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< Back June 5, 2024 SIGNED! Bill to Better Protect Bicyclists and Pedestrians Becomes Law Legislation will fund infrastructure projects like bicycle lanes, improved sidewalks and lighting at dangerous intersections DENVER, CO – Legislation that will fund safe infrastructure improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians was signed into law by Governor Polis today. Sponsored by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, as well as Representatives Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, and William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, SB24-195 establishes a dedicated funding source for proven small infrastructure projects that improve safety for vulnerable road users, such as bicycle lanes, pedestrian refuge islands, and sidewalk and lighting improvements at dangerous intersections. The bill accomplishes these goals by dedicating $7 million annually from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Road Safety Fund for these projects, acknowledging the growing importance of this infrastructure in our transportation system. In addition, the bill directs CDOT to establish declining targets for vulnerable road user fatalities and serious bodily injuries and to report progress to the legislature in its annual performance plan. “Protecting Coloradans by preventing avoidable deaths and serious injuries is a moral imperative in its own right,” Winter said. “Quality sidewalks and protected bike lanes give people safe, dignified, and low-cost alternatives to driving, which will reduce traffic, improve air quality, cut climate pollution, and make our streets more vibrant community places.” “From e-biking and running in our neighborhoods to walking to work, Coloradans want our streets to be a safe place to walk and ride,” said Lindsay. “Our new law helps communities use proven methods, like protected bike lanes and speed cameras, to protect cyclists, pedestrians, and other road users.” “Bicyclist and pedestrian deaths have spiked to a frightening degree, and we must take action,” said Cutter. “Our new law will support safety projects that are proven to reduce traffic deaths. When our streets are safer and friendlier, people will feel more comfortable traveling outside of a car.” “We have passed numerous laws recently to encourage alternatives to car transportation, and these laws are most effective when our roads are structured to protect all of our road users,” said Lindstedt. “With this new law, we’re securing funding for projects to protect bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users to allow Coloradans to more safely travel on our streets.” SB24-195 also streamlines CDOT’s ability to use speed cameras to improve safety on dangerous stretches of state highways like construction zones by clarifying authority and coordination with local governments. Authority to use speed cameras was expanded by SB23-200 to help limit speeding, a major cause of avoidable traffic crashes. Deaths and serious injuries on Colorado’s roads are on the rise, felt most acutely by vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. Bicyclist and pedestrian deaths reached an all-time high in 2023 with 153 deaths, topping the previous high set just one year before. Previous Next

< Back March 9, 2020 COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES FUNDING FOR FISHERS PEAK AND OTHER STATE PARKS DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Rural Affairs and Agriculture today unanimously approved Representative Daneya Esgar’s bipartisan bill to provide funding for Colorado’s State Parks, including Colorado’s newest State Park, Fishers Peak. ”Outdoor recreation and public land conservation are a crucial part of the Colorado Way of Life,” said Joint Budget Committee Chair Daneya Esgar. “Today we voted to make lasting, impactful investments in our State Parks, and I expect the return on this investment will benefit Colorado for generations to come. Fishers Peak State Park will bring meaningful economic growth and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities to Southern Colorado, and I’m proud to have played my part in making our newest State Park a reality.” SB20-003 , also sponsored by Rep. Perry Will, appropriates 6 million dollars to the Department of Natural Resources to open a new state park at Fishers Peak and to also improve infrastructure and amenities at existing state parks. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2022 BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS RETAIL CRIME AND THEFT ADVANCES DENVER, CO – A bill to address the rise in retail crime and protect Coloradans from fraudulent online marketplace sellers advanced today in the House on Second Reading. HB22-1099, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, would require online marketplaces to verify personal seller information and allow buyers to report suspicious activity. “This is a smart-on-crime bill that will make it harder for thieves to resell stolen goods online and it will reduce theft from Colorado businesses,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts D-Avon . “This bill attacks the root cause of large-scale retail theft requiring online marketplaces to verify personal seller information which would knock down suspicious online sellers. This common-sense bill works to build a safer Colorado for everyone by protecting businesses from theft and consumers from purchasing stolen or counterfeit goods.” If passed HB22-1099 would require online marketplaces to verify the bank account information, tax identification number, and contact information from high-volume third-party sellers. This bill would also require sellers to disclose personal contact information to buyers, such as their name and address to assist in the authentication process for purchasing goods online. Previous Next

