Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies: Colorado's 2020 Sunrise and Sunset Reviews Released

DENVER, Colorado, Oct. 17 -- The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies issued the following news on Oct. 16:

The Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR), part of the Office of the Executive Director at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), today released the 2020 sunset and sunrise reports. The reports have been sent to the Colorado General Assembly and are now available online at coprrr.colorado.gov.

This year, COPRRR conducted 20 sunset and sunrise reviews of programs throughout Colorado state government to identify opportunities to reduce regulatory burdens while upholding consumer protection. Programs reviewed include those housed within DORA and the Departments of Education, Higher Education, Labor and Employment, Natural Resources, Personnel and Administration, Public Health and Environment, and Public Safety.

"The regular review of state regulatory programs, functions and processes is what keeps Colorado competitive and helps to strengthen our economic climate," said DORA Executive Director Patty Salazar. "Engaging industry and consumers alike through the sunset and sunrise reviews helps to ensure we provide the General Assembly with comprehensive, sound recommendations."

"COPRRR strives to protect the public while streamlining government programs and eliminating unnecessary regulation," said COPRRR Director Brian Tobias. "The sunrise and sunset review processes are open to the public and we encourage anyone interested in participating in any future reviews to visit our website and contact us directly."

Report highlights include:

* Continuing regulation: Professions, such as direct-entry midwives, pharmacists, surgical assistants and surgical technologists, were up for sunset reviews, and the reviews recommend continuing licensure of these professions.

* Not recommended for regulation: Sunrise reviews of possible new regulatory programs included athlete agents, auto recyclers, behavior analysts and peer support professionals. The reviews concluded that new or additional state regulation of these occupations or professions is not necessary to protect consumers.

* Continuing administrative programs: The Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) advocates on behalf of residential, small business and agricultural consumers in electric and natural gas matters pertaining to investor-owned utilities. The sunset review determined that the OCC was necessary to protect consumers and recommended continuation.

* Recommended for sunset: Athletic trainers work with athletes to prevent injury, recover from injury and respond to any health-care issues that may occur during a sporting event. The sunset review found little evidence that regulation was necessary and instead recommended that athletic trainers be required to pass a national examination.

* Unique recommendation: In Colorado, dental hygienists may apply interim therapeutic restoration (ITR), a technique in which tooth decay is removed and a glass ionomer sealant is applied to prevent additional decay. In order to reduce unnecessary burdens, the sunset review recommends allowing Colorado-licensed dentists who collaborate with ITR procedures via telehealth to have practices in surrounding states as long as they are within a reasonable distance for follow-up care.

The complete sunset and sunrise reports and a schedule of future reviews are available online at coprrr.colorado.gov.