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BOLSTERED ERPO POLICY WILL HELP DE-ESCALATE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND SAVE LIVES < Back April 28, 2023 SIGNED! LANDMARK LEGISLATION TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE COLORADO’S RED FLAG LAW BOLSTERED ERPO POLICY WILL HELP DE-ESCALATE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND SAVE LIVES DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed into law landmark legislation that will expand and strengthen Colorado’s “Red Flag” law. SB23-170 , sponsored by Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, and Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, and House Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, and Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, will expand who is eligible to file for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO), which will allow more qualified individuals to intervene before gun violence has a chance to occur. “Red Flag laws are one of the most effective tools we have to prevent gun violence, but unfortunately Colorado’s Red Flag law is tragically underutilized,” Fenberg said. “This new law will strengthen our state’s Red Flag law and increase the number of individuals who can file for an extreme risk protection order, which will create more opportunities for community members to recognize when something is wrong and intervene in a way that will prevent further gun violence and save countless lives across our state.” “This expansion of Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order will improve one of the best tools we have to help prevent more Coloradans from being a victim of the next gun violence tragedy,” Bacon said. “Now, more qualified individuals will be able to file a petition if they believe someone poses a serious threat to the community. This law brings us one step closer to keeping guns out of the hands of those who would do harm to themselves or others.” “Our Red Flag law has already saved lives in Colorado, and this commonsense law will strengthen it so that it can be even more effective,” Sullivan said. “Expanding and improving our Red Flag law will create more opportunities for qualified individuals to assess the danger and act appropriately to prevent further violence and ultimately save more lives.” “Since Colorado passed the Red Flag law in 2019, it has been an effective yet underutilized tool to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” Weissman said. “Teachers, licensed mental health professionals, district attorneys, and medical professionals throughout our communities often have insight into the potential dangers that someone poses, making them essential in Colorado’s fight against gun violence. With this bill being signed into law today, we’re improving awareness of this tool and expanding eligibility to file a petition so we can reduce deaths by suicide and protect more Coloradans from the threat of gun violence.” Originally passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Polis in 2019, the Zackari Parrish III Violence Prevention Act is a tool used to temporarily remove firearms from a person who a judge determines is a threat to themselves or others. Currently a petition for removal can only be filed by a family member or a law enforcement officer. SB23-170 will expand the list of individuals eligible to file an ERPO to include District Attorneys and other law enforcement officials, licensed health care providers, mental health professionals, and educators. According to the Associated Press , Colorado has one of the lowest use rates of its Red Flag law. Colorado issued only 3.3 protection orders per 100,000 adult residents through 2021, ranking the sixth lowest among 19 states that have Red Flag laws. In comparison, Florida issues 33.6 protection orders per 100,000 adult residents. Researchers have found that for every 10 to 20 protection orders, one suicide might be averted. Previous Next

House Democratic lawmakers today highlighted the success of the first meeting of the Cell Phone Connectivity Interim Study Committee. < Back July 9, 2024 Lukens, Bacon Highlight First Meeting of the Cell Phone Connectivity Committee CORRECTION The Cell Phone Connectivity Interim Study Committee was created through an interim committee request letter (2024-04), rather than HB24-1265 as previously stated. DENVER, CO - House Democratic lawmakers today highlighted the success of the first meeting of the Cell Phone Connectivity Interim Study Committee . Created through HB24-1265, this bipartisan interim committee aims to study cell phone connectivity issues in rural and historically underserved communities of color in Colorado. Chair Representative Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs: “Whether it’s for work, school, meeting virtually with your doctor, searching for directions, or contacting emergency services — quality cell phone connectivity is vital. However, many of our neighbors living in rural and mountainous communities are stuck with unreliable cell services. Gaps in cell phone connectivity means Coloradans can find themselves on their own in a dangerous, emergency situation. “Our first meeting allowed us to dive deeper into the cell phone connectivity issues encountered by many in our state. These gaps were widely exposed during the pandemic, and our goal this interim is to better understand how we can improve connectivity for those living in and visiting Colorado’s mountainous communities.” Committee Member, Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver: “No matter your zip code, everyone deserves peace of mind and a strong sense of security that cell phones provide. “However, marginalized communities in urban and rural areas feel as if they experience a lack of reliable cell phone coverage. It has been increasingly difficult for many in these communities to rely on cell phones in emergency situations or everyday life. “We convened this Cell Phone Connectivity Interim Study Committee to uncover the gaps in cell phone coverage across our state. Today’s first meeting set us on a path forward to understanding the connectivity issues as we work towards framing up future legislation.” Previous Next

