| Bill # |
Calendar Notification | Bill Title | Bill Summary | Most Recent Status | Date Introduced | Amendment Link |
| HB24-1004 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning the ability of ex-offenders to receive authorization to practice in state-regulated occupations, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | In determining whether an applicant for a state-regulated occupation is qualified to be registered, certified, or licensed, the act allows the entity with regulatory authority concerning the occupation (regulator) to consider an applicant's conviction for a crime for a 3-year period beginning on the date of conviction or the end of incarceration, whichever date is later.
If an individual's conviction is directly related to the profession or occupation for which the individual has applied for registration, certification, or licensure, the regulator may consider the conviction after the 3-year period has passed.
A regulator may only deny or refuse to renew a registration, certification, or license if the regulator determines that the applicant has not been rehabilitated and is unable to perform the duties and responsibilities of the profession or occupation without creating an unreasonable risk to public safety. An applicant's conviction for a crime does not, in and of itself, disqualify the applicant from being issued a registration, certification, or license.
The act allows an individual to petition a regulator to determine whether a criminal conviction will preclude the individual from becoming registered, certified, or licensed prior to that individual completing any other requirements for such credentialing. If a regulator determines that an individual's conviction will likely be considered, the regulator shall advise the individual of any actions the individual may take to remedy the disqualification.
The act places the burden of proof for denial of an applicant on the regulator to demonstrate that denial based on the applicant's criminal conviction directly connects to potential performance in the profession or occupation for which the applicant seeks credentialing.
APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024
EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 6/4/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-01-10 | Amendments |
| HB24-1008 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning measures to expand general contractor accountability for wage claims involving contractors in the construction industry, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | For wage claims brought by individuals working in the construction industry, the act:
Requires a subcontractor that receives a written demand for payment to forward a copy of the written demand for payment to the general contractor within 3 business days after receipt;
Specifies that a general contractor entering into a construction contract is liable for all amounts owed to an employee for the employee's labor, construction, or other work, including amounts owed by a subcontractor acting under, by, or for the general contractor; and
Allows a general contractor to require the following information from each subcontractor acting under, by, or for the general contractor:
Pay data;
Contact information; and
An affidavit attesting to whether the subcontractor has participated in a civil or administrative proceeding within the last 5 years and, if so, the outcome of the proceeding.
Unless a wage violation is caused by the general contractor's lack of payment to a subcontractor, the general contractor may seek indemnification from the subcontractor for all amounts owed by the general contractor for the subcontractor's wage violation.
VETOED by Governor May 17, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/17/2024 Governor Vetoed
| 2024-01-10 | Amendments |
| HB24-1087 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning the creation of an additional pathway for educators to gain an endorsement for special education instruction. | Under current law, a person seeking a teaching endorsement in special education or early childhood special education (endorsement) must complete an approved program and a student teaching practicum through an institution of higher education and pass one or more appropriate content-based exams. The act requires the department of education to issue an endorsement. Under current law, to receive the endorsement, the educator must hold a valid teaching license other than an initial license and complete coursework and assessments, as specified by rule of the state board of education (board), in a program in special education offered by an accepted institution of higher education. The act adds applicants who complete an alternative teacher preparation program (program) for special education offered by a designated agency as eligible for the endorsement. The act authorizes a person with a professional teacher license to continue in the person's current position while participating in an alternative teacher preparation program for the purpose of receiving an endorsement.
APPROVED by Governor April 19, 2024
EFFECTIVE April 19, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 4/19/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-01-12 | Amendments |
| HB24-1095 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning protection for minor workers in the "Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act of 1971", and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Beginning January 1, 2025, the act increases penalties for violations of the "Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act of 1971" (CYEOA) and requires that the monetary penalties collected be deposited into the wage theft enforcement fund. Entities that violate CYEOA must also pay specified damages to the individual who is aggrieved. The act eliminates a provision in current law penalizing a person, having legal responsibility for a minor, who knowingly permits the minor to be employed in violation of CYEOA.
The director of the division of labor standards and statistics (director) is required to include a description of the penalties and damages owed in the written notice issued to an employer if CYEOA is violated.
The division of labor standards and statistics (division) may reduce or decline to impose penalties or damages for violations of CYEOA if:
The minor worker intentionally misled the employer with regard to the minor's age; and
The employer engaged in outreach to a reliable third party to verify the minor worker's age if any reasonable employer could have believed that the minor worker might be under 18 years of age at the time of hiring. The act specifies that the receipt of an age certificate issued by the school superintendent of the district or county in which the worker resides constitutes outreach to a reliable third party.
The division is required to treat all final orders issued for violations of CYEOA as public records and to release information related to a violation to the public upon request pursuant to the "Colorado Open Records Act", unless the director makes a determination that the information is a trade secret.
The director may, or, at the request of the individual aggrieved, must, file a certified copy of a final order for a violation of CYEOA with the clerk of any court having jurisdiction over the parties at any time after the entry of the order.
The act applies the state's discrimination and retaliation prohibitions to individuals attempting to exercise rights protected by CYEOA and creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliatory action if an entity engages in disciplinary or adverse action against an individual aggrieved within 90 calendar days after the individual exercises a right protected by CYEOA.
For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, $125,255 is appropriated to the department of labor and employment for use by the division to implement the act.
APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024
EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 6/4/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-01-24 | Amendments |
| HB24-1168 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning equal access to public meetings. |
The bill requires state and local public bodies (public bodies) to ensure that the following accessibility requirements are implemented by July 1, 2025:
Any public meeting at which public business is discussed, formal action may be taken, or recommendations to the governing body of the public body may be discussed (meeting) held by a public body is required to be accessible in real time by live streaming video or audio that is recorded and accessible to individuals with disabilities;
A public body is required to post on its website, at least 24 hours before a meeting, any documents that will be distributed during the meeting;
For any meeting of a public body during which public testimony will be heard, the public body is required to allow any individual to participate in the meeting and offer public testimony by using a video conferencing platform unless the meeting occurs in a geographic location that lacks broadband internet service; and
A public body is required to provide any auxiliary aids or services requested in time for the meeting for which they were requested. A public body may require that a request for auxiliary aids or services to attend a meeting of the public body with the use of the video conferencing platform be made up to 7 days before the date of the meeting.
Nothing in the bill prohibits a public body from promulgating rules for the administration of public testimony so long as the rules apply to both in-person and remote testimony, and nothing in the bill requires a public body to provide hardware or software or internet or phone access at an individual's home.
The failure of any public body to comply with the applicable requirements of the bill constitutes discrimination on the basis of disability. Any individual who is subjected to a violation is entitled to seek relief as currently provided in law.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
| 5/14/2024 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
| 2024-01-31 | Amendments |
| HB24-1263 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning electrical work regulated in the state. | Section 1 of the bill amends a definition and adds new definitions under the electricians' practice act.
In current law, an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license or a residential wireman's license must provide evidence of having certain minimum years of apprenticeship experience, accredited training, or practical experience. For the purpose of these requirements, section 3 allows an applicant to have a minimum of 8,000 hours, rather than 4 years, of apprenticeship experience and to have a minimum of 4,000 hours, rather than 2 years, of practical experience. Specifically, an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license must furnish written evidence that:
The applicant has at least 4 years or 8,000 hours of apprenticeship in the electrical trade or 4 years or 8,000 hours of practical experience in wiring for, installing, and repairing electrical apparatus and equipment for electric light, heat, and power; and
At least 2 years or 4,000 hours of the applicant's experience is in commercial, industrial, or substantially similar work.
An applicant for a residential wireman's license must furnish written evidence that the applicant has at least 2 years of accredited training or 2 years or 4,000 hours of practical experience in wiring one-, two-, three-, and four-family dwellings.
Current law allows an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license or a residential wireman's license to substitute for required practical experience evidence of academic training or practical experience in the electrical field. Section 2 allows an applicant to also substitute evidence of training in photovoltaic systems installation. However, section 2 also states that the state electrical board (board) may, but is no longer required to, provide work experience credit for academic training, including military training. Section 2 also allows an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license or a residential wireman's license to claim up to 4,000 hours of practical experience by working:
As an individual who is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) to install photovoltaic systems (NABCEP PV installation professional); or
As an apprentice to an NABCEP PV installation professional, so long as the supervising NABCEP PV installation professional provides proof of employment and an affidavit attesting that the applicant earned the hours as an apprentice.
For every 2 hours that an applicant works as described, the applicant may claim one hour of practical experience until July 1, 2029.
Under current law, for all applicants seeking work experience credit toward licensure, the board gives credit for electrical work that is not required to be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed electrician if the applicant can show that the particular experience received or the supervision under which the work has been performed is adequate. Section 3 states the board may give such credit but is not required to do so. Section 4 requires that, for an apprentice who holds an active residential wireman license, an electrical contractor, an apprenticeship program, or a state apprenticeship agency that employs the apprentice must report qualifying years or hours of work experience only for commercial, industrial, or substantially similar work. Section 4 also ensures that an individual who possesses an active residential wireman or master electrician license is not required to take the journeyman electrician license examination. Section 4 also allows an apprentice to request an exemption from the board from future examination requirements, regardless of whether the apprentice has failed to pass the license examination in 2 consecutive 3-year periods. Section 5 requires the department of regulatory agencies (DORA) to:
Uphold the rules and regulations of the current edition of the national electrical code, including applying the code to all equipment from the point at which service transformers generate voltage to usable systems for consumers, including all associated wiring; risers, whether overhead or underground; and metering systems;
Cooperate with utility companies to maintain safe clearances and safe working distances for the utilities based on the current edition of the national electrical code; and
Allow each utility to install its proper metering equipment with the assistance of qualified electrical personnel.
Section 5 also states that all electrical equipment is subject to inspection by an authority having jurisdiction to conduct electrical inspections.
Under current law, the contract for any public works project that does not receive federal money in an amount of $1,000,000 or more must require the general contractor or other firm to which the contract is awarded to submit, at the time the mechanical, electrical, or plumbing subcontractor is put under contract, documentation to the agency of government that certifies that all firms identified participate in apprenticeship programs registered with the United States department of labor's office of apprenticeship or a state apprenticeship agency recognized by the United States department of labor (registered apprenticeship program) and have a proven record of graduating apprentices. Section 6 states that for the purposes of this requirement, an apprentice who has obtained a residential wireman, journeyman electrician, or master electrician license while enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program is considered a graduate. Section 7 removes, effective July 1, 2029, language that, for photovoltaic installations with a direct current design capacity of less than 300 kilowatts, allows the performance of all photovoltaic electrical work, the installation of photovoltaic modules, and the installation of photovoltaic module mounting equipment to be subject to on-site supervision by a certified photovoltaic energy practitioner designated by the NABCEP. Section 7 also removes language:
Stating that neither the public utilities commission nor a utility has responsibility for monitoring or enforcing compliance with statutory requirements concerning solar photovoltaic installations (installations);
Requiring an applicant for funding or for an initial contract proposal for an installation (applicant) to obtain certain information; and
Requiring a qualifying retail utility to obtain from an applicant and retain, for at least one year after completion of an installation, copies of all documentation submitted by the applicant in connection with the installation.
