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During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to public health, including behavioral health, suicide prevention, and public safety. 

This memorandum provides an overview of various federal, state, and local programs and resources that are available to provide assistance to small businesses in Colorado during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

On March 11, 2020, Governor Polis issued Executive Order D 2020 003, declaring a disaster emergency pursuant to state law due to the presence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19).  The disaster emergency declaration triggers certain provisions in the Colorado Constitution and state law.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted almost every aspect of society, including the criminal justice system, leaving crowded courts, prisons, and jails especially susceptible to the outbreak.  This memorandum provides an overview of how prisons in Colorado are reacting to this public health emergency.

This memorandum provides an overview of Colorado’s plan for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccinations.

This memorandum provides information related to state and federal laws prohibiting price gouging during declared disaster emergencies.

This memorandum provides an overview of the various Public Health Orders issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) during the declared disaster emergency related to COVID‑19 in Colorado.  Thirteen public health orders have been issued since March, 2020.

Respite care provides temporary relief to a caregiver from the physical and emotional impacts of caring for a person with special needs who requires assistance to care for themselves.  Care can be provided for a few hours, overnight, or on an extended basis by a friend, family member, volunteer, paid service provider, or in a community-based care setting.  This issue brief provides an overview of state respite care services.

This memorandum provides a summary of the various Executive Orders and Public Health Orders issued during the declared disaster emergency related to the presence of COVID‑19 in Colorado.

Vaccinations offer protection from common infectious diseases.  The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends specific vaccines for all infants, children, and adults during their lifetime to provide immunity from preventable illness.  A recent analysis estimated that for children born in a single year in the United States, vaccination prevented nearly 20 million cases of disease and over 40,000 deaths.

The harmful effects of secondhand smoke and emissions from tobacco, marijuana, and electronic smoking devices continue to be an issue in Colorado.  Since 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand tobacco smoke as a known cause of cancer.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that secondhand smoke has immediate harmful effects on the heart and blood vessels that lead to heart disease, and causes respiratory issues in children.  According to the National Institutes of Health, secondhand smoke from marijuana contains the same

In the 2020 session, the Colorado General Assembly considered measures related to the regulation of health care facilities, behavioral health and substance use, prescription drug costs, and abortion.

During the 2020 session, the General Assembly considered bills related to immunizations, food safety, chemical and consumer safety, substance use disorders, and paid sick leave.

The following are new safety protocols for the reconvening of the General Assembly during the COVID-19 health epidemic.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted almost every aspect of society, including the criminal justice system, leaving crowded courts, prisons and jails especially susceptible to the outbreak. This memorandum provides an overview of how Community Corrections is handling this public health emergency.  Please note that the COVID-19 situation is rapidly changing, and staff will be monitoring changes and making updates.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted almost every aspect of society, including the criminal justice system, leaving crowded courts, prisons and jails especially susceptible to the outbreak.  This memorandum provides an overview of how the juvenile justice system in Colorado is handling this public health emergency.  Please note that the COVID-19 situation is rapidly changing, and staff will be monitoring changes and making updates.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted almost every aspect of society, including the criminal justice system, leaving crowded courts, prisons and jails especially susceptible to the outbreak. This memorandum provides an overview of how courts in Colorado are handling this public health emergency.  Please note that the COVID-19 situation is rapidly changing, and staff will be monitoring changes and making updates.

This memorandum provides an overview of how energy consumption and usage has changed as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), and how Colorado utilities are responding.

This memorandum provides an overview of temporary changes the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) implemented in response to the spread of COVID-19 and associated declaration of a disaster emergency by Governor Polis on March 11, 2020.  The DOI in the Department of Regulatory Agencies regulates the insurance industry in Colorado, including insurance carriers selling life, health, title, and property and casualty insurance, and insurance agents.

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted almost every facet of the education system, including standardized tests and college entrance examinations. This memorandum provides scheduling updates on some of the country’s most relied upon placement and college entrance examinations and will be updated as more information becomes available.

This memorandum provides an overview of cybersecurity, the current threat landscape as a result of COVID-19, and provides information about COVID-19 cybersecurity resources.

In the midst of school closures across the state due to the COVID-19 outbreak, schools and state agencies are working to ensure that K-12 students continue to receive academic support.  Legislative Council Staff is committed to providing members of the Colorado General Assembly and other stakeholders with resources on K-12 education matters that are essential to guiding and understanding state action, and supporting parents in ensuring their children’s educational success during this time.  This memorandum has been published to share resources created by state and national organiz

This memorandum provides an overview of how the spread of the coronavirus and associated disease (COVID-19) has prompted insurers, federal and state health organizations, and behavioral and mental health organizations to adopt policies that support and encourage the use of telehealth.  Telehealth enables long-distance health care and other health-related services to occur with the use of telecommunication technology.

The Legislative Council Staff's Health Care Resource Book is intended to serve as a reference guide for information on some of Colorado's major health care issues and programs.  The book is divided into two sections.

The first section covers health care spending; private health insurance regulation; the state’s health benefit exchange; an overview of public health care programs; and discussion of issues related to uninsured individuals.

Final report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Statewide Health Care Review Committee. The purpose of this committee is to study health care issues that affect Colorado residents throughout the state.