State Bill Colorado

Authorization Of Civil Unions

Sponsors:

FERRANDINO / STEADMAN

Summary:

The bill creates the "Colorado Civil Union Act" (Act) to authorize any 2 unmarried adults, regardless of gender, to enter into a civil union. Parties wanting to enter into a civil union apply to a county clerk and recorder for a civil union license. Certain persons may certify a civil union. After the civil union is certified, the officiant files the civil union certificate with the county clerk and recorder. A priest, minister, rabbi, or other official of a religious institution or denomination or an Indian nation or tribe is not required to certify a civil union in violation of his or her right to free exercise of religion. The criteria for a valid civil union are set forth in the bill. The executive director of the department of public health and environment and the state registrar of vital statistics shall issue forms necessary to implement the Act. Each county clerk and recorder submits records of registered civil unions to the office of vital statistics. A county clerk and recorder collects a fee for a civil union license, which fee is credited to the vital statistics records cash fund. The state registrar of vital statistics is authorized to set and collect an additional fee for verification of civil unions, which fee is credited to the vital statistics records cash fund. A county clerk and recorder collects a $20 fee to be credited to the Colorado domestic abuse program fund. The rights, benefits, protections, duties, obligations, responsibilities, and other incidents under law that are granted or imposed under the law to spouses apply in like manner to parties to a civil union, including the following:
* Responsibility for financial support of a party to a civil union;
* Rights and abilities concerning transfer of real or personal property to a party to a civil union;
* The ability to file a claim based on wrongful death, emotional distress, loss of consortium, dramshop, or other laws, whether common law or statutory, related to or dependent upon spousal status;
* Prohibitions against discrimination based upon spousal status;
* The probate laws relating to estates, wills, trusts, and intestate succession, including the ability to inherit real and personal property from a party in a civil union under the probate code;
* The probate laws relating to guardianship and conservators, including priority for appointment as a conservator, guardian, or personal representative;
* Survivor benefits under and inclusion in workers' compensation laws;
* The ability to adopt a child of a party to a civil union;
* The ability to insure a party to a civil union under group benefit plans for state employees;
* The ability to designate a party to a civil union as a beneficiary under the state public employees retirement system;
* Survivor benefits under local government firefighter and police pensions;
* Protections and coverage under domestic abuse and domestic violence laws;
* Rights and protections under victims' compensation laws and victims and witness protection laws;
* Laws, policies, or procedures relating to emergency and nonemergency medical care and treatment and hospital visitation;
* Rights to visit a party in a civil union in a correctional facility, jail, or private contract prison or in a facility providing mental health treatment;
* The ability to file a complaint about the care or treatment of a party in a civil union in a nursing home;
* Rights relating to declarations concerning administering, withholding, or withdrawing medical treatment, proxy decision-makers and surrogate decision-makers, CPR directives, or directives concerning medical orders for scope of treatment forms with respect to a party to a civil union;
* Rights concerning the disposition of the last remains of a party to a civil union;
* The right to make decisions regarding anatomical gifts;
* Eligibility for family leave benefits;
* Eligibility for public assistance benefits;
* A privilege from providing compelled testimony against a party in a civil union and evidentiary privileges for parties to a civil union;
* The right to apply for emergency or involuntary commitment of a party to a civil union;
* The right to claim a homestead exemption;
* The ability to protect exempt property from attachment, execution, or garnishment;
* Dependent coverage under life insurance for plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2013;
* Dependent coverage under health insurance policies for plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2013; and
* Other insurance policies that provide coverage relating to joint ownership of property for plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2013. The same processes that are provided in law for dissolution, legal separation, and declaration of invalidity of a marriage apply to dissolution, legal separation, and declaration of invalidity of a civil union. Any person who enters into a civil union in Colorado consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of Colorado for the purpose of any action relating to a civil union even if one or both parties cease to reside in the state. The courts are directed to follow the laws of Colorado in a matter filed in Colorado that is seeking a dissolution, legal separation, or invalidity of a civil union that was entered into in another state. The courts are authorized to collect docket fees for the dissolution of a civil union, legal separation of a civil union, and declaration of invalidity of a civil union. Parties to a civil union may create agreements modifying the terms and conditions of a civil union in the manner specified in the law for creating marital agreements. The Act states that this Act does not invalidate or affect an otherwise valid domestic partnership agreement or civil contract between 2 individuals who are not married to each other if the agreement or contract was made prior to the effective date of this Act or, if made after the effective date of this Act, the agreement or contract is not made in contemplation of entering into a civil union. The Act shall not be construed to create a marriage between the parties to a civil union or alter the public policy of this state that recognizes only the union of one man and one woman as a marriage. A private child placement agency is not required to perform, assist, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any placement of a child for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement of a child is with parties to a civil union. The state department of human services (state department) shall not deny a license application or license renewal or revoke a license of a private child placement agency because the child placement agency objects to the placement of a child with parties to a civil union. The refusal of a private child placement agency to perform, assist, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in a placement with parties to a civil union shall not form the basis of a claim for damages. The Act includes a reciprocity and principle of comity section that states that a relationship between 2 persons that does not comply with section 31 of article II of the state constitution and that is legally entered into in another jurisdiction is deemed in Colorado to be a civil union and that, under principles of comity, a civil union or domestic partnership or a substantially similar legal relationship between 2 persons that is legally created in another jurisdiction is deemed to be a civil union for purposes of Colorado law. A severability clause is included in the Act. Until a statutory change is enacted to authorize the filing of a joint state tax return by parties to a civil union, the Act shall not be construed to permit the filing of a joint income tax return by the parties to a civil union. A custodian of records is prohibited from allowing a person, other than the person in interest or an immediate family member of the person in interest, to inspect the application for a civil union license of any person; except that a district court may order the custodian to permit inspection of the license application for a civil union upon a showing of good cause. A record of an application for a civil union license shall be made available for public inspection 50 years after the date that the record was created. A person who has entered into a designated beneficiary agreement under Colorado's designated beneficiary statute is precluded from entering into a civil union with a different person. If both parties to a designated beneficiary agreement are eligible to enter into a valid civil union and subsequently enter into a civil union, the civil union certificate constitutes a superseding legal document that supersedes and invalidates the prior designated beneficiary agreement. The bill makes other conforming amendments. The bill takes effect October 1, 2012; except that the provisions relating to the inclusion of a partner in a civil union as a dependent on a health or life insurance policy and the provisions relating to insurance policies concerning the ownership of property take effect January 1, 2013. The bill makes appropriations to implement the bill.

