Page 1 May 14, 2024 HB 24-1097 Legislative Council Staff Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature Final Fiscal Note Drafting Number: Prime Sponsors: LLS 24-0736 Rep. Taggart; Weissman Sen. Fields; Gardner Date: Bill Status: Fiscal Analyst: May 14, 2024 Signed into Law Clayton Mayfield | 303-866-5851 clayton.mayfield@coleg.gov Bill Topic: MILITARY FAMILY OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALING Summary of Fiscal Impact: ☒ State Revenue ☒ State Expenditure ☐ State Transfer ☐ TABOR Refund ☐ Local Government ☐ Statutory Public Entity The bill modifies the occupational credential portability program in the Department of Regulatory Agencies. Starting in FY 2024-25, the bill minimally decreases state revenue and increases state workload on an ongoing basis. Appropriation Summary: No appropriation is required. Fiscal Note Status: The fiscal note reflects the enacted bill. Summary of Legislation Starting September 1, 2024, the bill allows dependents and Gold Star spouses of individuals serving in the United States armed forces to participate in the Occupational Credential Portability Program in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Eligible participants must have been relocated to Colorado, which includes a transfer from a regular component of a uniformed service into a reserve component if the transfer involved a final move to Colorado. Additionally, the bill makes several changes to the Occupational Credential Portability Program, including: striking language that makes licenses issued under the program temporary; requiring that regulators only consider whether an applicant has a license in good standing and not whether the applicant has committed an act that would be subject to discipline in Colorado if such an act is not prohibited in the home state; making licenses issued under the program valid for six years; and making licenses issued under the program renewable. Page 2 May 14, 2024 HB 24-1097 Background House Bill 20-1326 established the Occupational Credential Portability Program, which allows individuals with a current, active occupational credential issued by another state, U.S. territory, or foreign country to apply for a credential in Colorado through a streamlined process. State Revenue The bill will decrease state revenue from licensing fees by adding to the population of individuals eligible for the program and waiving the fees for program applicants. Based on the current military-related population served by the program, this revenue decrease is expected to be minimal. Additionally, the professions and licenses for which new program applicants will apply is unknown. State Expenditures The bill will minimally increase workload and costs in DORA to update rules, conduct outreach and education about program changes, and process any additional applications received. These activities may minimally increase the need for legal services provided by the Department of Law (DOL). This work can be accomplished within existing resources and no change in appropriations is required. Effective Date The bill was signed into law by the Governor on April 17, 2024 and takes effect September 1, 2024. State and Local Government Contacts Information Technology Law Military Affairs Regulatory Agencies The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.