Bipartisan legislation will safeguard independent pharmacies that rural communities rely on < Back May 27, 2025 New Bipartisan Law Will Preserve Rural Access to Health Care Bipartisan legislation will safeguard independent pharmacies that rural communities rely on ALAMOSA, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed bipartisan legislation into law to preserve access to pharmacies and health care in rural communities. “Health care access in rural communities is already limited, and this law works to preserve the local pharmacies that Coloradans rely on,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “From regular prescription refills to immunizations, pharmacies are a lifeline in our communities. This bipartisan law aims to maintain health care access for Coloradans in our part of the state by establishing fair reimbursement rates for rural pharmacies. It also permits telehealth for rural pharmacies to make it easier and less expensive for Coloradans to get the health care they need.” “Independent rural pharmacies are so important to the people who live in the rural and mountain communities that I represent. They rely on them for essential services like prescription refills, medical supplies, immunizations, and so much more,” said Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco . “This bipartisan law will ensure fair reimbursement rates and audit recovery practices so that drug delivery for independent and rural pharmacies are adequate enough to level the playing field against corporate health care giants and safeguard essential health services.” HB25-1222 , also sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, R-Trinidad, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, helps preserve access to rural health care by: Ensuring a fair reimbursement for rural independent pharmacies, Allowing the delivery of drugs by rural independent pharmacies to underserved communities, Clarifying fair audit recovery practices so rural independent pharmacies don’t close, and Allowing remote prescription evaluations for pharmacies to improve accessibility for Coloradans. For Coloradans living in rural communities, these modifications will maintain access to vital prescriptions and health care services close to home without having to travel long distances or face unnecessary delays. Previous Next

Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: < Back May 3, 2024 McLachlan and Simpson Joint Statement on CommonSpirit Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Impasse DURANGO, CO - Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, today released the following joint statement calling on CommonSpirit Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado to reach an agreement that maintains in-network service consumers in Southwest Colorado: Coloradans in our communities must have access to hospital care and medical services within a reasonable distance from home, and this impasse puts critical care out of reach for consumers in Southwest Colorado. Coloradans in rural communities often have to travel hours for care, but forcing patients to drive to Colorado Springs or Grand Junction to receive treatment is not an appropriate alternative. It’s time for Anthem and CommonSpirit to put patients before profits and come to an agreement that continues in-network coverage for facilities such as Mercy Hospital in our communities. Previous Next

< Back March 29, 2021 AFTER GEORGIA’S JIM CROW 2.0, DEMS BEAT BACK “BIG LIE” INSPIRED ELECTION BILLS DENVER, CO — The House State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs committee today defeated multiple GOP bills based on “the big lie,” which raised baseless conspiracies about the security and integrity of elections across the country, and here in Colorado. “Colorado’s elections system is a national model for facilitating record turnout and constantly improving voter access while ensuring safety, integrity and security,” said House State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Chair Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “These bills are dangerous attempts to make it harder to vote and undermine faith in our elections based on conspiracies and the ‘big lie,’ which have been repeatedly debunked. In fact, there wasn’t a single piece of evidence presented that anyone voted who wasn’t supposed to or that anything went wrong with our voting systems. Our system has been lauded by both Republican and Democratic secretaries of state, county clerks and recorders, and officials in both parties for nearly a decade.” “From Georgia to Colorado, we are seeing an onslaught of GOP efforts across the country to restrict access to the ballot and make it harder for Americans to exercise their right to vote,” said committee vice chair Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “We won’t stand for these attacks on our democracy in Colorado. We should be looking for ways to increase