The bill creates the family and medical leave insurance (FAMLI) program in the division of family and medical leave insurance (division) in the department of labor and employment to provide partial wage-replacement benefits to an eligible individual who takes leave from work to care for a new child or a family member with a serious health condition or who is unable to work due to the individual's own serious health condition.

Each employee in the state will pay a premium determined by the director of the division by rule, which premium is based on a percentage of the employee's yearly wages and must not initially exceed .99%. The premiums are deposited into the family and medical leave insurance fund from which family and medical leave benefits are paid to eligible individuals. The director may also impose a solvency surcharge by rule if determined necessary to ensure the soundness of the fund. The division is established as an enterprise, and premiums paid into the fund are not considered state revenues for purposes of the taxpayer's bill of rights (TABOR).

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

A taxpayer who makes a monetary contribution to promote child care in the state is allowed an income tax credit that is equal to 50% of the total value of the contribution. This exemption is currently available for income tax years that commence prior to January 1, 2020. The bill extends the credit for 5 years.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

Under existing law, the 'Public School Finance Act of 1994' funds kindergarten students as half-day pupils plus the supplemental kindergarten enrollment, which is an additional .08 of a full-day pupil. The bill increases the supplemental kindergarten enrollment for the 2018-19 budget year and each budget year thereafter to .16 of a full-day pupil. The bill specifies the intent of the general assembly to continue increasing the supplemental kindergarten enrollment each budget year until students enrolled in kindergarten are funded as full-day pupils in the 2023-24 budget year.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The bill establishes that family protection safeguards for a parent or prospective parent with a disability are critical to family preservation and the best interests of the children of Colorado. These safeguards include:

• That a parent's disability must not serve as a basis for denial or restriction of parenting time or parental responsibilities in a domestic law proceeding pursuant to title 14, without a clear nexus to the parent's ability to meet the needs of the child; in a minor guardianship proceeding pursuant to title 15, without a clear nexus to the parent's ability to meet the needs of the child; or a dependency and neglect proceeding pursuant to title 19, except when it impact the health or welfare of the child;
• That a parent's disability must not serve as a basis for denial of participation in a public or private adoption, or for denial of foster care or guardianship, when it is otherwise determined to be in the best interest of the child; and
• That the benefits of providing supportive parenting services must be considered by a court when determining parental responsibilities, parenting time, adoption placements, foster care, and guardianship, and the court may require that such supportive parenting services be provided or implemented, given the resources of the family.
  (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission. If a district chooses to use early childhood at-risk enhancement (ECARE) positions to enroll children in the district's full-day kindergarten program, children using the ECARE positions must satisfy at least one of the eligibility requirements of the Colorado preschool program.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Currently, a resident individual with a federal adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less is allowed a state income tax credit (state credit) for child care expenses that is a percentage of a similar federal income tax credit claimed (federal credit). The amount of the state credit depends on the individual's adjusted gross income (AGI). If the individual's AGI is:

• $25,000 or less, then the state credit is 50% of the federal credit;
• $25,001 to $35,000, then the state credit is 30% of the federal credit; and
• $35,001 to $60,000, then the state credit is 10% of the federal credit.

The bill expands the state credit by allowing a resident individual with an AGI that is less than or equal to $150,000 to claim a credit that is equal to 80% of the individual's federal credit. For a taxpayer who is eligible for the credit due to the increased income threshold, the state credit is not refundable but may be carried forward up to 5 income tax years.

The bill makes an appropriation.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill creates a temporary income tax credit for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2019, but prior to January 1, 2022, for employers that make contributions to 529 qualified state tuition program accounts owned by their employees in an amount equal to 20% of the contribution, not to exceed $500.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill creates a new public school funding distribution formula to replace the existing formula (1994 formula). The new distribution formula is effective for the second budget year following voter approval of a ballot measure that increases state revenue for funding preschool through high school public education, which is not included in the bill.

The new public school funding distribution formula:

• Calculates a school district's (district's) total program funding by starting with statewide base per pupil funding and adding additional funding for student and district characteristics in the form of district factor funding as follows:
• Size factor funding;
• Poverty factor funding for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals;
• English language learner factor funding, adjusted for district size;
• Gifted child factor funding, adjusted for district size;
• Special education factor funding, adjusted for disability and district size; and
• Cost of living factor funding, limited to a percentage of statewide cost of living factor funding.

