House Bill 20-1415 Summary

• Creates Article 14.4 in Colorado labor law establishing worker protections during public health emergencies, prohibiting employers from discriminating, taking adverse action, or retaliating against workers who raise health and safety concerns.

• Protects workers' right to voluntarily wear personal protective equipment that provides higher protection than employer-supplied equipment and is recommended by public health agencies, provided it does not prevent job performance.

• Voids any workplace contracts or policies that prevent workers from disclosing information about health and safety practices or hazards related to a public health emergency.

• Establishes enforcement mechanisms through the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, allowing aggrieved workers to file complaints with a 2-year statute of limitations and pursue district court actions with remedies including reinstatement, back pay, front pay, and compensatory or punitive damages up to the greater of $10,000 or actual lost pay.

• Appropriates $270,153 for fiscal year 2020-21 to the Department of Labor and Employment for enforcement, including 2.5 FTE for the Division and legal services from the Department of Law, with funding authority expiring July 1, 2022.