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< Back October 10, 2019 REP. MCCLUSKIE: FAMILIES IN THE MOUNTAINS WILL SAVE OVER $10,000 ON HEALTH CARE NEXT YEAR Savings are largely attributable to Rep. McCluskie’s reinsurance legislation, premiums for plans sold on the individual market will fall by 20.2 percent statewide DENVER, CO– Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, today released the following statement after Governor Polis announced that the final health insurance rates for plans sold on the individual market will fall by 20.2 percent and that families living in the mountains and some rural areas will save over $10,000: “This is big news. Health insurance rates sold on the individual market will be falling dramatically, and the typical family of four living in the mountains and some rural areas of our state will see a savings of over $10,000 next year. Every Coloradan deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care services close to home, and the General Assembly worked tirelessly this past year to deliver on this basic human right. From colorado hospitals and insurance carriers, to the lawmakers who cosponsored this legislation, I am grateful for the collaborative efforts of all the partners and stakeholders who helped secure this reduction in health care costs.” Rep. McCluskie was the prime sponsor of HB19-1168, State Innovation Waiver Reinsurance Program, which was signed by Governor Polis last May. The bipartisan legislation establishes a state reinsurance program, which has successfully lowered health care premiums for plans sold on the individual market. Rep. McCluskie and Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, were also the co-prime sponsors of SB19-004, a bill that facilitated the establishment of the Peak Health Alliance, a health care cooperative that aims to lower costs in rural parts of the state. After starting successfully in Summit County, Peak Health is now expanding into several other counties, including Grand, Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties. In the announcement today, Governor Polis said that the typical family of four living in the mountains who purchase their insurance on the individual market will see a yearly savings of $10,302, and that health care premiums for plans sold on the individual market will fall by 20.2 percent statewide. Previous Next

< Back March 6, 2020 COMMITTEE VOTES TO REMOVE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR FUTURE CIVIL SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CLAIMS Bill would give survivors of sexual assault time to heal without losing their right to hold perpetrators accountable. DENVER, CO — The House Judiciary Committee today voted to approve Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet’s bipartisan bill to remove the statute of limitations for civil claims of sexual misconduct. The committee approved the bill by a vote of 8-1. “Healing from the impact of trauma and sexual assault has no timeline or expiration date, and neither should a survivor’s opportunity to seek justice through the courts,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “This bill will give survivors going forward time to heal, will ensure we keep more perpetrators accountable, and will enhance fairness in the civil justice system. We can and must do better by survivors, and this will move us in the right direction.” HB20-1296 removes the statute of limitations on bringing a civil claim based on sexual misconduct, which is defined in the bill to include all current criminal sexual offenses including offenses against a child, and other criminal behavior of a sexual nature including requests for sexual favors accompanied by coercion, threat, or violence. The bill also allows claims to be brought against a person or entity that is not the perpetrator of the sexual misconduct. This bill would become effective for claims arising on or after January 1, 2021 but allows for those victims for whom the current statute of limitations has not yet run to bring a claim based on the provisions of this law. The Colorado constitution has been interpreted to guarantee vested rights in relation to statutes of limitations but not to allow the legislature to make retroactive changes to them. Previous Next

On January 1, a new law goes into effect to expand the state Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, putting more money back into the pockets of hardworking Coloradans. HB23-1008 also goes into effect, closing tax loopholes in order to expand access to healthy foods in lower-income and under-served communities and help small food retailers and small family farms. < Back December 18, 2023 Laws to Put $170M Back into the Pockets of Hardworking Coloradans, Boost Food Assistance Go Into Effect DENVER, CO - On January 1, a new law goes into effect to expand the state Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, putting more money back into the pockets of hardworking Coloradans. HB23-1008 also goes into effect, closing tax loopholes in order to expand access to healthy foods in lower-income and under-served communities and help small food retailers and small family farms. “This bipartisan new law will put $170 million dollars back into the pockets of hardworking families,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, sponsor of HB23-1112. “These tax credits will boost the incomes of hundreds of thousands of Coloradans and help vulnerable families afford basic necessities as we continue to tackle the high cost of living in our state. I’m proud of our efforts to create a more fair tax system that supports