participation and make it easier to vote, not casting doubt on the best elections system in America.” Dismantle Vote by Mail (HB21-1086 – Luck): This bill would severely limit voter access by requiring voters to submit proof of citizenship in-person at their county clerk and recorder’s office, dismantling our convenient and secure mail-in voting system. Instead of automatically receiving a ballot in the mail, each registered voter would have to go in person to submit additional documents. Voter fraud is extremely rare in the United States, and noncitizen voting is even more rare. This bill is not only a solution in search of a problem, it’s a reckless piece of legislation that would set back our progress and disenfranchise countless Coloradans. Among those directly affected would be military and overseas voters who cannot possibly get to their county clerk’s office in-person. The bill was postponed indefinitely at the request of the sponsor, although two Republicans voted against the motion and to move it forward instead. Redundant And Unnecessary Audits (HB21-1088 – Pico): This bill would require the state auditor to conduct a completely unnecessary and redundant annual audit of the voter registration system. The Secretary of State’s office and county clerks across the state conduct risk-limiting audits, regarded nationally as the gold standard, in every election and have not found any substantial evidence of fraud. Giving Political Party Chairs Influence Over Election Equipment Recommendations (HB21-1170 – Geitner): This bill creates an advisory committee made up of partisan appointees from the state’s two major political party chairs to make recommendations on how to change the state’s voting systems, which are the safest and most secure in the country. Colorado already has a bipartisan commission of experts made up of county clerks, election officials, lawmakers, and voting access and integrity advocates that shouldn’t be usurped by a commission made up only of political party appointments. After they spent months trying to undermine the security of our elections, it would be disastrous to allow partisan GOP political operatives a greater say in how we run them. Commission to Guide Redundant and Unnecessary Audits (HB21-1176 – Holtorf): This bill would create yet another commission to offer recommendations on how to audit Colorado’s elections, despite the fact that the state already has a Bipartisan Election Advisory Commission and already conducts the nationwide gold standard for election audits. By offering bills to fix problems that don’t exist, Republicans continue their efforts to undermine faith in Colorado’s elections. Endless and Meritless Recount Requests (HB21-1053 – Williams): This bill would allow any registered elector in the political subdivision where the election was held to request an electoral recount when one is not otherwise required. Under this bill, the voter requesting an recount could go so far as to specify that the recount be conducted manually, leaving the door open for all kinds of abuse of the recount mechanism. Under current law, recounts are automatically triggered when the margin falls within 0.5 percent of the vote and can be requested by any candidate or their affiliated party within 28 days of an election. Previous Next

< Back March 20, 2019 HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO REDUCE INSULIN PRICES The cost of insulin has increased 555 percent over the last fourteen years (Mar. 20) – The House Health and Insurance committee approved Rep. Dylan Roberts’ bill to reduce the price of life-saving insulin for people with diabetes in Colorado. Over 420,000 Coloradans have diabetes and an additional 20,000 Coloradans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. “You wouldn’t imagine that such a small vial of medicine could have such a large impact on someone’s life, but for people with Type 1 Diabetes, insulin is the same as oxygen. You need it everyday to survive,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon . “This is a life-saving and life-sustaining drug, and we need to make sure that everyone who needs it isn’t forced to choose between their life and their other expenses. The skyrocketing cost of insulin is outrageous and it is literally putting people’s lives at risk.” HB19-1216 caps the total co-pay that patients will pay for insulin to $100 per one-month supply, regardless of how much insulin is being dispensed. This is down from an average out-of-pocket costs of $600-900 per month, which Coloradans currently face. “This bill is a targeted and modest step at trying to solve the much larger problem of prescription drug pricing but it will make a huge difference for Colordans with diabetes and their families,” continued Rep. Roberts. The bill also directs the Colorado Attorney General’s office investigate business practices, organization, pricing, and data of pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, insurance carriers, and any other entity that influences insulin costs and create a report that explores possible legislative solutions. The report will be submitted to the governor, the commissioner of insurance, and the judiciary committees of the House and Senate in 2020. “It should never be a parent’s job or a kid’s job to think about the cost of this life-saving medicine,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, who is the only medical doctor in the legislature. “ The game is rigged, and it’s not rigged for the patients. Kids are paying for this with their fingers, toes, kidneys, hearts and with their lives. If we