Directs the state department of human services ("state department") to establish a working group representative of the pilot site agencies to develop up to 4 models of improved methodologies for outcome-based licensing and monitoring of child care facilities and for provider support. Allows any of the pilot site agencies to implement one of the models. Directs the working group to evaluate the models after 3 years and to recommend which model or combination of models represents the best practices for statewide implementation. Directs the state department to implement the working group's recommendations and directs the state board of human services to promulgate rules facilitating such implementation.
Directs the state department to develop a child care voluntary credentialing system that recognizes the training and educational achievements of persons providing early childhood care and education.
Urges counties, in cooperation with non-profit and not-for-profit organizations, to assess the success of pilot programs. Authorizes counties to match private contributions to the pilot programs with the county block grant moneys received pursuant to the Colorado works program.
Establishes an exception to the limitation on the use of state moneys for pilot site agencies by allowing access to grants awarded by the youth crime prevention and intervention program board and by authorizing access to other already-appropriated state funds.
Increases the per pupil operating reimbursement provided to any community consolidated child care services pilot site agency that participates in the Colorado preschool program to allow a single child to use 2 positions in order to attend full-day preschool.
For the implementation of the act, appropriates $1,029,930 to the department of human services, children, youth and families, child care, by adjusting the human services, children, youth and families, child care, child care grants line item by the same amount.
APPROVED by Governor May 24, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
S.B. 00-20 Medicaid - clinic services to children in school-based clinics - appropriation. Includes children under age 21 under the definition of "clinic services" provided by school-based clinics under medicaid, thereby exempting such services from the physician-on-site rule for purposes of reimbursement under medicaid. Requires the department of health care policy and financing to submit a report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate on or before October 1, 2002, on the actual costs of implementing the act compared to the projected costs.
Appropriates $18,019 to the department of health care policy and financing to implement the act. Adjusts the appropriations in the annual general appropriation act to implement the act.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 1, 2000
S.B. 00-22 Child care - additional contract facility inspectors - appropriation. Directs the state department of human services to respond within 48 hours to serious complaints lodged against a child care facility alleging immediate risk of health or safety. Instructs the state board of human services to adopt rules requiring child care facilities to post procedures for filing complaints with the state department. States the intent of the general assembly to increase the number of child care facility inspectors. Increases the number of contract child care facility inspectors by 18.
Appropriates $955,314 from federal child care development funds to the department of human services for allocation to the division of children, youth, and families for the implementation of the act.
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 26, 2000
S.B. 00-51 Child care - licensing - definitions - transfer of moneys - rules - family child care homes - tracking complaints - pilot sites - regulation. Allows a county to transfer a portion of the county's Colorado works block grant to programs funded by Title XX of the federal "Social Security Act", within the limitations imposed by state and federal law on such transfers, in order to fund various programs for the improvement of child care.
Directs the state department of human services ("state department") to develop a statewide system of child care resource and referral services ("system") to assist in promoting the availability, accessibility, and quality of child care services in Colorado. Directs the executive director of the state department to designate, on a biennial basis, a public or private entity to be responsible for the administration of the system and permits the executive director to enter into a contract with the administering entity. Requires the state department to report to the general assembly regarding the system no later than December 1 of each year.
Authorizes the state board of human services to establish full and provisional license fees and fees for continuation of a full license for:
Defines "day treatment center" and "specialized group facility". Allows the state board to establish rules governing different types of family child care homes. Exempts out-of-state employees working in Colorado at a children's resident camp for fewer than 90 days from the state central registry review.
Directs the state department to track and record complaints brought against family child care homes and to identify which complaints were against licensed, unlicensed, or legally exempt family child care homes. Requires the 12 community consolidated child care pilot site agencies to explore new methods of regulating and deregulating family child care homes that maintain or increase current levels of safety while strengthening parental rights.
APPROVED by Governor March 10, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 14, 2000
S.B. 00-65 Colorado works program - access to funds - transfers. Authorizes the general assembly to make appropriations out of the short-term works emergency fund for fiscal year 1999-2000 for the purpose of making transfers allowed under the federal temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program for child care or child welfare services.
Allows moneys in the long-term works reserve fund to be used for the purposes of making transfers for expenditures on child care or child welfare services that are allowed to be transferred under the federal TANF law. Directs the department of human services to consult with counties before requesting any appropriations out of the long-term works reserve fund for the purposes of insuring that all transfers of TANF funds do not exceed the federal limits for transfers and that the needs of counties to make transfers authorized under statute are considered.