the Coloradans who need it the most.” “Colorado’s working families deserve a break,” said Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “These critical tax credits will put more money in their pockets, and make it easier to pay for necessities like groceries and rent. I’m proud to champion this legislation that will lift folks out of poverty and will make life easier for Colorado families.” “This law will put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Coloradans, boosting our local economies,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of HB23-1112 . “These extra dollars could make a world of difference for low-income working people. I’m proud that the legislature came together in a bipartisan way to reduce taxes for working families and boost the incomes of the Coloradans who are feeling the brunt of our cost of living crisis.” “Boosting tax credits for hardworking Colorado families just makes sense,” said Sen. Chris Kolker, D-Centennial. “This new law eases the burden people across our state face, and will help them build better futures for themselves and their families. I am proud to see this critical support go into effect, and look forward to the benefits and security it will bring to working families all across Colorado.” HB23-1112 expands the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) and returns nearly $170 million more to hardworking families. The law increases the Colorado EITC from 25 percent to 38 percent of the federal EITC for tax year 2024, an almost four-fold increase from where it stood in 2020. By increasing the EITC and CTC, families will see hundreds of additional dollars back in their wallets. During the 2023 special legislative session, Colorado Democrats also passed HB23B-1002 , which increased the state EITC for tax year 2023 from 25 to 50 percent, one of the highest state matches in the country. A refundable tax credit available to certain families with children under the age of 6, the Colorado Child Tax Credit will now range from $200 to $1,200 depending on income and filing status starting in tax year 2024, with the tax credit ranging from 20 to 70 percent of the federal CTC depending on marital status, number of qualifying children and income. The federal Child Tax Credit has lifted over 57,000 Colorado kids out of poverty and helped over 630,000 families across the state, while the federal Earned Income Tax Credit has helped cut the national poverty rate in half . The bill builds on legislation passed by Colorado Democrats in recent years to make Colorado more affordable for working-class families. The General Assembly passed HB20-1420 and HB21-1311 , which at the time doubled the state's Earned Income Tax Credit and funded the Child Tax Credit, saving hundreds of thousands of Colorado families money. “All Coloradans deserve access to healthy and nutritious foods, and with this law going into effect, more lower-income and underserved Coloradans will more easily be able to access locally sourced foods,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB23-1008 . “One in three adults living with children have reported missing meals or eating smaller portions so they can provide their kids with enough food. We’re ending a tax loophole that benefited wealthy corporations to connect everyday Coloradans with fresh produce and groceries and support our small Colorado farmers and food producers.” “Working people in my district and across the state don’t get a tax break on their lunches, and too many of them don’t have enough to eat at all," said Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora. “I am happy to close this tax loophole that only benefits the wealthiest Coloradans, and redirect the funds toward addressing food insecurity so that more Coloradans can afford to put food on the table.” “Family owned farms and food retailers need our support more than corporate boardrooms," said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. “This new law will reduce hunger and strengthen local supply chains in urban and rural parts of Colorado, with a minimal impact on state finances.” For income tax years 2024 through 2030, HB23-1008 ends the state tax loophole that allows corporations to deduct business meal expenses from their taxes. Ending these tax deductions supports efforts to reduce food insecurity for hard-working Coloradans and fund a tax credit to help our local farmers and food retailers acquire necessary equipment and better access market opportunities. HB23-1008 creates an income tax credit for small food retailers and small family farms worth up to 85% of the cost of new systems, equipment, and food distribution for tax year 2024 and 75% of the costs for subsequent tax years. Partnerships between Colorado food producers and small retailers boost revenue and cycle money into local economies. This law builds off HB22-1380 , a bipartisan law passed by the General Assembly in 2022 to save Coloradans money on healthy foods. The funding allocated by the 2022 legislation supports programs including the Community Nutrition Incentive Program, which assists women, children, and older Coloradans in subscribing to weekly produce deliveries from a local farm; the Double Up Food Bucks Program, which doubles the value of SNAP benefits in participating markets and stores for fruits and vegetables; and the Community Food Access program, which allows more small retailers to acquire equipment to store and sell produce and supports small family farms in connecting their crops to market demands. On August 8, 2023, $250,000 was allocated by this law to the Department of Public Health and Environment to connect low-income communities throughout the state with healthy eating program incentives and improve access to fresh, Colorado-grown produce. Previous Next

