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< Back July 8, 2020 COLLEGE CREDIT FOR WORK EXPERIENCE, CRITICAL SCHOOL SAFETY & MENTAL HEALTH BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW New laws boost higher education attainment, improve school safety and support Colorado teachers and students Arvada, CO– Today at Red Rocks Community College in Arvada, Governor Jared Polis signed seven bills into law to boost higher education attainment, improve school safety and increase access to behavioral health services for students. “The new laws signed today are about making it easier for Coloradans to start and complete a higher education degree,” said Rep. McLachlan, D-Durango. “We’re giving non-traditional students a leg up and are expanding adult education grants to help Coloradans learn the skills they need to provide academic support to those they care for. We’re also doing away with the unnecessary and often harmful requirement that high schools list standardized test scores on students’ transcripts.” HB20-1002 , sponsored by Reps. Barbara McLachlan and Mark Baisley, requires a plan to award academic credit for work-related experiences that will be transferable and accepted at all state institutions by 2022, improving affordability for non-traditional students. SB20-009, sponsored by Reps. McLachlan and Marc Catlin, increases the number of eligible adult education providers as well as expands the goals of the state’s adult education program to create a two-generation approach to adult and childhood literacy, ultimately increasing educational and employment opportunities for both the adults in the program and their children. SB20-175 , sponsored by Reps. Brianna Titone and McLachlan, prohibits students’ national standardized test score from being included on high school transcripts, which has been required in Colorado. Standardized tests have proven to be a poor measure of a student’s success, and requiring their inclusion on transcripts disadvantages lower-income students who may not have access to expensive test preparation materials and services. HB20-1113 , sponsored by Reps. Titone and Kevin Van Winkle, improves the state’s Safe2Tell program. The new changes align the Safe2Tell program and the crisis hotline more closely to help individuals in crisis rapidly access crisis counseling. It adjusts the annual advertising campaign to improve awareness about the program and reduce its misuse, and it enhances Safe2Tell’s ability to prevent imminent physical harm. “I’m proud of the way we were able to come together in a bipartisan way and put Colorado students first,” said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada. “By getting rid of the unproven, stressful and discriminatory requirement to include standardized test scores on high school transcripts, an idea brought to me by a constituent, more students will have a fair opportunity to succeed after they graduate. These laws will provide educators the tools they need to help our students and will improve the Safe2Tell program so that it better serves our youth, keeps them safe and saves lives.” “The pandemic has changed students’ lives in so many ways; it’s clear we need to keep mental health at the forefront of our response to this public health crisis,” said School Safety Committee Chair Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “We made important progress this year, improving the Safe2Tell program, expanding behavioral health training for educators, and allocating significant federal resources for behavioral health services in schools.” HB20-1312, sponsored by Reps. Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Titone, includes behavioral health training and awareness of laws and practices relating to educating students with disabilities in the professional development requirements to obtain a teacher’s license. HB20-1407 , sponsored by Reps. Cathy Kipp and Baisley, allows publicly funded colleges and universities the option to waive standardized testing as a requirement for admission for high school students graduating in 2021 in response to the pandemic. The governor also signed SB20-183 , sponsored by Reps. Baisley and Titone, which allows the statewide internet portal authority (SIPA) to serve institutions of higher education, the state department of education, and other state agencies. SIPA provides technology services and products. Previous Next

< Back March 10, 2021 MAJOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BILLS ADVANCE Legislation would create the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration, expand access to peer support and transition services, and require equal access to foster care services for LGBTQ youth DENVER, CO– The House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee today passed five bills to increase access to behavioral health and critical peer support and transition services. The committee also passed legislation to ensure LGBTQ youth have access to the full range of out-of-home placement services and programs. HB21-1097 , sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Rod Pelton, passed unanimously and would create the Behavioral Health Administration to ensure that every Coloradan experiencing behavioral health needs has access to timely, high-quality services in their communities that they can afford. It tasks the Department of Human Services with creating a plan for a single state entity that would be responsible for administering and overseeing behavioral health programs in Colorado. “Our landmark legislation will create the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration to help every person in our state have