APPROVED by Governor April 14, 2000
EFFECTIVE April 14, 2000
S.B. 00-67 Colorado works program - allocation of funds. Makes the following changes in the reserve funds for the Colorado works program:
Expands access to the short-term works emergency fund by counties for the following purposes:
Allows counties to request funds from the short-term works emergency fund at any time during the year. Requires a county to use its county reserve funds prior to receiving funds from the short-term works emergency fund for rapidly growing costs, unforeseen emergency expenses, and child care. Requires the department of human services to report to the joint budget committee on requests for funds and allocations made from the short-term works emergency fund. Deletes outdated criteria for access to the short-term works emergency fund.
Allows the works allocation committee to mitigate a county's targeted or actual spending level for small counties in the works program.
Allows the works allocation committee to consider whether a county received funds in the previous fiscal year from the short-term works emergency fund when calculating the amount of a county's annual block grant for the Colorado works program and its block grant for the child care assistance program.
Directs the works allocation committee to ensure that counties are notified of the recommended actual spending levels for each county and given an opportunity to provide comment on the recommendations. Requires the works allocation committee to submit alternatives to the joint budget committee if the works allocation committee does not reach agreement on each individual county's level of spending for a given state fiscal year.
Authorizes a reduction in county actual spending levels for the Colorado works program based on any reduction of the federally required state maintenance of effort, if the state qualifies in any year for a reduction because it has met or exceeded work participation requirements. Directs the works allocation committee to determine each county's share of the reduction and to adjust the county maintenance of effort requirements and the county block grant for any percentage reduction earned. Directs the works allocation committee, prior to making such determination, to ensure that each county is notified of the proposed reductions and given an opportunity to comment on the proposed reductions. Requires the works allocation committee to submit alternatives to the joint budget committee if the works allocation committee does not reach agreement regarding the proposed reductions.
States that any federal TANF moneys available to the state not otherwise appropriated shall be appropriated to the long-term works reserve fund.
Clarifies the statutory language regarding county transfers of funds for social services block grant programs to conform with changes in the percentage allowed to be transferred under federal law.
APPROVED by Governor March 31, 2000
EFFECTIVE March 31, 2000
S.B. 00-88 Medical assistance - mental health capitation program - extension of pilot programs - extension of medical services board - miscellaneous changes. Allows the mental health capitation program for mental health treatment services to apply to children and adolescents who are placed in residential treatment centers if there is an agreement between the county department of social services, a designated and contracted mental health assessment and services agency, and the department of health care policy and financing ("the department").
Extends the following pilot programs for 3 years:
Makes a conforming amendment to continue an advisory committee that advises the department regarding the home health aide pilot program. Clarifies which laws do not apply to persons hired by a person with disabilities who is participating in the consumer-directed attendant care program.
Changes the age from 65 to 55 years of age for "frail elderly" under the program of all-inclusive care for the elderly to conform with the federal definition.
Directs the department to promulgate rules limiting eligibility for medical assistance if the applicant had made a voluntary assignment or transfer of property without fair and valuable consideration prior to applying for medical assistance. States that a contract for an exempt burial fund for an individual shall include a provision restricting the full amount to the costs of the burial and stating that any excess moneys shall be refunded to the department by the mortuary as reimbursement for the costs of medicaid provided to the individual.
Extends the automatic repeal date for the medical services board to July 1, 2007.
APPROVED by Governor April 13, 2000
EFFECTIVE April 13, 2000
S.B. 00-128 Medicaid - nursing facilities - case-mix reimbursement system - appropriation. Establishes a mandatory case-mix adjusted reimbursement system for health care services costs at class I and class V medicaid nursing facilities. Specifies resident resource requirement case-mix and facility population criteria to be used by the department of health care policy and financing for calculating case-mix adjusted reimbursement rates. Authorizes the state board of medical services to promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of the case-mix adjusted reimbursement system. Suspends the 8% cap on the reimbursement for increases in health care services costs for the first 2 years of the implementation of case-mix adjusted reimbursement. Establishes an interest rate with limitations based upon the current treasury bond for purposes of calculating the rental rate for capital-related assets.
Adjusts the appropriation to the department of health care policy and financing in the general appropriations act. Appropriates $1,813,610 to the department of health care policy and financing for the implementation of the act.
APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 2, 2000
S.B. 00-223 Children's basic health plan - policy board and advisory board - extension - study of administrative structure - reports - contract for billing and premium functions - pre-HMO enrollment period - appropriation. Extends the automatic repeal date for the policy board and the advisory committee for the children's basic health plan to July 1, 2004. Eliminates the responsibility of the policy board for administering the children's basic health plan. Eliminates the ability of the executive directors of the state agencies on the policy board to appoint a designee to represent them on the board.
Directs the policy board to provide an annual report to the joint budget committee and the house and senate health, environment, welfare, and institutions committees on enrollment, streamlining children's program operations, concerns, and recommendations.
Requires the policy board to contract with an independent entity to study and report on the options, benefits, and merits of changing the administrative structure of the children's basic health plan, including a study of the merits of creating a separate instrumentality of the state to administer the children's basic health plan. States that such study shall only occur if sufficient private donations are received to pay for the study. Directs that such report be submitted to the joint budget committee and the health, environment, welfare, and institutions committees of the house of representatives and the senate on or before October 15, 2000.
Eliminates language specifying medicaid managed care savings as the primary funding source for the children's basic health plan. Consolidates statutes implementing the children's basic health plan. Eliminates obsolete language authorizing the department of health care policy and financing (department) to contract with the administrator of the children's health plan.
Changes the eligibility for the children's basic health plan to the same standard of eligibility used for the medically indigent program. Allows the department to modify the basic and standard health benefit plans as used in designing the schedule of health care services to meet specific federal requirements or to accommodate changes necessary for a program designed for children. Directs the department to study the merits of eliminating the medically indigent program as an option for health care for children who are eligible for the children's basic health plan and instead requiring that such children enroll in the children's basic health plan.
Permits the department to contract with vendors of billing and premium collection services for other state insurance programs in order to consolidate billing and premium collection services if the department finds that doing so would be cost effective and efficient and that the work is similar.
Allows a pre-HMO enrollment period in which to provide health care services under the children's basic health plan to enrollees prior to the effective date of enrollment in the selected managed care plan.
Appropriates $60,000 cash funds exempt to the department from gifts, grants, and donations to fund the independent study.
BECAME LAW June 3, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 3, 2000
H.B. 00-1020 Child care - interdisciplinary child care commission - appropriation. Creates the child care commission, consisting of 15 members, 9 of whom shall be appointed by the governor, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate. Specifies that members of the commission shall be representative of the cultural and geographic diversity of Colorado. Lists the duties of the commission, including continued study and evaluation of the broad range of issues impacting child care in Colorado. Requires the commission to report to the general assembly on or before November 1, 2001, and on or before November 1 each year thereafter. Instructs the legislative members of the commission to submit proposals for legislation, if any, to the legislative council by the appropriate date for interim committee bills. Repeals the commission, effective July 1, 2004.
Requires the department of human services to report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations concerning the most thorough, timely, and cost-efficient means of conducting criminal background checks to the members of the child care commission no later than August 1, 2000.
Appropriates $2,640 to the department of human services, children, youth and families, child care for the reimbursement of expenses incurred by members of the child care commission who are not members of the general assembly. Appropriates $3,792 to the legislative department for the reimbursement of expenses incurred by members of the child care commission who are members of the general assembly.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 1, 2000
H.B. 00-1029 Child care - assistance - level of eligibility - transition off of assistance. Changes the maximum income eligibility level for child care assistance provided at the counties' discretion from less than 185% of the federal poverty level to not more than 225% of the federal poverty level.
Prohibits the provision of assistance if the recipient's income exceeds the maximum level of eligibility set by federal law. Strongly encourages counties to gradually transition families receiving child care assistance off such assistance over a period of 6 months for those recipients who have exceeded income eligibility limits set by the county.
APPROVED by Governor April 11, 2000
EFFECTIVE September 1, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
H.B. 00-1072 Older Coloradans program - formula - reports - fund - appropriation. Establishes an older Coloradans program in the department of human services ("department"). Specifies that moneys appropriated to the program shall be distributed to the area agencies on aging using the same distribution formula for moneys allocated under the "Older Americans Act", but that each area agency on aging shall determine to which services such moneys shall be allocated. Requires the area agencies on aging to include the proposed uses of moneys from the program in the agencies' plan. Limits the proposed uses of moneys transferred from sales and use taxes to one-time purposes.
