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Colorado was tied for the fifth highest suicide rate in the nation in 2014, the most recent year of nationally available data.  In 2015, there were 1,093 suicides among Colorado residents, which is the highest number of suicides in the state’s history.  This issue brief outlines legislative actions taken in recent years to address Colorado’s high suicide rate and resources for those in need of assistance and support.

Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission 

current-ulc-projects-nov-2016.pdf

MEMORANDUM
TO: Committee on Legal Services
FROM: Richard Sweetman, Office of Legislative Legal Services
DATE: November 9, 2016
SUBJECT: Rules of the State Board of Human Services, Department of Human Services, concerning penalties for individuals convicted of fraud in the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), 9 CCR 2503-7 (LLS Docket No. 160136; SOS Tracking No. 2015-00854).

160136-rts.pdf

MEMORANDUM
TO: Committee on Legal Services
FROM: Thomas Morris, Office of Legislative Legal Services
DATE: November 4, 2016
SUBJECT: Rules of the Director, Division of Oil and Public Safety, Department of Labor and Employment, concerning underground storage tanks and aboveground storage tanks, 7 CCR 1101-14 (LLS Docket No. 160373; SOS Tracking No. 2016-00307).

160373-tm.pdf

MEMORANDUM
TO: Committee on Legal Services
FROM: Thomas Morris, Office of Legislative Legal Services
DATE: November 4, 2016
SUBJECT: Rules of the Water Quality Control Commission, Department of Public Health and Environment, concerning the Colorado discharge permit system, 5 CCR 1002-61 (LLS Docket No. 160425; SOS Tracking No. 2016- 00302).

160425-tm.pdf

Presented to the Committee on Legal Services November 17, 2016 

summary-of-olls-recommendations-re-member-files.pdf

Excerpt from September 29, 2016, COLS meeting packet

addendums-fg.pdf

Colorado currently administers 11 Home-and Community-Based Services Medicaid (HCBS) Waivers. This issue brief discusses the six waivers available to adults. An issue brief entitled Medicaid Waiver Programs Part I – Home- and  Community-Based Services Medicaid Waivers for Children discusses the five waivers available to children.

Colorado's Adult Protective Services (APS) system, first established in 1983, protects at-risk adults who, because of mental or physical ability, are unable to obtain services or otherwise protect their own health, safety, and welfare. In response to greater awareness of at-risk populations, between 2013 and 2016, legislation expanded the scope of the system by implementing mandatory reporting for certain groups and establishing protections for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Section 14-10-114, C.R.S., was amended in 2013 by HB13-1058, effective January 1, 2014. This version of section 14-10-114, C.R.S., was effective until January 1, 2014.

Section 14-10-115 (5)(a)(I)(D), (5)(a)(I)(O), (5)(a)(I)(W), (6)(b)(I), (7)(a)(II)(B), (7)(a)(II)(C), (7)(a)(II)(D), (7)(b), and (16), C.R.S., were amended in 2013 by HB13-1058, effective January 1, 2014. These versions of such provisions were effective until January 1, 2014

Health insurance is a method of paying for health care services that spreads the risk and costs across a group of covered persons. In exchange for premiums and other cost-sharing mechanisms, such as deductibles and co-payments, health insurance companies pay for the costs of covered services. Health insurance carriers set premiums, deductibles, and co-payments at a level that covers the estimated health care costs incurred by all members of the group.

Unemployment insurance (UI) provides temporary, partial wage replacement to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The state program is administered by the Division of Employment and Training within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). This issue brief provides an overview of Colorado’s unemployment insurance program, including employer contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and the process for receiving benefits and filing an appeal.

State-supported institutions of higher education rely on tuition revenue and public funding to pay for operating expenses.  State funding for higher education is provided to the institutions based partly on each institution’s role and mission, the number of resident students the school enrolls, and how the school meets certain performance benchmarks. Tuition revenue is paid by students and families.  This memorandum examines tuition funding for the schools, and explains the difference between resident and nonresident tuition.

Final report of the Capital Development Committee for FY 2015-16.

Respite care provides temporary relief to a caregiver from the physical and emotional impacts of caring for a person with special needs who is unable or needs assistance to care for himself or herself. It 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 a brief overview of state-funded respite care services and information about the Respite Care Task Force, which met during the 2015 interim.

Submitted herewith to the Colorado General Assembly is the final report of the Water Resources Review Committee. This committee was created pursuant to Article 98 of Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to oversee the conservation, use, development, and financing of Colorado's water resources.

This memorandum responds to your request for information on school discipline policies.  Specifically, you were contacted by a constituent expressing concern about several incidents at her granddaughter’s elementary school in School District 27J.  Please note that because Legislative Council Staff is unable to analyze whether there is a conflict between state law and the district's policies related to the circumstances the constituent describes, the memorandum provides background information on school discipline laws and regulations.

Personally identifiable information (PII) is information that can be used to trace or identify an individual. In Colorado K-12 education, the term refers to student data collected and retained by public schools and school districts, and maintained by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). This Issue Brief provides an overview of