< Back March 21, 2022 GOV. POLIS SIGNS ROBERTS’ FUNERAL HOME INSPECTION BILL INTO LAW DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis signed into law today a bipartisan bill that will expand the authority of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to inspect and investigate funeral homes and crematories for malpractice based on complaints. "This law is for my constituents, some of whom were terribly harmed, by making sure DORA has the power to investigate and prevent funeral home malpractice and atrocities,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “I wish we did not have to pass bills like this but I am thankful we got this done and passed in a bipartisan way. The horrendous incidents in Gypsum, Leadville, Montrose and elsewhere made this necessary. This law will make it easier for state agencies to identify negligence in funeral homes and crematories so no more families in Colorado will have to endure the heartbreak caused by the Kent Funeral Homes and others in our state.” HB22-1073 , sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Matt Soper, will allow DORA to conduct inspections and investigations of funeral homes and crematories. Prior to this law, DORA had no authority to inspect funeral homes or crematories without the consent of the business owner and other high legal thresholds. This law is a direct response to instances of funeral home malpractice in multiple Western Slope funeral homes, including Kent Funeral Homes in Leadville and Gypsum , and will go into effect in August 2022. Previous Next

< Back January 28, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: ARPA TASK FORCES UNVEIL RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE AND SAVE PEOPLE MONEY ON HOUSING Recommendations aim to increase affordable housing stock and access to behavioral health and substance use disorder services. Denver, CO – The Behavioral Health and Affordable Housing Transformational Task Forces today released final reports on their recommendations for using $850 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pandemic relief funds to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment and make housing more affordable. “Far too many families like mine know firsthand how difficult getting treatment for behavioral health care can be here in Colorado,” said Sen. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, Chair of the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. “That’s why the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force has been working tirelessly to improve access to vital services and create an accessible and equitable behavioral health care system that supports effective, data-driven and evidence-based treatment methods. I’m proud of the work this Task Force has done, and I look forward to helping more Coloradans get the care and support they deserve.” “Making housing more affordable will be a main focus of our work this year at the Capitol, and with these recommendations, Colorado has the opportunity to create transformational change on affordable housing,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, Chair of the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force. “From more affordable and attainable workforce housing across the state to new factory-built homes and the jobs that come with them, and much more, our investments will mean many more Coloradans have access to an affordable home to own or rent. I am immensely proud of the hundreds of hours of work our task force and subpanel members put in to craft these transformational recommendations that will drive down the cost of housing in our state and look forward to moving these proposals through the legislature so we can start helping Coloradans as soon as possible.” “The lack of affordable housing here in Colorado is nothing short of a crisis, and our Task Force has been working tirelessly to find solutions so that more Coloradans have a safe, affordable place to live,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, Vice Chair of the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address the root causes of our affordable housing issues. It’s going to take time, but I am proud of the work we are doing to forge a future where every Colorado family has a place to call home.” “Building healthier, safer communities through greater access to behavioral health services will give more Coloradans the supports they so desperately need right now,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, Vice Chair of the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. “We know the pressures of the pandemic have exacerbated the behavioral health crisis in Colorado. These task force recommendations and historic investments will significantly improve access to mental health and substance use treatment in every community across Colorado. Importantly, improving access to these services is a powerful step toward our goal of preventing crime before it happens and making our communities safer and healthier.” “I thank state lawmakers for their work to make transformational change and am glad they were able to find bipartisan consensus on how to reduce housing costs and improve mental health support across Colorado,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Our administration looks forward to working with state legislators to turn this hard work into action and help save people money.” To better provide vital care to Coloradans in crisis, the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force recommended measures that will make transformational changes to the state’s behavioral health care system and improve access to services to ensure every Coloradan is able to get the help they need. Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force Recommendations include: Investing in increased adult residential care and improving access to residential care, community services and school-based care for children, youth and families; Addressing the behavioral health needs of Colorado’s Native American Tribes; Integrating primary care with behavioral health care and investing in better care coordination to help ensure people are connected to the services they need; Funding for emergency, life-saving interventions like purchasing bulk opioid antagonists and increasing support for survivors of domestic violence; Providing grants to local governments and community-based organizations to help fill regional gaps in the continuum of care; Diverting Coloradans with behavioral health needs away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate community treatment programs; and Expanding and supporting Colorado’s behavioral health care workforce. The Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force also delivered recommendations to the legislature, with measures aimed at addressing Colorado’s affordable housing crisis, reducing homelessness and making sure that every Colorado family has a safe, affordable place to call home. Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force Recommendations include: Establishing a revolving loan fund that will improve Colorado’s ability to build and develop new housing, help preserve and rehabilitate existing affordable housing, incentivize property conversion and increase non-traditional housing capacity such as supportive and transitional housing; Providing grant funding to nonprofits and local governments that are doing the work on the ground to add more units of affordable housing by changing zoning laws and developing supportive, rental and for-sale housing; Directing grants or low-interest loans to support and maintain affordable housing and future development opportunities through land-banking, land trusts and community-owned land opportunities. This would also make investments in resident-owned community infrastructure to help residents purchase property such as mobile home parks; and Directing funding to support construction of prefabricated, modular, manufactured and other sources of factory-built housing. Previous Next

< Back March 21, 2019 HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES BIRD-TITONE BILL TO BOOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING (Mar. 21) – The House Finance committee approved Rep. Shannon Bird and Rep. Brianna Titone’s bill today to boost the supply of affordable housing in the state by expanding the Affordable Housing Tax Credit, which helps leverage private funding for affordable housing projects across the state. “We’ve seen that this is a proven and effective method to helping people access affordable housing and grow the middle class,” said Rep. Bird, D-Westminster. “There is so much extra demand for these grants across the state, so we definitely see a need to expand this tax credit to accommodate the high demand.” The Affordable Housing Tax Credit supports key affordable housing needs such as workforce housing, homeless housing, and senior housing across Colorado and is one of the state’s most effective tools for increasing affordable housing available across the state. Colorado’s Affordable Housing Tax Credit raises private sector equity needed to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing. It currently is authorized to allocate only $5 million; HB 19-1228 would increase the available tax credits to $10 million in 2020-24.. “We need to help ease the housing crunch. This bill will help seniors and hardworking people across our state,” said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada. “Access to affordable housing can help grow the middle class and our economy which will give back to Colorado in a lot of different ways.” Between 2015-2018, the program supported 4,796 affordable rental units. The development of these homes is estimated to have generated over $1.9 billion in economic impact in Colorado. HB19-1228 passed by a bipartisan vote of 7-3 and now heads to the Appropriations Committee. The Finance committee also approved Rep. Bird’s bill that specifies bonding requirements that apply to certain public/private partnership contracts for construction on publicly owned property. SB19-138 unanimously passed out of committee and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back May 10, 2022 BILL TO MAKE CHILD CARE MORE AFFORDABLE PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House passed a bill to save families money on child care. SB22-213 invests $50 million of federal pandemic relief dollars toward increasing child care capacity and boosting the professional child care workforce. “The pandemic has made it even more difficult for families to find affordable, high-quality childcare and as a result, many parents, especially moms, are leaving the workforce to care for their kids,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood . “We’re investing $50 million toward expanding Colorado’s child care facilities and training more professionals to bring down the cost of child care. This bill will help us provide critical support for working families who’ve been stretched thin to ensure their children have a safe place to learn and thrive during the workday.” “Colorado’s child care system has been stretched thin for years, so we’re taking the initiative to fill funding gaps and make child care more affordable and accessible,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “Our bill invests federal pandemic relief dollars toward training more child care professionals and expanding our state’s child care capacity so families can more easily access quality care.” Child Care Support Programs: SB22-213 , sponsored by Representatives Kerry Tipper and Alex Valdez passed the House by a vote of 41 to 22. This bill aims to boost Colorado’s economy