The act establishes in statute a bill of rights for youth who are the responsibility of the department of human services (department), whether the youth is detained or committed to the care and physical custody of a juvenile facility operated by the department. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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.)
The act allows an individual who has been convicted of a traffic infraction or a misdemeanor traffic offense to attend a driving improvement course for the purpose of waiving license suspension points for the conviction. The individual must complete a driving improvement course that is offered by a commercial driving school and is approved by the department of revenue (department). The department must adopt rules that: Set the number of points assessed for a conviction that may be waived for an individual who successfully completes a driving improvement course; Specify how often a points waiver may be claimed; Set procedures for claiming a points waiver; Establish a process for a commercial driving school to have a driving improvement course approved by the department; and Set fees that the department may charge a commercial driving school to offset the direct and indirect costs to implement the act. The act sets standards for the approval of driving improvement courses. The department may charge a commercial driving school both a fee to approve a driving improvement course and a fee for each individual who claims a points waiver. The fee must be set in an amount sufficient to offset the direct and indirect cost of administering the waiver program. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act establishes a continuing medical education requirement (CME) for physicians licensed in this state. To meet the CME requirement, a physician must complete 30 credit hours of CME (CME credit hours) in the 24 months preceding the renewal, reinstatement, or reactivation of the physician's medical license in topics selected by the physician and also in topics specified in the act. The act specifies the type and sponsors of programs or activities that qualify for CME credit hours. The board, at its discretion, may initiate a stakeholder process to consider requiring CME credit hours in a certain topic and shall initiate a stakeholder process for the board to consider requiring specific credit hours relating to health disparities and outcomes data, reproductive, sexual, and gender-based health care, and explicit and implicit bias. To verify compliance with the CME requirement, the physician shall affirm on the license renewal form submitted to the board that the physician has complied with the CME requirement. The board is also authorized to audit up to 5% of physician renewals annually, chosen at random with an oversampling of nonboard-certified physicians, and to require that the physician submit proof of the CME programs completed and the CME credit hours awarded. A physician's failure to comply with the CME requirement or to submit proof to the board during a board audit, without reasonable cause, constitutes unprofessional conduct. If the physician fails to comply with the CME requirement, the physician's license is inactive until reinstated by the board. The board may adopt rules to implement the CME requirement. The director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies shall increase existing fees on physician licensure renewals to cover any additional costs associated with implementing the CME requirement. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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.)
The act adopts the cosmetology licensure compact (compact) to facilitate the interstate practice and regulation of cosmetology. With the adoption of the compact, a cosmetologist who holds an active, unencumbered license to practice in the cosmetologist's home state may apply to the cosmetologist's home state for a multistate license. If a cosmetologist is granted a multistate license under the compact, the cosmetologist is authorized to practice cosmetology in the applicant's home state, as well as in each state that is a member of the compact. The cosmetologist must comply with the rules of the licensing authority and the scope of practice laws of the state in which the cosmetologist provides services. If the cosmetologist moves to a new home state, the cosmetologist must apply to the new home state for reissuance of a multistate license. Under the compact, active military members and their spouses may designate a home state where the individual is currently licensed in good standing to practice cosmetology and may retain their home state designation for purposes of the multistate license during any period when that individual or the individual's spouse is on active duty assignment. The compact requires a state that is a member of the compact (member state) to report adverse actions taken by a member state's licensing authority or other regulatory body, including actions taken against a cosmetologist's individual license or authorization to practice, such as revocation, suspension, or any other encumbrance on a license affecting the cosmetologist's ability to practice. The compact authorizes the cosmetology licensure compact commission (commission) to develop and maintain a coordinated database and reporting system to include information relating to a cosmetologist's multistate license and any adverse actions reported against a cosmetologist. The compact specifies the authority of the home state to act with respect to the multistate license issued by the home state, as well as the authority of a remote state to act with respect to the licensee. The compact creates the administrative structure for the compact, including granting the powers necessary to establish and operate the commission, which includes one delegate from each member state that is the administrator of the state licensing authority in the member state or the administrator's designee. Among other powers, the commission may adopt rules and bylaws, establish an executive committee, hire employees, and establish an office. The compact includes provisions relating to the conduct of the commission's meetings and its rule-making authority. The compact authorizes the commission to levy and collect an annual assessment from each member state and to impose fees on licensees of a member state for granting and renewing a multistate license. The compact includes provisions governing disputes among member states and between the commission and a member state, enforcement provisions, and withdrawal of member states from the compact. The compact is effective for member states once the seventh state has adopted the compact. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, $104,620 is appropriated from the division of professions and occupations cash fund to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of professions and occupations to implement the act. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act continues the Colorado state advisory council for parent involvement in education (advisory council) until September 1, 2030. Prior to its repeal, the department of regulatory agencies will conduct a sunset review of the advisory council. The act adds a department of early childhood representative to serve on the advisory council. The act requires the advisory committee to: Advise educator preparation programs about best practices for including research-based family engagement strategies in coursework and program requirements; and Provide feedback to state agencies and other organizations about publicly available tools and resources that assist families with navigating the education system. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $33,364 from the general fund to the department of education for use by school quality and support. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Under existing law, an applicant for a permit to carry a concealed handgun (permit) must demonstrate competence with a handgun. An applicant may demonstrate competence with a handgun in a number of ways, including by completing a training class offered by a certified instructor within 10 years before submitting an application for a permit. Pursuant to the act, beginning July 1, 2025, an applicant may demonstrate competence with a handgun by completing a training class only if the class satisfies the minimum standards for a training class, described below, and the applicant completes the class within one year before submitting an application for a permit. The act also allows a person to demonstrate competence with a handgun for the purpose of obtaining a permit by holding a current certification as a peace officer. An initial concealed handgun training class is a law enforcement training firearms safety course or a firearms safety course taught by an instructor verified by a county sheriff (verified instructor) that is held in person and includes instruction regarding: Knowledge and safe handling of firearms and ammunition; Safe storage of firearms and child safety; Safe shooting fundamentals; Federal and state laws pertaining to the lawful purchase, ownership, transportation, use, and possession of firearms; State law pertaining to the use of deadly force for self-defense; Best practices for safely interacting with law enforcement personnel who are responding to an emergency; and Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and how to manage a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force. A student must achieve a passing score on a written concealed handgun competency exam and in a live-fire exercise to complete an initial concealed handgun training class. An initial concealed handgun training class must provide at least 8 hours of instruction, including the live-fire exercise and written exam. Beginning July 1, 2025, the act requires an applicant to renew a permit to demonstrate competence with a handgun. A renewal applicant may demonstrate competence with a handgun through participation in organized shooting competitions, current military service, or current certification as a peace officer; by being a verified instructor for firearms safety courses; by showing honorable discharge from a branch of the United States armed forces or retirement from a Colorado law enforcement agency with pistol qualifications within 10 years prior to submitting a renewal form; or completing an initial concealed handgun training class or a concealed handgun refresher class (refresher class) within 6 months prior to submitting a renewal form. A refresher class must be held in person, be taught by a verified instructor, include instruction on changes to laws related to firearms, and require a passing score on a live-fire exercise and written exam. A refresher class must provide at least 2 hours of instruction, including the live-fire exercise and written exam. The act requires a county sheriff to verify as training instructors any person whose principal place to conduct firearms training is in the sheriff's county. To be a verified instructor, a person must hold a valid concealed carry permit and be certified as a firearms instructor by a law enforcement agency, college or university, nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or firearms training school. Denial, suspension, or revocation of an instructor verification is subject to judicial review. It is a deceptive trade practice for a person to claim to be a verified instructor for a concealed handgun training class unless the person is verified as a firearms instructor by a county sheriff. The act prohibits a person from being issued a permit if the person was convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses within 5 years before submitting a permit application. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE July 1, 2025(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act appropriates $4,197,000 to the department of education from the state education fund to fund student educator stipend program stipends. The department of education is required to transfer the appropriation spending authority to the department of higher education to fund student educator stipend program stipends. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE June 4, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act changes the child restraint system requirements in existing law as follows: Increases the age at which children are required to use a child restraint system from under 8 years of age to under 9 years of age; Increases the age, from under one year of age to under 2 years of age, and the weight, from under 20 pounds to under 40 pounds, of children who must be restrained in a rear-facing child restraint system in a rear seat of the vehicle; Requires that children who are under 2 years of age but over 40 pounds in weight be restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing restraint system; Increases the age, from one year of age or older to 2 years of age or older but less than 4 years of age, of children who must be restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint system, depending on the child's weight, in a rear seat of the vehicle, if a rear seat is available; Adds a requirement that children who are at least 4 years of age but under 9 years of age and who weigh at least 40 pounds use a child restraint system or booster seat, which must be situated in a rear seat of the vehicle, if a rear seat is available; and Increases the age at which children must be restrained in a safety belt or child restraint system from under 16 years of age to under 18 years of age. The act requires the division of highway safety to use existing national highway traffic safety administration occupant protection grant funds to implement a program for public information and education concerning updates to child restraint system requirements, the use of child restraint systems, and Colorado law regarding child restraint system. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
The act requires local taxing jurisdictions that impose a local lodging tax or a sales or use tax on building or construction materials that integrate such taxes into building permits (applicable sales or use tax) to file with the executive director of the department of revenue (executive director) a copy of the resolution or ordinance, and any amendments thereto, imposing such taxes and, if not included in the resolution, ordinance or amendments and certain additional information related to each type of tax. For local lodging taxes, the act requires local taxing jurisdictions to report the rate of the tax, the types of lodging the tax applies to, the number of days after which a stay may be exempt from the tax, and the amount of tax that may be retained by the collector of the tax in exchange for timely filing. For the applicable sales or use tax, the act requires local taxation jurisdictions to report the rate and calculation, what information is included on building permits, the timing for remittance of the tax, and whether the tax is imposed on asphalt equipment, storage of equipment, or services. By no later than July 1, 2025, and by no later than January 1 and July 1 of each year thereafter, the executive director must publish the information in the local taxing jurisdiction's reports relating to the local lodging tax and applicable sales or use tax. The act also modifies the scope of the sales and use tax simplification task force (task force) to include simplification of local lodging tax systems and requires that, in the 2024 interim, the task force shall receive testimony and proposals related to the feasibility and implementation of an electronic system for the collection and remittance of local lodging taxes in the same manner or in a manner similar to the electronic sales and use tax simplification system. The task force may propose legislation for the 2025 legislative session to implement or create such an electronic portal. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 EFFECTIVE June 4, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Beginning on January 1, 2025, the act requires a delivery network company (DNC) to provide various disclosures to its drivers and to consumers of the DNC. The disclosures include payments that a consumer makes to the DNC, the amount that the DNC then pays to a driver, and the distances traveled to complete a delivery task. A DNC is prohibited from decreasing the amount the DNC pays a driver for a delivery task based on the amount of a consumer's tip for that delivery task, and a DNC must pay the driver all tips paid by the consumer. The act imposes specific requirements on the manner in which a DNC may provide contracts to drivers and merchants. The act specifies how a DNC may deactivate a driver from the DNC's digital platform, including: Requiring that a DNC disclose specified information about the DNC's deactivation policy and any revisions to the policy to drivers; and Creating internal account deactivation challenge procedures by which a driver may challenge the driver's deactivation and take steps, if any, to remedy a violation and become reinstated on the DNC's digital platform. The act requires that, when a DNC connects a consumer to a driver, the DNC prompt the consumer to encourage the consumer to ensure driver safety upon arrival, including ensuring a clear, well-lit, safe delivery path and properly securing all pets. The act requires that DNCs allow drivers at least 60 seconds to decide to accept a delivery task offer. The division may investigate and impose fines against a DNC for violations of the act. A consumer or driver aggrieved by a violation may file a civil suit against the DNC that committed the violation. The act exempts a DNC from complying with certain requirements with respect to drivers who receive an annual federal form W-2 from the DNC. The director of the division is required to adopt rules necessary to implement the requirements of the act. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, $163,409 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of labor and employment for use by the division of labor standards and statistics to implement the act. APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2024 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