access to affordable mental health and substance abuse services in their communities,” said Rep. Young, D-Greeley . “With this bill, we’re taking a major step forward to reform our behavioral health system and tackle the challenges that have prevented too many Coloradans from accessing critical mental health care.” HB21-1072 , sponsored by Representative Meg Froelich, would require an out-of-home placement provider to ensure fair and equal access to all available programs, benefits, and services offered by the provider. In addition, out-of-home placement must be provided in a way that is culturally responsive to the complex social identity of the youth. LGBTQ youth have faced barriers to access critical out-of-home placement services, with some denying services to LGBTQ youth. All Republicans on the committee voted to deny LGBTQ youth equal access to these critical services. “No young person in Colorado should ever be rejected from foster services because of who they are or who they love,” said Rep. Froelich, D- Englewood. “This bill would end discrimination foster youth programs and ensure that at-risk youth receive services that are appropriate and responsible to their identity.” HB21-1021 , sponsored by Representative Yadira Caraveo, passed unanimously and would improve access to peer-support professionals by authorizing HCPF to reimburse recovery support services organizations for peer support services submitted under the state’s Medicaid program. Peer support specialists are people with lived experiences who help others experiencing similar situations improve their conditions, typically in connection to substance abuse or trauma. Peer support services provide treatment outside of a clinical setting to help people experiencing a mental health condition. “Peer support specialists draw on their own life experiences to help people struggling with substance abuse or a mental health condition, often stemming from traumatic experience,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Thornton, a physician. “I’m excited to see this bill move forward so that more Coloradans, especially veterans struggling with a behavioral health condition or Coloradans living with sexual trauma, can access the care they need.” HB21-1130 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Mary Bradfield, passed unanimously and would allow more individuals to access the community transition specialist program and expand the type of facility that can access the program’s services. These types of programs help people with behavioral health conditions transition from a treatment setting to a community living setting. “I’ve made access to behavioral health services one of my top priorities, and I am so happy to see all of these bills move forward today,” said Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee Chair Rep. Michaelson Jenet. “Today, we took a big step forward to expand access to critical services that help Coloradans transition from treatment to community living. We also started down the long road of finally creating the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration, which will reform how mental health care is delivered in our state to improve access and affordability at a time when more Coloradans need this care.” HB21-1123 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Colin Larson, passed unanimously and would allow the disclosure of certain CAPS Checks (Colorado’s Adult Protective Services data system) in order to check for substantiated cases of adult mistreatment. Previous Next

< Back December 16, 2020 ER NURSE REP KYLE MULLICA RECEIVES COVID VACCINE DENVER, CO — This morning, House Democratic Caucus Co-Whip Rep. Kyle Mullica received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver. As an emergency room nurse, Rep. Mullica is a frontline health care provider with direct contact with COVID-19 patients and is among the first people in Colorado to receive the vaccine. “Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine today means I’ll be able to continue and expand my work in the ER,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “It also means that the end of this pandemic is finally within reach. The vaccine is not only safe and effective, it is the cornerstone of our plan to beat this pandemic once and for all. I’m grateful to all of my fellow frontline health care workers who have been on the front lines in hospitals across the country. It’s been a long year battling this virus, but the end is in sight.” Last session, Rep. Mullica was the sponsor of SB20-163, a bill signed into law earlier this year that aims to boost Colorado’s low immunization rates by streamlining our vaccine exemption process. In his role as an ER nurse, Rep. Mullica worked in the Cook County Jail in Illinois, where he cared for patients during a critical COVID-19 outbreak in April and May. Previous Next