Section 7 also states that, as used in the context of photovoltaic electrical work, for ground-mounted systems, "grounding" includes the wiring of bonding jumpers and grounding conductors. "Grounding" does not include work related to the racking assembly, racking construction, or the physical mounting of modules.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
| 3/6/2024 House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Postpone Indefinitely
| 2024-02-13 | No amendments found |
| HB24-1264 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning supporting the educator workforce in Colorado. |
The bill requires the department of education to create, maintain, and manage an online career support and pathways portal (online portal) for educators; staff; school districts, district charter schools, institute charter schools, boards of cooperative services, or approved facility schools (local education providers); and educator preparation programs (educator programs). The online portal must have:
Access to career incentives, stipends, and loan forgiveness;
Career pathway information for educators and staff, including, but not limited to, mentoring, induction program coaching, instructional coaching, district curriculum support, special assignments for teachers, and principal leadership; and
A job posting and application portal for local education providers to post open employment positions and to search for prospective candidates, and for educators and staff to upload resumes and to apply to open employment positions.
Local education providers and educator programs shall post a link to the online portal on their websites to promote the online portal to educators and staff.
The bill allows Indian tribes and tribal organizations to access and use the online portal.
Pursuant to current law, the educator and retention program (ERR program) provides support to members of the armed forces and nonmilitary-affiliated educator candidates. The bill expands criteria for participation in the ERR program to include applicants who are:
Enrolled in a teacher degree apprenticeship program and employed by an Indian tribe or tribal organization or a local education provider; or
Enrolled in an educator program to attain a special services provider license with the appropriate endorsement.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
| 5/14/2024 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
| 2024-02-13 | Amendments |
| HB24-1287 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning access to state grant opportunities. | Section 1 of the bill creates an online database managed by the department of personnel that includes information on all grant opportunities that are funded by state money or administered by the state. The database must be created by December 31, 2025, and reviewed and updated on an annual basis. Section 2 creates the grant assistance to rural communities program. This program, administered by the department of local affairs, provides assistance in accessing state grants to entities in rural communities, which are defined as counties with populations of fewer than 25,000 residents and municipalities with populations of fewer than 10,000 residents that do not border another municipality with a population of 10,000 residents or more. The bill directs the department to designate at least one full-time equivalent employee, who resides in a rural community or whose principal place of employment is in a rural community, to implement the program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
| 5/14/2024 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
| 2024-02-13 | Amendments |
| HB24-1307 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning HVAC infrastructure improvement projects in schools. | The act requires a school district board of education, a charter school, an institute charter school, a board of cooperative services, or the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind (local education provider) to satisfy certain requirements concerning installation, inspection, and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in schools if the local education provider undertakes HVAC infrastructure improvements using money made available by a federal government source or by a federal government source in combination with a state government source specifically for such purpose.
The requirements established in the act concern:
Ventilation verification assessments, which include assessments of an HVAC system's filtration, ventilation exhaust, economizers, demand control ventilation, air distribution and building pressurization, general maintenance requirements, operational controls, and carbon dioxide output;
The preparation of HVAC assessment reports;
The review of HVAC assessment reports by mechanical engineers, who make recommendations regarding necessary repairs and improvements and estimate associated costs;
HVAC adjustments, repairs, upgrades, and replacements;
The preparation of HVAC verification reports and the submission of the reports to the department of education; and
Periodic inspections and ongoing maintenance.
The act establishes mandatory criteria that an HVAC contractor must satisfy in order to perform work described in the act. A local education provider that undertakes HVAC infrastructure improvements using money made available by a federal government source or by a federal government source in combination with a state government source must:
Obtain and make use of the certified contractor list established by the department of labor and employment; and
Employ only contractors on the certified contractor list or certain other contractors to perform the HVAC improvements.
The act allows a local education provider to apply for grants to pay for HVAC infrastructure improvement projects and establishes requirements for local education providers that apply for grants from federal and state government sources.
The act requires the governor's office to use existing resources funded by the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" cash fund to provide grant writing support, administrative support, and project planning to local education providers that undertake HVAC infrastructure improvement projects. The governor's office must submit a report to the joint budget committee and the capital development committee concerning the number of applicants for matching funds from local education providers reviewed by the office before October 2, 2025. The report must include the amount of requested matching funds, the recommended amount of matching funds, and an explanation for the difference, if any, between the requested amounts and the recommended amounts.
VETOED by Governor May 17, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/17/2024 Governor Vetoed
| 2024-02-14 | Amendments |
| HB24-1317 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning the expansion of employment opportunities through state workforce data reporting. |
The bill requires the director of the division of employment and training (director) in the department of labor and employment to annually collect, analyze, and make recommendations to the general assembly based on data from workforce centers; the state, in relation to data it has collected concerning workers in specific age categories, beginning at age 50; and individuals with disabilities.
The bill also requires the director, every 3 years, to conduct, or contract with an another entity to conduct, a survey to better understand the experiences and needed tools and resources of individuals in Colorado who are 55 years of age or older and are considering entering or reentering the workforce, are unemployed, underemployed, or are looking for a career change.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
| 5/14/2024 House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
| 2024-02-20 | Amendments |
| HB24-1364 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning measures to support education-based workforce readiness, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | The act authorizes the department of education (department) to commission a financial study (study) with an independent contractor to analyze the costs to the state and school districts, district charter schools, institute charter schools, and boards of cooperative services (local education providers) and potential cost savings to provide students the opportunity to obtain college credits, industry credentials, and work-based learning experiences. The study must also include an analysis of the effects of consolidating certain postsecondary and workforce readiness programs. The department shall submit the report by December 1, 2024, including recommendations for implementation in the 2025-26 state budget year.
