SB12-051 Contract Requirements For School Districts 
Sponsors: BACON / MASSEY
Short Title: Contract Requirements For School Districts
Summary: S.B. 12-51 School districts - boards of cooperative services - contracts. The act allows each school district and board of cooperative services (BOCES) to review and revise the policies and procedures it has in place for contracting for services, including educational services, activities, or undertakings and authorizes the school district or BOCES to adopt a policy requiring competitive bidding on contracts for professional services, other than instructional services. The policy may: Require school district or BOCES personnel to perform a cost-benefit analysis before recommending that the school district or BOCES contract for a service, activity, or undertaking; Require school district or BOCES personnel to implement a formal bidding process; Specify criteria that school district or BOCES personnel will consider in recommending a contractor to the school district board of education or BOCES board. APPROVED by Governor May 24, 2012 EFFECTIVE August 8, 2012 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause.
Status: 05/24/2012 Governor Action - Signed
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-052 Local & Statewide Assessed Prop Tax Exemption 
Sponsors: SCHEFFEL / PRIOLA
Short Title: Local & Statewide Assessed Prop Tax Exemption
Summary: Under current law, the amount of the exemption from property tax for business personal property listed on a single personal property schedule is $5,500 for the current property tax year cycle, $7,000 for the next property tax year cycle, and an inflation-adjusted amount for each property tax year cycle thereafter. The bill increases the exemption to $14,000 for the next property tax year cycle, which in turn increases the future inflation-adjusted amount of the exemption. For a period of 10 years, the bill also exempts a portion of the business personal property of a state-assessed public utility through the creation of a valuation cap. The valuation cap is based on the actual value of the public utility's operating property and plant for the 2011 property tax year, or a later property tax year in the case of a new public utility, with an incremental increase each year thereafter during the 10-year period. The value of property above the cap is deemed to be attributable to business personal property, unless the property tax administrator determines otherwise.
Status: 02/16/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Postpone Indefinitely
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-053 Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Repeal 
Sponsors: NEVILLE / LOOPER
Short Title: Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Repeal
Summary: The bill repeals the "Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Act" if the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" as amended by the "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010" (federal act) is repealed or the United States supreme court rules that all or any part of the federal act is unconstitutional.
Status: 02/02/2012 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Postpone Indefinitely
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-054 No Retaliation Against Health Employees 
Sponsors: BOYD
Short Title: No Retaliation Against Health Employees
Summary: A licensed health care facility or its agent is prohibited from retaliating against an employee of the licensed health care facility who performs an act or omits an act:
* That, in the best medical judgment of the employee using the best available practices, is in the best interest of the patient; or
* When following a patient's directive.
Status: 02/16/2012 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Postpone Indefinitely
Position:
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-055 9Health Fair Tax Checkoff 
Sponsors: WHITE / MCCANN
Short Title: 9Health Fair Tax Checkoff
Summary: The 9Health Fair is a nonprofit entity that offers free and low-cost health screenings and education through volunteer-run, community-initiated programs. Previously, the 9Health Fair tax checkoff appeared on state individual income tax return forms; however, the fund did not receive the minimum contributions required to remain on the income tax return forms. The bill places the 9Health Fair fund income tax checkoff at the end of the queue of other tax checkoffs so when the revisor of statutes receives certification that there is a space on the income tax return form, the next voluntary contribution in the queue will appear on state individual income tax return forms.
Status: 04/16/2012 Governor Action - Signed
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-056 Court Appointments Domestic Relations Cases 
Sponsors: CARROLL / HOLBERT
Short Title: Court Appointments Domestic Relations Cases
Summary: S.B. 12-56 Court appointments in domestic relations actions - disclosure of conflicts - assessment of initial costs for parental responsibility evaluations - claims of domestic violence and the appointment of a parenting coordinator. The act requires a child's legal representative, a child and family investigator, a parental responsibilities evaluator, a parenting coordinator, and a decision-maker to disclose, at the time of appointment, any familial, financial, or social relationship that the appointed person has or has had with the child, either party, the attorneys, or the judicial officers, and, if a relationship exists, the nature of the relationship. The act contains the time frame for making the disclosure and for objecting to the appointment based upon the contents of the disclosure. The court may confirm the appointment or terminate an appointment and appoint a different person. If the court takes no further action, the appointment is deemed confirmed. Further, the act permits a court to apportion the initial costs relating to a parental responsibilities evaluation between one or more of the parties and to assess the costs between the parties at the time the evaluation is completed. Additionally, in appointing a parenting coordinator, the court may consider the effect of any claim of domestic violence by the other party, in addition to documented evidence of domestic violence on the parties' ability to engage in parent coordination. The act takes effect July 1, 2012, and applies to court appointments made on or after that date. APPROVED by Governor April 13, 2012 EFFECTIVE July 1, 2012
Status: 04/13/2012 Governor Action - Signed
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-057 Indigenous Language Instruction 
Sponsors: WILLIAMS S. / BROWN
Short Title: Indigenous Language Instruction
Summary: S.B. 12-57 Teachers - authorizations - native American languages. The act creates a teacher authorization for native American language and culture instruction (authorization). The native American languages eligible under such an authorization must be from a federally recognized tribe. Additionally, the act allows school district boards of education to grant general education or world language credit to a student after successful completion of native American language course work. APPROVED by Governor April 16, 2012 EFFECTIVE August 8, 2012 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause.
