HB 15-1065: Regulatory Reform Act of 2015

• Establishes that Colorado's small businesses with 100 or fewer employees represent the majority of business activity in the state and makes a legislative finding that these businesses often lack awareness of new regulatory rules until enforcement action occurs.

• Defines "new rule" as any regulatory requirement in existence for less than one year prior to state agency enforcement and "minor violation" as violations of new rules by businesses with 100 or fewer employees involving record-keeping or administrative matters that do not affect public or worker safety.

• Excludes from "minor violation" definition certain matters including state permits/licenses, federal law requirements, Uniform Consumer Credit Code enforcement, Colorado Civil Rights Division rules, and Department of Public Health and Environment rules.

• Requires state agencies regulating small businesses to develop and distribute fact sheets for new rules adopted each fiscal year, available in electronic form, to aid business compliance.

• Mandates that state agencies issue written warnings and conduct educational outreach for any first-time minor violation of a new rule by a business with 100 or fewer employees, rather than imposing penalties.