Communication Services People with Disabilities Enterprise
DRAFT
Under current law, the state librarian administers the reading services for the blind program by supporting privately operated reading services for individuals who are blind or print-disabled, and the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind coordinates and advocates for the provision of, and access to, services and resources for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind (services and resources). Sections 2 1 through 14 12 of the bill create the communication services for people with disabilities enterprise (enterprise) and the division for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind (division) to provide these services and resources through imposition of an enterprise fee and administration of the communication services for people with hearing disabilities enterprise Section 8 creates the Colorado division for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind cash fund (cash fund) . (communication services fund) and the reading services for the blind enterprise cash fund (reading fund).Section 1 repeals the reading services for the blind function of the state librarian, which function is transferred to the enterprise in section 8.
Telecommunications relay services (TRS) are provided for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind in the state through a monthly surcharge that wireline voice service providers collect from their telephone customers (monthly surcharge) and through a charge that sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications services impose at the point of sale (charge) . Sections 16 and 17 transfer 77% of the money collected from the TRS monthly surcharge to the communication services fund and the reading fund based on the enterprise's imposition of the enterprise fee to finance the services and resources that the enterprise provides. Under current law, the public utilities commission imposes the monthly surcharge and charge, and the amounts collected are disbursed for the Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind to provide services and resources; for the state librarian to provide reading services for the blind and print-disabled; and for the talking book library. Sections 4, 14, and 15 transfer the authority to impose the monthly surcharge and charge to the enterprise, while maintaining the public utilities commission's responsibility for collecting the monthly surcharge from voice service providers. Money disbursed for services and resources is credited to the cash fund for use by the enterprise and division.15 and 18 13 and 16 through 27 29 make conforming amendments.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)