< Back March 25, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO HELP COLORADO STUDENTS Bill to expand financial assistance for ASSET students (Mar. 25) – The House approved a bill to expand state financial aid resources for ASSET students. HB19-1196, sponsored by Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, would provide Advancing Students for a Strong Tomorrow (ASSET) students the abilities to receive state financial aid. “Increasing the eligibility for state financial aid will help Colorado’s rural institutions that lack financial resources to supplement state financial aid for ASSET students,” said Rep. Gonzales-Gutierrez. “Improving access to higher education by increasing financial assistance will erase our state’s equity gaps and serve as an investment in Colorado’s future.” Currently, ASSET students are eligible for the College Opportunity Fund and institutional aid, but they are not eligible for state aid, including scholarships awarded by the state. The ASSET bill passed the legislature in 2013 with bipartisan support and makes the in-state tuition rate at state colleges and universities in Colorado available to all students, regardless of immigration status, who graduate from high school in Colorado after attending for at least three years. HB19-1196 passed by a vote of 41-24. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back May 11, 2023 Signed! Landmark Legislation to Improve Accountability & Transparency for Utilities, Save People Money on Energy Bills Becomes Law BOULDER, CO – Today, Governor Polis signed into law landmark legislation to save Coloradans money on their energy bills and improve pricing stability to prevent unpredictable rate spikes. SB23-291, sponsored by Democratic members of the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Reps. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, and Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, presents a package of reforms to lower utility bills now and in the future. The bill rebalances the kind of expenses paid by utility shareholders versus ratepayers, aligns incentives on fuel purchasing, and levels the playing field at Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proceedings, where costly infrastructure plans are proposed and approved. SB23-291 limits utility expenses that can be paid by ratepayers, such as lobbying and advertising, which are more appropriately paid by company shareholders. It also creates a cost-sharing mechanism to incentivize utilities to save their customers money on fuel costs, and allows the PUC to set a maximum monthly fuel cost to smooth out monthly bills and avoid sudden sharp increases. “Colorado families were hit hard this winter by unexpected and severe price shocks, which is why we convened the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates to investigate the causes and find solutions,” Joint Select Committee Chair Fenberg said. “The legislation signed by Governor Polis today improves transparency and holds utilities more accountable to the ratepayers they serve while better aligning utility companies’ and Coloradans’ interests and expectations about their energy service. I’m excited to see many months of work result in policy that will help save Coloradans money on their energy bills and make much needed improvements to the way utilities are regulated in Colorado.” “Coloradans are counting on us to address rising and erratic utility costs, and we’re proud to move forward with this solution,” said Joint Select Committee Vice Chair deGruy Kennedy. “This important law sets in motion both short and long-term, cost-saving solutions that increase transparency and accountability to protect Coloradans from rate spikes that leave them choosing between heating their home and putting food on the table while utilities rake in record profits. It also rebalances the relationship between ratepayers and utility companies so Coloradans aren’t subsidizing lobbying, advertising and other expenses that utilities pass on to consumers.” “The Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates was hard at work this session searching for answers and working to save people money on their energy bills,” said Cutter. “One thing quickly became clear, Coloradans are bearing the brunt of volatile rate increases while utility companies are empowered to set their own rules. This important legislation will help level the playing field at the PUC and create fairer processes in utility rate setting that will impact Coloradans today and for generations to come.” “With this law, Colorado’s ratepayers are now front and center as we implement new ways to improve utility company transparency and accountability,” said Martinez. “For months, we’ve listened to consumer advocates, policy experts, utility companies and everyday Coloradans as we worked to find solutions to high, unpredictable utility bills that left many families struggling to heat their homes. I am proud to say this important law provides cost-saving solutions and protects Colordans from future drastic price hikes.” Additionally, the bill requires utilities to report more detailed justification for their plans when they request a rate increase, which will help regulators and consumer advocates evaluate whether proposed investments are truly in the public interest. In addition, the bill empowers the PUC to reduce utilities’ ability to charge their consumers for expensive consultants and lawyers that argue on behalf of rate increases. Convened in response to recent spikes in energy prices by Senate President Fenberg and House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates worked to better understand issues such as the impact of volatility in natural gas markets, the frequency and justification for rate increases sought by utilities, and other relevant factors. Previous Next

