Communication Services People with Disabilities Enterprise
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 through 14 of the bill create the communication services for people with disabilities enterprise (enterprise) to provide these services and resources through imposition of an enterprise fee and administration of the communication services for people with hearing disabilities enterprise cash fund (communication services fund) and the reading services for the blind enterprise cash fund (reading fund).
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. 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.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)