BY SENATORS Alexander, Coffman, Wham, Bishop, Feeley, Hernandez, Hopper, Johnson, Lamborn, Martinez, Matsunaka, Mutzebaugh, Norton, Pascoe, Perlmutter, Phillips, Rupert, Schroeder, Weddig, and Wells;
also REPRESENTATIVES Epps, Takis, George, Hagedorn,
Gotlieb, Kaufman, Mace, Nichol, Reeser, Sinclair, and Snyder.
CONCERNING FACILITIES FOR VETERANS IN THE STATE OF
COLORADO AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF A STATE VETERANS HOME AT THE FORMER FITZSIMONS ARMY MEDICAL
CENTER, AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION THEREFOR.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State
of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Part
2 of article 12 of title 26, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended
BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
2612201.5 Nursing home
at former Fitzsimons authorized. (1) SUBJECT
TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS AND THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (3)
OF THIS SECTION, THERE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED THE ESTABLISHMENT
AND CONSTRUCTION OF A STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME ON THE SITE
OF THE FORMER FITZSIMONS ARMY MEDICAL CENTER.
(2) PREFERENCE FOR ADMISSION TO THE STATE
VETERANS NURSING HOME AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1) OF
THIS SECTION SHALL BE GIVEN TO ANY VETERAN WHO IS NOT CURRENTLY
A RESIDENT IN ANOTHER STATE VETERANS NURSING HOME.
(3) NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2000, AND
PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AT FITZSIMONS, THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE STATE, VETERANS, AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE
AND TO THE CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND THE JOINT BUDGET
COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT SHALL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING
ISSUES:
(a) THE PROJECTED INCREASED NEED FOR VETERANS
BEDS IN THE DENVER METROPOLITAN AREA;
(b) THE IMPACT OR BENEFITS THAT A FACILITY
IN THE DENVER METROPOLITAN AREA WOULD HAVE IN TERMS OF ENHANCING
AND CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES;
(c) THE IMPACT, IF ANY, THAT THE FACILITY
AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS SECTION WOULD HAVE
UPON EXISTING STATE VETERANS NURSING HOMES AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR WAYS TO MITIGATE ANY ADVERSE IMPACT THE FACILITY WOULD HAVE
UPON SUCH EXISTING STATE VETERANS NURSING HOMES;
(d) THE EFFORTS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT
TO IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE AN EXISTING NURSING FACILITY WITHIN THE
DENVER METROPOLITAN AREA THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE TO BE LEASED OR
PURCHASED SUCH THAT THE FACILITY MEETS OR CAN BE RENOVATED TO
MEET U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NURSING FACILITY STANDARDS.
THE EVALUATION SHALL INCLUDE A REVIEW OF SPACE REQUIREMENTS AS
WELL AS A DETERMINATION OF THE STAFF EFFICIENCY AND COSTEFFECTIVENESS
OF OPERATING THE EXISTING NURSING FACILITY.
(e) OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS OF CONTRACTING
WITH OTHER PRIVATE OR PUBLIC ENTITIES FOR ALL OR PART OF THE OPERATION
AND MANAGEMENT OF THE FACILITY AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION
(1) OF THIS SECTION.
(4) PRIOR TO OBTAINING A CONSTRUCTION
GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND IN CONJUNCTION
WITH THE REPORT REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION,
THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL PRESENT A BUSINESS PLAN TO THE STATE,
VETERANS, AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE SENATE, THE CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND THE JOINT
BUDGET COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL
ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING THE REMAINING CONSTRUCTION COSTS,
AS WELL AS STARTUP COSTS NECESSARY FOR THE INITIAL OPERATION
OF THE FACILITY.
(5) SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION
(3) OF THIS SECTION, CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY AUTHORIZED PURSUANT
TO SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS SECTION SHALL BEGIN NO LATER THAN OCTOBER
1, 2001, OR UPON RECEIPT OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SUCH CONSTRUCTION.
(6) THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT BE
AUTHORIZED TO USE ANY GENERAL FUNDS TO COVER ANY OPERATIONAL SHORTFALL
INCURRED BY THE FACILITY AFTER ITS CONSTRUCTION AND BEFORE IT
BEGINS TO GENERATE REVENUES SUFFICIENT TO COVER ITS OPERATIONAL
EXPENSES.
SECTION 2. 2475302
(2) (k), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
2475302. Capital construction
fund capital assessment fees calculation.
(2) As of July 1, 1988, and July 1 of each year thereafter
through July 1, 2001, a sum as specified in this subsection (2)
shall accrue to the capital construction fund. The state treasurer
and the controller shall transfer such sum out of the general
fund and into the capital construction fund as moneys become available
in the general fund during the fiscal year beginning on said July
1. Transfers between funds pursuant to this subsection (2) shall
not be deemed to be appropriations subject to the limitations
of section 2475201.1. The amount which shall accrue
pursuant to this subsection (2) shall be as follows:
(k) On July 1, 1998, fifty million dollars
plus three hundred sixteen thousand six hundred thirtyfive
dollars pursuant to H.B. 971186, enacted at the first regular
session of the sixtyfirst general assembly, PLUS FOUR MILLION
THREE HUNDRED SIX THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY DOLLARS PURSUANT
TO S.B. 98186, ENACTED AT THE SECOND REGULAR SESSION OF
THE SIXTYFIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY;
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 state veterans nursing
home on the site of the former Fitzsimons army medical center,
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998, the sum of four million
three hundred six thousand seven hundred seventy dollars ($4,306,770),
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. Safety
clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and
declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation
of the public peace, health, and safety.
____________________________ ____________________________
Tom Norton Charles E. Berry
PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
____________________________ ____________________________
Patricia K. Dicks Judith M. Rodrigue
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED________________________________________
_________________________________________
Roy Romer
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
OF COLORADO