It’s been a quiet week in the legislature with only 12 bills introduced so far. Among the noteworthy in the small batch is a bill that would require elected officials in local governments to approve public health orders imposed on people or groups by health departments in an epidemic. That bill would also limit the amount of time the governor can continue a disaster declaration, capping it at 365 days in 30-day increments after which the declaration would be automatically terminated. Also introduced this week is a bill that would make changes to how marijuana businesses can get a responsible vendor designation and then allows a person with such a designation to take it with them to a new employer.
House Bill 1222 — Marijuana Responsible Vendor Designations
Description: Marijuana Responsible Vendor Designations
Sponsors: K. Tipper
Summary: Under current law, a licensed medical or retail marijuana business may receive a responsible vendor designation if all of its employees successfully complete an approved course. If the business is subject to a licensing action, the designation can be considered a mitigating factor in the licensing action. The bill would allow an individual to receive a designation and provides the same licensing mitigation protection to that individual in a licensing action. The bill would also clarify how a business receives and maintains a designation and allows a person with a designation to take that designation with them to a new employer.
House Bill 1229 — Senate Bill 21-271 Clean-up
Description: Senate Bill 21-271 Clean-up
Sponsors: M. Weissman, M. Soper, B. Gardner and J. Gonzales
Summary: Senate Bill 21-271 created a civil infraction as a penalty for violating laws that don’t rise to criminal conduct. Senate Bill 21-271 included procedures for civil infractions. The bill would repeal those provisions and replace the civil infractions procedures with new ones. The bill would also make clean-up changes to other provisions to conform to Senate Bill 21-271.
House Bill 1234 — Preventing Identity-based Violence Grant Program
Description: Preventing Identity-based Violence Grant Program
Sponsors: J. Bacon, D. Michaelson Jenet and R. Rodriguez
Summary: The bill would establish a grant program to prevent identity-based violence. A project funded with a grant award must build awareness for the prevention and intervention of identity-based violence within Colorado communities, strengthen local collaboration and capabilities for prevention and intervention of identity-based violence or build sustainable support for the prevention and intervention of identity-based violence.
House Bill 1237 — Changes To County Court Judges In Western Colorado
Description: Changes To County Court Judges In Western Colorado
Sponsors: D. Roberts and P. Will
Summary: The bill would change the classifications of Garfield and Montezuma counties from class C to class B. For Garfield County, the bill would amend the requirement that the associate county court judge in Rifle must maintain an official residence in Rifle and instead requires an official residence anywhere in Garfield County. Similarly, for Rio Blanco County, the bill would allow the associate county court judge in Rangley to maintain an official residence anywhere in the county.
House Bill 1238 — Elected Officials Approve Epidemic Duties
Title: Elected Officials Approve Epidemic Duties
Sponsors: M. Lynch and R. Woodward
Summary: Current law allows the governor specific powers during a declared disaster emergency. The bill would limit the ability of the governor to continue a declared disaster emergency by requiring the general assembly to affirmatively act by joint resolution to continue a declared disaster emergency beyond 12 months. Unless the general assembly acts by a joint resolution, the governor would only be able to continue a disaster declaration for 365 days. The bill would also require oversight through local governments to approve public health orders that health departments impose during epidemics.
