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Representative Eliza Hamrick today visited Pickens Technical College and The Excel Center to learn more about post-secondary education and workforce opportunities for Coloradans. < Back September 17, 2024 Rep. Hamrick Visits Technical College AURORA, CO – Representative Eliza Hamrick today visited Pickens Technical College and The Excel Center to learn more about post-secondary education and workforce opportunities for Coloradans. “I’d like to thank the folks hosting me at Pickens Technical College and The Excel Center – it was great to hear about their emerging programs to not only meet our workforce needs but make it easier for students to succeed in any career,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial . “Under the gold dome, we’ve worked hard to make it easier for Coloradans to find and take advantage of workforce opportunities, including the Care Forward program which has successfully boosted our health care workforce through zero-cost credentials.” Rep. Hamrick toured both Pickens Technical College and The Excel Center. Pickens offers 25 certificate programs , in everything from the skilled trades to healthcare, to adults and high school students as part of the Aurora Public Schools and the Colorado Community College System. The Excel Center makes it possible for adults to earn their high school diploma at no-cost . Both education centers are designed to improve access to skills training and make it possible for Coloradans to begin a career they love. During the 2024 legislative session, Rep. Hamrick championed a number of bills designed to uplift education opportunities and local communities. This includes legislation to boost apprenticeship programs and expanding community-based behavioral health care grants . Rep. Hamrick also supported multiple workforce bills, including new laws to expand concurrent enrollment , uplift careers in high-demand sectors such as construction and health care and a tax credit to make the first two-years of college free for low and middle-income students. Previous Next

< Back May 29, 2019 GOV SIGNS MULLICA’S BIPARTISAN PACKAGE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE (May 29) – Earlier today, Gov. Polis signed two bills that will improve safety at freestanding emergency room departments and increase health care access in rural schools across the state. “This bipartisan new law is about ensuring the safety of patients and that emergency departments in rural, urban and suburban communities offer the best services available,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. HB19-1010 will bring freestanding emergency departments under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional hospital emergency rooms to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. This will ultimately improve the quality of care for patients and increase health care affordability. This new law will create a new license for Freestanding Emergency Departments (FSEDs) through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). It also requires FSEDs to medically screen every patient seeking care as well as prohibit them from delaying a medical examination in order to inquire about the patient’s ability to pay for the care or their insurance status. Rep. Mullica is an emergency room nurse by profession. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain. HB19-1010 passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 54-9 earlier this year. Gov. Polis also signed Rep. Mullica’s bill to hire more school nurses in schools across Colorado, especially schools in rural areas and in disadvantaged communities. “As a nurse, I see first hand how untrained school staff are administering medication to students with chronic illnesses. This can be dangerous for the staff and especially for the students,” said Rep. Mullica. “This bill would ensure Colorado’s kids have access to health care professionals in their schools. School nurses provide a range of health care services to our students while also handling medical emergencies during the school day.” HB19-1203 would provide grants to improve the ratio of school nurses to students while also prioritizing nurses in rural areas and lower-income communities. This bill also allows school nurses to partner with local public health agencies so that nurse practitioners can also serve in schools. Currently, there are 632 nurses that serve 910,000 school-aged students. That’s roughly one nurse for every 1,500 to 1,700 students. Previous Next

Today, legislation to improve the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and improve access to publicly funded vaccines was signed into law by Governor Polis. < Back May 10, 2023 Signed! Legislation to Improve the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, Bring Down Costs for Medication & Vaccines AURORA, CO - Today, legislation to improve the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and improve access to publicly funded vaccines was signed into law by Governor Polis. HB23-1225 , sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Reps. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, and Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial, increases the effectiveness of PDAB to help lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Coloradans. The bill allows PDAB to increase the limit on setting Upper Payment Limits (UPLs) to 18 per year if the board reaches the current annual cap of 12 UPLs and demonstrates a need for additional UPLs. Additionally, the bill improves the criteria for selecting drugs for an affordability review. “Over the past few years we have worked hard to save Coloradans money on life-saving prescription drugs,” said Jaquez Lewis. “Still, too many families’ budgets are squeezed by high costs of medication. