§ 10-16-1004 — Health-care coverage cooperatives - establishment - fees

Colorado § 10-16-1004

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 10: Insurance
• Art.: Health-care Coverage

Text

(1)
(a) There is hereby authorized the creation of entities to be known as health-care
coverage cooperatives. A health-care coverage cooperative may be created as any
lawful entity under articles 55, 56, 58, 101 to 117, or 121 to 137 of title 7, C.R.S., so
long as such entity operates for the mutual benefit of its members. Entities created
pursuant to this part 10, in addition to the matters otherwise required, are subject to
this part 10.

(b) Each cooperative shall follow the organizational requirements and
corporate governance requirements of its statutory incorporation and, in addition,
shall provide internal procedures that comply with section 10-16-1009.

(2) (a) (I) A cooperative organized on or after August 4, 2004, for the
purposes of securing health-care coverage for its members and their eligible
employees shall file articles of organization with the secretary of state and shall
provide a copy of such articles to the commissioner in such form as the secretary
and the commissioner may require consistent with this part 10 and title 7, C.R.S.

(II) For cooperatives formed prior to August 4, 2004, the executive director
of the department of health care policy and financing shall provide the
commissioner with such cooperatives' articles of organization.

(b) Any person or entity operating or holding itself out as a cooperative shall
apply for and obtain a certificate of authority to operate as a cooperative pursuant
to sections 10-16-1005 and 10-16-1006.

(c) No individual or entity that organizes a cooperative may become or
attempt to become a person with financial interest in the cooperative's business for
a period of three years after organization of the cooperative.

(3) (a) A cooperative is organized when the articles of organization are filed
with the secretary of state or, if a delayed effective date is specified in the articles
as filed with the secretary of state and a certificate of withdrawal is not filed, on
such delayed effective date. The existence of the cooperative begins upon
organization; except that no cooperative shall secure health-care coverage for its
members until a certificate of authority has been issued by the commissioner
pursuant to section 10-16-1005 (1).

(b) Except in a proceeding by the state to cancel or revoke the organization
of, or involuntarily dissolve, the cooperative, the secretary of state's filing of the
articles of organization shall be conclusive and irrefutable proof that all conditions
precedent to organization have been met.

(4) Each cooperative shall file a report pursuant to section 7-136-107, C.R.S.,
and pay the required fee, which shall be determined and collected pursuant to
section 24-21-104 (3), C.R.S., in lieu of all franchise or corporation license taxes.

(5) (a) Except as allowed by section 10-16-1014 or subsection (5)(b) of this
section, the division of insurance shall not participate in the formation or
administration of a health-care coverage cooperative created pursuant to this part
10.

(b) The commissioner may provide technical assistance in the formation of a
cooperative created pursuant to this part 10 so long as the cooperative is not
formed or administered by the commissioner as an entity or instrumentality of the
state.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2004: Entire part added, p. 996, � 14, effective August 4. L. 2011: (1)(a) amended, (SB 11-191), ch. 197, p. 820, � 4, effective April 2, 2012. L. 2019: (5) amended, (SB 19-004), ch. 205, p. 2192, � 5, effective August 2.