CO HB 21-1210

529s

Description                                 

The federal "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act", which became law in December 2017, added distributions for elementary or secondary tuition expenses as qualified 
distributions from a qualified state tuition program (529 account), thereby allowing, on the federal level, income tax-free distributions for elementary and secondary tuition expenses in addition to already authorized income tax-free distributions for higher education expenses. Similarly, the federal "Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act  of 2019", which became law in December 2019, expands the qualified distributions from a 529 account to include 
repayment of qualified education loans and payments for registered apprenticeships.The bill creates the foundational learning experience savings program (FLEX savings program). The bill also specifies that distributions from FLEX savings program accounts are not counted as federal or state taxable income and that contributions to FLEX savings program accounts for qualified elementary or secondary tuition expenses may not be deducted from state taxable income. The accounts created under the FLEX savings program are defined by the following characteristics: Account owners may only use distributions from the accounts for qualified elementary or secondary tuition expenses; Anyone may contribute to the account, irrespective of their relationship to the  account's designated beneficiary; An account owner may transfer money to the FLEX savings program accounts from a 529 account, if the total of all amounts transferred does not exceed $10,000 and is less than or equal to the lowest balance in the 529 account at any point during the previous 2 years; and Money in the account can be transferred to a different 529 account. The bill also allows for expenses for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the participation of a designated beneficiary in certain apprenticeship programs to be treated as "qualified higher education expenses" and subtracted from federal taxable income. The bill clarifies that "qualified higher education expenses" does not include repayment of qualified education loans.  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Bill Summary                               

From preamble: "The bill also specifies that distributions from FLEX savings program accounts are not counted as federal or state taxable income and that contributions to FLEX savings program accounts for qualified elementary or secondary tuition expenses may not be deducted from state taxable income. The accounts created under the FLEX savings program are defined by the following characteristics: Account owners may only use distributions from the accounts for qualified elementary or secondary tuition expenses; "QUALIFIED ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY TUITION EXPENSES" MEANS EXPENSES FOR TUITION IN CONNECTION WITH ENROLLMENT OR ATTENDANCE AT AN ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION THAT ARE INCLUDED IN ANY 
REFERENCE TO QUALIFIED HIGHER EDUCATION EXPENSES IN SECTION 529 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE BY 
OPERATION OF SECTION 529 (c)(7) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1210      Current Status of the bill:   INTRODUCED 

THERE IS A SIMILAR BILL INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE

CO SB 21-056

Expand Cannabis-based Medicine At Schools

Description

Under current law, school districts must permit primary caregivers to possess and administer cannabis-based medicine on school grounds and school principals are given the discretion to permit the storage, possession, and administration of cannabis-based medicine on school grounds by school personnel. The bill removes the discretion from the school principals and requires school boards to implement policies allowing for the storage, possession, and administration of cannabis-based medicine by school personnel. The bill allows school personnel to volunteer to possess, administer, or assist in administration of cannabis-based medicine and protects those who do from retaliation. The bill imposes a duty on school principals to create a written treatment plan for the administration of cannabis-based medicine and on school boards to adopt policies regarding actual administration.The bill provides disciplinary protection to nurses who administer cannabis-based medicine to students at school. The bill requires schools to treat cannabis-based medicine recommendations like prescriptions. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)  This does apply to public schools.  But private schools should be aware of it if your parents ask. 

Bill Summary

"PROCESSES FOR THE STORAGE, POSSESSION, AND 1ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN A NONSMOKEABLE FORM TO A STUDENT WHO HOLDS A VALID RECOMMENDATION FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA UPON THE GROUNDS OF THE PRESCHOOL OR PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN WHICH THE STUDENT IS ENROLLED.FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL TREAT A RECOMMENDATION FOR A NONSMOKEABLE FORM OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA FROM A LICENSED PHYSICIAN AS MEDICATION THAT IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER."

http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-056  Current Status of the bill:  PASSED IN THE SENATE, SENT TO THE HOUSE

CO HB 21-1133

K-12 Seizure  Traning & Individual Action Plans

Description

The bill requires kindergarten through twelfth grade public schools (school), and strongly encourages nonpublic schools, to provide annual seizure-related training to school personnel who have direct contact with or supervise students who have a seizure disorder.The parent or legal guardian (parent) of a student who has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, including epilepsy, (student) is encourage to submit a signed, individualized seizure action plan (plan) to the school if the student may need assistance with seizure-related care in a school setting. The plan must be developed in coordination with recognized sources on epilepsy and
seizure disorders and in consultation with a state organization that represents school nurses. The seizure action plan must be in accordance with the guidelines developed by the department of education. The parent is encouraged to provide updated
information to the plan when necessary. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1133    Current Status of the bill:  INTRODUCED

CO HB 21-1191

Prohibit Discrimination COVID-19 Vaccine Status

Description

The bill prohibits an employer, including a licensed health facility, from taking adverse action against an employee or an applicant for employment based on the employee's or applicant's COVID-19 immunization status. The bill allows an aggrieved employee or applicant for employment to file a 
civil action for injunctive, affirmative, and equitable relief and, if the employer or health facility acted with malice or wanton or willful misconduct or has repeatedly violated the law, the court may also award punitive damages and attorney fees and costs.Additionally, the bill specifies that the COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory, that the state cannot  require any individual to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine, and that government agencies and private businesses, including health insurers, 
cannot discriminate against clients, patrons, or customers based on their COVID-19 vaccination status. A person  aggrieved by a violation of these prohibitions may file a civil action for injunctive and other appropriate relief and may be awarded punitive damages and attorney fees and costs for wanton, willful, or repeated violations. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1191  Current Status of the bill: INTRODUCED