The act requires the office of information technology (office) to build, or contract with a third-party vendor to build, the Colorado statewide longitudinal data system (data system) to establish a consistent, appropriate, secure, and legal means of data sharing and connecting multiple data sets into the data system to support effective state investments, inform policy research, and assist Colorado citizens in making choices related to their education and training pathways. The office shall work with contributing state agencies, local education providers, institutions of higher education, partner entities, and policymakers.
The act creates the Colorado state longitudinal data system governing board (governing board) to support the office with the development and implementation of the data system. The governing board is required to convene the systems build and implementation interagency advisory group and the sustainability interagency advisory group to support and advise the governing board on the technical development, implementation, use, and function of the data system.
The act requires the office to submit an interim report on or before January 15, 2025, on the progress of the data system, the data governance processes and procedures, and recommendations for legislative changes and funding, as necessary, to the general assembly, the state board of education, and the governor. Beginning April 15, 2026, and each April 15 thereafter, the office shall submit an annual report summarizing key findings from the data system on education and workforce outcomes and education and workforce readiness to the general assembly, the state board of education, and the governor.
The act creates the statewide longitudinal data system cash fund (cash fund). On July 1, 2024, the state treasurer shall transfer $5 million to the cash fund for purposes of the data system. Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly for the 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 state fiscal years, the office and the department may expend money from the cash fund for purposes of the data system. The state treasurer shall transfer all unexpended and unencumbered money in the cash fund to the general fund on September 1, 2027.
The act appropriates $4,432,419 from the cash fund to the office for purposes of the data system.
The act appropriates $800,005 from the general fund to the department for purposes of the study.
The act appropriates $202,992 from the cash fund to the department for purposes of the data system.
APPROVED by Governor May 23, 2024
EFFECTIVE May 23, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/23/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-03-08 | Amendments |
| HB24-1371 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning regulation of massage facilities by local governments in accordance with statewide requirements, and, in connection therewith, requiring a local government to establish a process that requires periodic criminal background checks for massage facility operators, owners, and employees. | The law has allowed, but has not required, a county or a municipality to adopt a resolution or ordinance that either establishes business licensure requirements for massage facilities or regulates and prohibits unlawful activities to prevent the operation of illicit massage businesses that engage in human trafficking-related offenses.
The act:
Makes a legislative finding and declaration that it is a matter of mixed statewide and local concern to establish a statewide requirement that a massage facility operator, owner, or employee, including an independent contractor who is involved in the routine operations of a massage facility (employee), submit to a background check, which generally means a fingerprint-based criminal history record check (background check);
Requires every county, city and county, and municipality (local government) that has a massage facility within its jurisdictional boundaries to adopt a local process that ensures that the required background checks are conducted;
Requires such a local process to also require, as a condition for a person remaining as or becoming a massage facility operator, owner, or employee, that:
Every current operator, owner, and employee submit to a background check on or before the earlier of October 1, 2025, or any other date specified in the local process; and
Every prospective operator or owner to submit to a background check at least 30 days before being granted a license to operate the massage facility or assuming an ownership interest in a massage facility;
Prohibits a person from being a massage facility owner if the person either has not submitted to a required background check or has either:
Been convicted of or entered an accepted plea of nolo contendere for a felony or misdemeanor of solicitation of a prostitute, a human trafficking offense, or money laundering; or
Is registered as a sex offender or is required by law to register as a sex offender;
Prohibits a massage facility operator or owner from employing at a massage facility a person who has not submitted to a required background check;
Authorizes an operator or owner to employ at a massage facility a person who has been convicted of or entered an accepted plea of nolo contendere for a felony or misdemeanor of solicitation of a prostitute, a human trafficking offense, or money laundering, or who is registered as a sex offender or is required by law to register as a sex offender, if the operator or owner believes that the person does not pose a threat to customers or employees of the massage facility;
Authorizes the local licensing authority for a local government that has established massage facility business licensure requirements to suspend or revoke the license of any massage facility that has an owner or an employee who is prohibited from being a massage facility owner or employee;
Requires a county and a municipality within the county to consult with each other when developing, as is still authorized but not required, a resolution or ordinance to establish business licensure requirements for massage facilities or regulate and prohibit unlawful activities to prevent the operation of illicit massage businesses that engage in human trafficking-related offenses, and, by mutual agreement between a county and a municipality within the county, allows a municipality to elect to have a county's resolution or ordinance apply to massage facilities operating within the jurisdictional boundaries of the municipality in lieu of adopting its own ordinance or resolution; and
Because a massage therapist is required by current law to submit to a background check to obtain a license to practice massage therapy, exempts a licensed massage therapist from the act's background check requirement.
APPROVED by Governor June 6, 2024
EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 6/6/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-03-11 | Amendments |
| HB24-1376 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning measures to increase teacher mentorships in public schools, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | Under current law, the teacher mentor grant program (grant program) provides funding to partnerships between local education providers and educator preparation programs to provide training and stipends for experienced teachers who mentor teacher candidates in clinical practice. The act expands the grant program to include mentorship of novice teachers who have fewer than 3 years of teaching experience.
The act requires the general assembly to appropriate $100,000 dollars to the department of higher education for the grant program for the 2024-25 state fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter. Any appropriation remaining at the end of the 2024-25 state fiscal year or subsequent fiscal year may be used for the grant program in subsequent fiscal years.
The act appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to the department of higher education for use by the Colorado commission on higher education for growing great teachers - teacher mentor grants.