and make it easier for families to access child care by increasing capacity across the state and better developing the workforce to help Coloradans get the training they need to provide that care. This bill utilizes $50 million of federal pandemic relief dollars to boost child care capacity by providing $16 million in grant funding to open a new child care center or expand capacity at an existing licensed childcare facility. It will also invest $10 million to support the employer-based child care facility grant program, which will help business owners and other employers provide convenient, high-quality child care on-site while parents are at work. SB22-213 also adds $15 million to the successful workforce recruitment and retention grant program and provides $7.5 million to support and train license-exempt informal caregivers working with young children in their communities. Previous Next

< Back April 20, 2023 Improvements to Domestic Violence Cases, Access to Resources Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Mike Weissman on a preliminary vote to improve court procedures and victim protections for domestic violence cases in municipal courts. “As a survivor of domestic violence, I know how imperative it is to have comprehensive protections for victims while they seek accountability in court,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “Our current law doesn’t hold county and municipal courts to the same standards for domestic violence cases and doesn’t require them to share case information between one another, letting past criminal activity fall through the cracks when considering the threat that an abuser poses to the victim and the community. By improving the way that municipal courts handle domestic violence cases, Coloradans will have equal protections and services under the law, no matter where they live.” “Municipal courts have jurisdiction over domestic violence cases in several large Front Range cities, but they aren’t required by law to have the same procedural requirements or Victims Rights Amendment protections as county courts do," said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “That means that over 1.5 million Coloradans aren't guaranteed the protections for domestic violence survivors that we’ve deemed necessary to keep victims safe and assist their recovery. This legislation would require municipal courts to provide the same victim protections and apply equivalent sentencing requirements as county courts to ensure that Coloradans receive equal treatment for domestic violence cases.” HB23-1222 would create new requirements for municipal courts for domestic violence cases. These requirements include that: Victims, victims’ families, and witnesses of a domestic violence violation will receive protections and rights under the “Victim Rights Act”, Sentencing, probation, and release on bond for a violation must be consistent with state law, Guidelines and standards are consistent with those adopted by the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board, and The prosecuting attorney that originally meets with the victim should make an effort to stay on the case throughout the proceeding. If there is a domestic violence violation, municipal courts would be required to issue a protection order, report the violation to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and search the CBI and National Crime Information Center System databases to identify potential past domestic violence violations. The Department of Public Safety would report the total number of reports and inquiries submitted to the CBI, the Colorado Crime Information Center database, and the National Crime Information Center database during the annual SMART Act hearing so the General Assembly can determine if further action can be taken to improve how domestic violence cases are handled. The Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board (board) reported that there were 91 fatalities due to domestic violence in 2021, the highest the state has seen since the board was founded in 2017. By improving how municipal courts handle domestic violence cases and ensuring victims are afforded protections by the Victims Rights Act, Colorado can reduce and prevent domestic violence. Previous Next

< Back September 7, 2021 DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S CAUCUS OF COLORADO CO-CHAIRS’ STATEMENT ON SB8 DENVER, CO– Representatives Lisa Cutter and Monica Duran, the Co-Chairs of Democratic Women’s Caucus of Colorado, today released the following statement on SB8, the Texas law that will ban abortions as soon as six weeks–before many women know they are pregnant: “The Democratic Women’s Caucus of Colorado strongly supports reproductive rights and the freedom for women to choose what’s best for their bodies. We are outraged at the passage of SB8, the Texas law banning abortions at six weeks. This law is another way to suppress, control, and shame women over their healthcare choices. Despite last week’s unprecedented and unconstitutional attack on abortion rights, Colorado will remain a safe place for patients to access abortion. Coloradans understand that the strength and independence of women promote a healthier and more economically vibrant society by every measure. We will continue to actively work to safeguard women’s rights to have autonomy over their own bodies and uphold the Colorado way of life, putting the health and safety of women first.” Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2024 House Advances Budget to Support K-12 Schools, Hardworking Families 2024-25 state budget includes significant investments to fully fund K-12 education, boost funding for higher education, behavioral health care services, support for those with disabilities and Colorado’s state parks DENVER, CO – The House today advanced the FY 2024-2025 Long Appropriations Bill to invest in families, prepare our students for success, and build healthier communities across the state. “Our balanced budget provides historic K-12 public school funding of more than $525 million, importantly buys down the budget stabilization factor and addresses the most pressing needs of our communities,” said JBC Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “I’m proud that we are making higher education more affordable for middle-income students by capping tuition increases and ramping up financial aid support. This bipartisan budget will improve inpatient behavioral and mental health care outcomes and fund services and programs relied upon by community members with an intellectual or developmental disability. Together, we’re committed to helping more Coloradans have the opportunity they deserve to thrive.” “This is an exciting day for Colorado! We’re one step closer to meeting our commitment to our students with record levels of K-12 public school funding and increased support for early childhood education,” said JBC member Emily Sirota, D-Denver . "This budget fully funds special education for the first time, increases pay for health care and universal preschool providers, saves people money on housing, and bolsters critical services for people with disabilities. This budget puts families first and fosters a stronger state for everyone.” The state’s $40.6 billion budget is a 3.7-percent increase over last year’s budget. This budget, HB24-1430 , includes a total of $58.6 million to save people money on housing and boost education and workforce efforts. Preparing Students for Success Fully Funding Colorado’s K-12 Schools: After years of responsible budgeting and planning, this year’s Long Bill eliminates the Budget Stabilization Factor (BSF), which has restricted funding for Colorado's K-12 public education funding for more than a decade. As outlined in the 2024-25 Long Bill, the total funding for public schools will increase by more than $500 million, including an increase in per-pupil funding by $736 per student, bringing the total per-pupil amount to $11,406 - the largest in state history. Final action on per pupil funding, and total program funding will come later in the session through the annual School Finance Act . Fully Funding Special Education for the First Time: To make it easier for every learner to succeed, this budget increases special education funding for students with disabilities by 10.2-percent or $34.7 million. This brings the state’s total investment in special education funding for students with disabilities to $375.5 million. Supporting English Language Learners and New Arrival Students: This budget outlines an increase in funding of 10.6-percent or $3.3 million to help our students become proficient in the English language. Additionally, to help our school districts across the state support and meet the needs of the influx of new students, this budget includes an appropriation of $24.0 million from the State Education Fund to be distributed directly to schools as quickly as possible ( HB24-1389 ). Providing Mental Health Resources for Students: To help our learners succeed and access the mental and behavioral health services they need, this budget creates the School-Based Mental Health Support Program. This $2.5 million program will help our students enhance their social, emotional or behavioral well-being and support students going through adjustment periods ( HB24-1406 ). Supporting At-Risk Students: To create pathways for each and every student to succeed in school, this budget allocates $1.16 million more for at-risk students to better support those with a higher probability of not graduating K-12 schooling. Capping Tuition Hikes, Boosting Funding for Higher Education, Supporting College Students: This budget caps tuition hikes at 3-percent for in-state students and 4-percent for non-resident students. The budget also boosts funding by $114.3 million to help our higher education institutions streamline services and operational support. Additionally, this budget sets aside $26.6 million in the General Fund for aligned financial aid support and $1.67 million in funding to provide assistance to students experiencing homelessness during high school. Students can use this funding to assist with housing, tuition, fees and textbooks ( HB24-1403 ). Support for Early Childhood and Families Supporting Universal Preschool: Universal preschool (UPK) has saved families thousands of dollars and helped prepare our youngest learners for success. This year’s budget includes an increase of $65.5 million toward the UPK program, specifically for provider payments, quality improvement initiatives and improvements to the online application process. Increasing Funding for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program: To help our families find child care options in their budget, this legislation includes a $21.1 million increase toward the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program which connects low-income families to child care options. Boosting Pay for Early Childhood Professionals: This budget includes a 2-percent increase ($4.9 million) to community providers including early childhood mental health service providers, social workers, family resource centers staff and early childhood educators. New, In-Home Support for New Mothers: To provide all-around services to our state’s new mothers, this budget includes a $2.8 million increase to support a universal home visiting pilot program which will offer comprehensive in-home evaluations and supportive follow-up visits to new mothers and infants. Funding will support births at certain hospitals in ten counties including Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Eagle, Garfield, Jefferson, Pitkin, Summit, Weld, and Mesa counties. Streamlining the Child Lead Testing Program: Everyone