominates a state officer whose term is expiring for reappointment to the same office and the senate rejects the nomination, the state officer is removed from office upon the expiration of his or her term and shall not thereafter exercise the duties of the office whether or not the individual's successor has been duly qualified. If, as of the effective date of the bill, the term of office of a state officer has expired, the senate has rejected a nomination for reappointment of the state officer to the same office, and the individual is continuing to exercise the duties of the office because the individual's successor has not yet been qualified, the state officer is deemed to have been removed from office on the date that his or her term expired and shall immediately stop exercising the duties of the office. The prohibitions against the governor nominating an individual for appointment or reappointment to a state office for a second time after the individual's first nomination for appointment or reappointment to the state office has been rejected by the senate and against the governor appointing the rejected individual to temporarily discharge the duties of the office only apply for the term of the senate that rejected the individual. The rejected individual becomes eligible for nomination for appointment or reappointment to the state office on the date when a new senate convenes for its first regular session and becomes eligible for appointment to discharge the duties of the office on the date following the day on which the new senate adjourns its first regular session sine die. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill prohibits public school teachers and teacher organizations from directly or indirectly inducing, instigating, encouraging, authorizing, ratifying, or participating in a strike against any public school employer. Public school employers are prohibited from consenting to or condoning a strike and from paying a public school teacher for any day during which the public school teacher participates in a strike. In the event of a strike or the imminent threat of a strike in violation of the bill, the public school employer is authorized to seek an injunction from the district court. Failure by a public school teacher or teacher organization to comply with the injunction constitutes contempt of court and may be punished with fines or up to 6 months in county jail, or both. If a public school teacher is found in contempt of court for failure to comply with an injunction, the bill directs the public school employer to immediately terminate his or her employment, without a hearing. If a teacher organization is found in contempt, any collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the organization is rendered null and void. The organization cannot represent public school teachers or collect dues from them for one year, and a public school employer is prohibited from negotiating with the organization during that time. These penalties may be suspended or modified by the court if the public school employer so requests and the court finds it is in the public interest to do so. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
Under current law, each school district, board of cooperative services that operates a school, and charter school (local education provider) must adopt a written policy and procedure by which a parent may excuse his or her student from participating in the state assessments. The bill clarifies that the local education provider determines whether notice from the parent must be in writing. Under current law, a local education provider shall not punish a student whose parent excuses him or her from taking a state assessment. The bill clarifies that a local education provider also shall not prohibit the student from participating in an activity or receiving any other form of reward that recognizes participation in the state assessments. . If the department of education or the state board of education receives a parent complaint concerning a local education provider's implementation of the statute concerning students excused from taking assessments, the department must notify the local education provider of the nature of the complaint. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill prohibits a public employer from entering into an employment bargain with a public employee or union to compensate a public employee or a third party for union activities or to pay the expenses of an employee or third party's participation in union activities. The prohibition applies to any employment bargain that is currently in existence or that is entered into in the future and that includes compensation to public employees or third parties for union activities or that includes payment of expenses for union activities. The bill specifies that a home rule municipality is not a public employer for purposes of the bill. The bill requires the attorney general to enforce the prohibition of an employment bargain that compensates a public employee for union activities or pays the costs of participation in union activities. Any taxpayer of the jurisdiction in which a violation of the prohibition occurs has standing in any court to bring a special action against a public employer that violates the prohibition. The bill specifies that the regulation of employment bargains is a matter of statewide concern and is not subject to further inconsistent regulation by any public employer. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
The bill establishes legislation to further protect minors who are victims of human trafficking of a minor for involuntary servitude and human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude (minor who is a victim of human trafficking). The term 'sexually exploited minor' is clarified to include a person less than 18 years of age who has been a victim of human trafficking or has engaged in certain prostitution-related activities. A statutory presumption is established that any person who is less than 18 years of age who engages in conduct that would constitute prostitution if such person were an adult is presumed to be a minor who is a victim of human trafficking, and must be referred to the appropriate county department of human or social services for care and services. The bill makes conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
The bill allows, with board approval, a community college that is part of the state system of community and technical colleges (community college) to offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing as a completion degree (nursing degree). In considering a request from a community college to offer a nursing degree, the board shall consider student and workforce demand, cost effectiveness for students, and accreditation and licensing requirements. At least 90 days prior to requesting board approval to offer a nursing degree, a community college shall provide notice of its request to all state institutions of higher education. A reporting requirement is added providing that each state-supported institution of higher education that offers a nursing degree provide the department of higher education with an annual report concerning its nursing degree program. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
Under current law, a 2-year institution of higher education may provide a concurrent enrollment program or course to local education providers that are located within the institution's college service area approved by the Colorado commission on higher education (commission). The bill requires the commission to establish a policy that allows a 2-year institution of higher education to provide a concurrent enrollment program or course to a local education provider that is not within its college service area if the designated 2-year institution of higher education chooses not to provide a concurrent enrollment program or course requested by the local education provider. The bill specifies how concurrent enrollment programs or courses provided by a 2-year institution outside of its service area will be funded and clarifies that the bill does not affect provisions in article 35 of title 22, Colorado Revised Statutes, relating to the tuition rate paid for concurrent enrollment programs or courses. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill requires the department of public health and environment to research and compile information on the health effects of noise and stray voltage from industrial wind energy turbines on humans and animals. The department must report research results to the general assembly by January 1, 2020, and present the report to a joint legislative committee of reference. The research and reporting requirements are repealed July 1, 2020.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More