APPROVED by Governor June 3, 2024
EFFECTIVE June 3, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 6/3/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-03-18 | Amendments |
| HB24-1430 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning the provision for payment of the expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state of Colorado, and of its agencies and institutions, for and during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, except as otherwise noted. | For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, the bill provides for the payment of expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state of Colorado, and of its agencies and institutions. The grand total for the operating budget is set at $42,929,675,236. The general funds portion of the appropriation is set at $12,398,541,034; the general fund exempt portion is set at $3,803,423,067; the cash funds portion is set at $11,342,249,687; the reappropriated funds portion is set at $2,878,921,519; and the federal funds portion is set at $12,506,539,929.
For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, the grand total for the state fiscal year for capital construction projects is set at $367,677,785. The capital construction fund portion of the appropriation is set at $262,215,419; the cash funds portion is set at $103,554,776; and the federal funds portion is set at $1,907,590.
For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, the grand total for information technology projects is set at $158,354,132. The capital construction fund portion of the appropriation is set at $86,836,669; the cash fund portion is set at $14,255,934; and the federal funds portion is set at $57,261,529.
The 2021 general appropriation act is amended to balance and make adjustments to the total amount appropriated for capital construction projects and capital construction information technology projects.
The 2023 general appropriation act is amended to balance and make adjustments to the total amount appropriated to the department of education; the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and state planning and budgeting; and the departments of health care policy and financing, higher education, local affairs, personnel, public health and environment, and public safety.
Appropriations were made in several bills during the 2023 legislative session that are further amended to balance and make adjustments and to extend the appropriation of unexpended amounts to the 2024-25 fiscal year.
APPROVED by Governor April 29, 2024
EFFECTIVE April 29, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 4/29/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-03-26 | Amendments |
| HB24-1439 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning financial incentives related to apprenticeship programs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2025, but before January 1, 2035, section 1 of the act creates a refundable state income tax credit (tax credit) that an employer may claim if the employer employs an apprentice for at least 6 months during an income tax year and either has a registered apprenticeship program or is an employer-partner of a registered apprenticeship program. The amount of the tax credit is up to $6,300 for 6 months of employment plus up to $1,050 for each additional month of employment, for a maximum of up to $12,600 per apprentice per income tax year. An employer may not claim a credit for:
More than 10 apprentices per income tax year;
The same apprentice for more than 24 consecutive months; and
An apprentice for months when the apprentice did not receive wages from the employer.
To claim a tax credit, an employer must submit an application for the reservation of the tax credit and an application to receive an income tax credit certificate to the state apprenticeship agency (SAA) in the department of labor and employment (department). The SAA shall review the applications for specified criteria to determine whether the employer qualifies for the tax credit and tax credit certificate. An employer issued a tax credit certificate must file the certificate with the employer's state income tax return.
The SAA is required to submit certain information and reports, as applicable, regarding the tax credit to the state auditor and the department of revenue. The SAA must also conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small businesses concerning awareness of and application for the tax credit.
Section 2 ends the state income tax credit for qualified investments made in a qualified school-to-career program for income tax years after December 31, 2024.
Section 4 creates the scale-up grant program in the department to start new registered apprenticeship programs or expand existing programs in Colorado. The scale-up grant program awards grants from the money in the scale-up grant fund, which is created in the act. Eligible grant recipients include employers or entities that operate an apprenticeship program and that:
Plan to develop and register a new registered apprenticeship program; or
Currently offer a registered apprenticeship program and plan to expand it.
The act requires the department to collect specified data regarding the scale-up grant program and submit a report to specified committees of the general assembly.
Section 4 also creates the qualified apprenticeship intermediary grant program in the department to support entities that demonstrate expertise in connecting employers or apprenticeship program participants to registered apprenticeship programs or in convening stakeholders to develop registered apprenticeship programs. The SAA must post a list of the types of entities eligible to apply to the grant program on the SAA's website. The qualified apprenticeship intermediary grant program awards grants from the money in the qualified apprenticeship intermediary grant fund, which is created in the act. An eligible grant recipient must be a qualified apprenticeship intermediary.
The act requires the department to collect specified data regarding the qualified apprenticeship intermediary grant program and submit a report to specified committees of the general assembly.
On July 1, 2024, the state treasurer shall transfer from the general fund $2 million to the scale-up grant fund and $2 million to the qualified apprenticeship intermediary grant fund.
For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the following amounts are appropriated to the department for use by the office of future of work to implement the act:
$103,515 from the general fund;
$666,666 from the scale-up grant fund; and
$666,667 from the qualified apprenticeship intermediary grant fund.
APPROVED by Governor May 10, 2024
EFFECTIVE May 10, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/10/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-04-02 | Amendments |
| SB24-012 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning the creation of a reentry workforce development cash assistance pilot program for persons who were incarcerated. |
The bill creates the reentry workforce development cash assistance pilot program (pilot program) in the department of corrections (department) to provide cash assistance to persons who enroll and participate in workforce services or training programs after incarceration. The pilot program provides a total payment of up to $3,000 to eligible persons for basic life expenses.
The bill requires the department to contract with an organization to administer the pilot program, perform an annual survey of pilot program recipients, and produce an annual report that is submitted to the judiciary committees of the senate and house of representatives.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
| 2/7/2024 Senate Committee on Judiciary Postpone Indefinitely
| 2024-01-10 | No amendments found |
| SB24-014 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning authorization for granting a high school diploma endorsement related to climate literacy, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | The act authorizes a school district, board of cooperative services, district charter high school, institute charter high school, or the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind (local education provider) to grant a high school diploma endorsement in climate literacy (seal of climate literacy) to graduating students who demonstrate mastery in climate literacy and attain green skills or technical green skills. The purpose of the seal of climate literacy is to give a student personal agency to help the student and the student's communities understand or adapt to the effects of climate change.