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board is an essential tool to keep Colorado prescription drug prices affordable, and these changes will make the Board even more effective at saving families money on their life-saving medications.” “The Prescription Drug Affordability Board was created in 2021 to review prescription drug costs and set upper price limits to prevent price gouging of essential medication,” said deGruy Kennedy. “This year, we’re increasing the number of prescription drugs that the PDAB can create upper price limits for so more Coloradans can benefit from the cost saving measures we’ve enacted.” “House Bill 1225 makes important changes that will increase the impact of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board,” Buckner said. “Too many Colorado families are forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying for life-saving medication, and that has to change. I’m proud to be a part of the effort to continue saving Coloradans money on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.” “The legislature created the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to lower out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, but current law restricts the Board's ability to function,” Dickson said. “This new law extends the Board's lifespan and expands the number of prescriptions it can review, so Coloradans can better access affordable, quality health care.” Governor Polis also signed into law SB23-260 , sponsored by Senators Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. The bill allows practitioners to ask individuals who seek to receive a publicly funded vaccine to provide proof of health insurance or a government-issued identification card, but does not limit an individual from receiving a publicly funded vaccine if they don’t have those items. The bill clarifies that independent pharmacies may charge vaccine administration fees and not provide publicly funded vaccines to individuals who are unable to pay. However, those pharmacies must provide individuals who are unable to pay with a list of practitioners who will provide the publicly funded vaccine regardless of payment ability. Previous Next

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Lorena Garcia and Iman Jodeh to improve maternal health care in Colorado. HB24-1262 includes modifying the midwife licensure process and creating a new professional title, collecting more data on mistreatment during the perinatal period, and requiring advance notice to a patient when a facility reduces or ends maternal health care services. The bill passed by a vote of 11-0. < Back March 12, 2024 Legislation to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Address Disparity of Care for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Lorena Garcia and Iman Jodeh to improve maternal health care in Colorado. HB24-1262 includes modifying the midwife licensure process and creating a new professional title, collecting more data on mistreatment during the perinatal period, and requiring advance notice to a patient when a facility reduces or ends maternal health care services. The bill passed by a vote of 11-0. “Our country is in a maternal health crisis and we need to focus on expanding care options and identifying causes of maternal mortality and mistreatment to better protect the health of our Colorado families,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “A report found that 89 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in Colorado were preventable, and this is especially true for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Our legislation works to increase access to maternal care, including midwives, to provide trauma-informed care, safe transitions, and other wraparound services so pregnant Coloradans can receive the care they need.” “As a new mom, I know how important it is to have quality health care providers by your side that will advocate for the best health outcomes for you and your baby,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “Families should have the freedom to choose a health care provider that best fits their needs, especially for the Black and Indigenous Coloradans that are two to three times as likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth. This bill will help improve Coloradans’ access to life-saving health care to keep Colorado families safe and healthy.” Starting September 1, 2024, HB24-1262 would require any individual who practices certified professional midwifery to have a valid license. The bill would update the title of “direct-entry midwives” to “certified professional midwives” (CPMs) and change the regulation from registration to licensure. The licensure process includes passing an exam, graduating from an accredited midwifery education program, holding a CPM credential from the North American Registry of Midwives, being certified by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross to perform adult and infant CPR, or having an equivalent education that is approved by the director of the Division of Professions and Occupations. The bill would also: Provide more direction to the Civil Rights Commission on how to collect reports of mistreatment in maternity care to help identify ways to address prenatal mistreatment and discrimination, Create an advisory panel to provide recommendations on disciplinary actions against CPMs, Add a midwife who is practicing in a freestanding birth center, in a rural area, or as a home birth provider to the Environmental Justice Advisory Board, Require a health care facility that provides maternal health care services to provide notice at least 90 days before the reduction or end of these