(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
Colorado is a family-friendly state, and providing the workers of Colorado with family and medical leave insurance will encourage an entrepreneurial atmosphere and economic growth and promote a healthy business climate;
The United States is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not mandateaccess to paid leave benefits. Simultaneously, nearly half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and are unable to access two thousand dollars in the event of an emergency.
This part 3 prepares for the implementation of a paid family and medical leave program in the state by completing a thorough analysis of paid family and medical leave programs by experts in the field, the establishment of a family and medical leave implementation task force, and actuarial and third-party studies; (d) As specified in this part 3:
(I) The timeline for the analysis and implementation of a statewide paid family and medical leave program is as follows:
By July 1, 2019, appointing authorities are required to make their appointments tothe task force;
By October 1, 2019, the department is required to provide the task force with theresults of a third-party study and paid family and medical leave plan recommendations from the experts in the field, and the task force is required to accept and consider public comment regarding the administration and establishment of a paid family and medical leave program;
By November 1, 2019, the task force shall make its initial recommendation on afamily and medical leave program for employees in the state and provide the recommendation to an actuary contracted by the department;
By December 1, 2019, an independent actuarial analysis must be completed andsubmitted to the task force;
By January 8, 2020, the task force shall report its final recommendation on a paidfamily and medical leave program for all employees in the state; (II) The timeline may also be assumed as follows:
By July 1, 2020, the family and medical leave program will be established;
By January 1, 2022, the public education and outreach campaign will begin;
By January 1, 2023, the family and medical leave program funding will begin; and
By January 1, 2024, the family and medical leave program will start paying benefits;
(e) The intent of this part 3 is to assist in the preparation of legislation in the 2020 legislative session establishing a paid family and medical leave program in the state.
Source: L. 2019: Entire part added, (SB 19-188), ch. 352, p. 3246, § 1, effective May 30.