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< Back February 7, 2020 ENHANCEMENTS TO SAFE2TELL PASS HOUSE COMMITTEE The House Committee on Education today passed HB20-1005 , bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Kevin Van Winkle, by a vote of 13-0. The bill would enhance Colorado’s Safe2Tell program. “The Safe2Tell program saves lives and is a critical resource for Colorado youth,” said School Safety Committee Chair Rep. Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City). “This bill would ensure that when a student reaches out for help, that the person who answers the line is equipped to address either the student’s mental or physical health concerns. I’m proud of the legislation we’ve drafted to improve school safety, and I’m pleased to see these bills begin to move forward.” Safe2Tell, developed in Colorado after the Columbine tragedy, provides students a confidential way to report and talk with someone about behavioral health issues and has become a national model. Other states have taken Colorado’s lead, adapting the now 20-year-old program for new technologies and best practices developed in recent years. The Safe2Tell enhancements would include aligning the Safe2Tell program and the crisis hotline more closely to ensure that individuals in crisis can rapidly access crisis counseling. It would also align the processes for all types of incoming tips and adjust the annual advertising campaign to most efficiently raise awareness about the program and reduce its misuse. Finally, it would enhance law enforcement’s ability to prevent imminent physical harm. Today, the Senate Committee on Education also passed SB20-001, sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields and Representatives Emily Sirota and Van Winkle, which would expand access to behavioral health training for educators so that more students can get the behavioral health care they need. Previous Next

< Back June 25, 2020 BIPARTISAN BILL TO REMOVE RED TAPE AND SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES SIGNED INTO LAW DENVER, CO — Representative Shannon Bird’s bipartisan bill to streamline Colorado’s credentialing system for dozens of professions today was signed into law by Governor Polis. “The new law signed by Governor Polis today will remove red tape and ensure that Colorado is ready to welcome qualified job seekers and highly skilled professionals, including military spouses, from out of state,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “As we work to ensure that Colorado becomes the permanent home of Space Command, it’s crucial that we enact policies to make Colorado a great place for military families to live. That’s exactly what the Occupational Credential Portability Program will do. I’m proud that the legislature took such important steps this session to get Colorado’s strong economy back on track.” HB20-1326 creates the Occupational Credential Portability Program in the Department of Regulatory Agencies to streamline and centralize the credentialing of individuals licensed in another state. The bill will apply to professions ranging from doctors and veterinarians to electricians and barbers. The bill also relocates the existing occupational credential exemption for military spouses to the new occupational credential portability program and strengthens the exemption. Previous Next

< Back September 19, 2019 SPEAKER BECKER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION GWEN FARNSWORTH TO UTILITY CONSUMERS’ BOARD Senior Energy Policy Advisor at Western Resource Advocates (WRA) has decades of experience in renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean power policies. DENVER, CO– Colorado House Speaker KC Becker today announced that she has appointed Western Resource Advocates Senior Energy Policy Advisor Gwen Farnsworth to the Utility Consumers’ Board. “Gwen is a dedicated advocate for our environment and is exactly the kind of person Coloradans should have advocating for them at the Utility Consumers’ Board,” said Colorado House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “Gwen has led successful initiatives to reduce our reliance on dirty fuels while increasing the availability of renewable energy. I’m excited to see her continue her advocacy on behalf of small businesses and people across our state who are benefiting from cleaner, cheaper electricity.” “I’m thrilled to get to work on behalf of the people of Colorado,” said WRA’s Farnsworth. “We have an incredible opportunity to continue the progress we’ve made keeping electricity costs low while protecting our air and water and growing our clean energy economy. It’s a privilege to serve on this board, and I look forward to advancing policies that both protect our environment and benefit all Colorado consumers.” The Colorado Utility Consumers’ Board within the Office of Consumer Counsel of the Department of Regulatory Agencies is an 11-member panel that represents the interests of Colorado utility consumers and ratepayers to advocate for them before the Public Utilities Commission. The governor makes seven appointments to the board, one from each of the state’s seven Congressional districts. The four remaining members are appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House and the Minority Leaders of the House and Senate. Farnsworth’s appointment became effective September 4, 2019 and ends September 4, 2023. Previous Next