services, Require the Colorado Maternal Mortality Prevention Program to study closures and availability of perinatal health care, impacts on affected populations, and provide recommendations to the General Assembly, and Add pregnancy as a protected class for the purposes of discrimination in places of public accommodation. The Colorado Maternal Mortality Review Committee made recommendations to combat the maternal mortality crisis, including increasing access to varied health care like midwifery, addressing maternal health workforce shortages, and studying the impact of facility shortages on Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, rural, and immigrant and refugee communities. A 2022 report found that 38 percent of Colorado counties are a maternal health care desert, meaning they don’t have perinatal health care providers or birth centers. A 2023 report found that Black Coloradans are twice as likely to die during pregnancy or within one year postpartum, while Indigenous communities are three times as likely. Previous Next

House Democrats on the State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee today defeated a GOP bill that would have eliminated Colorado's accessible, gold standard vote by mail system by overhauling it with ineffective, unnecessary, and impractical changes grounded in repeatedly debunked election conspiracy claims. < Back February 27, 2023 Dems Defeat Election Conspiracy Bill DENVER, CO - House Democrats on the State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee today defeated a GOP bill that would have eliminated Colorado's accessible, gold standard vote by mail system by overhauling it with ineffective, unnecessary, and impractical changes grounded in repeatedly debunked election conspiracy claims. “The GOP continues to push the Big Lie in an effort to undermine Colorado’s elections,” said State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “This bill would make it harder for Coloradans to cast a ballot by erecting barriers to voting. It wouldn’t improve the security of our elections yet would cost tens of millions of dollars. Election denialism has no place in Colorado--the voters have made clear that they have little tolerance for conspiracies and disinformation.” HB23-1170 , sponsored by Representative Ken deGraaf, would unnecessarily overhaul Colorado’s safe and accessible voting system by requiring an untested and complicated system of tokens, token assignment observers, vetting registrars and token registrars to allow Coloradans to cast their ballots. Voters would need tokens in order to vote by mail or in person. A token assignment registrar in the presence of a token assignment observer team would then match a token number to a ballot before it is counted. Prior to counting mail in ballots, the vetting registrar in the presence of the registration observer team must notify a voter that the clerk has received that voter’s ballot. The voter must then acknowledge this notification before their ballot can be assigned a token, entered into the distributed ledger and counted. Despite recent attacks by members of the GOP ascribing to the “Big Lie”, Colorado’s voting system has been lauded by both Democratic and Republican Secretary of States. In 2013, the bipartisan Colorado legislature passed the Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act to expand the state’s voting system and increase ballot accessibility to Coloradans all across the state. After every election, Colorado conducts a bipartisan post-election audit to ensure there are no inconsistencies before results are officially certified. Both Republicans and Democrats approve county election results, confirming that the results are factual. Findings from the audits are made public and can be found on the Secretary of State website . Over 95 percent of voters in the 2022 election chose to cast their ballot by mail, and almost 94 percent of ballots in the 2020 General Election were returned via mail or drop box. In 2020, Colorado’s voter turnout rate was over 75 percent, placing the state second in the nation in voter participation and roughly seven percentage points higher than the national average of 68 percent. Previous Next

< Back June 30, 2020 GOV. SIGNS MARIJUANA BILL TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS Denver, CO — Today, at Simply Pure, a marijuana dispensary, Governor Jared Polis signed into law a bill that increases access to the Social Equity license, which makes owning and operating a retail marijuana store accessible to more Coloradans. The bill is sponsored by Representative James Coleman. “All hardworking Coloradans deserve a fair shot at sharing in the prosperity of the booming marijuana industry,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver . “This bill will help overcome decades of inequity in an industry where black people have been criminalized and others have been able to make profits. We should not be defined by our past alone, and this bill provides Coloradans who want to make an honest living in the marijuana industry with the opportunity to do so. Creating equal economic opportunity for all makes us stronger. ” “Colorado has led the way for the nation’s fast-changing laws and attitudes towards marijuana,” said Rep. Singer, D-Longmont . “By allowing the Governor to pardon individuals with small possession offenses and improving access and equity in the booming marijuana industry, this bill moves our state boldly forward. The bill signed today is good for small businesses, hardworking Coloradans, and our state’s economy as a whole.” In order to drive socioeconomic equity to the retail marijuana trade, HB20-1424 establishes that applicants for a marijuana license cannot be denied access based on a marijuana conviction if they qualify as a social equity applicant. The bill also allows the governor to pardon individuals who were convicted of possession of marijuana for up to two ounces — effectively offering these Coloradans a clean slate. In order to be eligible for the Social Equity license, applicants must be a Colorado resident and one of the following regulations must apply. Applicants must have either: resided in Colorado for 15 years, have been arrested or convicted of a marijuana offense, or have a household income that did not exceed a predetermined amount. Marijuana retailers who have a Social Equity license are eligible for the Accelerator Program, which authorizes stores with a Social Equity license to operate under established state laws as long as they are endorsed by an Accelerator Store. 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

Not only would Building Performance Standards reduce greenhouse gases, they will protect renters from extreme cold and heat < Back Kipp, Valdez, Willford Opinion: Energy upgrades to apartment buildings will help Colorado hit its climate target Aug 16, 2023 See more This story was published in the Colorado Sun on Aug 16, 2023. This week, Colorado air quality regulators can take a major step forward in slashing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from our state’s largest buildings while fighting high energy costs. Today the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission is scheduled to hold hearings and could cast a key vote on a policy called Building Performance Standards. Approving the proposed policy will help solve a major climate problem in Colorado — large buildings like apartments and offices account for 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions statewide. In 2021, our colleagues in the Colorado General Assembly passed a law setting greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets for large buildings statewide. The Building Performance Standards will do exactly that — achieving a 7% cut by 2026 and 20% by 2030. However, benefits of the policy would extend way beyond climate. It would improve health, comfort, safety, energy efficiency, and livability for tenants of apartment buildings statewide. It’s a chance to keep Coloradans healthy and safe, while saving them money on energy bills and advancing climate action. Commissioners must vote to approve the Building Performance Standards. This is an opportunity Colorado can’t afford to miss. Apartment tenants across Colorado are painfully aware of how difficult it is to keep their homes comfortable on the coldest winter nights and hottest summer afternoons. Inefficient units mean needing to use more energy, resulting in higher bills. As soaring fossil fuel prices sent energy costs skyrocketing in the past 18 months, many Coloradans paid three times as much for heating as they did the year before. This compounds our affordable housing crisis; renters in many Colorado cities have experienced double-digit rent hikes in recent years. We must act urgently. Climate change is causing extreme heat to occur more frequently in Colorado . In 2022, the number of deaths and hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses statewide grew by 66% and 58%, respectively, compared with the annual average for the decade prior. Residents over 65 years old were most likely to be stricken, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment . Energy efficiency and electrification upgrades in apartment units help protect residents’ health and safety from extreme heat , but they can be life-saving if a power outage were to occur during a heat wave or a cold snap. New research has found that making these upgrades to apartment buildings in cities with seasonal patterns similar to Denver can allow residents to shelter in place safely for longer periods of time during such an emergency, and reduce deaths in both extreme heat and cold. The Building Performance Standards is a major step in the right direction. It will upgrade buildings, from inefficient fossil-fuel appliances to highly efficient electric solutions, like heat pumps, which both heat and cool, and heat pump water heaters. Studies have found that these kinds of upgrades, in apartment units, result in 22% lower energy use, on average, and about $272 in annual savings on electric bills. If approved, the policy will gradually take effect over coming years, as building owners submit data and launch their improvements. It will implement upgrades to about 1,000 apartment buildings statewide. The state has tried for years to lower the costs of such upgrades through incentive programs, but upgrades have moved at a glacial pace. State requirements are necessary for Colorado to pick up the pace. This Building Performance Standards policy will also help address energy inequity and advance environmental justice. Low-income residents and communities of color experience higher air pollution burdens, often living near major highways, industrial facilities, or power plants. Studies have found that superior ventilation and better insulation will reduce air pollutant infiltration from outside or from neighboring units and common spaces by 3 to 11 times. This is also a huge benefit when wildfire smoke blankets Colorado. For low-income households, dilapidated housing conditions like poor insulation or broken or old heating and air conditioning are among the main reasons for being unable to pay a bill, receiving a disconnection notice, or having service shut off. In Colorado, 71% of low-income households use fossil fuels for heating, so have been more exposed to recent price volatility. Statewide, utility disconnections have skyrocketed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. These households and communities