Status:

05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee Vote - Final Action Failed
05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee Vote - Final Action Failed
05/17/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
05/17/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely

Fiscal Notes:

Fiscal Note

News:

Anarchy, chaos behind Colorado civil unions bill may have long-lasting effects

Audio, Floors and Committees:

Video Center:

Comment:

Calendar Notification:

NOT ON CALENDAR

HB12S-1001	Water Conservation Bd Construction Fund Projects
Sponsors:	BAUMGARDNER
Summary:	The bill appropriates the following amounts from the Colorado water conservation board construction fund for the following projects: * $300,000 for continuation of the satellite monitoring system maintenance; * $175,000 for continuation of the weather modification program; * $500,000 for continuation of the Colorado floodplain map modernization program; * $500,000 for continuation of the watershed restoration program; * $300,000 to restore the flood and drought response fund balance; * $1,000,000 for continuation of the phreatophyte control cost-sharing program; * $2,000,000 for continuation of the Colorado river water availability study; * $500,000 to begin implementation of the South Platte groundwater data collection and analysis project; * $1,000,000 for continuation of the alternative agriculture water transfer sustainability grant program; * $5,000,000 for the planning and implementation of the Rio Grande cooperative project; * $5,000,000 for implementation of the Chatfield reservoir reallocation project; * $12,000,000 for the third and final installment of the purchase of Colorado's allotment of Animas-La Plata project water pursuant to House Bill 10-1250, enacted in 2010; * $300,000 to provide legal support and funding for litigation involving protests of individual water rights that the state engineer has placed on the abandonment list; and * $75,857 to continue management of the national hydrography dataset and to provide geographic information system analysis support. Section 6 of the bill repurposes the flood response program to include drought preparedness and response and renames the flood response fund to the flood and drought response fund. Section 18 of the bill authorizes the state engineer to receive and expend grants and distributions of money from the Colorado water conservation board for use in discharging the state engineer's duties. Section 19 of the bill transfers from the perpetual base account of the severance tax trust fund to the Colorado water conservation board construction fund the following: * $30,000,000 for the Rio Grande cooperative project, including improvements associated with the Beaver Park reservoir and the Rio Grande reservoir; and * $13,000,000 for the implementation of the Chatfield reservoir reallocation project. Section 19 of the bill also changes the water supply reserve account to the water supply reserve fund.
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources 05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources 05/15/2012 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Postpone Indefinitely 05/15/2012 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Postpone Indefinitely
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:
Video Center:
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

HB12S-1002	Unempl Ins Revenue Bonds
Sponsors:	LISTON / JAHN
Summary:	H.B. 12S-1002 Unemployment insurance - premium rates - stabilization - revenue bonds - issuance - division of unemployment insurance - Colorado housing and finance authority. The act makes the following changes to current law with respect to the issuance of unemployment revenue bonds: Makes the unemployment insurance laws consistent with those of the Colorado housing and finance authority with respect to the issuance of unemployment revenue bonds by either the division of unemployment insurance or the Colorado housing and finance authority. Authorizes the deposit of all or any portion of bond assessments paid by employers for principal of the bonds into the unemployment compensation fund prior to being transferred to the issuer of the bonds. This allows these payments to count toward improving the experience rating of employers. Authorizes the assessment of interest and other bond costs through the employment support fund and requires the transfer of these assessments to the issuer of the bonds for the payment of interest and other costs associated with the bonds. In order to facilitate the issuance of unemployment revenue bonds, the act accelerates the date for the creation of the division of unemployment insurance by adding an effective date of June 1, 2012, to House Bill 12-1120 and placing a safety clause on that bill. The act also makes technical changes to language enacted in House Bill 11-1288 in order to ensure appropriate transition to the new unemployment insurance premium rate structure once solvency is established in the unemployment compensation fund. APPROVED by Governor June 8, 2012 EFFECTIVE June 1, 2012
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Economic and Business Development 05/14/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole 05/14/2012 House Second Reading Passed 05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Economic and Business Development 05/14/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole 05/14/2012 House Second Reading Passed 05/15/2012 House Third Reading Passed 05/15/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor and Technology 05/15/2012 Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/15/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed 05/15/2012 House Third Reading Passed 05/15/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor and Technology 05/15/2012 Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/15/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed 05/16/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments 05/16/2012 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass 05/16/2012 House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass 05/16/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments 05/17/2012:26 PM 04:20 Signed by the Speaker of the House 05/17/2012:36 PM 04:10 Signed by the President of the Senate 05/17/2012:26 PM 04:20 Signed by the Speaker of the House 05/17/2012:36 PM 04:10 Signed by the President of the Senate 05/18/2012 Sent to the Governor 05/18/2012 Sent to the Governor 06/08/2012 Governor Action - Signed
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:	New law to save Colorado employers $120 per worker Gov. Hickenlooper finishes signing bills passed this year by the General Assembly
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 3 First Extraordinary Session: HB12S-1002 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session Event Schedule : HB12S-1002
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 3 First Extraordinary Session : HB12S-1002 Senate Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session : HB12S-1002
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 16 2012 THIRD READING OF BILLS - FINAL PASSAGE (1) in senate calendar.

