Auxiliary Services Rural Areas

Section 1 of the act is a nonstatutory legislative declaration stating the critical need for the provision and financing of auxiliary services throughout rural areas of the state. Auxiliary services are aids and services that assist in effective communication with a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind.

Section 2 requires the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind (commission) to arrange for the provision of auxiliary services in rural areas of the state, including the provision of training and outreach regarding the auxiliary services. The commission is required to report annually on the program to the joint budget committee.

Section 3 amends the definition of "entity" regarding entities eligible to apply to the commission for grant money to remove the requirement that a not-for-profit organization must be a community-based organization to be eligible to apply for grant money.

Section 4 directs the public utilities commission to implement a cost-recovery mechanism to support the provision of auxiliary services in rural areas of the state.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)