of color are also more likely to lack air conditioning at home. A recent survey of diverse Denver neighborhoods determined that almost one quarter of residents whose annual incomes were below $35,000 lack access to cooling. There’s never been a better time for Colorado to adopt a building performance standard. The recent federal climate law provides up to $200,000 per apartment building for energy efficiency upgrades, and point-of-sale rebates on electric appliances like heat pumps. Incentives from utilities, governments, and more make the upgrades even cheaper. Building Performance Standards will protect every Coloradan, cutting climate pollution and cleaning up the air we breathe. Inefficient buildings burn much more fuel, meaning more nitrogen dioxide pollution and a worsening air quality crisis in Front Range communities. The state estimates that for every $1 spent on upgrades, we get $3 back in benefits, like lower energy bills or lowered health care costs, from cleaner air. We shouldn’t wait any longer. The Air Quality Control Commission should vote yes this week. Previous Next

< Back April 7, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: TRANSFORMATIVE BILL TO INCREASE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACCESS, DIVERT COLORADANS IN NEED AWAY FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INTRODUCED Legislation invests over $50 million to help folks get treatment for mental health and substance use support DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales (D-Denver) and Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs) to make major investments in behavioral health services for individuals in – or at risk of becoming involved in – the criminal justice system was introduced in the Senate this week. Also sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon (D-Denver) and Adrienne Benavidez (D-Denver), SB22-196 would invest $51.5 million for the Early Intervention, Deflection, and Redirection from the Criminal Justice System Grant Program to help communities prevent people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders from becoming involved with the criminal justice system. The funding would also be used to redirect individuals with behavioral health needs away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate treatment. “For far too long, Colorado has tried to arrest and jail our way out of the behavioral health crisis, and it simply hasn’t worked,” said Gonzales. “Criminalizing people with behavioral health needs is the most expensive and least effective way to provide mental health care services to the folks who need it most. I am proud of the approaches we take in SB22-196 to intentionally intervene, deflect, and divert people out of the criminal justice system in order to get them the behavioral health resources they need.” “We’re working hard to address the root causes of crime in our communities, and it’s clear that a lack of access to behavioral health care paired with the devastation of the pandemic has led to increased crimes of desperation that we can prevent,” said Bacon. “This bill treats behavioral health and substance use disorder as a public health crisis and seeks to prevent people from becoming involved with the criminal justice system by intervening early with the support they need to thrive.” “Far too many Coloradans with mental health conditions and substance use disorders are struggling in jail cells without proper care and treatment to get them back on their feet, and that is simply unacceptable,” said Lee. “Jailing folks with behavioral health needs will only exacerbate their condition and lead to more recidivism, so we’re proposing measures today to ensure these individuals get the treatment they need before they enter the criminal justice system in the first place.” “The pandemic and the economic conditions that followed have put enormous strain on our communities as instability, often from a lack of housing, access to behavioral health or job opportunities, has resulted in rising crime throughout the nation,” said Benavidez . “The legislation we unveiled this week will increase access to critical behavioral health care and substance use treatment to address the root causes of crime in our communities and help Coloradans get the care they need before and while they are in our criminal justice system.” The bill also includes investments to help the Department of Corrections, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing support the continuity of care and treatment for individuals in the criminal justice system with opioid use disorders and mental health disorders, as well as investments in the Judicial Department to support pretrial diversion programs designed to keep individuals with behavioral health conditions out of jail. The bill will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Track the progress of the bill HERE . Previous Next