In calculating district total program funding, the new formula:

• Counts kindergarten students as half-day or full-day pupils depending on the length of the kindergarten program;
• Counts preschool students as half-day pupils, anticipating conforming changes to the Colorado preschool program, following enactment of the bill, to remove limits on the number of 4- and 5-year-old pupils attending state-funded preschool and the pupil eligibility criteria for 4- and 5-year-old pupils;
• Differentiates between pupils with specified disabilities for purposes of determining the new special education factor funding, anticipating conforming changes to categorical funding programs, following enactment of the bill, to use special education categorical funding only for high-cost disability reimbursement grants; and
• Applies English language learner factor funding for up to 7 years to all English language learners, except for those students with no English proficiency, anticipating conforming changes to categorical funding programs, following enactment of the bill, to use categorical funding only for students with no English proficiency.

The bill creates a hold-harmless provision if a district's total program funding under the new public school funding distribution formula is less than it was under the 1994 formula without the budget stabilization reduction in funding.

The bill takes effect only if voters approve a ballot measure no later than the 2022 statewide general election that increases funding for preschool through high school public education.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The bill establishes the Colorado secure savings plan (plan) board of trustees (board) to study the feasibility of creating the Colorado secure savings plan and other appropriate approaches to increase the amount of retirement savings by Colorado's private sector workers.

The board consists of the director of the governor's office of state planning and budgeting and 8 additional trustees with certain experience who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate.

The board is required to conduct the following four analyses or assessments (analyses) within 2 years of the appointment of the board's membership, with an update to certain legislative committees after one year:

• A detailed market and financial analysis to determine the financial feasibility and effectiveness of creating a retirement savings plan in the form of an automatic enrollment payroll deduction IRA, to be known as the Colorado secure savings plan. The plan would be designed to promote greater retirement savings for private sector employees in a convenient, low-cost, and portable manner.
• A detailed market and financial analysis to determine the financial feasibility and effectiveness of a small business marketplace plan to increase the number of Colorado businesses that offer retirement savings plans for their employees. The marketplace plan would be voluntary for both employers and employees, open to all employees and employers with fewer than one hundred employees, and administered by the state department of labor and employment. The bill specifies certain duties of the state department of labor in connection with the marketplace plan if it is implemented.
• An analysis of the effects that greater financial education among Colorado residents would have on increasing their retirement savings; and
• An analysis of the effects that not increasing Coloradans' retirement savings would have on current and future state and local government expenditures.

The board may accept any gifts, grants, and donations, or any money from public or private entities to pay for the costs of the analyses. The board may delay implementation of one or more of the analyses if it does not obtain adequate money to conduct the analyses.

If after conducting the analyses the board finds that there are approaches to increasing retirement savings for private-sector employees in a convenient, low-cost, and portable manner that are financially feasible and self-sustaining, the board is required to recommend a plan to implement its findings to the governor and the general assembly.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill creates a 3-year pilot program in the division of employment and training (division) in the department of labor and employment (department) to provide emergency employment support services to rural and nonrural counties in the state. The bill requires the division to contract with an administering entity to operate the pilot program to provide reimbursement for emergency employment support services provided to eligible individuals in the eligible counties. In order to be eligible for services for which a service provider may be reimbursed under the pilot program, an individual must be 16 years or older, eligible to work in the United States, have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, and be actively pursuing employment or job training.

The bill sets forth a list of services that are eligible for reimbursement. The bill requires the administering entity to report to the division at the end of the pilot program. The division is required to devise a formula for poverty reduction, employment, and workforce development programs for the distribution of money within the program area.

The bill establishes the emergency employment support services pilot program cash fund to consist of gifts, grants, and donations, and any other money that the general assembly may transfer to the fund.

The pilot program is subject to sunset review at the end of the 3-year period.

The division is required to promulgate rules to implement and set parameters for the operation of the pilot program.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Joint Budget Committee. The transitional jobs program is currently set to end on June 30, 2019, and no new transitional jobs are to be offered after December 31, 2018. The bill extends the program for 5 additional years. The bill appropriates money to the department of human services for the program.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Joint Budget Committee. For providers under the Colorado child care assistance program (CCCAP), the bill requires the state department of human services (department), in consultation with the counties, annually to contract for a market rate study of provider rates for each county. Based on the market rate study and each county's percentage of the total number of children eligible to participate in CCCAP, the department establishes the amount of each county's block grant. The bill allows the department to adjust a county's block grant amount based upon rules promulgated by the department.

