CSLC Bill Positions

May 17, 2021

SUPPORT

Senate Bill 21-158 Senators Jessie Danielson and Brittany Pettersen and Representatives Brianna Titone and Monica Duran

INCREASE MEDICAL PROVIDERS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

Modifies the Colorado Health Service Corps program to include education loan repayment for geriatric advanced practice providers.

Fiscal Note:$257,841 for 2021-22; $429,611 2022—23.

Senate Second

Senate Bill 21-173   Senators Julie Gonzales & Dominick Moreno and Reps Yadira Caraveo and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez

RIGHTS IN RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENTS

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: Was about $200,000 in initial bill, but amendments reduced costs substantially.
In House Business

Senate Bill 21-175 Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Julie Gonzales and Representative Yadira Caraveo and Chris Kennedy

PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY REVIEW BOARD

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: $793,569 in 2021-2; $481,479 in 2022-23

House Health Insurance

Senate Bill 21-187 Senator Jessie Danielson and Representative Dominique Jackson

DIALYSIS TREATMENT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

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 21-199  Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Faith Winter and Representatives Daneya Esgar and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez

REMOVE BARRIERS TO CERTAIN PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES

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:  $178,627 in 2021-22; $63,275 in 2022-23

Senate Second

Senate Bill 21-200 Senators Faith Winter and Dominick Moreno and Representative Dominique Jackson

REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASSES; INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

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.

Senate Second

Senate Bill 21-246 Senator Steve Fenberg

ELECTRIC UTILITY PROMOTE BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION

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: $212,081 in 2021-22; $705,799 in 2022-23

House Energy

House Bill 21-1054 Representative Dominique Jackson  and Senator Julie Gonzales

HOUSING PUBLIC BENEFIT VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT

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   

SIGNED INTO LAW

House Bill 21-1117   Representatives Susan Lontine & Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez & Senators Julie Gonzales & Robert Rodriguez

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS

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. 

Governor

House Bill 21-1121 Representatives Dominique Jackson and Iman Jodeh and Senator Julie Gonzales

RESIDENTIAL TENANCY PROCEDURES

Requires 10 days to execute Writ of restitution in evictions’ Limits rent increases to one annually.

Fiscal note: None

Senate State Second

House Bill 21- 1150 Representative Iman Jodeh

COLORADO OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS

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.

Senate Finance

House Bill 21-1194 Representatives Kerry Tipper and Naquetta Ricks and Senator Dominick Moreno

IMMIGRATION LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

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

Senate Judiciary

House Bill 21-1198 Representative Iman Jodeh and Senators Janet Buckner and Chris Kolker

HEALTH CARE BILLING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIGENT PATIENTS

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

Senate Health and  Human Services

House Bill 21-1232 Representatives Dylan Roberts and Iman Jodeh and Senator Kerry Donovan

STANDARDIZED HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN COLORADO OPTION

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: $866,684 in 2021-22; $790,424 in 2022-23

Senate Health and Human Services

OPPOSED

House Bill 21-1191 Reps Kim Ransom and Tonya Van Beber 

PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION COVID-19 VACCINE STATUS

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

Postpone Indefinitely