July, 2021- Final
Bills Supported by CSLC
SIGNED INTO LAW
Senate Bill 21-158- INCREASE MEDICAL PROVIDERS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
Senators Jessie Danielson and Brittany Pettersen and Representatives Brianna Titone and Monica Duran
Modifies the Colorado Health Service Corps program to include education loan repayment for geriatric advanced practice providers.
Fiscal Note:$430,000
Senate Bill 21-173- RIGHTS IN RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENTS
Senators Julie Gonzales & Dominick Moreno and Reps Yadira Caraveo and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
Limits late fees, prohibits evictions solely for unpaid late fees, adds financial penalty for illegal lock-outs by landlords, give renters more time to come up with rent to avoid eviction; eliminates bond requirement for court proceedings, bans lease clauses that provide financial incentives to landlords to evict.
Fiscal Note: $19,385 in 2021-22; $29,456 in 2022-23.
Senate Bill 21-175- PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY REVIEW BOARD
Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Julie Gonzales and Representative Yadira Caraveo and Chris Kennedy
Creates an independent panel of experts to conduct affordability reviews and set upper payment limits for the most unaffordable drugs in Colorado. Manufacturers can appeal.
Fiscal Note: $843,567 in 2021-2; $515,479 in 2022-23
Senate Bill 21-199- REMOVE BARRIERS TO CERTAIN PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES
Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Faith Winter and Representatives Daneya Esgar and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
Repeals provisions that require a person to demonstrate lawful presence in U.S. to be eligible for certain public benefits and requires that lawful
presence is not a requirement of eligibility for state or local public benefits as defined by U.S.C. sec.1621.
Fiscal Note: $262,508 in 2021-22; $63,275 in 2022-23
Senate Bill 21-246- ELECTRIC UTILITY PROMOTE BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION
Senator Steve Fenberg
This bill requires investor- owned electric utilities to file beneficial electrification plans with the PUC.This is defined as converting a customer’s fuel source from non-electrical to high efficiency electrical. It targets 20% of program expenditure io low-income households or disproportionately affect communities.
Fiscal Note: $358,973 in 2021-22; $795,427 in 2022-23
House Bill 21-1054- HOUSING PUBLIC BENEFIT VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT
Representative Dominique Jackson and Senator Julie Gonzales
Creates exception for housing programs on requirement that applicants for public benefits verify lawful presence in the US unless otherwise required by federal law.
Fiscal note: None
House Bill 21-1117- LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS
Representatives Susan Lontine & Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez & Senators Julie Gonzales & Robert Rodriguez
Clarifies that the existing authority of cities and counties to plan for and regulate the use of land includes the authority to regulate development or redevelopment in order to promote the construction of new affordable housing units.
Fiscal note: None
House Bill 21-1121- RESIDENTIAL TENANCY PROCEDURES
Representatives Dominique Jackson and Iman Jodeh and Senator Julie Gonzales
Requires 10 days to execute Writ of restitution in evictions’ Limits rent increases to one annually.
Fiscal note: None
House Bill 21-1150- COLORADO OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS
Representative Iman Jodeh
Formally creates the Office of New Americans in the Department of Labor, but with a broad mission including economic stability, and successful economic, social, linguistic, and cultural integration of immigrants and refugees in Colorado.
Fiscal Note: Currently grant funded for another year. Also transfers federal Refugee Services dollars from CDHS to CDLE.
House Bill 21-1194- IMMIGRATION LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
Representatives Kerry Tipper and Naquetta Ricks, and Senator Dominick Moreno
Creates a grant program to provide representation to some of the indigent individuals in immigration deportation hearings in Colorado. 30% is also designated for preventative legal work outside metro Denver.
Fiscal Note: $100,000/yr
House Bill 21-1198- HEALTH CARE BILLING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIGENT PATIENTS
Representative Iman Jodeh and Senators Janet Buckner and Chris Kolker
Sets an enforceable standard for discounted care. Ensures that hospital providers screen patients that want assistance for public coverage and discounts. Prohibits collection action unless they have screen patients and offered a fair payment plan first.
Fiscal Note: $186,421 in 2021-22; $521,127 in 2022-2023
House Bill 21-1232- STANDARDIZED HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN COLORADO OPTION
Representatives Dylan Roberts and Iman Jodeh, and Senator Kerry Donovan
In this two-staged bill, the Division of Insurance would create a standardized plan for 2023 with input from stakeholders. The plan would be offered in the individual and small group markets, and be designed to reduce health disparities. At the same time, insurance carriers would be directed to lower premiums by 10% the first year, compared with average premiums in 2021, and by 20% the second year. If those targeted savings were not achieved, the state would stand up the Colorado option, in which the standardized plan would be offered and limitations to reimbursement to providers would be imposed by the Commissioner of Insurance in order to achieve the desired 20% reduction in premium costs.
Fiscal Note: $1.5 million in 2021-22; $1.9 million in 2022-23- primarily cash funded
OPPOSED
House Bill 21-1191- PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION COVID-19 VACCINE STATUS
Reps Kim Ransom and Tonya Van Beber
Prohibits employers from taking adverse action against employees or applicants based on COVID19 vaccination status.
The state or a business cannot discriminate against customers based on COVID19 Vaccinee Status.
Fiscal note: $21,904/yr
Postponed Indefinitely
DIED
Senate Bill 21-187- DIALYSIS TREATMENT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
Senator Jessie Danielson and Representative Dominique Jackson
Creates a Dialysis Transportation Provider Reimbursement Program within Department of Transportation. It would reimburse dialysis transportation providers who transport patients 50 or older who are not otherwise covered by Medicaid. Funded with per treatment fee on for-profit dialysis clinics.
Fiscal Note: Fee funded – $4.5 Million/yr
Postponed Indefinitely
Senate Bill 21-200- REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASSES; INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Senators Faith Winter and Dominick Moreno and Representative Dominique Jackson
This bill directs the Air Quality Control Commission in CDPHE to promulgate rules related to the greenhouse gas emission reductions spelled out in House Bill 12-1261. The bill also creates a position of Environmental Justice Ombudsman within CDPHE to advocate for and be a liaison to disproportionately impacted communities.
Fiscal note: $4.4 million general fund in 2021-2022, switching to $4 million/yr in fee funding.
Killed, but some provisions incorporated into HB1266.
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