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Supported by our President Dr. Tom Perille, this bill will help in fight against abortion in Colorado.

Testify this Wednesday!

Articles on this bill

• https://blog.secularprolife.org/2021/03/co-bill-hb21-1183-would-require.html?m=1
• https://www.coloradopolitics.com/opinion/legislation-will-firm-up-states-abortion-data/article_a1b3ec4e-82ff-11eb-8ae7-7b0beb19f241.html

Concerning information regarding induced terminations of pregnancies reported to the state registrar of vital statistics.

The bill requires health-care providers that perform induced terminations of pregnancies to report specified information concerning the women who obtain the procedure to the state registrar of vital statistics in the department of public health and environment. The reported information must not include information that could identify the women who obtained induced terminations of pregnancies.

The bill requires the state registrar to annually create a summary report of the information reported by health-care providers and to make the report available to the public. The bill places limitations on how and to whom the state registrar may release the information reported to the state registrar. A physician or physician assistant who falsifies or fails to submit the required information engages in unprofessional conduct pursuant to the "Colorado Medical Practice Act". An advanced practice registered nurse who falsifies or fails to submit the required information is subject to discipline pursuant to the "Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act".

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1183

Concerning allowing adoptive parents who are parties to adoption assistance agreements to pay for medical services that would otherwise be reimbursable under the agreement.

Bill Summary: The bill permits adoptive parents who are parties to an adoption assistance agreement to pay for services or items from a provider that is not enrolled in the medical assistance program. These services or items would otherwise be reimbursable under the medical assistance program pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The adoptive parents must determine if the special needs of the child or youth require items or services from the provider and must enter into a documented agreement with the provider in which the adoptive parents agree to bear the cost of the items or services.

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1018 

Concerning adding language to relevant Colorado statutes related to persons with disabilities to strengthen protections against discrimination on the basis of disability.

Bill Summary: The bill adds language to strengthen current Colorado law related to protections against discrimination on the basis of disability for persons with disabilities. The added provisions include:

• Prohibiting a person with a disability from being excluded from participating in or being denied the benefits of services, programs, or activities of a public entity;
• Clarifying that such prohibition includes the failure of a public entity to substantially comply with web content accessibility guidelines established and published by an international consortium;
• Any Colorado agency with the authority to promulgate rules shall not promulgate a rule that provides less protection than that provided by the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990".

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1110

Concerning the elimination of subminimum wage employment by providing supports to ensure successful transitions for individuals currently working in subminimum wage jobs.

Bill Summary: The bill phases out subminimum wage employment for employers that hold a special certificate from the United States department of labor that authorizes the employers to pay less than the minimum wage to employees whose earning capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental disability, or injury. The bill requires each employer that holds a special certificate to submit a transition plan to the Colorado department of labor and employment detailing how the employer plans to phase out subminimum wage employment.

The bill requires the employment first advisory partnership in the Colorado department of labor and employment (partnership) to:

• Develop actionable recommendations to address structural and fiscal barriers to phasing out subminimum wage employment and successfully implementing competitive integrated employment; and
• Report the recommendations to the general assembly.

The bill continues operation of the partnership, which is scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2021, indefinitely.

The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to add employment-related services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-039

Concerning emergency supplies for Colorado babies and families, and, in connection therewith, providing diapering essentials through diaper distribution centers and making an appropriation.

Bill Summary: The bill requires the department of public health and environment to select one or more nonprofit organizations to administer diaper distribution centers that provide diapering essentials to eligible individuals. Diapering essentials must be made available to all Colorado residents.

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-027

Concerning enhancing the enforcement of crimes of sexual exploitation of a child.

Bill Summary: The bill updates certain actions described as sexual exploitation of a child to reflect access and viewing due to evolving technology.

The bill makes sexual exploitation of a child an extraordinary risk crime, enhancing the presumptive sentencing range in certain circumstances.

The bill creates the sexual exploitation of children surcharge for any person who is convicted of or receives a deferred sentence for sexual exploitation of a child. Ninety-five percent of the surcharge goes to the sexual exploitation of children surcharge fund. The money in the fund will provide funding to the Colorado bureau of investigation (bureau) to develop and acquire, and allow the bureau to help other law enforcement agencies with developing and acquiring, necessary technological and expert resources to investigate and prosecute computer-facilitated crimes of sexual exploitation of a child.

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1069

Concerning family planning services for individuals whose income does not exceed two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level.

Bill Summary: The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to seek federal authorization through an amendment to the state medical assistance plan to provide family planning services to individuals who are not pregnant and whose income does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty level.

(Hint: "Family Planning" usually just focuses on abortion and contraception)

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-025

Concerning establishing a commission to improve first responder interactions with persons with disabilities.