HB12S-1003	Special Mobile Machinery Registration Fees
Sponsors:	BRADFORD
Summary:	The bill allows an owner of more than 10 pieces of special mobile machinery to register all new special mobile machinery quarterly with the county and to obtain and use special mobile machinery plates, identifying decals, or certificates to designate that the registration for the machinery is pending. This allows the owner to renew the registrations for all of the machinery on the same date each year. The license plate for special mobile machinery is not required to have an annual validating tab or sticker. Fees are set to implement the bill. $126,563 is appropriated from the state titling and registration account of the highway users tax fund to the department of revenue to implement the act. $124,492 is appropriated from the license plate cash fund to the department of revenue for the purchase of license plates related to the implementation of the act.
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Economic and Business Development 05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Economic and Business Development 05/15/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Postpone Indefinitely 05/15/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Postpone Indefinitely
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:
Video Center:
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

HB12S-1004	Medical Marijuana Fund Transfer
Sponsors:	MCCANN
Summary:	The bill transfers $7.7 million from the medical marijuana program cash fund to the department of revenue for use in the medical marijuana licensing program for fiscal years 2011-12 through 2014-15. Of the $7.7 million, $2 million will be held in a reserve account that cannot be accessed until the first $5.7 million is spent. If any portion of the $2 million is needed for medical marijuana enforcement or licensure, the director of the state licensing authority shall send notice to the state comptroller before spending any of the money in the reserve account. The state licensing authority shall post a report on its web site by October 31, 2012, that shows the number of applications received, licenses granted, applications denied, applications withdrawn, and the results of enforcement efforts. The state licensing authority shall collect both the application and licensing fee at the time of application and will refund the license fee if the applicant is denied a local license or withdraws the application.
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely 05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:
Video Center:
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

HB12S-1005	Penalties For DUIs Involving Drugs
Sponsors:	WALLER / KING S.
Summary:	The existing definition of "DUI per se" is expanded to include driving when the driver's blood contains 5 nanograms or more of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol per milliliter in whole blood. Under current law, in any prosecution for vehicular homicide or vehicular assault, if at the time of the commission of the alleged offense, or within a reasonable time thereafter, as shown by analysis of the defendant's blood or breath, there was 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, or if there was at such time 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath, it is presumed that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol. The bill removes this presumption and states instead that such fact gives rise to a "permissible inference" that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol. The bill removes statutory instances of the term "habitual user".
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/14/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/14/2012 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/14/2012 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/15/2012 House Third Reading Passed 05/15/2012 House Third Reading Passed with Amendments 05/15/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans & Military Affairs 05/15/2012 Senate Committee on State, Veterans & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/15/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/15/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Lost 05/15/2012 House Third Reading Passed with Amendments 05/15/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans & Military Affairs 05/15/2012 Senate Committee on State, Veterans & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/15/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/15/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Lost
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session Event Schedule : HB12S-1005 Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs : HB12S-1005
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session : HB12S-1005
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