< Back April 16, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES SET OF BILLS TO ENSURE FOOD SECURITY (Apr. 16) – The House approved a set of bills to ensure Colorado’s children have more security and safety in the food they eat. HB19-1171 sponsored by Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, would expand school meal programs. Colorado currently pays a forty-cent copay on reduced price lunches for K-8 students through the School Lunch Protection Program. The bill would expand copay coverage through high school. “Too many young students in our state often face food insecurities, which affects their learning abilities. Fourteen percent of high school youth report going without lunch,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet. “This bill will break down barriers, end stigma and put our students on paths to success. We must ensure teens and students are provided every opportunity to learn and grow.” This legislation will remove the stigma and lunch shaming young students face at school when they are unable to afford meals. When students skip meals it affects their academic performance. Rep. Michaelson Jenet is the co-prime sponsor of a new law SB18-013 that expanded the school meal program to grades 6-8. HB19-1171 passed with a final vote of 45-19. It now heads to the Senate. Another bill, HB19-1132, sponsored by Rep. Bri Buentello, D-Pueblo, establishes a grant program in the department of education (CDE) to encourage providers that are entitled to federal money for lunches for students to purchase food products from Colorado growers, producers, and processors. “Giving incentives to our Colorado schools to use food grown in our state not only benefits the schools, but also supports our local farmers and ranchers,” said Rep. Buentello. The bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 53-11 and now heads to the Senate. Finally, the House also approved HB19-1202, sponsored by Rep. Rochelle Galindo, D-Greeley, and Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. The bill advances recommendations that strengthen healthy food access for all Coloradans through Colorado agriculture and local food systems and economies. “Hardworking Coloradans and our most vulnerable should be able to access healthy foods no matter their zip-code,” said Rep. Galindo, D-Greeley. “Leveraging the purchasing power of our school districts and health care systems will create more marketing connections with producers to strengthen our food system.” HB19-1202 will combine the existing Food System Advisory Council with the Farm to School Task Force and places the reconstituted Colorado Food System Advisory Council within Colorado State University. Through this, the university can also look at increasing and strengthening WIC and SNAP retailers as it relates to the access to and provision of healthy foods. “We need to find a way to increase access to healthy food while also investing in our local, regional, and state economies,” said Rep. McLachlan, D-Durango. “This bill will help increase access to fresh, healthy food for our most vulnerable communities and find sustainable markets for Colorado farmers.” HB19-1202 passed on a final, bipartisan vote of 42-22 and now goes to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back June 4, 2021 LOWER DRUG COSTS, NOW; HOUSE ADVANCES PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARD PROPOSAL Prescription Drug Affordability Board proposal passes House on Second Reading DENVER– The House advanced legislation sponsored by Representatives Yadira Caraveo, a physician, and Chris Kennedy to reduce the cost of life-saving prescription drugs. The bill passed the House on Second Reading. “Bringing down the soaring costs of prescription drugs is one of the most pressing and critical issues we can take on as a legislature,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood . “It’s time for Colorado to stand up to Big Pharma on behalf of our constituents and work to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. No Coloradan should have to decide between putting food on the table and paying for the life-saving medicine they need to stay healthy.” “The treatment plans I lay out won’t be effective if my patients can’t afford the drugs I prescribe or are forced to ration them due to the cost,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, a physician. “Reining in the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs is an economic issue, a public health issue, and a moral issue that should concern us all. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board will set guardrails to help Coloradans afford life-saving drugs and will help us get to the bottom of spikes in the cost of these drugs.” Nearly one-in-three Coloradans struggle to afford the cost of prescription drugs. As established in SB21-175 , the Prescription Drug Affordability Board will convene a panel of experts to investigate prescription drug cost increases, and set guardrails on cost increases for the most expensive prescription drugs in the state. The affordability board would set upper payment limits for prescription drugs that meet certain cost increase thresholds. These payment limits would apply to all purchasers in the state, but will only be placed on the highest cost drugs. The board will collect and evaluate the data necessary to review the affordability of prescription drugs and make policy recommendations to legislators. The board will be made up of nonpartisan, unpaid, highly qualified experts who are free from conflicts of interest. A recent poll from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative found that 77% of Coloradans supported the idea of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to analyze and act to lower the cost of certain prescription drugs — and this bill seeks to answer their call. Previous Next

