First Regular Session | 74th General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyThe quality and affordability of child care and early childhood education (ECE) are key concerns for parents and policymakers alike. Whether daycare, preschool, or another setting, child care and ECE allow parents to remain in the workforce and improve the school readiness of children. This...
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...
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...
Child support is a required payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child after a divorce or other dissolution of a relationship. This issue brief summarizes how child support orders are issued, details elements of child support enforcement units and various child support...
This document summaries the major pieces of legislation considered by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session.
This document provides a summary of major legislation pertaining to property and housing considered by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session.
This document provides a summary of legislation pertaining to human services considered by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session.
The Public Benefits and Services Resource Manual is intended to serve as a reference guide for information on some of the state’s programs that provide direct benefits or services to members of the public. The manual is divided into four sections to make it easier for the reader to access...
This issue brief outlines federal and state school nutrition programs, including eligibility, funding, and reimbursement.
Tiny houses are increasing in popularity as a housing option across the country. This issue brief provides a general overview of the various legal obstacles sometimes faced by individuals who want to own and live in a tiny house in Colorado. It also provides several examples of local and state...
This issue brief provides information about Community-Centered Boards (CCBs) and recent legislation enacted to promote CCB transparency.
This memorandum provides information regarding state laws penalizing those who misrepresent pets or other animals as service animals. Nine states have laws prohibiting the misrepresentation of pets, and nine states have laws prohibiting people from misrepresenting themselves as disabled in order...
Pursuant to the Health Care Affordability Act of 2009, Colorado collects a provider fee from most hospitals. The hospital provider fee (HPF) is matched with federal Medicaid dollars and used to reimburse hospitals for uncompensated care costs, pay for expansion populations under Medicaid and the...
Juvenile justice systems were created in the late 19th century under the philosophy that juveniles are different than adults and may have different rehabilitation needs. Colorado has two separate systems for the detention or commitment of juveniles convicted of crimes. One system exists within...
Colorado's child welfare system provides a range of services to protect children from abuse and neglect and to assist families in caring for their children. This issue brief provides an overview of the child welfare system in Colorado, including administration and funding, reporting and...
In the 2013 legislative session, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 13-011, the Colorado Civil Union Act. This issue brief summarizes the provisions of the act and discusses other states' laws concerning same-sex marriage and civil unions. A brief explanation of two same-sex marriage cases...
Federal and state laws allow Medicaid applicants and clients who have their benefits denied, terminated, or reduced to appeal the decision. This issue brief provides an overview of the Medicaid appeals process in Colorado.
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...
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....
In March 2010, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), was adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed by the President. PPACA expanded health care coverage by increasing access to private health insurance and expanding eligibility for Medicaid. The law also increased...
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,...
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...
This memorandum provides information on recent trends in Medicaid caseload growth and drivers of state Medicaid expenditures. Included in this memorandum is a ten-year history and three years of projections for Colorado Medicaid caseloads, government expenditures, and expenditures per Medicaid...
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...
This is the final report for the 2016 Interim Committee