.png){kind=logo}
Buentello sponsored bills to help assist students, farmers & address opioid crisis signed by Gov
(May 14) – Three bills sponsored by Rep. Bri Buentello were signed into law today in Pueblo.
First up was Rep. Buentello’s bill sponsored with Senate President Leroy Garcia to provide tuition assistance to the children of firefighters, police officers and soldiers who died on duty, as well as the children of prisoners of war. SB19-174 received bipartisan support at the legislature.
“As the wife of an Army Captain and the daughter of Marines, I am humbled by the opportunity to work with my colleagues who served in the armed forces to assist the families of those who serve,” said Rep. Buentello, D-Pueblo.
Next up was Buentello’s bipartisan bill that will establish 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.
The law was signed by Gov. Polis at Peppe’s at Milberger Farm in Pueblo.
“Providing incentives to schools to use food grown right here in Pueblo and in Colorado benefits our students, schools and offers much needed support to our local farmers and ranchers, as well as our local economies,” said Rep. Buentello.
Earlier in the day, Gov. Polis another Buentello-Garcia bill, SB19-001, to help address the opioid crisis. This new law will expand a Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT) pilot program that is currently only offered in Pueblo and Routt Counties.. SB19-001 would expand the program to make it available to counties in Southern Colorado, including Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Huerfano, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Sagauche, and two additional counties who demonstrate a need.
“Two years ago, the legislature created the pilot MAT program. We saw how well that program worked, so it’s time we expand this program to help those in Southern Colorado,” Rep. Buentello said when the bill passed the House. “This bill will save lives and help Coloradans who are struggling with addiction get they treatment they need.”