Status: 04/16/2012 Governor Action - Signed
Position:
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-058 Venture Capital Advisory Board 
Sponsors: HEATH
Short Title: Venture Capital Advisory Board
Summary: The bill establishes the venture capital advisory board. The advisory board is required to create a report regarding venture capital investment in the state, provide the report to the general assembly, and present the report to the economic and business development committee of the house of representatives and the business, labor, and technology committee of the senate. A copy of the report will be available on the web site maintained by the Colorado economic development commission.
Status: 03/13/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Postpone Indefinitely
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-059 Commercial Vehicle Standards Livestock & Weight 
Sponsors: BROPHY / SONNENBERG
Short Title: Commercial Vehicle Standards Livestock & Weight
Summary: The bill raises from 10,001 to 26,001 pounds the gross combination rating of a motor vehicle and trailer that triggers compliance with the commercial vehicle standards. In addition, a person who is transporting livestock in a motor vehicle and trailer combination is exempt from the standards if the motor vehicle without the trailer is not a commercial vehicle exceeding 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, regardless of whether the trailer would make it exceed that weight.
Status: 04/16/2012 Governor Action - Signed
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-060 Improve Medicaid Fraud Prosecution 
Sponsors: ROBERTS
Short Title: Improve Medicaid Fraud Prosecution
Summary: The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing (HCPF) to submit a written report annually to the health and environment committee and the judiciary committee of the house of representatives and to the health and human services and judiciary committees of the senate concerning client fraud in the medical assistance program. In addition, the attorney general's office is required to submit a written report annually concerning provider fraud. The bill also changes the amount of a county's share of recoveries of fraudulently obtained medical assistance when the recovery is initiated by a county department, county board, district attorney, or HCPF on behalf of the county. Instead of sharing one-half of the state funds paid with the state, the county may retain the full amount of the recovery after payment of the federal government's share.
Status: 05/09/2012 Governor Action - Signed
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-061 Charter School Applying Authorizing Revoking 
Sponsors: KING K. / MASSEY
Short Title: Charter School Applying Authorizing Revoking
Summary: S.B. 12-61 Charter schools - application - reauthorization - revocation. The act adds to the minimum requirements for district and institute charter school applications. The new requirements are: An executive summary; A plan for evaluating student performance and procedures for taking corrective action when necessary; A description of the charter school's employment policies; A parent and community involvement plan; Measures that address whether and how the proposed charter school will address students' transportation and food service needs; A facilities plan; Student discipline, expulsion, and suspension policies; A plan for serving students with special needs; and For charter schools that intend to contract with an education management provider, specified information about the education management provider and a copy of the proposed performance contract that includes required material terms. The act clarifies when a charter application is considered filed with a school district board or with the state charter school institute board (authorizer). The act also extends by 15 days the annual period for filing district charter applications and the length of time an authorizer has to decide whether to authorize a charter. The act streamlines and clarifies the circumstances and timing by which an authorizer may request and the applicant may provide any information that is missing from a charter application. The act extends the allowable initial term of a district charter school's charter to 4 years. The act requires an authorizer annually to review the charter school's academic and financial performance. The results of the annual meetings form the basis for the eventual decision to revoke or renew the charter school's charter contract. The authorizer provides feedback to the charter school and includes the results of the review in the body of evidence the authorizer uses when deciding whether to renew or revoke the charter and in renegotiating the charter contract. Each authorizer must adopt procedures and timelines for the charter renewal process. At least 15 days before an authorizer considers whether to revoke or renew a charter contract, the authorizer's staff must provide written recommendations concerning the decision to the authorizer and the charter school. If a charter school operates under a turnaround plan for a second consecutive school year, it must meet certain reporting requirements, and the authorizer may revoke the charter if it finds the charter school is not making sufficient improvement. Each authorizer must adopt a policy that establishes procedures for closing a charter school when the charter contract is revoked or not renewed. APPROVED by Governor April 13, 2012 EFFECTIVE April 13, 2012
Status: 04/13/2012 Governor Action - Signed
Position:
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-062 Voting By Military Personnel 
Sponsors: WILLIAMS S. / LOOPER
Short Title: Voting By Military Personnel
Summary: S.B. 12-62 Military personnel - current and former - voting - internet voting system pilot program - funding - uniformed services elector in hostile fire zone - verbal request for ballot authorized - voter registration - use of veterans identification card permitted. The act allows the internet-based voting pilot program for absent uniformed electors to be implemented with any moneys appropriated for that purpose, rather than requiring the pilot program to be funded solely with gifts, grants, and donations. Additionally, the act allows a uniformed services elector who is a member of the United States armed forces and who is on active duty in a hostile fire zone to verbally provide a commissioned officer with the information necessary for the officer to request a mail-in ballot on behalf of the uniformed services elector. Finally, a veteran identification card issued by the veterans health administration within the United States department of veterans affairs with a photograph of the eligible elector is added to the list of acceptable forms of identification for voter registration purposes. APPROVED by Governor April 12, 2012 EFFECTIVE April 12, 2012
Status: 04/12/2012 Governor Action - Signed
Position:
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-063 Sev Tax Revenues For Rural Insts Of Higher Ed 
Sponsors: BROPHY
Short Title: Sev Tax Revenues For Rural Insts Of Higher Ed
Summary: The bill establishes a $100 million cap, as adjusted annually for inflation, on the current allocation of severance tax revenue. Any revenue received above the $100 million cap, as adjusted annually for inflation, is first made available to any political subdivisions socially or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels subject to taxation, but only for a serious need. Such political subdivision must make a grant request at a joint committee hearing of the house local government committee and the senate local government and energy committee, or any successor committees. Whatever moneys remain after the joint committee awards grants to those particular political subdivisions is to be transferred to the rural higher education cash fund and annually appropriated to rural institutions of higher education on a proportionate basis. The bill requires that each rural institution of higher education set aside at least 50% of each annual appropriation in a separate trust account in order to build an endowment fund to be used by the rural institution of higher education.