deserves clean water to drink. To help combat and prevent childhood lead poisoning across the state, the budget invests $1.2 million for testing and outreach to alert families to specific hazards. Creating Healthier, Stronger Communities Boosting Pay for Health Care Providers: This budget outlines a 2-percent across the board community provider rate increase and $198 million for targeted provider rate increases following recommendations from the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee (MPRRAC). This applies to Medicaid providers, preschool and childcare providers, social services providers, independent living centers, local public health agencies, services in the Department of Corrections, and other private and nonprofit organizations that provide various services. Improving Colorado’s Competency Process: To help improve Colorado’s competency process, this budget allocates $68.2 million to maintain and increase existing resources for inpatient competency restoration services. This funding will be used to address staffing needs and provide additional support. Increasing Funding for Nutrition Assistance: The budget includes a $16.9 million investment to meet the increased demand for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), so Coloradans can access and purchase healthy foods. The budget invests a further $3M in food banks and local food pantries to reduce food insecurity ( HB24-1407 ). Maintaining Strong Public Health Infrastructure: To help us maintain the strong state public health operations Colorado developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the budget includes a $11 million investment in Local Public Health Agencies to help them continue to support our communities. The budget also includes a $5.6 million investment to maintain the strong state operations in the Division of Disease Control and Public Health to combat existing and new public health threats. Supporting People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD): To reduce the growing waitlist for services and ensure our neighbors with IDD can receive the support and services they need when they need it, this budget increases IDD support by $5.6 million. This funding will be directed toward an additional 129 treatment placements for residential Adult Comprehensive Services. Boosting Grant Resources for Coloradans with a Disability : To ensure our neighbors with a disability have the support they need, this budget outlines a $5.1 million increase to help fund grants operated by the Laura Hershey Disability Support Act which provides education, direct assistance, and advocacy for people with disabilities. Protecting Critical Health Care Services: Funding for Popular I Matter Program: The successful I Matter program provides free therapy sessions to our youth under 18-years and younger. The budget includes $6 million to keep this program going. Medicaid Support: To ensure that those who need Medicaid coverage can receive it, the budget includes $21.7 million to support and provide additional flexibility in eligibility determinations associated with the end of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirements during the federal public health emergency. Support for Children and Youth in the Foster Care System: $15.3 million to help our youth in the foster care system with complex behavioral health care needs get the treatment and services they need to succeed. Health Centers for Uninsured Coloradans: $13 million to support Federally Qualified Health Centers and other primary care providers where at least 50-percent of the patients served are uninsured or medically indigent. Develop the Office of the Children’s Behavioral Health Statewide System of Care: To create a continuum of care for our youth, this budget sets aside $2.1 million to create a new program within the Behavioral Health Administration to develop and implement a comprehensive children’s behavioral health care system. Increasing Veteran Support: To support those who’ve served our nation, the budget includes a $500,000 increase to the Veterans Assistance Grant Program which improves social, health and community services to Colorado’s veteran population. Boosting Support for New Americans: The budget includes more than $119,000 to expand the Office of New Americans which will help manage grants, coordinate with other entities, and identify opportunities for new migrant career pathway enhancements. Safer Communities Boosting Staffing for Public Defenders: To help Colorado’s public defenders meet the needs of our criminal justice system and reduce caseloads, this budget outlines $11.5 million and a 9-percent increase year-over-year to fund 50 new attorneys, 42 support staff, and 11 social workers. Combatting Auto Theft and Other Crime Prevention: To help keep our communities safer, the budget outlines a $8 million increase in funding toward grants to reduce and prevent auto theft. The budget also includes $1.1 million for state forensic resources vital to auto theft cases and $3 million for local crime prevention grants under the Multidisciplinary Crime Prevention and Crisis Intervention program ( HB24-1421 ). Crime Victim Services Funding: Those involved in domestic violence situations or other life-altering crimes often need support. This budget invests $4 million in the Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund to support victims of crime, their families and children ( HB24-1420 ). Improving Emergency Response: To help our first responders reach those in need, this budget includes a $1.2 million investment to prove the Colorado Team Awareness Kit (COTAK). This mobile app will allow first responders to track and map their locations and improve the coordination of emergency response. Enhancing Security at Non-Profits: Nonprofits, such as synagogues and mosques, are facing an increase in threats. This