Roughly halfway through the session, lawmakers have introduced more than 500 bills.
This week, a bill was introduced that would create the Bridges Wraparound Care Program as a community-based alternative to competency proceedings. Bill sponsors hope to “increase the success of eligible individuals referred from the criminal justice system by connecting the individuals to necessary wraparound care coordination services, resulting in case dismissal, continuity of care and increased social stability,” according to the bill text.
Colorado legislators also focused a few bills on regulatory laws for specific businesses or activities. One bill requires firearms dealers to get a state permit in order to sell firearms in the state. Violation of the permit requirement results in an unclassified felony. Another amends the Colorado Consumer Protection Act to make the sale of electronic smoking devices that have not received authorization by the Food and Drug Administration an unfair or deceptive trade practice. Also introduced this week was a bill that 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.
Bill Number: HB24-1353
Title: Firearms Dealer Requirements & Permit
Introduced: Feb. 29
Sponsors: E. Sirota, A. Boesenecker, J. Bridges
Summary: The bill requires a firearms dealer to obtain a state firearms dealer permit to engage in the business of dealing in firearms in Colorado. Dealing in firearms without a permit is an unclassified felony, punishable by a fine of up to $250,000. To be eligible for a state permit, the dealer must hold a federal firearms license; not have had a federal, state or local license revoked, suspended or denied within the prior three years; and not have violated any state or federal law concerning the possession, purchase or sale of firearms in the three years before applying for the license.
Bill Number: HB24-1355
Title: Measures to Reduce the Competency Wait List
Introduced: March 4
Sponsors: J. Mabrey, J. Amabile
Summary: The bill creates the Bridges Wraparound Care Program in the Office of Bridges of Colorado to increase the success of eligible individuals referred from the criminal justice system by connecting the individuals to necessary wraparound care coordination services, resulting in case dismissal, continuity of care and increased social stability. The bill requires each judicial district to develop a process to identify and refer eligible individuals to the wraparound program as a community-based alternative to competency proceedings.
Bill Number: HB24-1356
Title: Sale of Unauthorized Electronic Smoking Devices
Introduced: March 4
Sponsors: L. Herod
Summary: The bill amends the Colorado Consumer Protection Act to make the sale of electronic smoking devices that have not received authorization by the Food and Drug Administration an unfair or deceptive trade practice. To sell electronic smoking devices in the state, the bill requires a manufacturer of electronic smoking devices to be authorized by the FDA. The attorney general must compile and maintain a directory of all manufacturers and electronic smoking devices authorized by the FDA.
Bill Number: SB24-173
Title: Regulate Mortuary Science Occupations
Introduced: March 4
Sponsors: D. Roberts, B. Gardner, M. Soper, B. Titone
Summary: The bill 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. Some licensing requirements are defined by the bill and must be met for qualified applicants.
Bill Number: HB24-1359
Title: Public Notification of Hazardous Chemical Releases
Introduced: March 5
Sponsors: E. Hamrick, E. Velasco, L. Cutter, S. Jaquez Lewis
Summary: Current rules require oil and gas operators to submit certain reports in the event of a spill or release of a hazardous chemical. The bill enacts the Community Right to Know Act to create additional notification requirements in the event of an incident.
Bill Number: SB24-174
Title: Sustainable Affordable Housing Assistance
Introduced: March 5
Sponsors: B. Kirkmeyer, R. Zenzinger, S. Bird
Summary: The bill requires the executive director of the Department of Local Affairs to develop methodologies for conducting statewide, regional and local housing needs assessments and guidance for a local government to identify areas at elevated risk of displacement no later than Dec. 31.
Bill Number: SB24-175
Title: Improving Perinatal Health Outcomes
Introduced: March 5
Sponsors: R. Fields, J. Buckner, B. McLachlan
Summary: The bill requires health benefit plans to provide coverage for doula services in the same scope and duration of coverage for doula services that will be included in the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s request for federal authorization of doula services under the Colorado Medical Assistance Act.
Law Week’s legislative tracking is done through State Bill, a product of our publisher, Circuit Media.