Under current law, a county is permitted to determine the percentage of the federal poverty level for eligibility in CCCAP for that county. The bill sets the federal poverty level for all counties at 185% but allows the state board of human services to adjust the percentage by rule if required by federal law.

The bill adjusts certain periods of eligibility and removes references to preconditions that have been previously met.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

SECTION 1. The bill increases the statewide base per pupil funding for the 2018-19 budget year by $222.57 to account for inflation, for a new statewide base per pupil funding of $6,768.77.

SECTION 2. The bill sets the minimum district total program funding for the 2018-19 budget year. The district total program funding reflects a $150 million reduction in the budget stabilization factor over the prior budget year.

SECTION 3. For the 2018-19 budget year, the bill distributes $30 million on a per-pupil basis to large rural districts and small rural districts including district charter schools and each institute charter school whose accounting district is a large or small rural district. Large rural districts share 55% of the appropriation, and small rural districts share 45% of the appropriation. The bill uses a district's funded pupil count for the 2017-18 budget year. The bill specifies the intended uses of the money.

SECTION 4. The bill increases by 1,000 slots the number of early childhood at-risk enhancement, or ECARE, slots that may be used for preschool students or to extend kindergarten to full-day kindergarten.

SECTION 5. Under current law, money appropriated for the 'English Language Proficiency Act' (act) is allocated 75% to serve students who have no or limited English language proficiency and 25% to serve students who are newly fluent in English but who need monitoring. The bill changes the funding allocation for the act by allocating funding proportionately, based on the number of students who have no or limited English proficiency and the number of students who are newly fluent but who need monitoring.

SECTION 6. The bill amends the requirements relating to core course level participation and performance reports by limiting reporting on core courses to only the middle and high school levels and by delaying the date by which the department shall make the report available on its website.

SECTION 7. The bill amends the reporting requirement relating to the annual report on the effectiveness of educator preparation programs to require the inclusion of certain data in the report only if the data is available at the time of the annual report.

SECTION 8. The bill clarifies that a district certifies the number of English language learners and the department of education determines a student's eligibility for funding under the act.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

The bill changes the name of the existing low-income housing tax credit to the affordable housing tax credit. This change is reflected in sections 1 and 3 of the bill.

Section 2 extends the period during which the Colorado housing and finance authority may allocate affordable housing tax credits from December 31, 2019, to December 31, 2024.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Current law creates an annual appropriation to provide lunches at no charge to children in state-subsidized early childhood education programs administered by public schools or in kindergarten through fifth grade who would otherwise have to pay for a reduced-price lunch.

The bill extends the grade of eligibility to eighth grade in schools that elect to participate in the expanded program.

The bill authorizes an annual appropriation, including a cap on the amount of the annual appropriation, to cover the expanded grades of eligible children.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Under current law, it is an unfair housing practice to honor or exercise, or attempt to honor or exercise, any restrictive covenant pertaining to housing. Section 1 of the bill adds to the definition of 'restrictive covenant' limitations on the transfer, rental, or lease of housing based on records of any arrest or charge that did not result in a conviction and the criminal case is not actively pending (arrest records) or criminal justice records that have been sealed or expunged.

Section 2 makes it an unfair housing practice to inquire about or take an adverse action based on arrest records or sealed or expunged criminal justice records. Section 3 prohibits landlords from requiring an applicant to disclose any information contained in sealed criminal records. Section 4 prohibits housing authorities from denying or terminating dwelling accommodations, or taking adverse action against a person, on the basis of arrest records or certain conviction records.

Section 6 requires a landlord to provide applicants with access to records that are used as the basis for denying a rental application.

Section 5 prevents certain tenant criminal records from being admitted as evidence in a civil case against a landlord that is based on the tenant's conduct.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Fiscal Note

The bill contains a legislative declaration about the circumstances facing special immigrants and refugees and the benefit of access to education. The bill grants eligibility for in-state tuition status to refugees and special immigrants admitted to the United States pursuant to federal law who have settled in Colorado.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note

Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission. The bill amends the application and eligibility requirements for the school-readiness quality improvement program and the infant and toddler quality and availability grant program to align with the Colorado shines quality rating and improvement system to streamline the administration of the programs.

The bill removes obsolete references to early childhood and education councils.

The bill makes conforming amendments to reflect the references changed in the bill and to remove terms no longer used in the programs.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Fiscal Note