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HB16-1054: End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Individuals
Lost in the House on 2/24/16
The “End of Life Options Act” of 2016 is similar to the 2015 bill, however it laid out a very specific process by which individuals with a terminal illness, defined as six months or less to live, may have requested an aid-in-dying medication. The bill contained the same provisions that have worked successfully in Oregon for over seventeen years.
HB16-1102: Drug Production Costs Transparency Requirements
Lost in Committee on 3/10/16
Consumers and payers alike are grappling with skyrocketing price tags for medications that treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and Hepatitis C. While many of these new drugs represent important breakthroughs in treatments for patients, the prices for these drugs threaten access, affordability, and future innovation and are unsustainable in the long-term. Spending on specialty drugs is expected to more than quadruple from $87 billion in 2012 to $400 billion in 2020. The bill would have required pharmaceutical manufacturers to report certain pricing data in order to provide taxpayers, consumers, and policymakers with insight into cost centers associated with drug development and availability.
HB16-1120: Rabies Vaccinations for Dogs & Cats
Lost in Committee on 3/17/16
In the past few years, out state has seen the spread of rabies in ground dwelling wildlife like skunks and raccoons, particularly in urban areas. Colorado has seen an increase in the number of animals infected with rabies, including dogs and cats. Rabies is a fatal disease and poses a public health risk to all Coloradans. The best way to protect against rabies is to vaccinate cats and dogs. This bill would have ensured that all dogs and cats receive these crucial vaccinations.
HB16-1142: Rural & Frontier Health Care Preceptor Tax Credit
Signed by Governor on 6/6/16
Medical students often study under a practicing physician, called a preceptor. Preceptors mentor students and expose them to working in a clinical setting. Rural preceptors play a crucial role in filling the shortage of rural primary care physicians. Primary care providers are likely to practice and stay in rural areas if their training occurs outside of urban locations. However, the number of students interested in rural practice far outweigh the number of preceptors needed for rural clinical rotations. In order to recruit more preceptors, HB16-1142 offers a tax credit to rural physicians willing to serve as a preceptor.
HB16-1160: Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technicians Sunset
Signed by Governor on 6/10/16
Colorado law requires surgical assistants and surgical technologists to register with Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA) before they may be employed in a healthcare facility. Registration requires these professionals to submit their education and training credentials, current and past employment, and any criminal and civil convictions, among other things. This bill strengthens the current regulations by requiring that employers conduct background checks and drug tests for applicants.
HB16-1168: Sunset Rural Alcohol & Substance Abuse Treatment ProgramSigned by Governor on 4/14/16
The bill extends the rural alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment program through September 1, 2025.
HB16-1319: Prohibit Coal Rolling in Diesel Vehicles
Lost in Committee on 4/26/16
The practice of using a diesel vehicle to knowingly blow black smoke through exhaust pipes to harass or obstruct the view of other vehicles or pedestrians is commonly known as “rolling coal.” Rolling coal presents a health and safety hazard to our communities. While the practice is currently illegal, police officers are unable to enforce this law. As amended, HB16-1319 creates a traffic violation with a penalty of $35 dollars for rolling coal and two points against a driver’s license.
HB16-1324: Veterinary Access to Compounded Pharmaceutical Drugs
Signed by Governor on 6/10/16
Veterinarians often find themselves in situations where the required treatment for a sick animal is a compounded drug. Compounded drugs are a special class of medications and they are not readily available from most prescription drug outlets. Veterinarians work in settings that are often far from specialized prescription drug outlets, and animal patients’ health can be in jeopardy because of the delay in acquiring the compounded substances. Under current Colorado law, a veterinarian cannot maintain an office stock of compounded drugs. HB16-1324 allows veterinarians to keep a small stock of compounded drugs on hand.
HB16-1327: Financial Responsibility for Dental Hygienists
Signed by Governor on 4/21/16
In Colorado, dentists who are currently not practicing are able to reduce their malpractice insurance. However, dental hygienists who are inactive must still carry full malpractice insurance. This bill brings dental hygienists under the same requirements as dentists and reduces their financial burden after they are no longer practicing.
HB16-1339: Agricultural Property Foreclosures
Signed by Governor on 6/10/16
This bill seeks to preserve agricultural land and reduce workloads for county assessors. It allows agricultural land that includes residential property to be assessed as agricultural.This bill prevents agricultural land from being split up during the foreclosure process just because there is an independent residence on the land.