Requires the area agencies on aging to submit to the department a report on the uses of the moneys by January 1, 2001, and the department to compile the reports and submit a report to the joint budget committee and the health, environment, welfare, and institutions committees of the senate and the house of representatives.
Establishes the older Coloradans cash fund. For fiscal year 2000-2001, transfers $3,000,000 to the fund from sales and use tax moneys that would otherwise go to the general fund. Appropriates the $3,000,000 to the department.
APPROVED by Governor May 24, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 24, 2000
H.B. 00-1073 Colorado works program - cash assistance - definition. Changes the definition of the term "cash assistance" as used in the Colorado works program to conform to the definition set forth in federal regulation.
APPROVED by Governor March 10, 2000
EFFECTIVE March 10, 2000
H.B. 00-1076 Health insurance - medicaid - emergency medical assistance to noncitizens - prenatal care - appropriation. Directs that the state provide prenatal care for undocumented women who are eligible for emergency medicaid through contracts with managed care organizations that provide service in various geographic areas of the state.
Appropriates $171,000 to the department of health care policy and financing, medical services administration, for the implementation of the act. Reduces the general fund appropriation to the capital construction fund and the capital construction fund exempt appropriation to the department of transportation, construction projects, by $171,000.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
H.B. 00-1256 Home health services - continuation of the home health services pilot program and the home health services pilot program advisory committee. Extends the automatic termination date of the home health services pilot program and the home health services pilot program advisory committee to July 1, 2003, pursuant to the provisions of the sunset law.
APPROVED by Governor May 30, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
H.B. 00-1305 Quality of care incentive program - extension of sunset date - audit of the program - recapture of funds. Extends the quality of care incentive payment program advisory committee until July 1, 2010. Requires recipients of payments under the program to account annually for such payments. Allows the department of health care policy and financing to recover incentive payments if the recipient of such payments failed to satisfactorily complete, by December 31 of each year, the implementation or evaluation stages of an approved plan. Requires the state auditor to audit the program and to submit a report to the joint audit committee by December 31, 2000.
APPROVED by Governor May 24, 2000
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2000
H.B. 00-1343 At-risk adults - financial exploitation - prohibition. Creates the "Protection Against Financial Exploitation of At-risk Adults Act". Urges specified persons to report known or suspected financial exploitation of at-risk adults to a county department of social services ("county department") or to a local law enforcement agency when such persons have observed an at-risk adult being subjected to circumstances or conditions that may reasonably result in the financial exploitation of the at-risk adult or when such persons have reasonable cause to know or suspect that an at-risk adult has been financially exploited. Allows any other person to report known or suspected financial exploitation of an at-risk adult to a local law enforcement agency or a county department.
Requires the agency receiving the report to prepare a written report within 48 hours after receiving a report of financial exploitation. Identifies the minimum information that the report shall contain. Requires the county department to forward the report to the district attorney's office and the local law enforcement agency. Requires the local law enforcement agency to forward the report to the county department and to the district attorney's office.
Prohibits any person from knowingly making a false report of financial exploitation to a county department or local law enforcement agency. Grants any person who makes a good faith report, except a perpetrator, complicitor, or coconspirator, immunity from any civil or criminal liability. Provides for confidentiality of reports, except in certain circumstances. Prohibits any person from taking discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory action against a person who makes a good faith report of known or suspected financial exploitation.
Requires the agency receiving the report immediately to investigate the report for the financial protection of the at-risk adult. Allows law enforcement agencies, county departments, and other agencies to develop and implement cooperative agreements to coordinate the investigative duties of the agencies. Encourages any existing at-risk adult protection teams to expand their current purposes to include protection against the financial exploitation of at-risk adults.
Grants agencies investigating the financial exploitation of at-risk adults permission to inspect all records pertaining to the at-risk adult on whose behalf the investigation is being conducted upon written consent of the at-risk adult. Requires a financial institution to offer, upon request, an informed consent release form to any adult over 60 years of age and any at-risk adult with an account at the institution. Specifies that the consent form shall allow the investigation of known or suspected financial exploitation prior to any report of financial exploitation.
Encourages training, focused on detection of financial exploitation, for persons urged to report pursuant to this act.
APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE January 1, 2001
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.
