ColoradoCommunication Services People with Disabilities Enterprise
What it does
Under current law, the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind coordinates and advocates for the provision of, and access to, services and resources for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind (services and resources). Sections 1 through 11 of the act create the communication services for people with disabilities enterprise (enterprise) and the division for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind (division) within the department of human services to provide these services and resources. Section 8 creates the Colorado division for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind cash fund (cash fund).
More detail
Telecommunications relay services (TRS) are provided for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind in the state through a monthly surcharge that voice service providers collect from their telephone customers (monthly surcharge) and through a charge that sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications services impose at the point of sale (charge). Under current law, the public utilities commission (commission) imposes the monthly surcharge and charge, and the amounts collected are disbursed for the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind to provide services and resources; for the state librarian to provide reading services for the blind and print-disabled; and for the talking book library. Sections 4 and 15 transfer the authority to impose the monthly surcharge and charge to the enterprise, while maintaining the commission's responsibility for collecting the monthly surcharge from voice service providers. Money disbursed for services and resources is credited to the cash fund for use by the enterprise and the division.
For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $5,550,636 of monthly surcharge and charge amounts collected by voice service providers and prepaid wireless telecommunications services retailers to the departments of human services, education, regulatory agencies, revenue, personnel, and law to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- May 22Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- May 12Signed by the Speaker of the House
- May 12Signed by the President of the Senate
- May 12Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 1House Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
- Vote recorded ADOPT. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 29Senate Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded ADOPT CCR. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 28First Conference Committee Result was to Adopt Rerevised w/ Amendments
- Apr 23House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference Committee
- Vote recorded NOT CNCR. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
- Apr 17Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed Senate
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 16Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, FloorMinor
- Apr 15Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Apr 11Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Mar 27Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Refer Amended to AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 13Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & TechnologyMinor
- Mar 11House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed House
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- Mar 7House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Feb 19House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to AppropriationsMinor
- Feb 12House Committee on Health & Human Services Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
- Jan 29Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human ServicesIntroduced