< Back March 15, 2023 Dem Bills Improve Safety and Well-Being of Colorado Kids DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation to prevent physical violence in a child care or public school setting and address adolescent substance use disorders. “Current Colorado law doesn’t protect kids from being physically disciplined by their teachers at school or caretakers at child care,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, sponsor of HB23-1191. “With this bill, we’re creating a safer environment for Colorado children to learn and grow. Parents should be able to send their kids to child care and school without fearing that they face corporal punishment, which many of us thought was something we left behind long ago.” HB23-1191 would prohibit an employee or volunteer in a public school, state-licensed child care center, family child care home, or a specialized group facility from using corporal punishment on a child under their care. Under the bill, corporal punishment would include willfully causing physical pain on a child. The bill passed by a vote of 48-16. “Substance use is an increasing issue for kids all over Colorado, and many of our teens don’t have the tools they need to prevent or stop addictive behavior,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB23-1009. “We’re bringing students, parents, teachers, school administrators, licensed special service providers, and substance use medical professionals together to figure out how we can best address rising drug use in Colorado teens.” HB23-1009 , which passed by a vote of 45-19, would establish the Secondary School Substance Use Committee in the Department of Education to create, identify, or modify a practice for secondary schools to use to address substance use disorders in students. The practice would identify students who need substance use treatment, offer a brief intervention, and refer the student to substance use treatment resources. The committee would consist of students, teachers, licensed special service providers, school administrators, adolescent substance use medical professionals, representatives from state departments, and parents or legal guardians of students. To the extent practical, all of the members will represent the racial and ethnic diversity of the state and will have equal rural and non-rural representation. The Department of Education would be required to put together a report of the Secondary School Substance Use Committee’s findings and distribute it to every secondary school superintendent and chief administrator across the state. Previous Next

< Back April 11, 2024 New School Funding Formula Boosts Support for Colorado Students DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, House Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, and Senator Rachel Zenzinger today introduced legislation that will update Colorado’s outdated and inequitable school finance formula to increase funding for rural schools and at-risk students, special education, and English Language Learners. “Educational opportunities shouldn't depend on a student’s zip code; I’m proud of the broad, bipartisan coalition that has come together to increase funding for students with the greatest needs and provide more resources to rural and remote schools, which have historically been underfunded,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The deeply researched, student-centered updates we’re proposing for 2026 and beyond gained overwhelming consensus in the Public School Finance Task Force. This bipartisan proposal builds on the record funding from eliminating the Budget Stabilization Factor to drive more equity into school finance and provide additional resources to rural and smaller districts that do not have the same economies of scale or access to resources as more populated and urban districts. Reforming Colorado's public school financing formula is a huge step toward improving our public schools and ensuring every student in our state receives a high-quality education.” “This change in the school finance formula will help pivot to the critically important effort to make education funding focused on the students,” Senate Minority Leader Lundeen, R-Monument, remarked. “For too long the formula has been about institutions and not about the unique natures of the students we serve. Fully funding K-12 education to our constitutionally mandated responsibility was last year's legislative success. Making the formula about students is this year’s goal.” “Ensuring that every Colorado student and educator has the tools they need for success is important for a stronger future. I applaud Speaker McCluskie and Minority Leader Lundeen for their focus on funding students and achievement rather than empty seats . I look forward to building on the work Colorado has done to improve the classroom experience, strengthen our communities, meet the diverse needs of all learners, and grow Colorado’s economy,” said Governor Jared Polis . “For years, we’ve relied on an inequitable and confusing school funding formula that is no longer responsive to the needs of our most vulnerable students,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “We’ve heard from our teachers, families, districts, superintendents and education advocates – it’s time to change the finance formula to improve equity in our public schools by putting students first. This important bill increases the funding weights for at-risk students, English Language Learners, and students with special needs. This formula change will better support the districts with the greatest needs. We’ve taken important steps to increase public education funding to record levels – now is the time to improve the school finance formula to put us on the path to delivering the education every student deserves.” “For my entire time in the legislature I have worked diligently to ensure Colorado’s schools receive the support they need to thrive,” said Senator Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “Whether as a member of the Joint Budget Committee, serving