Staff Publications Colorado Courts’ Response to COVID-19 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. Release date: 2020-05-08 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Courts & Judicial Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement Public Health Download File
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of State Government Legislation (2019) During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to its own operations, federal relations, state employees and retirement plans, state agencies and procurement, open records and meetings, and notarization and recording. Release date: 2020-05-01 Publishing Agency: Subjects: State Government Download File
Staff Publications Response of Utilities to COVID-19 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. Release date: 2020-04-30 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Energy Public Health Download File
Staff Publications Division of Insurance Changes in Response to COVID-19 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. Release date: 2020-04-23 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Health Care & Health Insurance Public Health Download File
Issue Briefs Unemployment Insurance and Economic Downturns (20-13) This issue brief provides an overview of the Colorado unemployment insurance (UI) program, including UI benefits, funding, and solvency in the context of recent economic downturns. Release date: 2020-04-22 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Business & Economic Development Labor & Employment State Government Download File
Staff Publications High School and College Placement and Entrance Examination Delays 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. Release date: 2020-04-21 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) Higher Education Public Health Download File
Staff Publications Funding Structure for Colorado’s Unemployment Insurance Program Unemployment insurance (UI) provides temporary, partial wage replacement to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Each state in the United States administers its own unemployment insurance program and policies vary by state. The Division of Employment and Training within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) administers the state program for Colorado. Release date: 2020-04-16 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Labor & Employment Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Exemption for Alcohol Produced by Individuals for Personal Use Report No. 2020-TE11 Release date: 2020-04-15 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Liquor, Tobacco, & Marijuana Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Income Tax Credit for Employer 529 Contributions Report No. 2020-TE12 Release date: 2020-04-15 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Higher Education Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Excise Tax Exemption for Alcoholic Beverages Originating Outside the U.S. Report No. 2020-TE13 Release date: 2020-04-15 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Liquor, Tobacco, & Marijuana Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Leases of Tangible Personal Property for 3 Years or Less Exemption Report No. 2020-TE14 Release date: 2020-04-15 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Medical Supplies Sales Tax Exemptions Report No. 2020-TE10 Note: An evaluation of two new medical supplies exemptions was issued in March 2025. Click HERE to access the March 2025 report. Release date: 2020-04-15 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Health Care & Health Insurance Download File
Staff Publications State and Local Cybersecurity Collaboration This memorandum describes how some states find new ways to share cybersecurity knowledge and resources with their local governments to improve the state’s overall cybersecurity posture. Release date: 2020-04-15 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Local Government State Government Telecommunications & Information Technology Download File
Staff Publications COVID-19 Cybersecurity Concerns 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. Release date: 2020-04-08 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Public Health Telecommunications & Information Technology Download File
Final/Annual Reports Interim Committee on School Finance 2019 Final Report Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Interim Committee on School Finance. Release date: 2020-04-08 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) Download File
Staff Publications Resources Pertaining to K-12 Education in Response to COVID-19 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 Release date: 2020-04-07 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) Public Health Download File
Issue Briefs PERA's Automatic Adjustment Provision (20-09) Senate Bill 18-200, Modifications to the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) to Eliminate Unfunded Liability, included an automatic adjustment provision (AAP) that triggers when PERA's trusts are not on track to reach full funding within the targeted 30-year period. This issue brief discusses how the provision works and has been used since 2019. Release date: 2020-03-27 Publishing Agency: Subjects: State Government Download File
Staff Publications Expansion of Telehealth Services in Response to COVID-19 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. Release date: 2020-03-25 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Health Care & Health Insurance Public Health Download File
Budget Related Publications Forecast March 2020 Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2019-20. Implications of the forecast for the state's General Fund budget and spending limit are described in the report's highlights and executive summary sections. The report is based on current law, legislation passed by the General Assembly affecting the forecast is described throughout the report. Release date: 2020-03-16 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes State Revenue & Budget
Other 2019 Cost of Living Study - Corona Insights (2020) 2019 Colorado School District Cost of Living Analysis Release date: 2020-03-11 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) Download File
Staff Publications Colorado Health Insurance Mandates This memorandum provides information on Colorado's mandated health insurance benefits. Table 1, Colorado Health Insurance Mandates, provides a description of current state laws governing insurance benefits. The mandates are listed in the table alphabetically. Release date: 2020-03-09 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Health Care & Health Insurance Insurance Download File
Issue Briefs Consumer Data Privacy Laws (20-08) This issue brief provides an overview of consumer data privacy, describes applicable federal laws, and summarizes recent state legislation proposed to strengthen consumer data privacy laws. Release date: 2020-03-09 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Local Government Telecommunications & Information Technology Download File
Staff Publications Colorado Legislative Rules 2019 The handbook is divided into four sections, 1: Rules of the House of Representatives; 2: Rules of the Senate; 3: Joint Rules of the Senate and House and Joint Session Rules; and 4: Colorado Constitution. This section includes only selected portions of the constitution. The House, Senate, and Joint Rules in this handbook are current through December 2019. Release date: 2020-03-06 Publishing Agency: Subjects: General Assembly Download File
Issue Briefs Voter Service and Polling Centers (20-06) In 2013, Colorado eliminated precinct polling places and established voter service and polling centers (VSPCs). This issue brief outlines the services provided at VSPCs, location factors, VSPC hours, and staffing requirements for VSPCs. Release date: 2020-02-26 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Elections & Redistricting Download File
Staff Publications Health Care Resource Book (2020) 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. Release date: 2020-02-25 Publishing Agency: Subjects: Health Care & Health Insurance Public Health Download File