Status: 02/02/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Postpone Indefinitely
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-064 Colorado Children's Trust Fund 
Sponsors: NICHOLSON / MASSEY
Short Title: Colorado Children's Trust Fund
Summary: S.B. 12-64 Colorado children's trust fund. The act clarifies that Colorado children's trust fund moneys must be used for prevention, rather than intervention, programs, and extends its repeal to July 1, 2022. APPROVED by Governor March 24, 2012 EFFECTIVE March 24, 2012
Status: 03/24/2012 Governor Action - Signed
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-065 Prior Authorization Form Prescription Drugs 
Sponsors: MORSE
Short Title: Prior Authorization Form Prescription Drugs
Summary: The bill requires the commissioner of insurance to develop by July 1, 2013, and requires prescribing providers and health benefit plans to use by January 1, 2014, a uniform prior authorization form for purposes of submitting and receiving requests for prior coverage approval of a prescription drug. If the health benefit plan fails to use or accept the prior authorization form or fails to respond to a request within 2 business days, the request is deemed granted. An approved prior authorization form is valid for 12 months after the date of approval.
Status: 05/02/2012 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Postpone Indefinitely
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SB12-066 Guardianship Program Eligibility 
Sponsors: NICHOLSON / GARDNER B.
Short Title: Guardianship Program Eligibility
Summary: S.B. 12-66 Guardianship assistance program. The act adds persons ascribed by a family as having a family-like relationship with the child or who have had a prior significant relationship with the child to the type of individuals eligible to participate in the guardianship assistance program. APPROVED by Governor April 6, 2012 EFFECTIVE August 8, 2012 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.
Status: 04/06/2012 Governor Action - Signed
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-067 For-profit And Nonprofit Charter Schools 
Sponsors: HUDAK / HOLBERT
Short Title: For-profit And Nonprofit Charter Schools
Summary: S.B. 12-67 Charter schools - for-profit entities - nonprofit entities. Effective July 1, 2013, the act requires each charter school that was initially chartered on or after August 6, 1997, to incorporate as a nonprofit corporation. The act prohibits a board of education of a school district or the state charter school institute board (authorizer) from approving a charter application submitted by, or entering into a charter contract with, a for-profit entity. Beginning September 1, 2012, an authorizer may not renew a charter or charter contract with a for-profit entity. A charter school may contract with a nonprofit, not-for-profit, or for-profit education management provider so long as the charter school maintains an independent governing board. APPROVED by Governor April 23, 2012 EFFECTIVE August 8, 2012 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause.
Status: 04/23/2012 Governor Action - Signed
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-068 No Trans Fats In Public School Foods 
Sponsors: GUZMAN / MASSEY
Short Title: No Trans Fats In Public School Foods
Summary: S.B. 12-68 School district - boards - powers and duties - children's nutrition - no trans fats in school foods - appropriation. The act prohibits a school of a school district, a district charter school, or an institute charter school from making available to a student a food item that contains any amount of industrially produced trans fat. The prohibition applies to all food and beverages made available to a student on school grounds during each school day and extended school day, including but not limited to a food or beverage item made available to a student in a school cafeteria, school store, vending machine, or other food service entity existing upon school grounds. The prohibition does not apply to any food or beverage that is made available to a student as part of a meal program of the United States department of agriculture; that is made available to a student as part of any fundraising effort conducted by one or more students, teachers, or parents; or that is donated to the school to be given to a student for consumption off of school premises and not during the school day. The act appropriates to the department of education, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, the sum of $6,800 for allocation to the federal nutrition programs for consulting services related to the implementation of the act. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2012 EFFECTIVE August 8, 2012 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause.
Status: 06/04/2012 Governor Action - Signed
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Calendar Notification: NOT ON CALENDAR