HB12S-1006	Authorization Of Civil Unions
Sponsors:	FERRANDINO / STEADMAN
Summary:	The bill creates the "Colorado Civil Union Act" (Act) to authorize any 2 unmarried adults, regardless of gender, to enter into a civil union. Parties wanting to enter into a civil union apply to a county clerk and recorder for a civil union license. Certain persons may certify a civil union. After the civil union is certified, the officiant files the civil union certificate with the county clerk and recorder. A priest, minister, rabbi, or other official of a religious institution or denomination or an Indian nation or tribe is not required to certify a civil union in violation of his or her right to free exercise of religion. The criteria for a valid civil union are set forth in the bill. The executive director of the department of public health and environment and the state registrar of vital statistics shall issue forms necessary to implement the Act. Each county clerk and recorder submits records of registered civil unions to the office of vital statistics. A county clerk and recorder collects a fee for a civil union license, which fee is credited to the vital statistics records cash fund. The state registrar of vital statistics is authorized to set and collect an additional fee for verification of civil unions, which fee is credited to the vital statistics records cash fund. A county clerk and recorder collects a $20 fee to be credited to the Colorado domestic abuse program fund. The rights, benefits, protections, duties, obligations, responsibilities, and other incidents under law that are granted or imposed under the law to spouses apply in like manner to parties to a civil union, including the following: * Responsibility for financial support of a party to a civil union; * Rights and abilities concerning transfer of real or personal property to a party to a civil union; * The ability to file a claim based on wrongful death, emotional distress, loss of consortium, dramshop, or other laws, whether common law or statutory, related to or dependent upon spousal status; * Prohibitions against discrimination based upon spousal status; * The probate laws relating to estates, wills, trusts, and intestate succession, including the ability to inherit real and personal property from a party in a civil union under the probate code; * The probate laws relating to guardianship and conservators, including priority for appointment as a conservator, guardian, or personal representative; * Survivor benefits under and inclusion in workers' compensation laws; * The ability to adopt a child of a party to a civil union; * The ability to insure a party to a civil union under group benefit plans for state employees; * The ability to designate a party to a civil union as a beneficiary under the state public employees retirement system; * Survivor benefits under local government firefighter and police pensions; * Protections and coverage under domestic abuse and domestic violence laws; * Rights and protections under victims' compensation laws and victims and witness protection laws; * Laws, policies, or procedures relating to emergency and nonemergency medical care and treatment and hospital visitation; * Rights to visit a party in a civil union in a correctional facility, jail, or private contract prison or in a facility providing mental health treatment; * The ability to file a complaint about the care or treatment of a party in a civil union in a nursing home; * Rights relating to declarations concerning administering, withholding, or withdrawing medical treatment, proxy decision-makers and surrogate decision-makers, CPR directives, or directives concerning medical orders for scope of treatment forms with respect to a party to a civil union; * Rights concerning the disposition of the last remains of a party to a civil union; * The right to make decisions regarding anatomical gifts; * Eligibility for family leave benefits; * Eligibility for public assistance benefits; * A privilege from providing compelled testimony against a party in a civil union and evidentiary privileges for parties to a civil union; * The right to apply for emergency or involuntary commitment of a party to a civil union; * The right to claim a homestead exemption; * The ability to protect exempt property from attachment, execution, or garnishment; * Dependent coverage under life insurance for plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2013; * Dependent coverage under health insurance policies for plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2013; and * Other insurance policies that provide coverage relating to joint ownership of property for plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2013. The same processes that are provided in law for dissolution, legal separation, and declaration of invalidity of a marriage apply to dissolution, legal