< Back November 4, 2019 BIPARTISAN PROPOSALS ADVANCED TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION DENVER, CO — The Making Higher Education Attainable Interim Study Committee today advanced three bills that would make it easier for Coloradans to access and pay for higher education. “Recent research from the Colorado Department of Higher Education shows that earning a college or post-high school degree leads to longer life expectancy, better health and higher incomes, but the cost to attend these institutions has been rising quickly, while Colorado continues to rank near the bottom of state spending on higher education,” said Committee Vice-Chair Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango). “I’m excited that our committee advanced three critical bills that will make it easier for all Coloradans to access higher education and get the degree that’s right for them.” “Colorado, and especially Fort Collins, has exceptional institutions of higher education, but it is becoming increasingly more difficult for students to pay for or attend our world-class colleges and universities,” said committee member Rep. Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins). “The bills we passed today will make higher education more attainable for Coloradans. I look forward to furthering our important work to support Colorado’s students pursuing a postsecondary degree or credential and to continuing the fight to reduce the cost of these degrees for our students.” According to the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado ranks 47th nationally for state appropriations on higher education. The report also showed that from 2008 to 2018, tuition at public two-year institutions in the state rose by 52 percent and tuition at four-year public institutions rose by 68 percent. Nearly half of all young adults in Colorado hold student loans, and student debt has been increasing faster than the national average according to a report from the Student Borrower Protection Center. 1. Modifications to Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative: The first bill would make modifications and improvements to the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI). Since 2014, COSI has provided a strong network of student support and scholarship programs to reduce the financial burden on eligible students and increase higher education program and certification completion rates. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to help students successfully integrate into the workforce. The bill makes a number of changes to the scholarship program that will increase the availability of wrap-around services to scholarship recipients and increase the participation of other postsecondary education providers to make the program more efficient and expand the pool of Coloradans it can serve. Sponsors : Representative Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins) and Senator Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) 2. Providing College Credit for Work Experience: The second bill would require the Commission on Higher Education to adopt and implement a plan to award college credit to eligible Coloradans for previous work experience. The plan will prioritize the fastest growing industries as identified by the Department of Labor and Employment’s Talent Pipeline Report, and will ultimately require institutions of higher education, including area technical colleges, to accept and transfer academic credit for approved work-related experiences. This bill recognizes that many Coloradans acquire valuable experience before deciding to pursue a postsecondary degree or credential, and rewards them for that experience so that they are more likely to complete their degree and reenter the workforce. Sponsors: Representative Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango) and Senators Tammy Story (D-Evergreen) and Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) 3. Improving the Student Success Innovation Pilot Program: The third bill approved by the committee would create a pilot program within the Department of Higher Education to incentivize collaboration among institutions of higher education within Colorado to increase student completion rates and overall success. Under the bill, participating institutions would convene and study common barriers to student success and devise a program that addresses those barriers. The bill includes robust reporting requirements that outline student outcomes and cost, and other key indicators of success. This bill recognizes that many students pursuing a postsecondary degree face unique barriers and require innovative solutions to ensure their success. Sponsors: Representative Cathy Kipp (D-Fort Collins) and Senator Tammy Story (D-Evergreen) Previous Next

< Back Amy Paschal Rep. Amy Paschal represents House District 18, which includes Southwest Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Cascade, and Green Mountain Falls. She serves on the Transportation, Housing & Local Government, the Energy & Environment, and the Joint Technology committees. She is a mom and a software engineer. Her priorities at the Colorado Capitol are affordable housing and education, sustainable infrastructure, wildfire safety and environment stewardship. Rep. Paschal vows to protect reproductive rights. Her experience as an election judge has made her passionate about protecting democracy through fair, secure and accessible elections.

