Sustainable Business Policy
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Sustainable Business Policy

CASBA tracks legislation impacting sustainable businesses across Colorado.  Please view the document below to learn about what was done in the most recent legislative session.

For more information about these bills and other legislation, please visit www.leg.state.co.us. 

Colorado Alliance of

Sustainable Business Associations
This list details 2009 legislation impacting
Colorado's sustainable business community.


Stimulating Business          

2009 Legislation: 
Bill Sponsor Title Description Current Status
HB09-1105 Rep. Kefalas CO Innovation Investment Tax Credit

Creates the Colorado innovation investment tax credit (tax credit) to be applied against state income tax liability. Permits the tax credit for an equity investment in a qualified small business that is in the aerospace, bioscience, clean energy, or information technology industry. Establishes that the tax credit is equal to a specified percentage of the total investment evenly spread over the 2 tax years after the investment. Limits the tax credit to a maximum amount. Prohibits a tax credit from being refunded, but permits the tax credit to be carried forward a specified number of years.
Requires the Colorado office of economic development (office) to determine the eligibility for the tax credit and to issue nontransferable tax credit certificates as evidence of eligibility and the amount of the tax credit. Requires a taxpayer to submit a copy of the tax credit certificate in order to claim the tax credit. Requires the office and the department of revenue to share information related to the tax credits.
Signed by Governor
6/1/09
SB09-016 Sen. Kopp… /
Rep. King S…		 Incentives to Harvest Bark Beetle Timber Interim Committee on Wildfire Issues in Wild Land-Urban Interface Areas. Provides a 5-year exemption from business personal property taxes for qualified businesses that remove trees killed by bark beetles if such businesses assist in forest restoration efforts on the affected land after the beetle-killed timber is removed. Establishes a revolving fund to provide start-up revenues for new Colorado businesses that process and sell beetle-killed timber for beneficial uses.
Postponed Indefinitely
4/17/09.
Opportunity for future collaboration
SB09-031 Sen. Heath/
Rep. Riesberg		 Clean Tech Research Grant Program Creates the clean technology discovery evaluation grant program
(program) in the Colorado office of economic development (office) for
the purpose of improving and expanding the development of new clean technology discoveries at higher education research institutions (research institutions). Requires the office to administer the program and the director of the office to consult with a Colorado-based clean technology industry association in implementing the program.

Signed by Governor
5/04/09
SB09-297 Sen. Sandoval/ Rep. Judd Expedite Federal Stimulus Act Projects Establishes a process for waiving state contracting requirements, when necessary, for projects funded with moneys received pursuant to the federal “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” in order to ensure that moneys are timely and efficiently expended for their intended purposes.
Signed by Governor
5/20/09
SB09-098 Sen. Schwartz/
Rep.Vigil		 Tax Exempt Blended Diesel Products Blending Diesel fuels after withdrawal at the rack and making an appropriation in connection therewith.
Signed by Governor
4/30/09
SB09-099 Sen.Morse/
Rep. Ferrandino		 State Procurement Supplier Databases Centralized databases to aid the delivery of State Procurement services and making an appropriation in connection therewith.

Signed by Governor
6/04/09

SB09-171 Sen. Schwartz/
Rep. Todd&…

New Energy

Jobs Program

 The use of moneys in the Colorado customized training program.

Signed by Governor
5/04/09
HB09-1001 Rep. Rice/
Sen.Heath		 Income Tax Credit for CO Job Growth Establishes the Colorado job growth incentive tax credit for a specified period. Upon conditional approval and annual calculation by the Colorado economic development commission, allows a taxpayer to claim a credit for a specified number of consecutive months within the specified period the credit is available. Allows the commission to allocate the credits by issuing credit certificates to taxpayers who meet established criteria for a project in the state. Allows the credit to be carried forward for a specified time but not refunded. Establishes the methods for issuing credit certificates as well as the application process. Specifies how a credit is to be calculated. Grants the department of revenue rule-making authority.  

Signed by Governor

5/04/09
HB09-1035 Rep. Riesberg/
Sen. Heath		 Clean Tech Med Device Tax Refund Allows clean technology companies and medical device companies that are headquartered in Colorado and that employ 50 or fewer employees (clean technology and medical device companies) to receive refunds of state sales and use taxes paid on the sale, storage, use, or consumption of tangible personal property used in Colorado directly and predominately in research and development of clean technology or medical devices during a calendar year (tax refunds). Limits the amount of the tax refunds that may be claimed by clean technology and medical device companies to $50,000 per company per year.
Signed by Governor
6/01/09

HB09-1063

Rep. Summers/

Sen.Penry

In-state Tuition Parent Moves

for Job

Granting In-State student status to a child who moves to Colorado during the Child’s senior year of high school as the result of the Child’s legal guardian taking a job in the State.