< Back April 24, 2019 HOUSE MOVES BILL TO KEEP KIDS SAFE Colorado ranks last in kindergarten immunizations (Apr. 24) – The House gave preliminary approval to Rep. Kyle Mullica’s bipartisan bill to address Colorado’s low vaccination rates. Higher vaccination rates decrease the risk of outbreaks of preventable contagious and deadly diseases. “This bill is about the safety of our students. Colorado ranks last in the country for kindergarten immunizations. That’s unacceptable and we need to do better,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. “This bill formalizes the process. Colorado needs to be proactive – not reactive. We are in the midst of public health crisis and we can’t wait for a tragedy to occur.” Rep. Mullica is a trained trauma nurse by profession. What HB19-1312 does: · Creates a standardized exemption form and requires all exemptions be submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) or the local public health agency. Non-medical exemptions must be submitted in person to the CDPHE or local health agency; subsequent renewals can be submitted in person or online. · Directs CDPHE to include immunization exemption information in its annual presentation to the General Assembly. · Directs CDPHE to develop educational materials for health agencies and schools addressing the medical benefits of immunizations. · Gives the Board of Health authority to determine school-required immunizations, based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This bipartisan bill strengthens Colorado’s vaccination exemption process by incorporating strategies known to increase vaccination rates without removing personal or religious exemptions. Colorado is seeing an increase in vaccine preventable diseases that are endangering public health. According to a recent report, Coloradans paid $55 million on childhood diseases that vaccinations could have prevented in 2017 alone. Medical experts testified at a House hearing earlier this month in support of this common-sense legislation. Public health and medical experts have raised serious concerns about Colorado’s low vaccination rate. Contagious disease outbreaks are happening around the country, most recently in Washington and New York states. According to the CDC, less than 89 percent of kindergarten-aged children in Colorado have received vaccines for diseases like measles, mumps and rubella. Colorado ranks last in country in this category. That’s below the national average of 94.3 percent and below the level of reaching “herd immunity,” the percentage of the population that needs to be vaccinated to avoid a widespread, public outbreak and protect those with compromised or vulnerable immune systems. Herd immunity is essential in protecting vulnerable people, including newborn babies, seniors and people living with ongoing medical issues. The Senate co-prime sponsors are Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, and Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. The bill passed the House Health and Insurance committee hearing by a vote of 7-4 on April 15. It was approved today on a voice-vote in the House. A recorded vote will be taken at a later date. Previous Next

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to improve kinship care options for foster children and youth in Colorado. < Back April 10, 2024 Young’s Bill to Increase Care for Foster Children and Youth Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to improve kinship care options for foster children and youth in Colorado. SB24-008, sponsored by Representative Mary Young, would streamline additional resources to families, kin and relatives. “When searching for placement, relatives, family friends, godparents, teachers and those with a significant relationship with a child or youth can be a great option to support those in foster care,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “We know that children and youth living with kinship care are more likely to experience positive outcomes, including improved behavioral and mental health and stronger feelings of belonging and love. Building on the work conducted by the child welfare interim committee, we’ve crafted this legislation to remove barriers to kinship care by making it easier for relatives or others who have a significant relationship to the child to access certain resources such as housing, clothing and training. There are many children and youth in foster care who need a stable, supportive home and this bill directs financial reimbursement to non-certified kinship foster care while expanding the pool of possible placements to best support our foster children and youth.” SB24-008 , also sponsored by Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, would provide additional resources to families and kin caring for youth and children involved in foster care. Specifically, this bill would extend foster care certification to kinship placements, allowing kin to access training, resources, and financial assistance to help meet the basic needs of children and youth in their care. It defines the differences between kinship foster care and non-certified kinship care homes and allows for emergency financial assistance to these placements in order to help meet a child’s basic care and needs. SB24-008 passed unanimously. Kinship placements maintain family connections and provide normalcy and support for children who have been removed from their homes. Kinship care can promote safer and faster reunification with biological parents, and prevent further long-term involvement in the child welfare system. The bill is a result of recommendations from the 2023 Colorado's Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee Report . Previous Next