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon and Representative Tim Hernández that would provide support for K-12 justice-engaged students by establishing a Student Bill of Rights, collecting graduation data, setting standards for credit transfers, and creating a hotline for legal and educational resources. HB24-1216 passed by a vote of 45-18. < Back April 30, 2024 Bill to Support Justice-Engaged Youth Passes DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon and Representative Tim Hernández that would provide support for K-12 justice-engaged students by establishing a Student Bill of Rights, collecting graduation data, setting standards for credit transfers, and creating a hotline for legal and educational resources. HB24-1216 passed by a vote of 45-18. “Ensuring that all Colorado youth have access to quality education is a priority, which is why we’re bringing this legislation to better support our justice-engaged youth,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Our legislation would reduce recidivism by creating a Student Bill of Rights that prioritizes and ensures student success. This bill would allow us to better serve our students by giving them the tools and resources to develop the skills they need to graduate, move on to postsecondary education opportunities, and build a thriving career.” “I’ve had students who were involved in the juvenile justice system, and it can be difficult to be successful in school after becoming justice-engaged,” said Rep. Tim Hernández, D-Denver. “This bill has the potential to help change their educational trajectories by connecting students and their families with legal and educational resources, expediting the re-enrollment of students back into school, and ensuring they can participate in extracurricular activities. These student rights are instrumental in developing agency and a sense of self for all young people, and through this bill, we’ll position our young people to forge strong futures for themselves.” HB24-1216 would establish rights for students who are involved in the juvenile justice system, including the right to alternative solutions for general education, prompt enrollment with a local education provider, appropriate credit for coursework that was completed while being justice-engaged, a graduation plan, education while committed, and participation in gifted and talented and college readiness programs. The bill requires school districts to publish available resources on their websites and designate a person to serve as a point of contact for justice-engaged students. The bill also encourages courts to delay sentences to commitment to the Division of Youth Services if the student did not commit a physical offense or cause bodily injury, and directs the Department of Education to create a statewide hotline for justice-engaged students to seek legal advice, school options, and other necessary services and support. Previous Next

< Back January 30, 2020 COVERAGE FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENINGS ADVANCES Bipartisan legislation would require insurance plans to better cover colorectal cancer screenings DENVER, CO– Legislation to require health insurance plans to cover colorectal cancer screenings starting at age 45 today passed the House Committee on Health and Insurance 10-0. HB20-1103 is sponsored by Representatives Janet Buckner and Perry Will. “According to the Colorado Cancer Coalition, one in 21 men and one in 25 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime,” said Rep. Buckner (D-Aurora). “There’s more we can do to make sure that Coloradans can access life-saving screenings for colorectal cancer, such as lowering the age when coverage for the screening is required, and that’s what this bill would do.” Under current law, health insurers must provide coverage for preventive colorectal cancer screenings in accordance with the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines. The bill would instead require carriers to provide coverage for screenings in accordance with the current best medical practice guidelines. Plans must cover a colonoscopy or other medical test for colorectal cancer screening and a follow-up test if necessary. Current best practice guidelines recommend that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45 instead of age 50, as under the USPSTF guidelines. Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation to save Colorado seniors money. < Back May 3, 2024 Bipartisan Bill to Save Seniors Money Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation to save Colorado seniors money. HB24-1142, sponsored by Representative Junie Joseph, would increase tax deductions for Coloradans ages 55 to 64. This bill passed the House by a vote of 56 to 6. “The rising cost of living has been tough on our seniors with fixed incomes or those planning to retire soon,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder . “This bipartisan bill would save seniors, aged 55 to 64, money by allowing them to deduct all federally taxed social security income on their state taxes. By increasing the cap of non-taxable social security income, we’re helping ensure our seniors are receiving more of their hard-earned benefits and have more money in their pockets. This bipartisan bill saves seniors money on taxes allowing them to afford groceries, rent or other necessities.” HB24-1142 , also sponsored by Representative Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, would save seniors money when filing their taxes. Under current law, taxpayers ages 55 to 64 may deduct up to $20,000 of pension and annuity income, which includes federally taxable social security income, when calculating their taxable income. For taxpayers 55 to 64 years of age and making $75,000 or less starting in 2025, this bill would allow all federally taxed social security income to be deductible in Colorado. Taxpayers over the age of 65 may already deduct the full amount of federally taxable social security income, or other forms of pension and annuity income up to $24,000. This bill would lower the age to ensure eligible Coloradans aged 55 to 64 can benefit from the full deduction. The current cap still applies to all other forms of pension and annuity income, and the cap may only be exceeded when social security income specifically is higher than the cap. Previous Next

