DENVER — It took a little more than 51 hours to complete the state's special legislative session.
It requires at least three days to pass legislation in Colorado, and lawmakers passed 10 bills that were introduced Monday and are now on their way to the governor.
The bills include:
- Grants to expand internet access for K-12 learning
- Emergency child care grant money
- Food pantry assistance
- Four-month sales tax reduction for restaurants and bars
- Food delivery fee limits by local governments
- Insurance premium tax payments and credits
- Small business and arts organizations grant money
- Housing assistance money
- Utility bill assistance money
- COVID-19 emergency relief money
The small business and arts organizations grant money legislation will provide $37 million to business owners. The money will be distributed through counties, and the business can apply for up to $7,000, depending on how much money the business made in 2019.
Part of the bill guides the governor's office to establish a program where businesses can qualify for looser restrictions if they meet certain criteria:
"The general assembly further declares that the executive branch will continue to develop a framework to certify businesses that demonstrate exemplary compliance with public health orders during the pandemic through an evidence-based certification program that is aligned with the state's objectives to contain the COVID-19 virus."
This is not a requirement under the bill, but it's already underway.
"This would be optional for counties," said Democratic Gov. Jared Polis. "Nobody has to do any type of certification method. In fact, it's actually an additional step and work. I think many counties will, certainly Larimer (County) is excited. I know many counties are. They want to find a way where they can reward businesses that are going above and beyond in their COVID safety protocols."
Mesa County has a pilot "Five Star Variance Protection Program" that allows businesses to open with greater capacity, despite the county's designation.
RELATED: Mesa County COVID-19 certification program for businesses serves as model for statewide initiative
The state is seeking feedback through Friday on what a statewide "Five Star" program would look like.
The current draft calls for businesses to meet the following criteria:
- The business has a written plan about how they are:
- Implementing or exceeding state prevention guidelines
- Implementing or exceeding local prevention
- Have a clear compliance and enforcement plan
- 100% mask wearing amongst staff and customers with strong compliance and enforcement protocols
- All employees do daily symptom checks or screening either with CDPHE symptom tracker tool or other approved protocol
- Regular outreach to employees and customers to activate Exposure Notifications
- Businesses must record the name and contact number of customers to be used for contact tracing should a case be traced back to that business
- Business complies with industry specific requirements including:
- Restaurants - table spacing is at least 10 feet, and reservations are required
- Gyms - reservations are required
- Personal services - reservations are required
- Further industry specific requirements will continue to be developed
- Any business that has been cited for noncompliance with a public health order is ineligible to be certified
If it were implemented, what would that mean for businesses?
It's unclear what it would mean for the 25 Level Red counties. Next week, the state will review Mesa County's program and decide if businesses in Level Red counties would be allowed looser restrictions if they qualify.
For every other colored county, the draft for the statewide program would allow qualified businesses to act as though they're one color level better than the entire county.
Meaning, a qualified business in a Level Orange county could act as though it was in Level Yellow.
It means more capacity, but how much more depends on the type of business and which color that business would be working under.
The statewide guidelines should be completed for counties to consider by Dec. 18.
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