as Chair of the Education Committee, or as a member of the Public School Finance Task Force, I have been steeped in the development of Colorado’s school finance formula and I’m deeply invested in setting up our schools for future success. This year presents an opportunity to update our school funding formula to be reflective of the needs of every Colorado student – regardless of zip code. The formula is in urgent need of an update to ensure that schools are funded equitably and that all students are receiving the resources they need to be successful.” Colorado’s school finance formula is outdated, inequitable, and hasn’t been significantly changed in over 30 years. The current formula, which is built around district-centered factors rather than student needs, is confusing, overly complex and directs more funding to wealthier districts, rather than directing funds to students who are living in poverty, English Language Learners, or who have special needs. At-risk students, English learners, and special education students are not achieving academically compared to their peers, and yet the current school funding formula from 1993 does not address the needs of those students enough. This legislation ( HB24-1448 ) implements the spirit of the recommendations of the School Finance Task Force, which reached overwhelming consensus, in order to drive more resources to the students who need them the most, specifically at-risk pupils, special education students and English Language Learners. With hundreds of millions of additional dollars now going to public schools in Colorado, these changes, which would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year and implement in a gradual phase-in over 6 years, will drive more of these new resources to historically underfunded districts with lower property wealth and that serve a higher number of at-risk students and English Language Learners. When fully implemented, there will be $852 million in the formula for our at-risk students, $142.7 million for English Language Learners, and $240 million in the formula for our Special Education students, in addition to the constitutionally-required $375 million in the Special Education categorical. Remote and rural districts would receive an additional $255 million under this formula, once fully funded. The new formula puts students first by increasing the student weights for at-risk, English Language Learners, and adding a new special education factor. At-risk, English Language Learners, and special education will all be set at a 25-percent weight. The categorical funding for special education will continue to increase according to law and Amendment 23. The new formula is simpler and better accounts for district characteristics by fixing the “Order of Operations” to emphasize student needs. It removes the multiplicative factors that change the base funding per pupil, which currently create cascading funding impacts throughout the formula that are extremely challenging to track. Instead, factors that increase funding for small districts or districts with high cost of living will be additive and easy to understand. It also creates a new remoteness factor to support rural schools and a funding floor for all districts that their new funding cannot drop beneath. The legislation is supported by Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), Colorado Succeeds , Stand for Children, The Children’s Campaign, and Ready Colorado. This bill is also supported by the following school districts : Trinidad School District, Weldon Valley School District RE-20J, Lone Star School District. Buffalo School District RE-4J, Platte Valley School District RE-7, Summit School District, Mapleton Public Schools, Haxtun School District RE-J2, Sangre de Cristo School District RE-22J, Colorado Springs Schools D11, Las Animas School District, RE-1, Canon City Schools, Campo School District RE-6, Alamosa School District RE-11J, Weld Re-8 School District, Wiggins School District, Denver Public Schools, Genoa-Hugo School District C-113, Weld County School District 10-J, Briggsdale,Sanford School District, Weld RE-5J School District, Greeley-Evans School District 6, Weld County School District Re-3J, Weld RE-9 School District, Pawnee School District RE-12, Morgan County School District, Sheridan School District 2, Elizabeth School District, Rocky Ford School District, Cheraw School District, Holyoke School District, Westminster Public Schools, Eaton School District, Weld County School District Re-1, Monte Vista School District and Center Consolidated School District 26JT. Previous Next

< Back January 31, 2024 Committee Passes Bill to Recognize Schools that Support Military Families DENVER, CO - The House Education Committee today passed legislation that would create the Purple Star School Program to recognize K-12 public schools that provide support to military students and their families. “School-aged kids often struggle to deal with the stressors that come along with childhood, like making friends and changes to their routine,” said Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch. “Children who are part of military families are especially vulnerable to these changes, as military families move and relocate frequently. When I served in the Marine Corps, my own daughter once changed schools three times in one year. This legislation will help these kids during the transition process so they can focus on learning and growing with a program that helps create a sense of normalization in the process.” “Kids with parents in the military are five times more likely than their civilian peers to change