To obtain a seal of climate literacy, a student must complete the minimum high school graduation requirements of the local education provider, successfully complete at least 2 courses in the area of climate literacy selected by the local education provider, and successfully complete a final experiential learning project (final project) that is approved, supported, and facilitated by a climate literacy experiential learning provider (learning provider).
The local education provider may collaborate with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, industry leaders, and institutions of higher education to support students' climate literacy.
Beginning with students in the sixth grade, each local education provider shall annually notify students and their legal guardians of the requirements for obtaining a seal of climate literacy.
On or before July 1, 2025, and every July 1 thereafter, each local education provider shall collect data on the seal of climate literacy, including:
The schools that awarded the seal of climate literacy;
The number of students who received the seal of climate literacy;
The types of final projects students have completed;
The names of the learning providers who approve, support, and facilitate students' final projects;
A list of academic courses students have completed to earn the seal of climate literacy; and
Any other findings related to the seal of climate literacy.
On or before October 1, 2025, and every October 1 thereafter, each local education provider shall submit a report to the department of education (department) summarizing the data collected.
The department may collaborate with a nonprofit organization to evaluate the data collected and prepare a report summarizing the data. On or before January 15, 2026, and every January 15 thereafter, the department shall submit the report to the house of representatives education committee and the senate education committee, or their successor committees, and the state board of education.
The act appropriates $18,749 to the department from the general fund for purposes of the seal of climate literacy.
APPROVED by Governor May 23, 2024
EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/23/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-01-10 | Amendments |
| SB24-050 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning the Colorado workforce demonstration grants pilot program. |
The bill creates the Colorado workforce demonstration grants pilot program (pilot program) in the office of economic development (office) to provide grants to eligible workforce training providers in order to facilitate workforce training for eligible participants. The office administers the pilot program and awards grants from the Colorado workforce demonstration grants pilot program cash fund (fund), which is created in the bill.
In awarding grants, the office must:
Give first priority to eligible workforce training providers that implement a proven program or practice;
Give second priority to eligible workforce training providers that implement an evidence-informed program or practice; and
Allocate one-third of the money appropriated to the fund to eligible workforce training providers that are qualified intermediaries, so long as at least one eligible workforce training provider that is a qualified intermediary selected to participate includes in its application a plan to conduct an evaluation that, once completed, will demonstrate that the qualified intermediary is offering a proven program or practice.
An eligible workforce training provider that receives a grant from the pilot program must report to the office certain information concerning the proven programs or practices and the evidence-informed programs or practices that it provides or facilitates with the grant money. The office must conduct an evaluation of long-term wage outcomes for eligible participants served by eligible workforce training providers under the pilot program. The evaluation must anonymize personal data, aggregate data by each eligible workforce training provider, and be consolidated into a single annual report. The office must submit an annual summarized report to the legislative subject matter committees concerned with labor and employment.
The pilot program is repealed, effective July 1, 2029. Any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund is transferred to the general fund.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
| 2/1/2024 Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Refer Unamended to Appropriations
| 2024-01-12 | No amendments found |
| SB24-103 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning technical changes to Colorado department of labor and employment statutes. | Section 1 of the act corrects a cross reference to the annual Colorado talent report by deleting a reference to a subsection that does not exist within the article regarding intrastate air service within the state of Colorado.
Section 2 removes unnecessary language to clarify that a qualifying organization that receives a grant from the immigration legal defense fund shall only use the grant for services that include providing indigent clients with representation before the board of immigration appeals within the United States department of justice, but not representation before a United States district court, a United States circuit court of appeals, or the United States supreme court.
Section 3 clarifies that the "approval" granted by a state apprenticeship agency refers to the approval of an apprenticeship program.
Sections 4 and 5 correct inconsistencies in the membership of 2 committees regarding apprenticeships. Current law establishing the committee for apprenticeship in the building and construction trades (CABCT) states that the CABCT consists of 16 members, but the statute outlines the appointment of 17 members. The act changes the total membership of the CABCT to 17 members. Current law also dictates that the governor appoints 7 members to serve concurrently on both the CABCT and the committee for apprenticeship in new and emerging industries (CANEI). This conflicts with current law establishing the CANEI, which states that the governor appoints 6 members to the CANEI, only 5 of whom serve concurrently on the CABCT. There are presently 7 members appointed by the governor on the CANEI who serve concurrently on the CABCT. The act resolves this conflict by clarifying that the governor appoints 7 members to the CANEI, all of whom are concurrently appointed to the CABCT.
APPROVED by Governor March 22, 2024
EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 3/22/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-01-26 | No amendments found |
| SB24-104 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning the alignment of educational programs with registered apprenticeships, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | The act requires the state apprenticeship agency in the department of labor and employment (department), in coordination with the career and technical education division of the Colorado community college system, to align the high school career and technical education system and the registered apprenticeship system for programs and occupations related to infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, education, or health care (programs and occupations). On and after July 1, 2026, the act requires both entities to expand the number of aligned pathways for programs and occupations identified as top jobs by the annual Colorado talent pipeline report.
The act requires the office of future of work in the department to engage in proactive outreach to foster collaboration between registered apprenticeship programs, the Colorado community college system, career and technical education programs, institutions of higher education, and other training providers in the related programs and occupations to facilitate awareness of opportunities for current and prospective participants.
