Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends state worker compensation insurance laws in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the state from suggesting or requiring the state employee to resign, refrain from seeking employment with the state in the future, or any other restrictions placed on the individual's ability to work for the state (Sec. 6a-c). 

• Specifies that a provision of an agreement that violates Sec. 6 is void (Sec. 7). 

• Exempts other provisions of an agreement enforceable unless otherwise prohibited by law (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes regulations to explore the availability of insurance policies, including (Sec. 9):

• The department of personnel is required to request interest from Pinnacol Assurance and five other insurance companies providing workers' compensation if the state elects self-insurance workers' compensation claims; or

• Exempts the Department of Personnel from requesting interest more than once every three years (Sec. 1); 

• Required department of personnel requests include an estimate of the total cost for the state to purchase workers compensation insurance, the company's ability to provide workers compensation insurance for all state employees, and a description of the coverage that would be provided (Sec. 9a-c).  

• Requires the department to submit a report to the general assembly specifying; 

• The name of the responding insurance company;

• The total cost estimated by the responding insurance company;

• Whether purchasing worker's compensation insurance requires a contract with a third-party administrator;

• A description of the coverage the responding insurance company would provide;

• The costs attributed to the self-insurance selected by the state for that year; or 

• Whether the state costs regarding self-insurance have increased or decreased within the last year.

• Requires the first report to specify the insurance companies the state sent requests of interest, the total number of insurance companies that responded to the request, and the cost reported in each response (Sec. 11). 

• Amends CO Revised Status 8-43-204 and specifies that if the state enters a settlement agreement with a state employee pursuant to subsection 1 the state is prohibited from forcing state employees to resign, refrain from seeking employment with the state in the future, or any other restriction be placed on the pursuant ability to work for the state (Sec. a-c).

• Establishes this act as crucial for public safety of the departments of state and state institutions (Sec. 3). 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends state worker compensation insurance laws in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the state from suggesting or requiring the state employee to resign, refrain from seeking employment with the state in the future, or any other restrictions placed on the individual's ability to work for the state (Sec. 6a-c). 

• Specifies that a provision of an agreement that violates Sec. 6 is void (Sec. 7). 

• Exempts other provisions of an agreement enforceable unless otherwise prohibited by law (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes regulations to explore the availability of insurance policies, including (Sec. 9):

• The department of personnel is required to request interest from Pinnacol Assurance and five other insurance companies providing workers' compensation if the state elects self-insurance workers' compensation claims; or

• Exempts the Department of Personnel from requesting interest more than once every three years (Sec. 1); 

• Required department of personnel requests include an estimate of the total cost for the state to purchase workers compensation insurance, the company's ability to provide workers compensation insurance for all state employees, and a description of the coverage that would be provided (Sec. 9a-c).  

• Requires the department to submit a report to the general assembly specifying; 

• The name of the responding insurance company;

• The total cost estimated by the responding insurance company;

• Whether purchasing worker's compensation insurance requires a contract with a third-party administrator;

• A description of the coverage the responding insurance company would provide;

• The costs attributed to the self-insurance selected by the state for that year; or 

• Whether the state costs regarding self-insurance have increased or decreased within the last year.

• Requires the first report to specify the insurance companies the state sent requests of interest, the total number of insurance companies that responded to the request, and the cost reported in each response (Sec. 11). 

• Amends CO Revised Status 8-43-204 and specifies that if the state enters a settlement agreement with a state employee pursuant to subsection 1 the state is prohibited from forcing state employees to resign, refrain from seeking employment with the state in the future, or any other restriction be placed on the pursuant ability to work for the state (Sec. a-c).

• Establishes this act as crucial for public safety of the departments of state and state institutions (Sec. 3). 

Full Bill Text