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Second Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. 98­0433.01 MN HOUSE BILL 98­1051

STATE OF COLORADO

BY REPRESENTATIVES Takis, Allen, and Hagedorn;

also SENATOR Coffman.

STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

APPROPRIATIONS

A BILL FOR AN ACT

CONCERNING A STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME ON THE SITE OF THE FORMER FITZSIMONS ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION THEREFOR.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted.)

Authorizes construction of a state veterans nursing home to be located on the site of the former Fitzsimons army medical center, which facility shall include skilled nursing care as well as domiciliary beds.

Makes an appropriation.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  26­12­401, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

26­12­401.  Nursing homes authorized. Subject to available appropriations, there is hereby authorized the establishment and construction of nursing homes for veterans of service in the armed forces of the United States and their spouses, surviving spouses, or dependent parents. Each nursing home shall be known as the Colorado state veterans nursing home, collectively referred to in this part 4 as the "nursing homes". The criteria set forth in section 26­12­109.5 shall be followed when an evaluation is made of sites for a proposed state veterans nursing home to be constructed, leased, or purchased. The state veterans nursing homes shall be located ON THE SITE OF THE FORMER FITZSIMONS ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH FACILITY SHALL INCLUDE SKILLED NURSING CARE AS WELL AS DOMICILIARY BEDS, at or near the city of Florence, at or near the city of Walsenburg, at or near the city of Rifle, and in Homelake. Any future locations shall be locations established consistent with section 26­12­109.5. The state veterans nursing homes shall be designed and constructed so as to qualify for federal funding under the provisions of federal Public Law 88­450, as from time to time amended. The nursing homes shall be under the control and supervision of the executive director, and they shall be operated so as to qualify for per diem payments from the United States veterans administration under the provisions of Title 38, U.S. Code, 641.

SECTION 2.  26­12­402, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

26­12­402.  Acceptance ­ construction ­ plans. The executive director is hereby authorized in the name and on behalf of the state to accept any gifts inter vivos of property that may be donated to the state by the city of Florence, the city of Walsenburg, and Garfield county ANY COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, OR SPECIAL DISTRICT for the purpose of the nursing homes. Upon acquiring such property, the executive director shall have plans prepared for the construction of the nursing homes. Plans, specifications, and bids for the construction of the nursing homes shall be approved by the director of the office of state planning and budgeting.

SECTION 3.  Appropriation. In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the capital construction fund created in section 24­75­302, Colorado Revised Statutes, not otherwise appropriated, to the department of human services, office of the executive director, for the construction of a veterans nursing home on the site of the former Fitzsimons army medical center, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998, the sum of five million six hundred sixty­one thousand four hundred nineteen dollars ($5,661,419), or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the implementation of this act. The appropriation made by this section shall become available to the department of human services upon passage of this act, and shall remain available until completion of the project or for a period of three years, whichever comes first, at which time the unexpended and unencumbered balance shall revert to the capital construction fund.

SECTION 4.  Effective date. This act shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety­day period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state constitution; except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor.