< Back March 25, 2021 HOUSE ADVANCES BILL TO ALLOW HIRING OF FORMER INMATE FIREFIGHTERS DENVER, CO– The House Energy and Environment Committee today passed legislation that would allow former inmate wildland firefighters to join professional crews to help bolster Colorado’s wildfire response capabilities and foster opportunities for formerly incarcerated wildland firefighters. The bill passed unanimously. “Colorado’s State Wildland Inmate Fire Team (SWIFT) has performed life-saving work to protect our communities and halt devastating wildfires in my district and all across our state,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “With passage of this bill, Colorado can hire back former SWIFT crew members so they can continue protecting us from increasingly frequent wildfires. This bill is a win-win: helping people get jobs and protecting our communities. We owe it to the firefighters to open up this important post-incarceration career pathway and to invest in firefighting teams across our state.” HB21-012, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, would allow the wildland fire management section in the Department of Public Safety to more easily hire former inmates with wildland firefighting experience. The bill also requires the department to develop materials to increase awareness of wildland firefighting career opportunities for Coloradans who have experience fighting fires through the inmate disaster relief program. Previous Next

On August 12, legislation led by Colorado Democrats to make energy and utility costs more affordable for Colorado families will go into effect. The new laws will improve energy assistance programs and boost geothermal energy development.  < Back July 22, 2026 Two Laws to Make Energy More Affordable Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – On August 12, legislation led by Colorado Democrats to make energy and utility costs more affordable for Colorado families will go into effect. The new laws will improve energy assistance programs and boost geothermal energy development. SB26-002 , sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, Senator Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs, and Representatives Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, and Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, standardizes and improves energy assistance programs to ensure Coloradans have access to affordable, reliable energy. “No one should be spending an exorbitant amount of their income on utilities,” said Kipp. “Colorado families face difficult choices every month between rent, groceries, bills, and all the unexpected expenses life throws their way. This law is about ensuring that Coloradans who need energy assistance are able to access these programs in a simple, efficient way no matter what part of the state they live in or who provides their utilities.” “Coloradans are dealing with longer, hotter summers which can drive up utility costs,” said Willford. “No one should have to choose between paying their utility bill or feeding their family, which is why we are standardizing utility assistance programs so ratepayers can easily access support they qualify for. Affordability is top of mind, and our new law will streamline energy assistance programs to boost Colorado families.” “Every Colorado family should be able to keep the lights on and keep their home safe and functioning without breaking the bank,” said Exum. “The purpose behind this law has never wavered – to bring down energy bills for families who need it. This law standardizes utility assistance programs, increases their visibility, and simplifies the application process so that more Coloradans can benefit.” “Energy assistance programs need to be accessible, standardized and simple so Coloradans who qualify can save time and money,” said Velasco. “Our new law, going into effect next month, will knock down accessibility barriers to assistance programs so Coloradans can save money on their utility bills. We’re making sure energy assistance programs are available to Coloradans who qualify.” Starting August 12, SB26-002 requires all investor-owned gas and electric utilities in Colorado to have a standardized framework for energy assistance programs known as Percentage of Income Payment Plans (PIPP). It requires utilities to clearly post information about eligibility criteria and enrollment processes for the PIPP program on their websites and standardizes the name of PIPP programs across all investor-owned utilities to reduce confusion for customers. Under the new law, customers will be allowed to apply directly with their utility for the program, rather than having to first enroll in another assistance program. Utilities will determine an annual bill credit for the customer delivered either as an up-front annual credit or a monthly credit on their utility bill. To improve and expedite the application experience, utilities must inform applicants within 30 days whether they have been approved or denied for PIPP and the reason why. The programs will be under the oversight of the Public Utilities Commission, to which utilities must submit an annual report about their PIPP program. SB26-142 , sponsored by Senator Matt Ball, D-Denver, Senator Kipp, and Representative Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, will help municipalities reach clean energy goals by streamlining the development of geothermal energy projects. “If we’re serious about meeting our goal of 100% clean energy by 2040, we need to capitalize on Colorado’s unique potential for geothermal energy,” Ball said. “This new law is an innovative and exciting step towards allowing local governments to develop more energy for themselves, making energy cleaner and cheaper for all.” “Geothermal energy–the heat beneath our feet–can lower utility costs and save Coloradans money in the long run,” said Joseph. “Our new bipartisan law, which goes into effect next month, will streamline geothermal energy projects at the local level. Once installed, geothermal is a low-cost renewable energy source that will save Coloradans money and bring us closer to our climate goals.” “Local governments know their needs best, and they should be able to utilize the energy that local industries produce as a byproduct,” Kipp said. “This legislation is a huge step forward for these municipalities who have been facing red tape and regulatory barriers in their pursuit of these projects and their clean energy goals.” SB26-142 expands the use of geothermal energy by removing barriers to allow local governments to more easily enter into agreements for new projects and create new pathways for geothermal innovation. Under the new law, local governments can enter into their own agreements to develop, operate, and finance geothermal energy projects and provide that energy outside their jurisdiction through collaboration with other local governments. Investor-owned utilities such as Xcel must also identify geothermal projects that would increase their generation capacity and include their findings in their electric resource planning filing with the PUC. Additionally, the law requires the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission to collect data from orphaned oil wells for geothermal energy resources in the state and make recommendations for safe and effective development to the General Assembly by November 15, 2026. Colorado has been ranked as having the highest geothermal resource of all 50 states in the three to four kilometer depth range, but technology isn’t currently ready to extract this heat and generate electricity. This new law removes some of the red tape that has restricted development of geothermal energy in order to help the state reach its clean energy goals. Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES MULLICA BILL TO KEEP KIDS SAFE Colorado ranks last in kindergarten immunizations (Apr. 27) – The House gave final approval to Rep. Kyle Mullica’s bipartisan bill to address Colorado’s low vaccination rates. Higher vaccination rates decrease the risk of outbreaks of preventable contagious and deadly diseases. “We have an obligation to be proactive – not reactive. This is a public health crisis. Waiting for a tragedy to happen is not an option. This is about the safety of our students and experts have been consulted in crafting this important legislation. Colorado ranks last in the country for kindergarten immunizations. We need to do better.” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “I urge the Senate to take up and pass this bill.” Rep. Mullica is a trained trauma nurse by profession. What HB19-1312 does: · Creates a standardized exemption form and requires all exemptions be submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) or the local public health agency. Non-medical exemptions must be submitted in person to the CDPHE or local health agency; subsequent renewals can be submitted in person or online. · Directs CDPHE to include immunization exemption information in its annual presentation to the General Assembly. · Directs CDPHE to develop educational materials for health agencies and schools addressing the medical benefits of immunizations. · Gives the Board of Health authority to determine school-required immunizations, based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This bipartisan bill strengthens Colorado’s vaccination exemption process by incorporating strategies known to increase vaccination rates without removing personal or religious exemptions. During House debate on the bill earlier this week, Rep. Yadira Caraveo, the legislatures only doctor and the daughter of immigrant parents, refuted a statement from a House Republican alluding that the issue with low vaccination rates is not because parents are opting out of vaccinating their children, but rather that diseases are being spread by individuals who have immigrated to the United States. Colorado is seeing an increase in vaccine preventable diseases that are endangering public health. According to a recent report, Coloradans paid $55 million on childhood diseases that vaccinations could have prevented in 2017 alone. Medical experts testified at a House hearing earlier this month in support of this common-sense legislation. Public health and medical experts have raised serious concerns about Colorado’s low vaccination rate . Contagious disease outbreaks are happening around the country, most recently in Washington and New York states. According to the CDC, less than 89 percent of kindergarten-aged children in Colorado have received vaccines for diseases like measles, mumps and rubella. Colorado ranks last in country in this category. That’s below the national average of 94.3 percent and below the level of reaching “herd immunity,” the percentage of the population that needs to be vaccinated to avoid a widespread, public outbreak and protect those with compromised or vulnerable immune systems. Herd immunity is essential in protecting vulnerable people, including newborn babies, seniors and people living with ongoing medical issues. The Senate co-prime sponsors are Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, and Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. The bill passed the House Health and Insurance committee hearing by a vote of 7-4 on April 15. HB19-1312 was approved on a final vote of 39-20. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back March 14, 2022 HOUSE PASSES REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EQUITY ACT Legislation will protect and uphold the right to an abortion in Colorado DENVER, CO – The House today passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act on Third Reading and Final Passage by a vote of 40 to 24. “This is a big win for protecting access to abortion and reproductive health care,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “Across the country, the GOP is introducing and passing extreme laws to criminalize those who seek reproductive health care, and to ban abortion entirely, with no exceptions. We’re here to say, that’s not going to happen in Colorado. We’re standing up to protect access to abortion and I’m thrilled the Reproductive Health Equity Act has passed the House.” “Today, our hours of endurance, dedication and perseverance to protect abortion paid off for Coloradans,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “We’re one step closer towards enshrining access to reproductive health care and abortion into Colorado law. We trust Coloradans to make their own medical decisions and that includes deciding whether or not they want to become a parent.” HB22-1279 , sponsored by Representative Meg Froelich and Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, would update Colorado’s laws to protect reproductive rights. The bill establishes a fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy and give birth, or to have an abortion. The proposed law comes as states across the country propose and enact new bans and restrictions on abortion access. The legislation is supported by: Cobalt, COLOR, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, the Anti-Defamation League of the Mountain States, the ACLU of Colorado, ONE Colorado, New Era Colorado, Catholics for Choice and dozens of other organizations. In Texas, Republicans passed legislation banning abortion after six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant. Additionally, the Texas Supreme Court today made it virtually impossible for abortion advocates to fight the bill by halting their use of federal courts. Republican lawmakers in Missouri have proposed legislation that would allow private lawsuits against individuals who help women obtain an abortion out of state. Another bill introduced in the Missouri House would make it illegal for pregnant people to abort ectopic pregnancies, pregnancies that happen outside of the uterus and which can lead to serious complications and even death if left untreated. House Democrats have already defeated three GOP anti-choice bills so far this session. HB22-1079 , sponsored by Representative Williams, was an unconstitutional ban on abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill explicitly directed Colorado to disregard federal law and federal courts and would subject Colorado judges who support access to abortion to impeachment. It would have allowed a private right of action against abortion providers, and potentially patients too. HB22-1047 , sponsored by Representative Neville, would have banned abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill would have also criminalized miscarriages and would have subjected providers who perform an abortion to imprisonment. HB22-1075 , sponsored by Representative Luck, would have established a registry to track and surveil abortion patients and providers. It would have created a roadmap for abortion opponents to identify and further threaten abortion patients and providers. Previous Next

< Back March 28, 2019 DEMOCRATS HANSEN & HEROD CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR NET NEUTRALITY Herod, Hansen bill would protect an open and free Internet (Mar. 28) – The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee passed a bill today to protect a free and open internet in Colorado. The bill to protect net neutrality and safeguard taxpayer money is sponsored by Reps. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “With new leadership in the State Senate and renewed calls to ensure that the internet remains open and accessible, we are pressing forward,” said Rep. Leslie Herod. “The internet is an indispensable part of our lives.” The Trump administration recently rolled back Obama-era rules ensuring a free and open internet. Washington, Montana and Oregon have already passed legislation or taken other steps to protect net neutrality. “Washington D.C. is refusing to protect net neutrality so it’s on the states to act. It’s critical the internet remains open for innovators, consumers and small businesses,” Rep. Hansen said. “Our bill is about protecting taxpayer dollars from being used to support throttled or blocked internet service.” SB19-078 would ensure that: · companies that receive assistance to expand rural broadband provide net-neutral service. · state contracting give preference to internet service providers that deliver net neutrality. · consumers know how to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission to allege that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) has interfered with the open internet. SB19-078 passed with a vote of 4-3 and now goes to the House floor. The House passed a similar bill last session only to have it blocked by the previously GOP controlled state Senate. Previous Next

Representative Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo, today released the following statement on the second meeting of the Wildfire Matters Review Committee: < Back July 18, 2024 Mauro Wraps Up Second Wildfire Matters Interim Committee Meeting DENVER, CO - Representative Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo, today released the following statement on the second meeting of the Wildfire Matters Review Committee : “Keeping our communities safe from wildfire destruction starts with expanded mitigation efforts and education. I’m grateful to the forest service professionals we heard from today, who play a critical role in maintaining healthy forests and ultimately preventing the spread of wildfires. “As our committee continues to meet with industry leaders and state agencies, I look forward to crafting policies with my colleagues that will reduce wildfire risk in all four corners of our state.” Previous Next

< Back March 2, 2020 HOUSE PASSES EXTENSION OF CONTRACTING SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES The House today passed by a vote of 49-12, Representatives Daneya Esgar and Tom Sullivan’s legislation to extend the Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for the next five years. “The Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is an invaluable resource for small businesses across Colorado. Being able to take advantage of federal contracting is a huge boost to not only their businesses but to our economy said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Minority, veteran and women-owned businesses need our support, and now that the House has passed PTAC, we’re one step closer to supporting these businesses for the next five years. “Entering the world of government contracting is an exciting and nerve-wracking time for a small business. PTAC is a resource that guides small minority, veteran and women-owned businesses through the complex process,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial . “When small businesses succeed, Colorado is better for it.” HB20-1116 would extend the Colorado Procurement Assistance Center for five years. The state currently contracts with a nonprofit to provide procurement assistance services, and that contract will end in September 2020. The bill will also allow the state to contribute additional resources to the program if the nonprofit agrees to match that investment 100 percent. PTAC provides free consulting with procurement counselors, as well as a variety of subject matter experts, to Colorado’s small, women, veteran and minority-owned businesses applying for and performing government contracts at the federal, state and local levels. PTAC also runs free workshops and host events, including a training series, a speaker series and networking events with major federal contractors. The program, which started in 2009, has served over 5,000 clients and helped support 55,000 jobs in Colorado. In 2018 alone, the program helped companies earn a combined $419 million in government contracts and helped create/retain over 8,000 jobs. The program has consistently outperformed its statutorily required performance metrics, serving six times the number of active businesses required by law. It has provided over 1,000 more counseling hours than required by law and sponsored twice as many events. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to ensure students with disabilities receive the education they deserve. < Back June 5, 2024 SIGNED! Bill to Ensure Students with Disabilities Thrive in School DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to ensure students with disabilities receive the education they deserve. HB24-1063 will limit repeated or long-term use of an abbreviated schedule for students with disabilities, and clarify when it is permissible and impermissible. “Every student deserves access to a high-quality education in our state,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “However, sometimes students with disabilities are being sent home early for a day or longer – which means they’re being robbed of valuable academics and social-emotional learning. Full day education should be the standard for our students and this law informs parents of their rights, creates a plan to get students back on track to receive a full day of education and makes full day education the norm, not the exception, for every learner. I am committed to making our classrooms and schools more accessible, equitable and welcoming to all and this new law brings us closer to that reality.” “Every student deserves a high quality education and every school should have tools to make this a reality,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “ While abbreviated school days are one of those tools, this law will ensure that this tool is being used responsibly with parental consent to ensure the best educational outcomes for all children. Additionally, our law informs parents of their rights and creates a clear legal framework to ensure every student, especially those with disabilities and additional learning needs, has access to a full day of school.” HB24-1063 establishes policies for the use of an abbreviated school day for students with disabilities. Right now, some students with disabilities are sent home early, put on an inconsistent abbreviated schedule, or forced