schools,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “As the representative for a community with a long tradition of military service, I know how disruptive moving, deployment, and switching schools can be for kids. The Purple Star School Program will recognize schools that provide support to students so they can better navigate these challenges.” HB24-1076 establishes the Purple Star School Program to designate and recognize K-12 public schools that show a strong commitment to military-connected students and their families. The bill unanimously passed by a vote of 11-0. The Purple State School Program has been adopted by 42 other states and is proven to help military-connected students combat the academic and socio-emotional challenges they often face due to frequent relocation, transferring schools, parental deployment and changing environments. To qualify for the Purple Star designation, schools must: Designate a staff member as a Military Liaison, Maintain a website with resources for military-connected students and families, Maintain student-led transition programs, and Offer professional development opportunities relating to military-connected students. Previous Next

< Back March 19, 2021 BROADBAND EXPANSION MOVES FORWARD Bill would help broadband deployment board grants better reach unserved areas across the state. DENVER, CO– The House today advanced Representative Brianna Titone’s bipartisan proposal to expand broadband access across Colorado on second reading. “Access to reliable broadband isn’t a luxury, it’s become an absolute necessity,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada . “More than ever before, Coloradans are using broadband internet for learning, commerce, health care, and so much more. Ensuring that rural and underserved communities have reliable access to broadband internet will aid our economic recovery and set our local economies up for sustained success.” HB21-1109 , sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and Matt Soper, would help prioritize grant proposals that provide high speed internet access to low-income households and creates a process for encouraging proposals for critically unserved areas of the state. The bill requires applicants to submit granular mapping data to more accurately identify these unserved areas, which is critical to understanding where and how to expand broadband infrastructure. The bill makes changes to the Broadband Deployment Board to increase efficiency and ensure expertise and geographic diversity are adequately represented. The bill also holds grant applicants accountable by requiring them to report the number of people served, their rates and quality of service provided. Previous Next

< Back May 17, 2019 GOVERNOR SIGNS BILLS TO IMPROVE WOMEN’S HEALTH Preventative care could help lower cost of health care (May 16) – Two bills to improve women’s access to health care services were signed this afternoon by Gov. Jared Polis. A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, looks to address the increasing rate of maternal deaths. This bill will allow the Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) to review cases of maternal deaths in a timely manner to then work on ways to lower these deaths. “Colorado’s maternal mortality rate has doubled since 2008. That’s unacceptable so we took action.” said Rep. Buckner. “ This new law will work to stop what is preventable and help save the lives of mothers.” HB19-1122 also imposes diversity requirements for the committee as the maternal mortality rate is higher among African-American women and women in urban areas. 80 percent of maternal deaths in Colorado could have been prevented with proper access to services. The new law also funds Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to complete regular reports to the legislature on ways to prevent maternal mortality based on the findings of the MMRC. The bill was signed at the Center for African American Health in Denver this afternoon. Earlier today, Gov. Polis signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Rep. Buckner to require that women’s preventative health, which is already required to be covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), include follow-up diagnostic procedures for women with increased risk factors for contracting breast cancer without any additional costs or co-pays by the patient. “Early detection saved my life. We know that early detection is key to both saving women’s lives and lowering the cost of health care, ” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet. “ This law will provide coverage for women on these exams so they no longer have to decide between the cost of their screening and the cost of their life. We are being proactive rather than reactive.” HB19-1301 would require health insurance providers to cover any breast imaging performed after a breast cancer screening study comes back and requires additional testing within the same calendar year. This can be based on factors including a high lifetime risk or an individual’s healthcare provider indicating that further imaging is necessary. “When women are given the resources to detect early signs of breast cancer, lives will be saved,” said Rep. Buckner. “This law will help patients take the proper steps to get healthy and avoid costly procedures to treat their cancer.” The law was signed at the Cancer Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The 2010 federal Affordable Care Act defined benefits for individually purchased health insurance. It included covering one breast exam screening per year, but did not extend to covering a breast exam if further analysis or tests are needed. Previous Next