Bill Summary: The bill establishes the commission on improving first responder interactions with persons with disabilities (commission) in the attorney general's office. The commission is comprised of 10 members, including 2 persons with a disability, 2 parents of a child with a disability, 2 first responders, 2 representatives from advocacy organizations, the vice-chairperson of the peace officer standards and training board (P.O.S.T. board), and a member of the P.O.S.T. board's curriculum subject matter expert committee.

After reviewing the existing Colorado peace officer training and existing available curriculum, the commission must recommend to the P.O.S.T. board a curriculum for peace officer training concerning interactions with persons with disabilities. Subject to available appropriations, the P.O.S.T. board must implement the recommended curriculum by July 1, 2022. The commission is required to review implementation of the curriculum and may recommend changes that the P.O.S.T. board may adopt.

The commission is repealed on December 31, 2023, but prior to its repeal the attorney general may recommend continuation of the commission.

The bill requires the fire service training and certification advisory board to advise the director of the division of fire prevention and control on whether to include the commission's curriculum or similar curriculum in the fire service education and training program. The Colorado department of public health and environment is required to consider including the commission's curriculum in training for personnel who routinely respond to emergencies.

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1122

Concerning consistent procedures between schools and county departments of human services relating to students in out-of-home placement.

Bill Summary: The bill amends provisions concerning students in out-of-home placement that mandate cooperation between schools and county departments of human or social services (county departments) relating to education. Specifically, the bill:

• Amends the definition of "student in out-of-home placement" to align with those students in custody of county departments;
• Streamlines billing practices for transportation services provided to students in out-of-home placement by requiring the use of invoices and forms approved by both the department of education and the state department of human services; and
• Authorizes school districts and the state charter school institute establishing transportation plans with county departments, as required by law, to establish transportation plans by region or through a board of cooperative services.

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-117

Concerning the transition of youth in Colorado's foster care system to successful adulthood.

Bill Summary: The bill creates the foster youth in transition program (transition program) in the state department of human services (state department) to be implemented in county departments of human or social services (county departments) throughout the state. The purpose of the transition program is to allow foster youth who meet eligibility criteria to voluntarily continue to receive certain child welfare services (services) up until the last day of the month of the youth's twenty-first birthday, or such greater age of foster care eligibility as required by federal law. Services provided through the transition program must be client-directed and developmentally appropriate as set forth in and agreed to through a voluntary services agreement (agreement) developed and entered into between the youth and county department.

The bill sets forth the eligibility criteria a youth must meet in order to voluntarily participate in the transition program. A youth who is no longer under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and thinks he or she is eligible for the transition program may make a written request to the juvenile court (court) or county department where the youth resides. The county department shall make a determination of eligibility. If the youth is eligible, the county department shall explain the requirements and benefits of the transition program to the youth and, with the youth, develop an agreement that must be provided to the juvenile court together with a petition to renew jurisdiction with the juvenile court.

The bill describes the services and supports that will be made available to a youth through the transition program, including assistance with enrolling in medicaid; assistance with securing appropriate housing; and providing case management services, such as developing a roadmap to success, obtaining employment, obtaining critical documents and records, and accessing information about relatives and siblings, if available and appropriate.

The bill sets forth the form and content required for a petition to bring the youth under the juvenile court's jurisdiction. Upon receipt of informed, written consent of the youth, a person may be named as a special respondent in a case brought pursuant to the transition program.

A youth participating in the transition program must be appointed counsel from a list of attorneys approved by the office of the child's representative. If the youth is 18 years of age or older and, due to diminished capacity, needs a guardian ad litem, one may also be appointed.

Procedures for emancipation discharge and transition hearings (hearing) are described in the bill, including a requirement to have a personalized emancipation transition plan finalized for the youth no more than 90 days prior to a hearing. The county department shall file a report with the court at least 7 days prior to a transition hearing that includes relevant details concerning a youth's status and plans to either emancipate or enter the youth in transition program. With the youth's consent and in certain circumstances, the court may continue a transition hearing for up to 119 days.

The court shall hold periodic reviews of the youth's case at least every 6 months to ensure that the transition program is providing the youth with the necessary services to help the youth move toward permanency and a successful transition to adulthood. The bill sets forth procedures for the periodic reviews. The bill grants continuing jurisdiction in a youth's case to the juvenile court under certain situations.

The bill creates the foster youth successful transition to adulthood grant program (grant program) and associated advisory board (advisory board). The purpose of the grant program is to support eligible youth to successful transition into adulthood. Youth are eligible for services from recipients of grants from the grant program if they are between the ages of 18 and 23, were in foster care or adjudicated dependent and neglected, and are participating voluntarily. The advisory board shall meet at least 2 times per year, and the bill outlines membership.

The state department is directed to promulgate rules for the implementation of the transition program.

Check status: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1094