budget includes an increase of more than $906,000 to the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program to help them ramp up physical security at their buildings. Investments for Parks, Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation, Water Resources and Environment Strengthening Underfunded Parks & Wildlife Operations: To protect, maintain and make our state’s most awe-inspiring public parks more accessible this budget includes a $5.7 million investment to fund 45 new staff positions to strengthen several Division of Parks and Wildlife operations, including wildlife management, species conservation, fish hatchery operations, counter-poaching efforts, and the maintenance, management, and services necessary to serve the growing number of visitors to Colorado state parks. Spearheading Environmental Justice for Impacted Communities: To improve health outcomes for communities disproportionately impacted by pollution, the budget allocates $2.8 million in funding to create the Office of Health Equity and Environmental Justice. Protecting Water Rights & Resources: To protect our valuable freshwater resources, this bill includes more than $237,000 to monitor and address national or regional developments that may affect our water supply. The goal is to defend Colorado’s water rights as well as conserve and preserve our water resources. ### Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2019 HOUSE DEMS PASS BILLS TO HELP TEACHERS & STUDENTS (Apr. 27) – The House gave preliminary approval to two bills that will help provide more resources for Colorado’s teachers and students. “This bill ensures that all teachers who are trained in Colorado are taught best practices through mentorship. Across the board, every department and every teacher should be taught best practices,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “As teachers, we all know what best practices are for teaching, but it’s often not shared with new, incoming teachers. Through this bill, we can have really a great education for our kids that is consistent across the board no matter which Colorado school you graduate from.” Rep. McLachlan is chair of the House Education committee and is a former school teacher. SB19-190 will create the “Growing Great Teachers Act” to prepare more Coloradans for the experience of teaching in our public schools. This bill would allow institutions of higher education to offer approved educator preparation programs of alternative teacher programs through a contract with the Department of Higher Education. This bipartisan bill passed with a voice-vote. A final vote will be taken at a later date. The House also approved SB19-216, sponsored by Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, which incentivizes for local education providers to provide innovative learning opportunities for high school students. “We live in a dynamic and evolving economy. Making sure our students are well prepared for college or entering the workforce requires every student we educate to have a rich educational experience,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “We need strong teachers teaching a strong curriculum in the classroom. We also need innovative learning opportunities like apprenticeships outside of the classroom. This bill gives incentives to school districts to expand opportunities for students so that every child receives a quality education.” The bill creates the high school innovative learning pilot program to support school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools in providing innovative learning opportunities to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12. Each local education provider that is selected to participate in the pilot program can count high school students who participate in innovative learning opportunities as full-time pupils, for purposes of school finance. SB19-216 passed by a voice-vote. A final vote will take place at a later date. Previous Next

< Back March 7, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES LOCAL WAGE OPTION LEGISLATION Growth in worker wages spurs consumer spending & a healthier economy (Mar 6) – The House Transportation and Local Government committee approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Rochelle Galindo, D-Greeley, and Rep. Jovan Melton, D-Aurora, to provide local governments the option to raise the minimum wage within their jurisdictions. “We are giving the power to set the local minimum wage to our municipalities and counties,” said Rep. Galindo. “Our state is so diverse and what works for Denver is not necessarily going to work for Greeley or Trinidad. The Local Wage Option is a tool that can help Colorado’s workers and communities thrive.” HB19-1210 would allow local governments to adjust their minimum wage up to more effectively address the local cost of living, rather than have to adhere to a statewide standard in a state where local real estate markets and health care costs vary dramatically. “Colorado is a very big, diverse state and economic situations can be very different in different areas of the state. One size does not fit all when it comes to addressing the needs of every Coloradan,” said Rep. Melton. “ This is really about allowing local communities to decide what is best for them.” The bill would allow counties and cities to increase the minimum wage in their localities beyond the state minimum wage, currently set at $11.10 an hour. Research shows that wage growth spurs consumer spending and a healthier economy and that concerns of potential negative impacts to businesses or jobs are not borne out in the data on this issue. Denver City Mayor Michael Hancock and Summit County Commissioner Thomas Davidson testified in support of this bill. The bill, which can be found here , passed committee with a vote of 6-5. It now heads to the House floor. Previous Next