2020 Legislative and Issue Analysis

To view the analyses, click on "More Info" below the bill number or issue. All documents are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat for viewing.

Analyses are based on bills or issues at the time of their consideration by the Board of  Directors. Bills may change during the course of a legislative session. For the current status of these and other bills introduced in the Colorado legislature, visit the website for the Colorado General Assembly.

Occasionally the Board of Directors also will take a position on a ballot measure. In compliance with state election law, no analyses are prepared on ballot measures that are not of official concern to the Health District.

Questions about analyses? Contact the Health District at 970-224-5209.

2020 Legislative and Issue Analysis
Bill or Issue What it concerns HD Board Action Date Considered
HB20-1001: Nicotine Product Regulation
More Info 		The bill raises the minimum age of a person to whom cigarettes, tobacco products, and nicotine products may be sold from 18 years of age to 21 years of age. The bill repeals the criminal penalty for purchasing or attempting to purchase the products as a minor. On July 1, 2021, every retailer of tobacco and nicotine products in the state must be licensed by the Liquor Enforcement Division of the Department of Revenue. The Board voted to Strongly Support HB20-1001. January 28, 2020
HB20-1006: Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants
More Info 		The bill requires the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a statewide program of mental health consultation by July 1, 2022. The program is intended to increase the number of qualified mental health consultants supporting professionals who work with young children and to give guidance and support to families, caregivers, and providers in addressing the social-emotional developmental needs of children through age eight. The Board voted to Support HB20-1006 February 13, 2020
HB20-1008: Health Care Cost-Sharing Consumer Protections
More Info 		The bill requires operators of health care cost-sharing arrangements (CSAs) to report specified information to the Commissioner of Insurance, within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), provide disclosures to consumers, and respond to requests for payment within specified time periods. The Board voted to Strongly Support HB20-1008 February 13, 2020
HB20-1017: Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Criminal Justice System
More Info 		The bill addresses a variety of issues related to the general topic of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in the criminal justice system. This includes requiring prisons, jails, and Department of Human services to make medication assisted treatment (MAT) available to people in custody; requiring prisons and jails to ensure continuity of care; and allowing for controlled substance disposal and referral to treatment at “safe stations” The Board voted to Support HB20-1017 but urged legislators to make amendments.

More Info 		February 25, 2020
HB20-1065: Harm Reduction Substance Use Disorders
More Info 		The bill addresses a variety of issues related to the general topic of substance use disorder (SUD) harm reduction measures. This includes requiring insurers to reimburse hospitals for prescribing naloxone; expanding immunity to those who administer expired naloxone; allowing pharmacists to sell syringes without a prescription; allowing experienced nonprofits and health facilities to operate syringe access programs without county board of health approval; and increase funding for the Harm Reduction Grant Program. The Board voted to Support HB20-1065. February 25, 2020
HB20-1085: Prevention of Substance Use Disorders
More Info 		The bill addresses a variety of issues related to the general topic of substance use disorder (SUD) prevention. This includes requiring coverage of nonpharmacological alternatives to opioids; continuing the opioid prescribing limitation indefinitely; continuing indefinitely the requirement for providers to query the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) before a second fill of an opioid; requiring providers to query the PDMP before a second fill of a benzodiazepine; and addressing continuing education requirements concerning opioid prescribing for physicians and physician assistants. The Board voted to Support HB20-1085. February 25, 2020
HB20-1092: Reimbursement to Federally Qualified Health Centers
 The bill requires Medicaid to reimburse federally qualified health centers for telemedicine and clinical pharmacy services. The Board voted to Strongly Support HB20-1092 February 13, 2020
HB20-1160: Drug Price Transparency Insurance Premium Reductions
More Info 		The bill requires reporting on prescription drugs by manufacturers, insurers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and certain nonprofit organizations with the intent of promoting cost reduction. Drug manufacturers are to provide one day advance notice to purchasers when drug prices are increasing beyond a specified threshold. The Board voted to Support HB20-1160 February 13, 2020
HB20-1198: Pharmacy Benefits Carrier & PBM Requirements
More Info 		The bill imposes requirements regarding the administration of prescription drug benefits under health plans. The bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers from modifying their prescription drug formulary at any time during the benefit year. Insurers and PBMs are required to submit their programs for compensating pharmacies/pharmacists and their prescription drug formularies ̶ the Commissioner of Insurance is authorized to review the programs to ensure they are fair and reasonable. The Board voted to Support HB20-1198 but encouraged legislators to make amendments.

More Info 		March 10, 2020
HB20-1236: Health Care Coverage Easy Enrollment Program
More Info 		The bill creates the Colorado affordable health care coverage easy enrollment program in order to utilize the tax filing process to connect uninsured Coloradans to free or subsidized health care coverage. The program will allow Coloradans to ask on their state income tax returns for Connect for Health Colorado to assess whether uninsured household members are potentially eligible for coverage. The Board voted to Strongly Support HB20-1236. March 10, 2020
HB20-1294: Replace Illegal Alien with Undocumented Immigrant
 The bill replaces the term "illegal alien" with "undocumented immigrant" as it relates to public contracts for services. The Board voted to Strongly Support HB20-1294. February 25, 2020
HB20-1319: Prohibit Sale of Flavored Nicotine Products
More Info 		After September 1, 2020, the bill prohibits the sale of flavored cigarettes, tobacco products, and nicotine products, and products that are intended to be added to those products to produce a flavor other than tobacco in retail locations that are not age-restricted. The Board voted to Strongly Support HB20-1319. March 10, 2020
SB20-001: Expand Behavioral Health Training for K-12 Educators
More Info 		The bill requires that the Colorado Department of Education offer a train-the-trainer program for employees of local education providers. The program must be designed to improve overall school climate and promote youth behavioral and mental health. The Board voted to Support SB20-001 February 13, 2020
SB20-007: Treatment Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders
More Info 		The bill addresses a variety of issues related to the general topic of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. This includes requiring managed service organizations (MSOs) to create updated community assessments; requiring insurance plans to provide coverage for SUD treatment in accordance with American of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria; prohibiting certain entities and programs from restricting use or access to medication assisted treatment (MAT); requiring Medicaid to include care coordination for SUD and mental health treatment; and consolidating parts of statute. The Board voted to Strongly Support SB20-007 and urges legislators to amend the bill text to ensure person-centered language. February 25, 2020
SB20-028: Substance Use Disorder Recovery
More Info 		The bill addresses a variety of issues related to the general topic of substance use disorder (SUD) recovery. This includes appropriating funds for peer coaching and peer specialist training; continuing the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorder Study Committee; convening stakeholders to review progress on passed and enacted Study Committee bills; designing and conducting a comprehensive review of SUD treatment and recovery services; and establishing a program to provide individuals with a SUD temporary financial housing assistance. The Board voted to Support SB20-028. February 25, 2020
SB20-029: Cost of Living Adjustment for Colorado Works Program
More Info 		Beginning July 1, 2020, the bill would increase Basic Cash Assistance (BCA) in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, called Colorado Works, to at least 110 percent of the BCA in 2019. Starting on July 1, 2021, the Department of Human Services must annually increase the BCA by a cost of living adjustment (COLA) equal to 1.5 percent. The Board voted to Support SB20-029 February 13, 2020
SB20-065: Limit Mobile Electronic Devices While Driving
More Info 		Colorado currently prohibits the use of wireless telephones while driving for teenagers and young adults. This bill proposes to expand that ban to encompass all drivers regardless of age and all mobile electronic devices. The bill includes fines and points on a driver’s license as penalties for the use of a mobile electronic device. This bill would also create an exemption for the use of a hands-free device accessory as well as exemptions for use in certain situations, including emergencies. The Board voted to Support SB20-065 but urged clarification of the definition of “use.” January 28, 2020
SB20-107: Drug Production Costs Transparency Analysis Report
More Info 		The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) is to collect, analyze, and report prescription drug production cost data regarding the 20 highest-cost prescription drugs per course of therapy and the 20 highest-cost prescription drugs by volume that were purchased or paid for by HCPF and other state agencies. The Board voted to Support SB20-107 February 13, 2020
SB20-127: Committee Actuarial Review Health Care Plan Legislation
More Info 		The bill creates a committee to conduct actuarial reviews of state legislation that creates new health insurance coverage requirements. The Board voted to take a Neutral position on SB20-127 February 13, 2020
SB20-163: School Entry Immunizations
More Info 		The bill requires the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to develop a standardized form and submission process for individuals to claim a medical, religious, or personal belief exemption to an immunization. In order to claim a personal or religious belief exemption for their child, this bill would require parents to submit either a certificate of completion of an online education module approved by CDPHE, or a certificate of nonmedical exemption. The Board voted to Strongly Support SB20-163, but encourage legislators to have the requirements apply to all children in the state and have an option to allow for individuals to access a printed version of the education module upon request. March 10, 2020
SCR20-001: A resolution concerning the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment
 The resolution would place a question on the November 2020 ballot for voters to consider regarding repealing the Gallagher Amendment, which concerns property tax assessments. The Board voted to support the resolution. May 26, 2020
SB20-212: Reimbursement for Telehealth Services
 The bill clarifies that an insurer is to reimburse a provider for specific telehealth services. Also, the insurer cannot require the person to have established a relationship with the provider in order to receive medically necessary telehealth services. The insurer cannot impose additional requirements on the provider as conditions for reimbursement. The Board voted to strongly support the bill. May 26, 2020
Repeal of TABOR
 The Board voted to encourage state legislators to consider introduction of a resolution that would place a question on the November 2020 ballot for voters to consider the repeal the constitutional amendment known as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). May 26, 2020
2020 Session Wrap-Up
More Info