to learn virtually because of behaviors related to their disability. This law will ensure that parents receive proper notice, including their right to consent to, revoke consent, or oppose an abbreviated school day for their child. It also requires regular meetings for the students' Individualized Education Program team to discuss the value or need for continuing an abbreviated or shortened day, ensures that there is a plan in place for the child to get back to attending a full day of school, and provides a clear legal framework for students who are not being awarded a full day of school. Additionally, this law will collect data about the frequency of students not attending a full day of school due to being placed on a shortened schedule, as well as disaggregated student data to better understand the impact of abbreviated school days on students with disabilities and varying abilities. Previous Next

On August 7, first-in-the-world legislation goes into effect to add biological and neural protections to the Colorado Privacy Act. < Back July 30, 2024 First-in-the-World Neural Data Protections Law Goes Into Effect DENVER, CO - On August 7, first-in-the-world legislation goes into effect to add biological and neural protections to the Colorado Privacy Act. “Big technology companies are making remarkable progress with technology that uses biological and neural data, but without proper privacy protections in our state law, this data can be used and sold without consent,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Neurotechnology outside the medical setting has made significant advancements, especially for people with disabilities, and the advances in this field are coming quickly. Wearable technology purchased by consumers today increasingly has the ability to read thoughts. The next frontier in this field is influencing people’s thoughts and behavior. Our first in the nation law protects Coloradans’ from these invasions of privacy while continuing to encourage technological advancements.” “Neurotechnology is no longer confined to medical or research settings, it’s in devices we use every day,” said Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson. “Outside of these settings, neurotechnologies can currently operate without regulation, data protection standards, or equivalent ethical constraints. While neurotechnology has made significant progress in recent years, it’s important we protect users so that their sensitive information isn’t being collected without their control.” HB24-1058 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Senator Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, expands the definition of “sensitive data” in the Colorado Privacy Act to include all biological data, including neural data. Neurotechnology has become increasingly popular in recent years. Scientists and tech companies like Apple, Meta and Neuralink have used neurotechnology to recreate songs from users’ brain waves and translate thoughts using artificial intelligence. It also has the potential to alter someone’s thoughts and behaviors. In 2021, Chile was the first country in the world to address this issue by amending their constitution to protect brain rights so their personal neural data could not be sold, trafficked or manipulated. With HB24-1058 going into effect, Colorado is the first state in the US to protect their residents’ biological and neural data and the first in the world to pass a law on this issue. Previous Next

< Back April 11, 2019 BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR TIPPER-CARAVEO BILL TO CREATE 2020 CENSUS GRANT PROGRAM 2020 Census is at risk of being inaccurate (Apr. 11) – The House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood, and Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, that would create a committee to disperse funds around the state to ensure a complete count of all Coloradans across the state. The 2020 Census is underfunded and behind schedule. “It is critical that we count every person in Colorado, especially as our economy and population grows,” said Rep. Tipper. “Even a one percent undercount could result in the state losing out on over $630 million in critical transportation, healthcare and education dollars.” Valid census data is tied to billions of dollars of federal funding allocations for Colorado. The state is estimated to receive over $1,480 per person annually from the federal government based on population numbers from the Census. Census dollars help fund transportation (public transit, road rehabilitation and construction); Head Start programs; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Food Nutrition Service, Health and human services programs, and more. HB19-1239 creates an appointed bipartisan and diverse committee, administered by the Dept. of Local Affairs, to award grants to nonprofits and local governments to ensure a complete count across all of Colorado for the 2020 Census. “The census determines so much for our state, it impacts every level of government and our state’s future,” said Rep. Caraveo. “We are in competition with 49 other states for federal dollars. It is in our best interest to compete for the federal pie of dollars and this bill will help with that.” The bill passed by a vote of 41-23. In the House State, Military and Veterans Affairs committee, the bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 7-2 with Rep. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, joining Democrats in supporting HB19-1239. Rich did not support the bill on the House floor. HB19-1239 now goes to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back July 1, 2021 GARNETT, CARAVEO CONDEMN SCOTUS DECISION TO UPHOLD DISCRIMINATORY VOTING LAWS DENVER, CO — House Speaker Alec Garnett and Representative Yadira Caraveo, the sponsor of a new law to expand access to multilingual ballots as well as legislation to enhance our gold standard elections system in Colorado, today released the following statements condemning the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold two discriminatory Arizona laws that restrict access to voting. “Voting should be easy, accessible and secure, and in Colorado, we’ve set the gold standard for administering secure elections that expand turnout and participation,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “I am beyond disappointed that the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has sanctioned discriminatory voting laws that specifically aim to disenfranchise people of color. Without federal action to protect voting rights, we will see continued efforts in states across the country to restrict access to the ballot, so Congress must urgently act to pass voting rights legislation that ensures every eligible American can cast their vote. While a blow to voting rights nationwide, the Court’s decision today will not stop Colorado from continuing to set the gold standard for elections, and I urge other states around the country to follow our lead.” “Today, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court handed down a decision that will allow states to make it harder for their citizens to exercise their right to vote and which will have a disproportionate impact on people of color,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton. “Across the country, and here in Colorado, Republican state lawmakers have tried to make it harder to vote. Each time in Colorado, we have defeated these efforts because they would undermine our democracy and roll back the progress we’ve made. Colorado House Democrats will continue to defend the rights of voters and improve the security and accessibility of our elections, and we call on Congress to take action to address this critical threat to our democracy.” The case, brought by the Democratic National Committee against Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, challenged two Arizona voting provisions and tested what remains of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965. The first is what’s known as an out-of-precinct policy that requires an entire ballot to be thrown out if the ballot was cast in the wrong precinct. The second is a state law enacted by the Arizona legislature in 2016 which makes it a felony offense punishable by up to two years in prison for most people to collect and deliver another person’s completed ballot. The DNC argued that both policies violate Section 2 of the VRA because they result in racial discrimination and have a disproportionate impact on minority voters. Opponents of the Arizona laws argue they are discriminatory in part because the state has a history of switching polling places more frequently in minority neighborhoods and that minority voters are more likely to need assistance with their ballots. The decision further undermines the Voting Rights Act of 1965, limiting the ability of the landmark federal law to combat voting restrictions that have disproportionate impacts on communities of color. During the 2021 legislative session, Democrats passed two bills that will improve elections in Colorado. SB21-250 , an omnibus elections package sponsored by Representatives Yadira Caraveo and Susan Lontine, will make it easier to register to vote and improve access to drop boxes and Voter Service and Polling Centers. Democrats also passed HB21-1011 , also sponsored by Representative Caraveo, which will give all voters access to a hotline that would provide over-the-phone ballot translation in the top languages in which the census was offered. In addition, it would require that in counties where a minority language is spoken by either 2,000 eligible voters or 2.5% of those eligible, the county must print ballots in that language, either on paper or electronically. Previous Next

< Back March 12, 2019 HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE APPROVES TITONE BILL ON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS (Mar. 12) – The House Education committee approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, that will provide a baseline statutory guidance for how public schools can operate as a community school. Statutorily defining community schools would open up the possibility for additional federal education funding and research shows that students in low-performing schools achieve more in the classroom when they switch to schools with a community school model. “The community school model has been shown to increase student achievement through strategic partnerships among families, educators, and community partners,” said Rep. Titone. “By putting this into statute, we are providing a potential avenue for these schools to acquire the resources they need to serve the most vulnerable Colorado children and poise them for success. SB19-102 defines ‘community school’ and permits a public school, especially low-income schools, to include community schools in its innovation plan to allow them to operate as such. The bill passed the House Education committee with an 8-5 vote. It now heads to the House floor. Previous Next