The Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR), part of the Executive Director’s Office at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), has released its 2024 sunset reports. These documents have been sent to the Colorado General Assembly and are now accessible to the public on COPRRR’s website at coprrr.colorado.gov.
“Sunset reviews keep Colorado on the forefront of regulatory reform,” said Patty Salazar, DORA Executive Director. “We provide the General Assembly with comprehensive and thoughtful recommendations for changes to regulatory and other government programs. Protecting consumers while fostering an inclusive economy and a thriving workforce is now more important than ever.”
For 2024, COPRRR conducted 16 sunset reviews across various state agencies to assess whether certain regulations should continue or be modified. The goal was to find ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining consumer protection. Programs reviewed included those within DORA as well as in departments such as Public Health and Environment, Public Safety, Human Services, Labor and Employment, Agriculture, and Early Childhood.
“While consumer protection is front and center in all that we do, we also seek to find the balance between protecting the public and eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens,” said Brian Tobias, Director of COPRRR. “Public participation is vital to the sunset process. When conducting sunset reviews, we strive to include as many interested parties as possible, and we encourage the public to contact us directly to participate in any of our reviews.”
Among this year’s findings:
– Regulation will continue for several professions including dental hygienists, dental therapists, dentists, outfitters, and health care practitioners who treat workers’ compensation injuries.
– Licensure requirements for commodity handlers, community integrated health care service agencies, and farm products dealers will remain in place following recommendations that continued regulation protects the public.
– The Rural Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program will continue after review determined it remains necessary for providing substance abuse prevention services for youth in rural areas along with detoxification services for both youth and adults.
– The HOA Information and Resource Center will continue its work providing information about homeowners’ associations (HOAs) as well as handling complaints from HOA members or boards.
– Continuation was also recommended for the Identity Theft and Financial Fraud Deterrence Act along with its associated Fraud Investigators Unit that supports law enforcement investigations into financial fraud.
– The Motorcycle Operator Safety Training program—which oversees safety training for Coloradans seeking motorcycle endorsements—will also continue.
– The Primary Care Payment Reform Collaborative will maintain its role developing recommendations on alternative payment models among payers, providers, and patients.
Some entities were recommended for discontinuation:
– The Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee is no longer active; its repeal is already scheduled when lawmakers reconvene in 2025.
– The Commodity Metals Theft Task Force is suggested for sunset since sufficient expertise has been developed within law enforcement independently of this group.
– The Title Insurance Commission may also be discontinued due to inactivity over recent years.
A full list of reports along with a schedule of future sunset reviews can be found at coprrr.colorado.gov.