H.B. 00-1361 Individual development accounts - creation - standards - tax credit - appropriation. Creates the "Individual Development Account Act". Defines certain terms used in the act. Requires the individual development account program ("IDA program") to provide that eligible individuals who establish an individual development account through a sponsoring organization shall receive the benefit of matching moneys, payable directly to a service provider, at the time of expenditure of the moneys in the account for the purpose of securing post-secondary education or training for the individual or the individual's dependent, purchasing a first home, or capitalizing a business. Also allows expenditures of up to 10% of the total balance in the account for supportive counseling, mentoring, or tutoring.
Provides that an individual is eligible for participation in the IDA program if his or her income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level, or 80% of area median income for home ownership, and he or she has entered into an agreement with a sponsoring organization that, in turn, has entered into an agreement with a financial institution. Directs sponsoring organizations to recruit individuals to participate in the IDA program and further requires such sponsoring organizations to determine the eligibility of such individuals. Identifies the additional duties of sponsoring organizations in working with and counseling individuals about the IDA program. Provides that the principal in an individual development account shall not exceed $10,000. Specifies that only one individual development account may be established per family, but that all family members may utilize the account. States that the program shall not be construed to create an entitlement.
Specifies that a program participant shall be terminated from the IDA program if the participant withdraws contributions for uses other than those uses authorized under the IDA program. Allows the participant to retain the participant's contributions and interest accrued thereon. Specifies that the sponsoring organization will notify the nonprofit organization designated by the department of revenue that is monitoring the tax credit that an IDA participant made an unauthorized withdrawal from the IDA. Allows sponsoring organizations to raise contributions for the IDA program.
Directs the sponsoring organizations to provide individuals making charitable contributions with the necessary documentation required by the department of revenue to enable the contributor to claim a tax credit. Requires that the sponsoring organization notify the nonprofit organization designated by the department of revenue to notify the financial institution where an IDA exists to close the account because of unauthorized withdrawals.
Provides for a tax credit for contributions of cash, stocks, or bonds made by charitable donors to sponsoring organizations for use in the IDA program that is tied to state surplus revenues. Allows the tax credit for 5 years up to a total of $5 million. Allows 25% of the contribution made to the IDA to be claimed as a tax credit. Adjusts the tax credit for growth and inflation. Disallows the tax credit if there is less than $190 million in the state surplus.
Requires the department of revenue to designate a nonprofit organization to administer the tax credit. Specifies that the nonprofit organization designated by the department of revenue shall meet the following criteria:
Requires the designated nonprofit organization to submit a report to the state auditor and the legislative audit committee annually that evaluates the implementation of the IDA program. Allows the state auditor's office to verify the accuracy of the annual report submitted by the designated nonprofit organization.
Appropriates $69,300 to the department of revenue for the implementation of the act. Reduces the general fund appropriation to the capital construction fund and the capital construction fund exempt appropriation to the department of transportation, construction projects, by $69,300.
APPROVED by Governor May 31, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 31, 2000
H.B. 00-1389 Medicaid - waiver program for children with autism - appropriation. Authorizes the department of health care policy and financing to apply for a federal medicaid waiver to implement an habilitation and treatment program for children with autism who are at risk of institutional care. Directs that the program would waive parental income for purposes of determining a child's eligibility for services. Limits the initial number of children served to 25. Caps the annual expenditure to no more than $25,000 per child.
Specifies the services to be provided under the autism habilitation and treatment program, including occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, psychiatric and psychological services, personal assistance services, residential and community habilitation services, job coaching, and case management. Specifies that services provided shall not be subject to the physician on-site requirement.
Appropriates $61,023 and 1.0 FTE to the department of health care policy and financing, medical programs administration, to implement the act.
VETOED by Governor May 26, 2000
H.B. 00-1457 Old age pension work incentive program. Extends the old age pension work incentive program by repealing the program's current repeal date of July 1, 2000.
APPROVED by Governor May 24, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 24, 2000
H.B. 00-1475 Medicaid - federally qualified health centers - reimbursement rate - appropriation. Establishes an exception to the statutorily defined upper and lower limits of the prepaid capitation payment to managed care organizations to allow reimbursements to federally qualified health centers for the total amount of reasonable costs incurred by those centers in providing health care services to recipients of medicaid. Makes such rate of reimbursement applicable to services provided by such federally qualified health centers on or after the effective date of the act.
Appropriates $200,000 to the department of health care policy and financing, medical services premiums, for implementation of the act. Specifies that the department of health care policy and financing is expected to receive an additional $200,000 in federal funds for implementation of the act.
APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2000
EFFECTIVE June 1, 2000
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