< Back January 21, 2020 REP. MCCLUSKIE APPOINTED TO JBC DENVER, CO — Speaker KC Becker announced today that she has appointed Representative Julie McCluskie to the Joint Budget Committee, filling the vacancy left by Rep. Chris Hansen (D-Denver) due to his election to the state Senate. The JBC is responsible for authoring the Long Bill, which sets the state’s annual budget and spending priorities. “Rep. McCluskie has earned the trust of her colleagues with her strong work ethic, dedication to detail, and bipartisan approach to legislating,” said Speaker Becker (D-Boulder). “Budget writers will face new challenges for the upcoming year, and I am confident that Rep. McCluskie is ready to join her colleagues in handling these challenges and crafting a budget that reflects the priorities of all of Colorado.” “I am honored to accept this new assignment, and I’m excited to get to work as the JBC crafts a balanced budget that works for all Coloradans and invests in our state’s future,” said Rep. McCluskie (D-Dillon). “I am committed to working across the aisle to develop a budget that prioritizes our schools and teachers, expands access to affordable housing, and helps lower the cost of health care for Coloradans.” The JBC is currently hearing from state departments and nonpartisan General Assembly staff experts and state departments on supplemental requests related to the current year’s budget. The committee will begin decisionmaking for the next year’s budget during the first week of February. Rep. McCluskie lives with her family in Dillon. She represents HD 61, which includes parts of Delta, Gunnison, Lake, Pitkin, and Summit counties. During her first session at the legislature, she sponsored legislation, now law, to reduce the cost of health care, increase protections for mobile park residents, and expand access to early childhood development services. Passionate about public education, Rep. McCluskie spent the better part of a decade working for Summit School District, providing strategic communications and community engagement services. Her full biography can be found here. Previous Next

< Back September 16, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: McCluskie Leads Joint Letter from Lawmakers Urging Biden to Protect Public Lands in Colorado DENVER, CO – Thirty four Colorado lawmakers led by Representative Julie McCluskie today urged President Biden to protect the public lands within the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act (CORE Act). The CORE Act is federal legislation sponsored by Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Congressman Joe Neguse that would protect over 400,000 acres of public land in Colorado, establish new wilderness areas and safeguard existing outdoor recreation opportunities to boost the economy for future generations. "From recreation to conservation, Colorado's public lands are stunning and play a critical role in our state's economy," said Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “These 400,000 acres of cascading mountains, abundant ecosystems and crystal clear rivers are extraordinary. Preserving them is vital for our communities, our environment and our economy. By designating these lands as wilderness areas and a national monument, we will memorialize the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained at Camp Hale, provide much needed certainty for the communities that depend on conserving these lands, and protect our Colorado way of life.” “From Camp Hale where my grandfather trained with the 10th, to the Thompson Divide, Colorado’s public lands are what make our state great, and are a critical driver of our outdoor recreation economy,” said Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. “Ensuring our most treasured natural spaces remain open to the public will protect Colorado’s outdoor heritage for generations to come. My grandfather fell in love with Colorado at Camp Hale and I hope that experience will happen again and again under this new protection.” In their letter, the lawmakers urged President Biden to use the authority granted to him and his cabinet members to protect the public lands proposed for permanent protection in the CORE Act. “The bill has enjoyed longstanding and widespread support by a wide array of our constituents and it is past time for these remarkable public lands to be protected,” the lawmakers wrote. “ While our advocacy on behalf of the legislation and our constituents will continue, the protection of these landscapes requires your immediate action. By conserving these lands, you will preserve a rich part of this country’s history through historic landmarks and objects of historic and scientific interest and we know it will provide a path for your administration to protect additional public lands in Colorado in the future.” The full text of the letter is below and can be found here . Mr. President: The undersigned Colorado state senators and representatives urge you to use the authority granted to you and your cabinet members to protect the public lands proposed for permanent protection in the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act (CORE Act). As you are aware, this request was recently made by CORE Act sponsors Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John Hickenlooper, and Representative Joe Neguse, and Colorado Governor Jared Polis. The bill has enjoyed longstanding and widespread support by a wide array of our constituents and it is past time for these remarkable public lands to be protected. In Colorado, we have a long history and commitment to public lands conservation. In January 2021, and for the first time in several years, we saw the Colorado public lands ethos shine through the priorities of the presidency when you committed the country to a first of its kind national conservation strategy. In a time when the impacts to public lands from climate change are rising and racial and economic inequities are expanding, the Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful conservation plan has never been needed more. By protecting the landscapes within the CORE Act through administrative action, you can secure progress towards the goals set forth in the American the Beautiful plan by taking action to protect Colorado’s public lands. Camp Hale and the surrounding Tenmile Range are incredibly deserving of permanent protection as a national monument under the Antiquities Act. The 10th Mountain Division trained across the landscape in preparation of high altitude warfare in the European Alps during World War II. The adjacent Tenmile Range was particularly integral to their training. Following the war, the soldiers who were lucky enough to have made their way home founded the US ski industry and the outdoor recreation economy that is now so vital to our state. There are few opportunities to experience and appreciate the history of World War II in our country and the sacrifices made by so many of its citizens. However, Camp Hale and the Tenmile Range are living artifacts to that sacrifice and they also happen to be some of our nations’ most beautiful public lands. Further west lies the Thompson Divide; another mountainous landscape that local ranchers and outdoor recreationists have spent years advocating to be protected from oil and gas development. Because the legislation has stalled in Congress, its left local advocates living under the veil of uncertainty. We urge your administration to protect the Thompson Divide landscape through a Federal Lands Policy and Management Act mineral withdrawal. Finally, we request your administration provide protections for the exemplary public lands in southwestern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains by working through the ongoing Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest Plan Revision. These landscapes are simply too important for conservation and historic and cultural preservation to become the subject of ephemeral political whims. The CORE Act, which includes the areas mentioned previously and more, already passed the House of Representative five times, only to meet repeated partisan obstacles in the United States Senate over the last several Congresses. While our advocacy on behalf of the legislation and our constituents will continue, the protection of these landscapes requires your immediate action. By conserving these lands, you will preserve a rich part of this country’s history through historic landmarks and objects of historic and scientific interest and we know it will provide a path for your administration to protect additional public lands in Colorado in the future. Thank you, Representative Julie McCluskie President Pro Tempore Kerry Donovan Representative Dylan Roberts Representative Barbara McLachlan Speaker Alec Garnett President Steve Fenberg House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno Speaker Pro Tempore Adrienne Benavidez Senator Julie Gonzales Representative Meg Froelich Representative Lisa Cutter Representative Monica Duran Representative Brianna Titone Representative Judy Amabile Representative Tracey Bernett Representative Matt Gray Representative Shannon Bird Representative Steve Woodrow Representative David Ortiz Representative Karen McCormick Representative Mary Young Representative Chris Kennedy Representative Andrew Boesenecker Senator Rachel Zenzinger Representative Emily Sirota Representative Mike Weissman Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet Representative Cathy Kipp Representative Iman Jodeh Senator Chris Hansen Senator Chris Kolker Representative Edie Hooton Senator Faith Winter Previous Next

< Back February 13, 2020 HOUSE LGBTQ CAUCUS CONDEMNS SLATE OF GOP HATE BILLS TO ELIMINATE EQUALITY DENVER, CO– The Colorado House LGBTQ Caucus today released the following statements on the hateful and despicable slate of anti-LGBTQ bills that House Republicans have introduced this session: “This year’s slew of hateful, bigoted anti-LGBTQ bills would harm our youth and eliminate the rights LGBTQ Coloradans to marry who they love,” said LGBTQ Caucus Chair Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “We are not going back to when Colorado was known as the ‘hate state.’ Some say it’s not the government’s role to interfere with personal liberty. Some would say this is textbook overreach. I would say it’s time to work on actual issues that improve people’s lives here in Colorado, such as expanding access to life-saving HIV prevention medication.” “The systematic attack on the trans community is being fueled and fanned by the federal government and the Trump administration,” said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada. “Their erasure of trans people from websites, documents, and from health insurance coverage was just the beginning. This bill, and other similar legislation being introduced in states around the country, are meant to embolden the dehumanization of the transgender community. By denying appropriate and affirming healthcare, we are setting trans youth up for a more difficult future and the possibility of depression or suicide. We need to value our young people and allow our healthcare professionals to make the decisions, and not be limited by politicians. We won’t be erased.” “These bills would deny LGBTQ couples the fundamental right to marry who they love and start a family, ripping away hard-fought rights that the vast majority of Coloradans support,” said Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo. “I was disappointed to see so many of my colleagues–who say they are my friends–support legislation that would prevent my wife and me from adopting children, if we chose to, or strip away our marriage license. These bills are a disgrace, plain and simple.” “Republicans want to send Colorado back to the dark ages, and we simply won’t allow it,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “These bills are a broad and cruel attack on the entire LGBTQ community in Colorado: trans athletes, loving couples, queer children — no one is spared. I would say my GOP colleagues should be ashamed of