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This year marks a milestone in tracking forest health and management in Colorado, with this publication representing the 15th annual report on the health of Colorado’s forests. Throughout this period, we’ve witnessed many landscapelevel changes across Colorado. The forces and circumstances that have come together – climate and weather events, insects and diseases, wildfire and human impacts – have contributed to dramatic changes in the age and structure of our forests.

The “negative factor” is a provision in state law that reduces the amount of total program funding and state aid provided to K-12 school districts.  This issue  brief  discusses how the negative factor is applied in the School Finance Act (SFA), gives a short history of school finance leading to the creation of the  negative factor, and provides a summary of the recent legal challenge to the negative factor.

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

Section 1332 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) allows a state to apply for a state innovation waiver to pursue innovative strategies for providing its residents with access to high-quality, affordable health insurance while still retaining certain elements of the PPACA. This issue brief outlines the required components of a 1332 state innovation waiver, elements of federal law that can be waived, the application process for a waiver, and the monitoring and review process for an approved waiver.

This memorandum identifies state funding for water supply projects, including the:

• Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund;
• Severance Tax Trust Fund Perpetual Base Fund; 
• Water Supply Reserve Fund; 
• Water Efficiency Grant Program; and 
• Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority Water Revenue Bonds and Small Hydropower Loans

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This memorandum provides an overview of how changes in tax and fee revenue impact Colorado’s state budget. Pursuant to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) Amendment, the State of Colorado is limited in the amount of revenue from taxes and fees that it can retain and spend. The TABOR Amendment requires voter approval for tax increases, while fees can be changed by the state legislature without voter approval.

This memorandum addresses information technology (IT) accessibility for state employees and customers of the state who are disabled. Specifically, it summarizes legal compliance requirements, current practices, and the state’s future plans for improving IT accessibility for disabled persons, including blind and visually impaired individuals in Colorado.

Senate Bill 15-267 amends the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2015-16. The bill was signed by the Governor on June 5, 2015, and became effective on that date. Senate Bill 15-234, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the state aid distributed to school districts. The following summarizes the primary funding changes contained in these bills.

Senate Bill 15-267 amends the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2015-16. The bill was signed by the Governor on June 5, 2015, and became effective on that date. Senate Bill 15-234, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the state aid distributed to school districts. The following summarizes the primary funding changes contained in these bills.

The Appropriations Report summarizes the final action of the General Assembly and the Governor on the budget and other legislation passed during the previous legislative session that contained an appropriation of moneys.

Colorado Department of Agriculture Performance Plan for FY16

Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2016-17. 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.

ESTIMATED VALUE OF SCHOOL FINANCE FACTORS, INCLUDING NEGATIVE FACTOR, FY 2015-16

Additional At-Risk Student Funding Under SB 15-267, FY 2015-16 (estimated allocation is about $16.13 per at-risk student)

Reengrossed Senate Bill 15-267 FY 2015-16 Compared with FY 2014-15

Senate Bill 15-267 as Introduced by the General Assembly

FY 2015-16 Compared with FY 2014-15

Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2016-17. 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.