Signed by Governor

5/04/09

HB09-1346

Rep. T. Carroll,

Sen. B. Shaffer

Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Authorizes public entities in the state to fully utilize the financing instruments available under the federal economic stimulus act known as the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” with the purpose of stimulating spending, increasing employment, and reducing unemployment.  

Signed by Governor

6/02/09

HJR09-1021

Rep. Benefield/

Sen. Hudak

Support Telecommuting

Support telecommuting by the State of Colorado.

Adopted

5/05/09

SJR09-022

Sen. Sandoval/

Rep.Looper

Support Small Business

The Proclamation of March 9-13, 2009 as Small Business Week.

Adopted

3/12/09

 

Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency & Green Building

2009 Legislation: 
Bill Sponsor Title Description Current Status
SB09-039 Sen. Schwartz/
Rep. Curry		 Conserve Energy Tiered Rates Incentive Authorizes cooperative electric associations to approve revenue-neutral, reasonable rates, charges, services, classifications, and facilities that establish a graduated rate for increased energy consumption by residential customers, giving due consideration to the impact of such rate on low-income customers. Allows associations to utilize a community energy fund for energy efficiency, energy conservation, weatherization, and renewable energy purposes.
Signed by Governor
4/22/09
HB09-1107 Rep. Kerr A./
Sen. Gibbs		 HOA Limits on Energy
Efficiency Measures		 Prohibits regulations of unit owner associations (HOAs), covenants, or deed restrictions that increase the cost of renewable energy generation devices (such as solar panels) by more than 10% or $500, whichever is less, or reduce their efficiency by more than 10%. Prohibits HOAs from effectively prohibiting the installation of energy efficiency measures (such as awnings, evaporative coolers, or outdoor solar lights) by increasing their cost by more than 10% or $200, whichever is less, or reducing their efficiency by more than 10%.  In any litigation over the increase in cost or decrease in efficiency of an energy efficiency measure or a renewable energy generation device, awards attorney fees to the prevailing party.  Requires applications for the installation of renewable energy generation devices and energy efficiency measures to be acted upon within sixty days, regardless of whether the HOA has a generally applicable standard, guideline, or policy in place when the application is made.

Postponed Indefinitely
2/06/09
Opportunity
for future collaboration
SB09-051 Sen. Carroll M./
Rep. Levy		 Renewable Energy
Financing Act		 Amends the "Colorado Clean Energy Finance Program Act" to:
Specifically include credit unions among the lenders that may make loans under the program; and Specifically include renewable energy developers and installers of solar panels and other renewable energy generation equipment among the contractors that may be certified under the program.
Signed by Governor
4/22/09
HB09-1126 Rep. Hullinghorst/
Sen. Shaffer B.		 Encourage Solar Thermal Installations Allows local governments to provide the same incentives for solar thermal installations as may now be provided for solar electric installations. Adds a corresponding exemption from state sales and use tax.
Signed by Governor
5/15/09

HB09-1129

Rep. Looper/
Sen. Romer

Precipitation Harvesting Pilot Projects

Allows a pilot study to explore the opportunities for utilizing Cisterns in new developments. The pilot will be limited to a small number of houses in the Front Range, and aims to provide new information on how rain catchment can be part of Colorado’s water supply future.

 

Signed by Governor

6/02/09
HB09-1149 Rep. Merrifield/
Sen. Carroll M.		 Solar Home Prewire And Consultation Requires commercial homebuilders to offer the prospective buyer of each home:
- The option of having the home include, or be prewired for, a solar photovoltaic installation; and
- A list of local solar installers who can assess the home's solar energy potential.
Signed by Governor
5/04/09

HB09-1312

Rep. A. Kerr/

Sen. Schwartz

Renewable Energy Loans for Schools

Producing energy on-site with wind and solar will help schools reduce their utility bills, create a buffer against future energy price spikes, and put more money toward educating our children.  HB 1312 creates an innovative program to provide schools access to affordable clean energy with low-interest loans. As a result it will expand opportunity and access to the new energy economy by helping school districts avoid the upfront costs of renewable energy improvement.

  

Signed by Governor

5/15/09

SJR09-028

Sen. Heath/

Rep. Primavera

Cool Cities

Recognition of Colorado’s cool cities.

Adopted

4/03/09


Resource Recovery

2009 Legislation:
Bill Sponsor Title Description Current Status

SR09-016

Sen. Tochtrop

Encourage Recycling In Public Schools

Encouraging Public schools in Colorado to implement recycling programs.

Adopted

4/22/09

HB09-1282

Rep. Fischer

Ewaste Recycling

Promote reuse, refurbishment and recycling of electronics waste. Reducing the environmental impact over the life of the product, and creating more jobs.

Signed by Governor

6/01/09