have to have the Attorney General look at a report, if we have to pass bill after bill, then let’s do it. Because the alternative is to tell Colorado’s children they can’t afford to pay for this medicine to help them deal with their chronic illness.” The annual medical cost related to diabetes in Colorado is almost $4 billion. Almost 18 percent of that cost, roughly $700 million, is for prescription insulin to treat diabetes. The cost of insulin rose by 45 percent between 2014 and 2017 and by over 700 percent over the last twenty years while the actual product of insulin has not changed in any significant way since 1996. One-in-four type-1 diabetics report rationing their insulin due to the high cost of the drug. HB19-1216 passed the House Health and Insurance committee by a bipartisan vote of 9-2 and now heads to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to crack down on predatory vehicle booting, improve industry transparency, and ramp up consumer protections. < Back March 26, 2025 House Passes Bill to Combat Predatory Vehicle Booting, Increase Consumer Protections DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to crack down on predatory vehicle booting, improve industry transparency, and ramp up consumer protections. HB25-1117 passed the House by a vote o f 41-24. “Vehicle booting must be conducted fairly and transparently – not to take advantage of hardworking Coloradans,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “An unexpected and unwarranted boot can cause financial and logistical headaches. Our bill would protect consumers by regulating vehicle immobilization companies, ensuring they operate under strict guidelines that prevent predatory practices. We’re taking steps to empower the Public Utilities Commission to hold companies accountable and protect Coloradans from unjust vehicle immobilization.” “Lack of industry regulation and consumer protections has given free rein to vehicle booting companies to immobilize Coloradans’ vehicles without good cause,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins . “Colorado’s made important progress to protect you from predatory towing practices, and now we’re tackling unfair booting practices, which can be just as disruptive to getting to work, doctors’ appointments, or school. This bill cracks down on booting companies that patrol parking lots indiscriminately and improves transparency to give consumers a fair warning of at least 24 hours before immobilizing them.” HB25-1117 aims to improve oversight, transparency and fairness surrounding vehicle immobilization, including booting. Specifically, this bill would give the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) additional oversight to deny, suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a permit to a vehicle booting company if the company is violating specific guidelines. The goal of HB25-1117 is to protect consumers from predatory booting practices by establishing new requirements for vehicle booting companies, including clear signage, and preventing companies from patrolling parking lots. Under the bill, vehicle booting companies would be required to: Document a vehicle’s condition and the reason for immobilization before they immobilize it, Display the name of the company, the permit number and a phone number of the company on each company vehicle used for immobilization, Not charge more than once for the removal of more than one immobilization device Remove an immobilization device if at least $60 of the total amount owed is paid. Additionally, vehicle booting companies must refrain from immobilizing a vehicle if: It has already been immobilized by another company It is on private property, unless given appropriate permission It is in a parking space or common parking area until it places a written notice on the vehicle at least 24 hours before immobilizing There is inadequate signage posted by the property owner In recent years, Colorado Democrats have passed landmark legislation to protect consumers against predatory towing practices, including HB21-1283 , HB22-1314 , and HB24-1051. Previous Next

< Back June 6, 2020 WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS DURING HEALTH EMERGENCIES PASS COMMITTEE Denver, CO– The House Committee on Finance today considered and passed legislation, sponsored by Reps. Tom Sullivan and Leslie Herod, to protect workers from retaliation when they expose safety-related issues. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “The bill we passed today would ensure that workers feel empowered to speak out when their employers are putting health and safety at risk,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “As this pandemic has shown us, this policy will not only benefit workers, it will benefit our communities and the broader public. Public health is a collective effort, and we need everyone to know that they won’t face workplace retaliation for doing the right thing.” “We’re working to get Colorado back to work and back on track as safely and responsibly as we can,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial . “That means making sure that all workplaces put health and safety first, and protecting employees who speak out when they see wrongdoing. This bill will hopefully give workers the confidence to make their voices heard without fear of losing their jobs.” Colorado has few state-level whistleblower protections, relying primarily on the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which take years to process retaliation claims. HB20-1415 protects Colorado workers from retaliation when they raise concerns about the health and safety of their workplace to their employer, fellow coworkers, the public, or government agencies. It grants workers the right to wear protective equipment to work, and it requires employers to inform employees of their rights to blow the whistle on unsafe conditions. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment is charged with managing complaints. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation that would encourage healthy social media usage among youth under 18. < Back March 11, 2024 House Passes Bipartisan Bill To Encourage Healthy Social Media Use Among Youth DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation that would encourage healthy social media usage among youth under 18. HB24-1136 would require social media platforms to display pop-up warnings and create a resource bank for schools, students and families related to the mental health impacts of excessive social media use. “Excessive social media usage among teens can increase their chances of anxiety, depression and emotional distress,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “This bill works to give parents and teens the resources they need to make informed decisions about excessive social media usage, especially the dreaded ‘doom scroll’. We’re working to encourage healthier social media habits among our youth by giving them the tools they need to make smart decisions about their own social media usage and prompting our kids to take a break from their phones.” HB24-1136 , also sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, passed the House by a vote of 54 to 7 and would create a resource bank of evidence-based, research-informed materials related to the mental health impacts of social media use. It also would require social media platforms display a pop-up warning to users under 18 who are on the platform for certain lengths of time. A 2023 Gallup survey found over half (51%) of U.S. teens (ages 13-19) spend a minimum of four hours daily on social media, at an average of 4.8 hours every day on social media. HB24-1136 aims to limit unhealthy social media use by youth and combat ‘doom scrolling’, a common practice of excessive engagement with negative content where users often lose track of time. Previous Next

< Back April 16, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES BIRD-TITONE BILL TO BOOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING (Apr. 16) – The House approved Rep. Shannon Bird and Rep. Brianna Titone’s bill today to boost the supply of affordable housing in the state by expanding the Affordable Housing Tax Credit, which helps leverage private funding for affordable housing projects across the state. “We need to help people access affordable housing and grow the middle class and this bill is a proven and effective method to help,” said Rep. Bird, D-Westminster. “There is such a high demand for these grants across the state, so there is absolutely a need to expand this tax credit to accommodate the high demand.” The Affordable Housing Tax Credit supports key affordable housing needs such as workforce housing, homeless housing, and senior housing across Colorado and is one of the state’s most effective tools for increasing affordable housing available across the state. Colorado’s Affordable Housing Tax Credit raises private sector equity needed to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing. It currently is authorized to allocate only $5 million; HB 19-1228 would increase the available tax credits to $10 million in 2020-24. “We need to help ease the housing crunch. This bill will help seniors and hardworking people across our state,” said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada. “Access to affordable housing can help grow the middle class and our economy which will give back to Colorado in a lot of different ways. This bill has no district boundaries. Affordable housing is needed everywhere across the state.” Between 2015-2018, the program supported 4,796 affordable rental units. The development of these homes is estimated to have generated over $1.9 billion in economic impact in Colorado. HB19-1228 passed on a bipartisan vote of 43-20 and now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back June 4, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: DEMS UNVEIL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF LEGISLATION, BILLS TO HELP COLORADO SAFELY RECOVER Bills will boost small businesses, protect workers from retaliation and prevent outrageous price gouging on essential goods DENVER, CO – House and Senate Democrats today announced a package of legislation to help Coloradans recover from the pandemic and safely get back to work. Several of the bills channel federal CARES Act funding directly to vulnerable Coloradans and small businesses. “We are working to pass legislation that directly supports families and small businesses, helps Coloradans get back to work safely and protects the health and safety of our communities,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “Coloradans are looking to us for leadership and how we will help them rebuild their lives. These bills provide direct support to help hardworking Coloradans afford to stay in their homes, pay their bills and make ends meet.” “We are working hard to get this economy up and running, send small businesses the help they need, and put the hardworking people of Colorado back to work,” said President Leroy Garica, D-Pueblo. “This pandemic has hurt so many across our state, so it is critical that we come together and put