separation, and declaration of invalidity of a civil union. Any person who enters into a civil union in Colorado consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of Colorado for the purpose of any action relating to a civil union even if one or both parties cease to reside in the state. The courts are directed to follow the laws of Colorado in a matter filed in Colorado that is seeking a dissolution, legal separation, or invalidity of a civil union that was entered into in another state. The courts are authorized to collect docket fees for the dissolution of a civil union, legal separation of a civil union, and declaration of invalidity of a civil union. Parties to a civil union may create agreements modifying the terms and conditions of a civil union in the manner specified in the law for creating marital agreements. The Act states that this Act does not invalidate or affect an otherwise valid domestic partnership agreement or civil contract between 2 individuals who are not married to each other if the agreement or contract was made prior to the effective date of this Act or, if made after the effective date of this Act, the agreement or contract is not made in contemplation of entering into a civil union. The Act shall not be construed to create a marriage between the parties to a civil union or alter the public policy of this state that recognizes only the union of one man and one woman as a marriage. A private child placement agency is not required to perform, assist, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any placement of a child for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement of a child is with parties to a civil union. The state department of human services (state department) shall not deny a license application or license renewal or revoke a license of a private child placement agency because the child placement agency objects to the placement of a child with parties to a civil union. The refusal of a private child placement agency to perform, assist, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in a placement with parties to a civil union shall not form the basis of a claim for damages. The Act includes a reciprocity and principle of comity section that states that a relationship between 2 persons that does not comply with section 31 of article II of the state constitution and that is legally entered into in another jurisdiction is deemed in Colorado to be a civil union and that, under principles of comity, a civil union or domestic partnership or a substantially similar legal relationship between 2 persons that is legally created in another jurisdiction is deemed to be a civil union for purposes of Colorado law. A severability clause is included in the Act. Until a statutory change is enacted to authorize the filing of a joint state tax return by parties to a civil union, the Act shall not be construed to permit the filing of a joint income tax return by the parties to a civil union. A custodian of records is prohibited from allowing a person, other than the person in interest or an immediate family member of the person in interest, to inspect the application for a civil union license of any person; except that a district court may order the custodian to permit inspection of the license application for a civil union upon a showing of good cause. A record of an application for a civil union license shall be made available for public inspection 50 years after the date that the record was created. A person who has entered into a designated beneficiary agreement under Colorado's designated beneficiary statute is precluded from entering into a civil union with a different person. If both parties to a designated beneficiary agreement are eligible to enter into a valid civil union and subsequently enter into a civil union, the civil union certificate constitutes a superseding legal document that supersedes and invalidates the prior designated beneficiary agreement. The bill makes other conforming amendments. The bill takes effect October 1, 2012; except that the provisions relating to the inclusion of a partner in a civil union as a dependent on a health or life insurance policy and the provisions relating to insurance policies concerning the ownership of property take effect January 1, 2013. The bill makes appropriations to implement the bill.
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely 05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee Vote - Final Action Failed 05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee Vote - Final Action Failed 05/17/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely 05/17/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:	Anarchy, chaos behind Colorado civil unions bill may have long-lasting effects
Audio, Floors and Committees:
Video Center:
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