< Back May 18, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! BILLS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SAVE PEOPLE MONEY ON HEALTH CARE Legislation significantly boosts number of inpatient beds for adults and youth, increases access to care for families and saves Coloradans money on prescription drugs DENVER, CO – Two critical bills from the legislature’s behavioral health package were signed into law today. They invest nearly $120 million to increase residential treatment options in Colorado and expand access to behavioral health care for youth and families. Governor Polis also signed legislation that will reduce the cost of prescription drugs and save Coloradans money on health care. Adult Inpatient and Residential Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1303 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Shane Sandridge and Senators Faith Winter and Jim Smallwood, invests $65 million to expand inpatient and residential treatment options. “Colorado needs more residential treatment options to ensure that people have access to the care they need, and that’s what the bill signed into law today will do,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Too many people are waiting for treatment and seeing their conditions worsen because there isn’t a treatment bed available for them. The legislation signed today will fund new beds across the state for people struggling with serious mental illness.” “Far too many of our neighbors are struggling to access the health care they need, and we must increase our capacity to support folks who require urgent, immediate care,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster . “These new laws will provide additional inpatient and residential treatment beds for individuals in need, and help people save money and improve certainty for folks who rely on lifesaving prescription drugs, which will make a world of difference and allow more Coloradans to access the care they desperately need.” Currently, Colorado does not have enough residential treatment beds to treat individuals with serious mental illness, including individuals with co-occuring conditions or in need of civil commitment. The law supports the addition of 16 beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan and 125 residential treatment beds across the state. These beds will be available for adults with urgent behavioral health needs who need clinical support to become stabilized. They will provide integrated care to flexibly serve all populations, including individuals involved in the criminal justice system and those awaiting competency restoration services. “The legislation Governor Polis signed today will save Coloradans money on prescription drugs by requiring insurance companies and prescription drug benefit managers to pass on savings from manufacturer rebates to consumers,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “No one should have to choose between life saving medication and paying for everyday necessities. This new law will protect consumers and help ensure that cost isn’t a barrier to the treatment patients need.” Saving Coloradans Money on Prescription Drugs: HB22-1370 , sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Iman Jodeh and Senators Faith Winter and Janet Buckner, makes prescription drugs and health care more affordable and dependable. The bill ensures doctors are in charge of a patient’s treatment instead of insurance companies by limiting when a patient has to try and fail a treatment that their insurance company prefers before they can get what their doctor recommends. The bill ensures that patients know what they’ll be expected to pay for prescription drugs by requiring that 25 percent of health plans have a set dollar amount for co-pays instead of unpredictable percentage-based coinsurance. “This legislation prevents people from seeing their health coverage change when they are in the middle of lifesaving treatment and will help ensure patients have access to the medications they need,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We’ve taken historic action in recent years to bring down the cost of health insurance and save people money on health care, and I’m proud to see us take this important step forward today to save people even more on their prescription drugs.” The bill will save Coloradans money on prescription drugs by requiring insurance companies to pass along the savings from manufacturers’ rebates. The bill also bans health insurance companies from raising the out-of-pocket costs of someone’s prescription medications in the middle of their coverage and prohibits companies from dropping coverage of a medication a patient needs midway through the patients’ coverage. “Kids and families all across Colorado deserve access to quality behavioral health care, but our current system isn’t getting them the care they need,” said Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora. “I am proud to champion these bills that will improve access to behavioral health care for youth in Colorado, lower the cost and improve access to lifesaving prescription drugs, and help make sure that every family in our state is able to receive the vital care they need to thrive.” Youth and Family Residential Behavioral Health Care: HB22-1283 sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Mary Bradfield and Senators Janet Buckner and Kevin Priola, will make it easier for families and youth to access residential and outpatient care in Colorado. “Colorado is facing a youth mental health crisis; we made expanding access to care for youth and families one of the major focuses of our behavioral health package this year,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Too many families can’t find options for treatment in Colorado so they are forced to send their kids out of state. I’m proud Colorado is making a historic investment to substantially increase our ability to care for our kids and provide the care they need to thrive.” Right now, Colorado does not have adequate capacity to serve children and youth with complex behavioral health needs. As a result, too many children are sent out-of-state to access treatment, far away from their families and support network. This bill will invest $54M to support intensive youth and family residential and outpatient care, ensuring that children, youth, and families can access behavioral health treatment and services they need right here in Colorado. Previous Next

< Back May 18, 2021 HOUSE BOOSTS LOW-INCOME UTILITY ASSISTANCE & SNAP ENROLLMENT DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to significantly boost low-income utility bill payment assistance across Colorado. “Too many Coloradans don’t have enough resources right now to make ends meet and are at risk of falling further behind as our economy recovers,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Our direct assistance programs are badly underfunded and rely on a volatile funding mechanism that isn’t meeting the needs of our communities. This bill will help Colorado build back stronger and forge a more inclusive recovery by boosting direct utility bill payment assistance to low income Coloradans.” HB21-1105 creates a sustainable funding source and expands eligibility for low-income assistance programs. The existing funding mechanism for low-income utility assistance is volatile and is not keeping up with the need in Colorado communities for direct assistance. Dozens of counties receive less than 50 percent of their requested energy assistance funds. While exempting low-income customers, the bill directs utilities to collect a $1 fee on electricity customers and a $1 fee on gas customers, which will be used to finance direct utility bill payment assistance and weatherization retrofits to low-income households. The bill also creates a mechanism for cross enrollment with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to maximize the number of eligible Colorado recipients. It also allows water utilities to collect a charge to finance direct water utility assistance for low-income customers. Even before the pandemic hit, one in four Colorado households struggled to pay monthly utility bills. In the last year, Energy Outreach Colorado, which has received federal and state stimulus funding through recent legislation, paid $13 million in bills for 25,000 households, indicating the need for a sustainable funding source. Among the tens of thousands the energy assistance nonprofit serves are seniors, Coloradans with disabilities, and essential frontline workers. Previous Next

< Back July 1, 2021 GOV SIGNS BILLS TO PROTECT AND BETTER SERVE COLORADANS WITH DISABILITIES DENVER, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation that will ensure that state resources are in compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws and revamp training to improve first responder interactions with people with disabilities. “Every Coloradan should be able to access state services and information online, but not all state websites and services are accessible to people with disabilities,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Denver. “During the pandemic, some Coloradans weren’t able to get critical information or had to wait longer to access it because state websites didn’t meet accessibility standards. The bill Governor Polis signed today will bring Colorado’s state government inline with federal standards to ensure everyone can use and access state services online.” HB21-1110 , sponsored by Representative David Ortiz, requires that all rules promulgated by Colorado departments are at least as strong as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law tasks state agencies with developing an accessibility plan that enables an individual with a disability to access digital content with the same privacy and ease of use as individuals without disabilities. “Today, Colorado is taking an important step forward to ensure that first responders have the training and tools necessary to guarantee safe and appropriate outcomes while interacting with people with disabilities,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Denver. “This new law will bring people together and give voice to people in the disability community to better inform law enforcement, prevent tragedies and protect people with disabilities, who we know are disproportionately more likely to be the victims of crimes and have unique needs and considerations for preserving their wellbeing.” HB21-1122 , sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Colin Larson, establishes a twelve-person commission tasked with performing a detailed study of existing training for peace officers on interactions with persons with disabilities and provide a report to the POST Board by February 28, 2022. The bill requires the resulting curriculum be implemented for basic training and the annual in-service training by July 1, 2022. Once the curriculum is implemented, the commission must monitor the training process, assess any challenges and the effectiveness of the training to present and suggest to the POST Board. Previous Next

< Back October 17, 2019 SPEAKER BECKER: URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO ADDRESS HEALTH IMPACTS FROM OIL AND GAS BOULDER, CO — Colorado House Speaker KC Becker today released the following statement after the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released a study indicating health impacts of emissions from oil and gas operations within 2,000 feet of homes and occupied buildings: “In passing SB19-181, we created a new approach to oil and gas regulation that prioritizes public health and safety and empowers regulators to more closely review permits and establish rules for reducing emissions and improving leak detection. Today’s report highlights the immediate need for the state to address air quality by increasing monitoring, expediting rulemaking, and conducting a robust health impact study to fully understand how oil and gas operations are affecting public health. I am encouraged by the steps announced today to advance additional public health protections as the COGCC continues working to implement SB19-181, and call on them to continue taking urgent action to address air quality and health impacts of oil and gas operations.” Last session, the General Assembly passed landmark legislation to overhaul the state’s oil and gas regulations to prioritize public health. SB19-181, sponsored by Speaker Becker and Rep. Caraveo (D-Thornton), allows local governments a say in regulating oil and gas operations. It also directs the state’s Air Quality Control Commission to reduce emissions and increase air monitoring. The rulemaking process for these new regulations is currently underway. Previous Next