party politics aside to pass legislation that prioritizes vulnerable communities and the economic wellbeing of all Coloradans.” “Helping our state safely recover from this pandemic is a top priority,” said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Today, we introduced legislation to help small businesses get back on their feet, protect workers who report safety violations, improve access to behavioral health care, and put an end to outrageous price gouging on essential goods.” “Coloradans need real solutions that prioritize their immediate health and economic wellbeing,” said Senate Majority Leader Fenberg, D-Boulder. “These bills work to provide direct relief to Coloradans who have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and help our state recover responsibly. From stronger unemployment insurance to health care access and paid sick leave, we are forging policies that will ease financial burdens and protect people’s health.” Legislation to Help Coloradans Get Back to Work and Protect Public Health · Coronavirus Relief Funds for Small Business Grants: This bill will be introduced in the Senate and will direct $20 million dollars to the Energize Colorado Fund that OEDIT has created to provide assistance to small businesses in Colorado who have suffered hardship as a result of COVID19. This fund will be providing grants to businesses with less than 25 employees, with a preference given to those that did not qualify for, or access, SBA PPP loans. Preference will also be given to businesses owned by veterans, women, and minorities. · Small Business Recovery Loans ( Reps. Shannon Bird and Lisa Cutter, Sens. Rachel Zenzinger and Kerry Donovan): Colorado’s small businesses are critical to our state economy and too many are struggling to pay their employees or their bills during this public health emergency. This bill establishes a small business recovery loan fund that consists of $250 million of state and private dollars for first loss capital on loans to small businesses over the next two fiscal years. This establishment of this fund will help stimulate loans to Colorado small businesses and support the state’s economic recovery and resiliency. · Coronavirus Relief Funds for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment ( Reps. Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Tracy Kraft-Tharp, Sens. Brittany Pettersen and Rhonda Fields): The need for behavioral health services are compounded by the challenges associated with COVID-19 and the more than half a million individuals who have filed for unemployment in Colorado. Young people have been especially impacted–teachers are reporting an increased need for mental health support for students struggling with schooling at home. The bill allocates $15 million to critical mental health programs and substance abuse treatment within the Colorado Department of Human Services and Department of Public Health and Environment. · Whistleblower Protection for Public Health Emergencies ( Reps. Leslie Herod and Tom Sullivan, Senator Pettersen): The vast majority of businesses are being responsible to keep people safe during this pandemic, but there are workers who have been fired simply because they raised concerns about safety procedures in their workplace. This policy protects workers who raise health and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic from retaliation and requires employers to allow their workers to wear personal protective equipment, such as masks. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment is charged with managing complaints. · Ensuring Paid Sick Leave ( SB20-205: Sens. Fenberg and Bridges, Reps. Becker and Caraveo): Currently, 40% of Colorado’s workforce are not afforded the opportunity to earn paid sick days–– creating a “work while sick” culture in Colorado that increases the deadly transmission of viruses such as COVID-19. This bill will allow those who are feeling ill to protect their coworkers, customers, and loved ones by staying home, without the fear of losing their income. · Reimbursement For Telehealth Services ( SB20-212: Sens. Faith Winter and Jack Tate, Reps. Susan Lontine and Matt Soper): This legislation protects patients’ ability to receive care via telehealth that was granted during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Telehealth has kept consumers and providers safe while allowing patients to continue their care plan with their providers. This access could be removed when the declared emergency ends unless the state legislature acts. · Coronavirus Relief Funds for 2-1-1 ( HB20-1197 : Reps. Marc Snyder and Janice Rich, Sen. Jeff Bridges) : 2-1-1, Colorado’s free information hotline, is a critical service for many Coloradans and during the COVID-19 pandemic the line has seen a sharp increase in calls. The Governor issued an executive order directing the 2-1-1 service to provide necessary human services referrals related to the pandemic, including information on COVID test sites, emergency assistance, housing support, and information related to worker protections and health care discrimination. The bill is being amended to allocate $500,000 to continue these expanded services through December. · Coronavirus Relief Funds for Domestic Violence Program (Budget amendment sponsored by Rep. Monica Duran) As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado domestic violence programs have reported as much as a 50% increase in requests for services. House Democrats passed a budget amendment to provide $500,000 in additional funding for the Department of Human Services Domestic Violence Program to support the increased number of domestic violence victims seeking services as a result of spending more time at home with their abusers while following public health orders and recommendations. Legislation to Help Hardworking Coloradans Make Ends Meet · Coronavirus Relief Funds for Housing Cash Assistance ( Reps. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Tony Exum, Sens. Julie Gonzales and Rachel Zenzinger): Housing security for both renters and homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to preserving the health and economic security of Colorado families. The bill provides $20 million in direct rental and mortgage assistance to Coloradans experiencing a financial need during these turbulent times, including $350,000 for legal aid for renters at risk of eviction. · Coronavirus Relief Funds for Utilities ( Reps. Chris Kennedy and Lisa Cutter, Sens. Tammy Story and Rachel Zenzinger): While most utilities have implemented a moratorium on utility disconnections, the moratoriums do not address the difficulty that a household facing economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will have paying its utility bill once a utility’s disconnection moratorium is lifted. The bill allocates $10 million to the Energy Outreach Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, which helps low-income Coloradans who are at risk of having their service shut off. · Protections Against Price Gouging ( Reps. Mike Weissman and Brianna Titone, Senators Brittany Pettersen and Mike Foote): Unfortunately, during times of emergency unscrupulous individuals sometimes try to take advantage of scarcity to raise prices on necessary goods to exorbitant levels. This bill establishes that a person engages in an unfair or unconscionable act or practice if they increase the cost of certain necessary goods or services an excessive amount, and empowers the Attorney General or local District Attorneys to enforce these consumer protections. · Coronavirus Relief Funds for Food Pantry Assistance ( Reps. Daneya Esgar and Lisa Cutter): Demand for food assistance is rising at an extraordinary rate, just as the nation’s food banks are being struck by shortages of food to meet the demand. The bill creates a food pantry assistance grant program and allocates $500,000 to support Colorado’s most vulnerable across the state and to create new market opportunities for Colorado agricultural products. · Expand Access to Unemployment Insurance ( SB20-207 ; Sens. Hansen, Winter): During times of unprecedented unemployment, this bill works to expand those who qualify for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and increase the benefits workers can receive. Some of these increased benefits include the amount a worker can earn while remaining eligible for UI, as well as an expanded definition of “good cause” for a worker to quit and still receive the benefit. From a lack of childcare resulting in school closures to employers not protecting the health of their workers, Coloradans need additional protections if they are laid off or forced to leave their jobs. · Strengthening Debt Protections ( SB20-211; Sens. Winter, Gonzales): During a disaster emergency such as COVID-19 where so many people are experiencing economic hardship, this bill expands the ability of the Attorney General to provide oversight of extraordinary debt collection actions, like garnishment. The Attorney General also has the ability to freeze new extraordinary debt collection actions, establish a minimum grace period for payments to resume, and require that monthly payment amounts consider a consumer’s ability to repay. Previous Next

< Back May 11, 2021 COLORADO COMEBACK INVESTS IN BIPARTISAN CRIME PREVENTION AND JOBS INITIATIVE House advances Rep. Ortiz’s bill to invest in jobs training and entrepreneurship grants for formerly incarcerated individuals DENVER, CO — The House today passed a bill on second reading to expand the existing Justice Reinvestment Crime Prevention Initiative, which creates jobs by helping formerly incarcerated individuals learn finance skills and start a business. This bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. “Working to build back a stronger Colorado means creating an economy that truly leaves no one behind,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “The Justice Reinvestment Crime Prevention Initiative has a track record of success, helping prevent recidivism and crime by getting to their root causes. Now, community-driven organizations in Trinidad and Grand Junction that are working to connect former inmates with jobs, boost local economies, and give folks a second chance will get a much needed boost!” HB21-1215 , also sponsored by Representative Richard Holtorf, R-Akron expands an existing pilot program known as the Community Crime Prevention Initiative that provides grants to community-based organizations to reduce crime and recidivism and promote community economic development. The program will also train formerly incarcerated people in business, finance and entrepreneurship and those who graduate from the program will receive access to loans to start their own small business. The bipartisan bill HB17-1326 established the pilot program in North Aurora and Southeast Colorado Springs. In its first four years, over 6,000 individuals received services and 86% of participating adults did not return to incarceration, saving the state money, increasing economic security, and contributing to safer communities. HB21-1215 expands the program sites to Grand Junction and Trinidad. Previous Next