Programs That Benefit Persons With Disabilities

Joint Budget Committee. The council for people with disabilities (council) was previously tasked with advising the governor and the legislature on issues impacting people with disabilities. The council was also responsible for the oversight of the disabled parking education and enforcement fund (fund), which is required to be used in connection with reserved parking for persons with disabilities. In 2020, the general assembly eliminated the council but did not specify any other entity that would have the authority to spend money in the fund. Sections 8 and 9 of the bill specify that the Colorado disability funding committee (committee) has authority to spend money from the fund for the existing purposes of the fund and to provide education regarding parking for people with disabilities.

The committee auctions Colorado motor vehicle license plate configurations to raise money for grants to assist persons with disabilities in accessing disability benefits and to fund new and innovative ideas that improve the quality of life and independence of individuals with disabilities. Sections 1 through 5 and 12 13 correct technical issues, consolidate statutory provisions, clarify the grant process, and clarify the license plate sales process in connection with the committee.Section 6 exempts the disability support fund, which supports the activities of the committee, from the limit on uncommited reserves in cash funds.Section 7 modifies the existing income tax credit for purchases of uniquely valuable motor vehicle registration numbers to specify that the amount of the credit allowed is an amount equal to 20% of the purchase price of the motor vehicle registration number.Section 10 allows a person to reserve a license plate for which no motor vehicle has ever been registered if the person purchased the license plate configuration pursuant to current law.Section 11 authorizes the department of motor vehicles to sell multiple historical license plate backgrounds to benefit the committee and clarifies the amount of revenue from such sales that is transferred or credited to specified cash funds. In addition, section 11 makes clarifying changes regarding the administration of historic license plate background sales.The department of labor and employment is currently required to provide specific rehabilitation services at public cost without consideration of financial need. Section 12 modifies the services that the department is required to provide.Section 13 14 adjusts appropriations made in the annual general appropriation act for the 2022-23 state fiscal year to the department of personnel for use by the executive director's office for the implementation of the bill.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)