The act appropriates $87,326 to the department from the general fund for use by the office of the executive director of the department and $95,245 in reappropriated funds to the department of higher education.
APPROVED by Governor May 31, 2024
EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/31/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-01-26 | Amendments |
| SB24-115 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning requirements to practice as a mental health professional. | The act removes the requirement that a mental health professional provide each client with an explanation of the levels of regulation and the differences between licensure, registration, and certification of mental health professionals.
The act removes the requirement for an individual to take and pass the board of social work examiners' masters examination in order to obtain a licensed social worker license.
In order for an individual to obtain a registration as a psychologist candidate (PSYC), a clinical social worker candidate (SWC), a marriage and family therapist candidate (MFTC), a licensed professional counselor candidate (LPCC), or an addiction counselor candidate (ADDC), the act requires the individual to pass the Colorado jurisprudence examination.
The act authorizes PSYCs, SWCs, MFTCs, LPCCs, and ADDCs to renew their candidate registrations if they are unable to complete all the post-degree licensure requirements within the 3-year time frame that a registration is valid and allows candidates whose registrations have expired to reapply for the registration.
The act requires certain mental health professionals, prior to a renewal of a license or registration, to complete continuing professional development and educational hours.
On or before December 31, 2024,the state board of psychologist examiners, the state board of social work examiners, the state board of marriage and family therapist examiners, the state board of licensed professional counselor examiners, and the state board of addiction counselor examiners are required to begin the rule-making process to align their respective rules with their respective practice acts.
APPROVED by Governor May 22, 2024
EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/22/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-02-05 | Amendments |
| SB24-143 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning credential assessment tools, and, in connection therewith, integrating frameworks for nondegree credential evaluation and classification into state education and workforce systems, aligning stackable credential pathways and apprenticeship programs with international classification standards, and making an appropriation. | Current law requires the department of higher education (department) and higher education institutions to develop a framework for evaluating the quality of nondegree credentials. The act formally recognizes the resulting quality and in-demand nondegree credentials framework (framework) as the primary tool for assessing the quality of nondegree credentials offered in the state.
The act requires the department to collaborate with various agencies to ensure the effective integration of the framework within the state's education and workforce systems. Beginning January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the act requires the department to evaluate nondegree credentials offered through state-recognized programs to ensure the credentials meet the framework's quality standards. Beginning January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the department shall supply a list of nondegree credential programs that meet the framework's quality standards for inclusion in the Colorado talent report and in a credential registry endorsed by the state.
The department shall engage state agencies, educational institutions, international organizations, industry associations, and other stakeholders to study and make recommendations about the adoption of the international standard classification of education (ISCED) as the state's standard framework for classifying nondegree credentials and ISCED's wider application in the state's education and workforce systems. The recommendations must include a process for assigning ISCED equivalency levels to nondegree credentials included in stackable credential pathways and apprenticeship programs. The act requires the department to report its findings and recommendations on or before July 31, 2025.
Current law requires the department to create stackable credential pathways in growing industries. The act requires the department to assign appropriate ISCED equivalency levels to the stackable credential pathways on or before July 31, 2025.
Beginning January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the act requires the office of future of work to coordinate with various agencies to determine ISCED equivalency levels for each apprenticeship program registered on and after July 31, 2025. The office of future of work shall then determine ISCED equivalency levels for each apprenticeship program registered before July 31, 2025.
For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $124,287 from the general fund to the department of higher education for use by the Colorado commission on higher education and higher education special purpose programs. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $30,000 from the general fund to the department of labor and employment for use by the office of future of work.
APPROVED by Governor May 10, 2024
EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/10/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-02-07 | Amendments |
| SB24-173 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning the regulation of persons providing mortuary science services, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | The act requires an individual to obtain a license to practice as a funeral director, a mortuary science practitioner, an embalmer, a cremationist, or a natural reductionist (mortuary science professional). The director of the division of professions and occupations (director) is required to promulgate rules for such licensing. To be licensed, an individual must submit an application, pay an application fee, obtain a fingerprint-based criminal history record check, not have been subject to discipline in another state or convicted of a disqualifying crime, and meet the following qualifications:
For a funeral director, the applicant must have graduated from an accredited mortuary science school, have successfully passed the arts section of a national board examination, and have received workplace learning experience of one year or longer;
For a mortuary science practitioner, the applicant must have graduated from an accredited mortuary science school, have successfully passed both the arts and science sections of a national board examination, and have received workplace learning experience of one year or longer;
For an embalmer, the applicant must have graduated from an accredited mortuary science school, have successfully passed the science section of a national board examination, and have received workplace learning experience of one year or longer; and
For a cremationist or natural reductionist, the applicant must have received official certification as a crematory operator from the Cremation Association of North America, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, or a successor organization.
An applicant may file for a waiver of the educational requirements and obtain full licensure upon completion of an examination.
A current practitioner may apply for a provisional license if the practitioner does not meet the new requirements. To obtain a provisional license, an applicant must have obtained at least 4,000 hours of work experience, have received workplace learning experience of one year or longer, and pass a fingerprint-based criminal history record check. An individual who holds a provisional license without being subject to discipline may obtain full licensure by satisfying certain criteria. A provisional license expires after 3 years unless the director approves a reinstatement or extension of the provisional license.
The act establishes administrative procedures for renewing a license. To renew a license, a license holder must obtain 6 hours of continuing education including:
One hour covering the applicable law;
One hour covering applicable ethics; and
One hour covering public health requirements.
The act updates existing law concerning title protection to require a person to hold the appropriate license in order to use the title "funeral director", "mortuary science practitioner", "embalmer", "cremationist", or "natural reductionist".