HB12S-1007	Benefit Corporations
Sponsors:	LEVY / ROBERTS
Summary:	On and after January 1, 2013, the bill permits a corporation to declare itself to be a benefit corporation if it includes a statement to that effect in its articles of incorporation and also specifies in its articles of incorporation an additional purpose of providing a general or specific public benefit. A corporation must obtain shareholder consent, or consent of each voting group entitled to vote, by 2/3 of all votes entitled to be cast in order to amend its articles of incorporation to indicate it is a benefit corporation. The bill specifies the circumstances under which a benefit corporation must comply with the "Colorado Charitable Solicitations Act" and the "Colorado Securities Act".
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely 05/14/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 05/14/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:
Video Center:
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12S-001	Registration Fees Special Mobile Machinery
Sponsors:	CADMAN
Summary:	S.B. 12S-1 Taxation - registration - special mobile machinery - rental fleets - appropriation. The act allows an owner of more than 10 pieces of special mobile machinery to register all new special mobile machinery quarterly with the county and to obtain and use special mobile machinery plates, identifying decals, or certificates to designate that the registration for the machinery is pending. This allows the owner to renew the registrations for all of the machinery on the same date each year. The license plate for special mobile machinery is not required to have an annual validating tab or sticker. Fees are set to implement the bill. $126,563 and 0.8 FTE are appropriated to the department of revenue for implementation of the act. Of that sum, $76,220 is from the Colorado state titling and registration account of the highway users tax fund, which is reappropriated to the office of state planning and budgeting in the lieutenant governor's office for allocation to the office of information technology for computer center services for the department of revenue. $50,343 is from the special mobile machinery registration fee revenue. $124,492 is appropriated from the license plate cash fund to the department of revenue, for allocation to the division of motor vehicles to purchase license plates related to the implementation of the act. APPROVED by Governor June 8, 2012 EFFECTIVE August 15, 2012 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause.
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor and Technology 05/14/2012 Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology Refer Unamended to Finance 05/14/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/14/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/14/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
Fiscal Notes:
News:	Gov. Hickenlooper finishes signing bills passed this year by the General Assembly
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session Event Schedule : SB12S-001
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session : SB12S-001
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12S-002	Water Conservation Bd Construction Fund Projects
Sponsors:	SCHWARTZ / SONNENBERG
Summary:	S.B. 12S-2 Colorado water conservation board construction fund - annual project authorizations - appropriations. The act appropriates the following amounts from the Colorado water conservation board construction fund for the following projects: $300,000 for continuation of the satellite monitoring system maintenance; $175,000 for continuation of the weather modification program; $500,000 for continuation of the Colorado floodplain map modernization program; $500,000 for continuation of the watershed restoration program; $300,000 to restore the flood and drought response fund balance; $1 million for continuation of the phreatophyte control cost-sharing program; $2 million for continuation of the Colorado river water availability study; $500,000 to begin implementation of the South Platte groundwater data collection and analysis project; $1 million for continuation of the alternative agriculture water transfer sustainability grant program; $5 million for the planning and implementation of the Rio Grande cooperative project; $5 million for implementation of the Chatfield reservoir reallocation project; 12 million for the third and final installment to purchase Colorado's allotment of Animas-La Plata project water pursuant to House Bill 10-1250, enacted in 2010; $300,000 to provide legal support and funding for litigation involving protests of individual water rights that the state engineer has placed on the abandonment list; and $75,857 to continue management of the national hydrography dataset and to provide geographic information system analysis support. The act repurposes the flood response program to include drought preparedness and response and renames the flood response fund to the flood and drought response fund. The state engineer may receive and expend grants and distributions of money from the Colorado water conservation board for use in discharging the state engineer's duties. The act transfers from the perpetual base account of the severance tax trust fund to the Colorado water conservation board construction fund the following: $30,000,000 for the Rio Grande cooperative project, including improvements associated with the Beaver Park reservoir and the Rio Grande reservoir; and $13,000,000 for the implementation of the Chatfield reservoir reallocation project. The water supply reserve account is renamed as the water supply reserve fund. APPROVED by Governor June 8, 2012 EFFECTIVE June 8, 2012
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy 05/14/2012 Senate Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/14/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/14/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:	Unemployment costs going down say state officials
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session Event Schedule : SB12S-002
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session : SB12S-002
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12S-003	Benefit Corporations
Sponsors:	BACON / MASSEY
Summary:	Section 1 of the bill enacts the "Invest in Colorado Act" and authorizes the creation of benefit corporations. A benefit corporation must have, as one of its purposes specified in its articles of incorporation, the goal of creating general public benefit. The bill establishes the requirements for a corporation to be created as, or to elect to become, a benefit corporation, including: * The election and termination of benefit status; * The promotion of general public benefit as a purpose of the corporation; * Standards of accountability for the conduct of directors and officers of a benefit corporation; * Designation of a benefit director; * Rights of action in benefit proceedings; and * The preparation and availability of annual benefit reports. Section 2 specifies dissenters' rights for shareholders of a benefit corporation. Section 3 clarifies that an offer or sale of a security of a benefit corporation is not a solicitation for purposes of the "Colorado Charitable Solicitations Act" if the offer or sale complies with the "Colorado Securities Act".
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary 05/14/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations 05/14/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/14/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed 05/14/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session Event Schedule : SB12S-003 Senate Judiciary : SB12S-003
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session : SB12S-003
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

SCR12S-001	Repeal Unconstitutional Provisions State Const
Sponsors:	STEADMAN / FERRANDINO
Summary:	* No bill summary available *
Status:	05/14/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary 05/14/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/14/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 2 First Extraordinary Session Event Schedule : SCR12S-001 Senate Judiciary : SCR12S-001
Video Center:
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR