Colorado Passes 10 Bills For COVID-19 Relief

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has called a special legislative session to help small businesses and individuals affected by the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Colorado lawmakers met from November 30 to December 30. 2, 2020, and passed 10 bills aimed at a number of relief efforts in various areas, including education-related internet access, childcare, pantry assistance , tax relief and assistance to small businesses, restaurants and individuals financially affected by COVID-19[FEMALELawprojectsadoptedarebrieflydescribedbelow[FEMININELesprojetsdeloiadoptéssontbrièvementdécritsci-dessous

Bill House 1001

HB 1001 concerns support for expanding Internet access for education P-12. This will provide grants to provide better internet access for students, educators and other staff. By January 10, 2021, the Colorado Department of Education, in collaboration with the Office of Information Technology and broadband service providers, must develop and make publicly available a list of services. free or low cost broadband and other Internet access resources.

Bill House 1002

HB 1002 creates two emergency grant programs to quickly distribute cash to licensed and start-up child care providers. The “Child Care Sustainability Grant Program” will provide financial support to approved providers in the amount of between $ 500 and $ 35,000. The Colorado Department of Social Services is expected to issue these award amounts no later than February 28, 2021. The “Emerging Child Care Subsidy Program” aims to expand access and availability of licensed providers and will provide awards in an amount between $ 3,000 and $ 50,000. The Colorado Department of Social Services must issue these award amounts by January 31, 2021.

Bill 1003

HB 1003 expands and expands Colorado’s existing pantry assistance grant program. It allocates additional funds to food banks and pantries and removes the previous grant cap of $ 35,000. It also increases the amount a grant recipient can use for their expenses from 10% to 20%.

Bill House 1004

HB 1004 allows a temporary deduction from state net taxable sales for qualifying retailers, including bars, restaurants and food trucks, to allow those retailers to retain the sales tax they collect as assistance for loss of income due to COVID-19.

Bill 1005

HB 1005 Allows counties and municipalities to pass ordinances to limit the fees that third-party food delivery services may charge to restaurants where indoor dining is prohibited at a capacity of at least 50% or less, at the discretion county or municipality. It also (i) prevents third-party food delivery services from reducing compensation or tips for delivery drivers, (ii) requires that all charges billed to restaurants be disclosed by the third-party food delivery service to the customer, and (iii) restricts the ability for third party food delivery providers to serve a restaurant without the restaurant’s consent.

Bill House 1006

HB 1006 adjusts the way insurance premium tax estimates for the calendar quarter are calculated and adjusts the first quarter payment to reflect a qualifying tax credit claim or previous estimated payments. A business that has overpaid its insurance premiums can either apply the overpayment to future payments or request a refund. When calculating the refund, any requested non-refundable tax credits are first applied to the company’s tax liability, and the amount of the refund cannot exceed the total amount of additional payments made by the company. . It also allows taxpayers to claim a Small Business Restoration Tax Credit or Affordable Housing Tax Credit against estimated premium tax payments, and allows the transfer of tax credits for the reestablishment of small businesses between affiliates.

Senate Bill 1

SB 1 provides funds to support businesses that have been severely affected by COVID-19. It allocates $ 37 million for direct relief payments to small businesses with severe capacity restrictions, including restaurants, bars, cinemas and fitness centers. It allocates $ 7.5 million for direct relief payments to eligible individuals and organizations in the arts, culture and entertainment; $ 6.78 million to the Department of Public Health and Environment to end annual licensing fees for restaurants; $ 1.89 million to the Ministry of Revenue to make up for the lack of revenue due to the exemption from alcohol license fees; and $ 4 million to provide direct assistance to minority-owned businesses.

Senate Bill 2

SB 2 provides temporary help to people facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The bill creates a direct emergency aid program that requires the state treasurer to transfer $ 44.5 million from the general fund to the housing development grant fund, $ 5 million to the housing development fund. housing development grants and $ 500,000 to the Eviction Legal Defense Fund.

Senate Bill 3

SB 3 provides $ 5 million in funding to the Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund administered by the Colorado Office of Energy. The fund is to be used by Energy Outreach Colorado to help low-income residents pay their utility bills. All funds must be distributed by June 30, 2021 and funds cannot be used for administrative purposes.

Senate Bill 4

SB 4 requires the state treasurer to transfer $ 100 million from the general fund to the controlled maintenance trust fund, which is part of the state emergency reserve under the TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights). The money will allow Governor Polis to transfer funds from the Controlled Maintenance Trust Fund to the Disaster Emergency Fund for public health and emergency response expenses associated with COVID-19.