The act establishes grounds for disciplining an applicant or license holder and authorizes the director to take disciplinary actions against an applicant or a license holder. The director may also seek an injunction to enforce the act. An employer of a mortuary science professional must report to the director any termination, disciplinary action, or resignation if any of these actions were taken for conduct that violates the act. The director may bring an action for the enforcement of an order of the director.
The act repeals the regulation of the practice of mortuary science professionals, effective September 1, 2031. Before the repeal, the regulation will undergo a sunset review and report.
The act appropriates $121,166 to the department of regulatory agencies from the division of professions and occupations cash fund to implement the act.
APPROVED by Governor May 24, 2024
EFFECTIVE May 24, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/24/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-03-04 | Amendments |
| SB24-218 | NOT ON CALENDAR | Concerning measures to modernize energy distribution systems, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. | The act requires the office of future of work to create a grant program, in coordination with the Colorado energy office, for lineworker apprenticeship programs (grant program). In connection with the grant program, the office of future of work must create a competitive application process and select apprenticeship programs that meet certain training and matching requirements. On July 1, 2024, the state treasurer must transfer $800,000 from the general fund to the Colorado lineworker apprenticeship grant program cash fund, which is created in the act, for the purposes of the grant program.
The act also requires an investor-owned electric utility that serves 500,000 customers or more in the state (qualifying retail utility) to upgrade the qualifying retail utility's distribution systems as necessary to support the:
Achievement of the state's beneficial and transportation electrification and decarbonization goals; and
Implementation of federal, state, regional, and local air quality and decarbonization targets, standards, plans, and regulations (decarbonization targets and standards).
In connection with these goals and decarbonization targets and standards, a qualifying retail utility is required to:
Commence a data collection process to inform future energization timelines;
Adopt certain cost caps;
Propose to the public utilities commission (commission) the use of an optional flexible interconnection or energization tariff or phased interconnection or energization agreement by a customer as an alternative to system upgrades that would otherwise be required for interconnection or energization; and
Establish a procedure for customers with a hybrid facility to complete the interconnection and energization process through a single application.
A qualifying retail utility is required to identify interconnection and load hosting capacity for distributed energy resources for disproportionately impacted communities within its service territory.
Prior to the establishment of a grid modernization adjustment clause, a qualifying retail utility shall recover forecasted investments placed into service and costs incurred for certain capital investment and operations and maintenance expenses (distribution activities) for a period of time ending on December 31, 2025. Recovery of the costs associated with the distribution activities must occur through the transmission cost adjustment clause or another existing adjustment clause, subject to certain conditions.
Current law requires certain utilities to file a distribution system plan (plan) with the commission. The act also requires the plans of a qualifying retail utility to create sufficient hosting capacity across the qualifying retail utility's electrical distribution system to support the implementation of the decarbonization targets and standards and certain other laws, rules, plans, and policies.
In developing a plan, a qualifying retail utility must consult with and provide opportunities to engage disproportionately impacted communities.
As part of a plan proceeding, a qualifying retail utility is required to present at least 2 future planning scenarios with corresponding investments to show future different states of the distribution system. In evaluating a qualifying retail utility's plans, the commission must evaluate whether the plan satisfies certain criteria. In addition, the plan must include a performance-based framework, which must consist of certain specified components.
A qualifying retail utility must include in the qualifying retail utility's plan an analysis of current and future qualified staffing levels necessary to comply with state laws regarding distribution system planning (adequate staffing levels). The commission must review whether each qualifying retail utility's plan has adequate staffing levels before the qualifying retail utility's plan may proceed.
A qualifying retail utility must ensure that, in any projects undertaken to implement a plan, all labor is performed by the employees of the qualifying retail utility or by a contractor that meets certain labor requirements.
The commission must open a rule-making, for a qualifying retail utility, to consider and establish rules regarding energization timelines; interconnection; interconnection, energization, and electrification of end uses; and maximum individual customer cost caps or fees.
Subject to commission review and approval, a qualifying retail utility is required to recover certain projected costs related to distribution activities as part of the qualifying retail utility's plans. If the commission finds that the distribution activities benefit or advance the decarbonization targets and standards or state energy policy goals, recovery of the costs must occur through the grid modernization adjustment clause. For distribution system activities that do not benefit or advance the decarbonization targets and standards or state energy policy goals, recovery of the costs may occur through the grid modernization adjustment clause if the qualifying retail utility meets the criteria established in the performance-based framework in the qualifying retail utility's approved plan. A qualifying retail utility is required to make an annual grid modernization adjustment clause advice letter filing with the commission no later than November 1 of each year with an effective date of January 1 of the subsequent year.
No later than February 1, 2025, a qualifying retail utility is required to create and file with the commission an application to implement a virtual power plant program, including a tariff for performance-based compensation for a qualified virtual power plant. The virtual power plant program and tariff must include and implement certain requirements. A qualifying retail utility may apply to recover certain business costs to facilitate a virtual power plant program through the grid modernization adjustment clause.
By January 1, 2025, a qualifying retail utility is required to file a plan with the commission to implement programs for the undergrounding of utility distribution infrastructure (undergrounding) in nonfranchised areas of the qualifying retail utility in the state using 1% of the area's gross electric revenues from the prior year. A qualifying retail utility must also consider the public benefit of undergrounding and other community benefit investments in its plans.
For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, $420,500 is appropriated from the public utilities commission fixed utility fund to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the commission as follows:
$382,670 for personal services; and
$37,830 for operating expenses.
APPROVED by Governor May 22, 2024
EFFECTIVE May 22, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
| 5/22/2024 Governor Signed
| 2024-04-24 | Amendments |