HB16-1341: Protect Endangered Animals from Poaching and Trafficking
Lost in Committee on 5/4/16
Every year, as many as 100 million animals are killed by poachers. Many species face extinction due to the demand for their parts. Federal regulations prohibit the importation or interstate trade of products from endangered species, but they do not regulate intrastate sales. This bill would make it a crime to sell products made from elephants, rhinos, tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, pangolins, marine turtles, sharks, and rays within Colorado. The bill safeguards endangered animals, while still offering numerous protections for legitimate owners. These protections include exemptions for inherited items, antiques, scientific items, musical instruments, and firearms.
HB16-1378: Court to Collect and Transfer Costs of DUI Tests
Signed by Governor on 6/10/16
Under current law, upon a motion by a prosecuting attorney and at the discretion of the court, a convicted DUI defendant may be required to reimburse a law enforcement agency for any costs resulting from the collection and analysis of any chemical test upon the defendant. The bill requires the court to collect such costs from the defendant and transfer them to the law enforcement agency.
HB16-1436: No Edible Marijuana Products Shaped to Entice Kids
Signed by Governor on 6/10/16
This bill requires the state marijuana licensing authority to develop rules that prohibit the production and sale of edible marijuana products that resemble the form of a human, animal, or fruit.
SB16-025: End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Individuals
Lost in Committee on 2/3/16
The “End of Life Options Act” of 2016 is similar to the 2015 bill, however, it laid out a very specific process by which individuals with a terminal illness, defined as six months or less to live, may have requested an aid-in-dying medication. The bill contained the same provisions that have worked successfully in Oregon for over seventeen years.
SB16-057: Mobile Home Owners Leasing Space Mobile Home Parks
Lost in Committee on 2/10/16
The bill establishes new duties concerning mobile home owners and landlords for the
Division of Housing (division) within the Department of Local Affairs, including: annually collecting economic and demographic data related to mobile home parks; providing educational opportunities for mobile home park landlords and home owners
concerning their rights and responsibilities, including formation of home owner
associations (HOA); administering programs to promote maintenance, development, and success of mobile home parks; collaborating with local governments; creating and administering a dispute resolution program for mobile home park landlords
and home owners by July 1, 2017; and maintaining and posting on their website a list of local government and nonprofit organizations that mediate disputes within mobile home parks.
The bill also requires that mobile home owners and mobile home park management submit to an agreed upon form of mediation or alternate dispute resolution prior to filing a lawsuit. In addition, rules and regulations created by a landlord must be reasonable and are unenforceable unless they meet certain criteria.
SB16-077: Employment First for Persons with Disabilities
Signed by Governor on 6/10/16
This bill directs several state agencies to develop an “Employment First” policy framework that is responsive to local employer and employee needs, and strives to increase meaningful employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. It will help address the problem of high unemployment and underemployment rates among persons with disabilities. By developing strategies through “Employment First” policies, gaps can be closed and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to seek a job of their choosing can be increased.
SB16-135: Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreements
Signed by Governor on 6/6/16
The bill allows a health benefit plan to provide coverage for health care services provided by a pharmacist if the pharmacist meets specified requirements. The bill also allows a pharmacist to enter into a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement with one or more physicians. The bill grants rule-making authority to the state board of pharmacy, the Colorado medical board, and the state board of nursing.
SB16-199: Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
Signed by Governor on 6/10/16
This bill directs the Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing to conduct research in order to determine appropriate payment benchmarks for the PACE program. It also creates the state PACE Ombudsman who will be responsible for establishing statewide policies and procedures to identify, investigate, and seek the resolution or referral of complaints made by or on behalf of a PACE participant related to any action, inaction, or decision of a PACE organization that may adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, or rights of the PACE participant.
HJR16-1008: Honoring Mahatma Gandhi
Signed by Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on 2/23/16
This resolution honors the life, work, dedication, and lessons of Mahatma Gandhi.
HJR16-1016: Celebrate Colorado’s Purebred Dogs
Signed by Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on 4/25/16
This resolution acknowledges Colorado’s purebred dogs and the companionship and service they give.
SJR16-023 Women’s History Month Resolution
Signed by Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on 3/28/16
This resolution recognizes March 2016 as Women’s History Month.
SJR16-033: Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
Signed by Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on 5/2/16
This resolution designates the month of August 2016 as Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month.
SJR16-038: Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Lost in House on 5/3/16
This resolution designates May 2016 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.