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed two bills to improve health care in Colorado. < Back February 27, 2024 Bills to Save Coloradans Money on Prescription Drugs, Prevent Violence Against Health Care Workers Pass Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed two bills to improve health care in Colorado. HB24-1010 would streamline prescription drug access for Coloradans with chronic, complex, rare, or life-threatening medical conditions and save them money on life-saving prescription drugs. HB24-1066 would help prevent workplace violence against nurses, CNAs and other health care workers. “Health care decisions should be based on the health and safety of a patient, not dictated by profits for health care insurers,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB24-1010. “Doctors are sometimes required to order medications for their patients through specific pharmacies, which leads to delays in care and additional costs. Our legislation saves Coloradans money on these medications and breaks down prescription drug access barriers to ensure that Coloradans can access the medication they need, when they need it.” HB24-1010 , also sponsored by Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, passed by a vote of 9-3. The bill would protect Coloradans’ access to critical provider-administered prescription drugs by breaking down unnecessary barriers, including added fees, that make it difficult for patients to access their life-saving medication. The bill would: Prohibit insurance carriers from requiring certain prescription drugs to be available only by specific pharmacies, or only at in-network pharmacies, Prevent insurance carriers from limiting or excluding provider-administered prescription drugs due to the patient’s choice of preferred pharmacy, or Prohibit insurance carriers from imposing additional fees, copayments, or coinsurance due to the patient’s choice of preferred pharmacy or if the provider-administered drug was not provided by a pharmacy in the carrier’s network. “Violence in the workplace should never be tolerated, and we’re stepping up to help protect our valued health care workers,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, sponsor of HB24-1066. “With verbal and physical aggression against our health care workers on the rise, this bill establishes procedures and protocols to prevent these instances and creates proper channels for reporting. No one should feel unsafe while on the job, and this bill works to protect our health care workers from violence.” “The majority of health care workers are reporting an increase in verbal abuse and physical aggression while they’re on the job,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County, sponsor HB24-1066. “This bill takes the necessary steps to protect our health care workers from violence by incorporating evidence-based solutions, such as reporting channels and dedicated worker safety plans in facilities, to curb violence. Our health care workers have worked tirelessly the past few years to keep Coloradans safe and healthy, and this legislation is a step in the right direction to keep them safe from violence in the workplace.” HB24-1066 , passed by a vote of 12 to 1 and would work to protect health care staff from violence. This bill would require facilities, such as hospitals, nursing care facilities and assisted living residences, among others to establish a workplace violence prevention committee that documents and reviews violent incidents, develops and implements prevention plans for their employees, offers immediate post-incident services, and submits biannual incident reports to the Department of Public Health and Environment or the Behavioral Health Administration. The bill specifies that facilities must not discourage staff from reporting incidents to law enforcement. It also protects health care workers who choose to either report a workplace violence incident, advise a staff member of the right to report, or choose not to report an incident. HB24-1066 intends to curb the increase in violence against health care workers, including verbal aggression and physical violence . Health care workers are 5-times more likely to experience violence at the workplace compared to other workers. Previous Next

The House today passed a bill to support Colorado’s workforce. < Back February 28, 2023 House Passes Bill to Boost Workforce, Prioritize Apprenticeships DENVER, CO – The House today passed a bill to support Colorado’s workforce. SB23-051, sponsored by Representatives David Ortiz and Meghan Lukens, solidifies the role of Colorado’s Office of Future Work which oversees a statewide apprenticeship program, helps communities transition into emerging industries and creates talent pipelines for careers of the future. “Through apprenticeships, Coloradans receive hands-on experience that will help propel them into good paying careers,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton . “This bill codifies the Office of Future Work so Coloradans can take advantage of training and apprenticeship programs that are geared toward new career opportunities. We’re working to build an equitable talent pipeline that gives Coloradans the tools they need to be successful in our state’s workforce for years to come.” “When it comes to learning on the job, many Coloradans jump into apprenticeship programs to gain real-world experience,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “Adapting to our ever-changing economy is important and our bill makes it easier for Coloradans to learn, train and prepare for careers of the future. Through state run apprenticeship programs, Coloradans entering the workforce will have a leg up when it comes to finding a good paying job that may not revolve around a traditional higher education pathway.” SB23-051 , which passed by a vote of 48 to 16, codifies the current duties of the Office of the Future of Work (OFW), which serves as a central point of contact for efforts to respond to the changing nature of work, and helps ensure Coloradans are equipped with the necessary education, training, skills and tools to fully participate in the labor force. Additionally, the bill aligns state statute with federal requirements, allowing Colorado's State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) to seek federal authorization from the Department of Labor to register and oversee state run apprenticeship programs. The bill comes two years after HB21-1007 , which established the SAA and also sponsored by Representative Ortiz, and four years after the OFW was established via executive order. Previous Next