themselves, but the fact that they had the gall to draft and introduce these bills shows what types of policies Coloradans would be living under if Republicans controlled our state government. Make no mistake, these bills will die today.” “House Bill 1114 is an affront to health care professionals and health care in Colorado,” said State, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee Member Rep. Jaquez Lewis, D-Lafayette. “It is an attack on trans youth all across the state. This bill says that, as a pharmacist, I could be arrested for filling a life-affirming prescription for one of my patients. This bill says doctors can be jailed for giving medical care to people in need. This is–pure and simple–a horrible bill aimed at our most at-risk citizens. We must stand up against this slate of hateful, discriminatory bills.” While House Democrats stand up for LGBTQ equality and rights, Republican members of the General Assembly, according to Rep. Shane Sandrdige, R-Colorado Springs, are promoting the “heterosexual model with a kid” as the “natural model.” They’re advancing these bills as “a reminder of what we should strive for and what mother nature has already decided,” Sandridge told Colorado Public Radio. In a comment to the Colorado Sun on his bill to strip away marriage license from LGBTQ couples, Rep. Stephen Humphrey, R-Severance, said “I think that each of these bills are focused on an issue that’s problematic.” The House Democratic Caucus disagrees: LGBTQ marriage equality is not problematic; it is a fundamental right guaranteed under the US constitution, and we won’t let Republicans strip it away. Background on GOP anti-LGBTQ legislation: HB20-1272 “Colorado Natural Marriage And Adoption Act” aims to stop marriage licenses from bieng provided to LGBTQ couples. The bill would limit adoption to only prospective parents whose marriage consists of one man and one woman, prohibiting LGBTQ couples from adopting children. HB 20-1114 “Protection of Minors from Mutilation and Sterilization” would imprison doctors and other health care providers for following best practices and existing standards of medical care for transgender patients, standards that are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It makes providing gender-affirming health care for a youth, often lifesaving care, a class three felony, which has a maximum sentence of up to 12 years in prison in Colorado. HB20-1273 “Equality And Fairness In Youth Sports Act ” would prevent transwomen athletes in grades six through 12 from participating on sports teams that correspond with their gender identity. It would require invasive questions and medical tests if a student’s sex is in question, requiring the student to prove that she was assigned female at birth based on a signed physician’s statement that would include information about the student’s reproductive anatomy and levels of naturally occurring testosterone. It would also require a chromosome analysis– just for a student to play sports in school. HB20-1033 “Live and Let Live Act” would codify discrimination by allowing any business to deny services based on sexual orientation or gender expression. LGBTQ couples with their children could be turned away from any restaurant or establishment in the state. The bill is a blatant attempt to undermine the state’s ability to adequately protect against discrimination in workplaces, housing and places of accommodation. Previous Next

< Back March 3, 2022 BILL TO INCREASE FUNDING TO SCHOOL TO PREPARE AT-RISK STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Julie McCluskie to create a new method for identifying and serving at-risk students that will count more students as at-risk and direct additional resources to school districts that serve a high population of at-risk students. “Modernizing how Colorado identifies at-risk students is crucial to the success of our students, educators and schools,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “This bill creates a new formula for identifying at-risk students that goes beyond those eligible for free and reduced-price lunches to include neighborhood index and unhoused status, among other factors. We know when schools are provided with the proper funding, they can better serve our students. This bill would boost funding for school districts and help them prepare our students for success.” “We’re focused on finding new ways to identify and serve at-risk students in Colorado so we can prepare them for success,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie D-Dillion “Our legislation takes a modern approach to pinpointing at-risk students by considering multiple factors that can hinder their academic performance. With this information, we can work together with school districts and help them pave the way to better meet the needs of their students.” HB22-1202 which passed by a unanimous vote, would create a new method in the school finance formula to identify students who are at risk of below-average academic outcomes due to socioeconomic disadvantage or poverty. The new formula aims to better pinpoint at-risk students by considering multiple socioeconomic factors that affect them, including eligibility for free lunches, unhoused status and a neighborhood index status. Based on the new formula, school districts would be eligible for more state funding beginning in the 2023-24 school year to better prepare their at-risk students. A new statewide poll revealed that 83% of respondents consider it important to provide resources and support to students who are falling behind so teachers can make sure every student has an opportunity to get back on track. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to improve accessibility at Colorado’s airports by increasing the number of accessible restrooms and walkways, including the voices of Coloradans with disabilities when redesigning large hub airports, and requiring reporting for non-compliance. HB24-1452, sponsored by Representative David Ortiz and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, passed by a vote of 43-18. < Back April 24, 2024 House Approves Bill to Improve Airport Accessibility for Coloradans with Disabilities DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to improve accessibility at Colorado’s airports by increasing the number of accessible restrooms and walkways, including the voices of Coloradans with disabilities when redesigning large hub airports, and requiring reporting for non-compliance. HB24-1452, sponsored by Representative David Ortiz and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, passed by a vote of 43-18. “Basic access in airports means that Coloradans with disabilities have a right to air travel safely and with dignity, but unfortunately that has not always been the case,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Centennial. “From broken wheelchairs to inaccessible restrooms, the disability community faces many barriers to air travel, which can have negative consequences on our health, economic opportunity, and in some cases cost us our lives. This bill gives community living with a disability a seat at the table to advocate for changes so Colorado can serve as a model for accessibility in airports across the world.” “The federal bipartisan infrastructure law has granted historic funding to improve airport infrastructure, and our bill ensures some of that money is used to meet accessibility standards that are required under the law,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “The requests that the disability community has made to our airports are not unreasonable - they are essential for the health and safety of our fellow Coloradans. With this legislation, we’re following through with the rights guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure that Coloradans with disabilities have dignity in air travel.” HB24-1452 would require large hub airports to ensure accessibility for travelers living with disabilities, as well as establish specific duties and deadlines for compliance. The bill requires large hub airports in Colorado to: Establish an advisory committee composed of people with various disabilities to provide input during airport renovations to ensure basic access and equity in air travel; Consult with the disability community and advisory committee during the construction of walkways and other airport facilities; Incorporate wayfinding technology for blind or visually-impaired travelers; Create, maintain, and update a dashboard to report and track basic access shortcomings and violations during the travel process, including a public inquiry form that allows an individual to directly report accessibility issues; Develop and provide comprehensive training programs for direct airport staff on proper handling of equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, medical equipment, and adaptive sports equipment; Provide at least one accessible public restroom per terminal, in addition to companion care changing tables; Use elevators to transport power wheelchairs from the tarmac to the jetway and give elevator priority to these individuals. Additionally, HB24-1452 would create a pathway for civil lawsuits against large hub airports for damages resulting from violations of their legal responsibilities. From complex terminal layouts to long distances between gates, passengers with disabilities face infrastructure, information, and customer service barriers at airports throughout the United States. Previous Next

< Back May 10, 2022 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILL TO SAVE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES MONEY PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives David Ortiz and Marc Snyder to save people and businesses money and improve unemployment insurance in Colorado. The House also passed a bill to help small businesses save money when they collect sales taxes. SB22-234 , which passed the House by a vote of 48-17, would infuse the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund (UITF) with $600 million in pandemic relief funds while expanding eligibility and improving benefits to better support Colorado’s working families. “This bipartisan legislation is supported by businesses and workers because it saves employees and employers money and improves how Colorado delivers critical unemployment assistance,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “Under this bill, businesses will avoid cost increases since we will be able to pay back our federal loan to the unemployment insurance fund by the end of next month. We’re also extending a successful policy that encourages workers to accept part time work and reenter the workforce without being penalized.” “I’m proud the House passed two of my bills that will save businesses money and help our economy continue to grow,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. “Replenishing the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was one of businesses’ top priorities this session at the legislature, and I’m proud that we delivered this critical relief. Small businesses and workers are the backbone of our economy, and we are doing everything we can to save them money.” SB22-234 invests $600 million to shore up the solvency of the UITF and protect against potential future economic downturns. This will save businesses money on premiums and surcharges and provide certainty to workers who depend on unemployment benefits to continue paying for essentials like food, rent, and transportation while they search for new work. By extending the suspension of the solvency surcharge, a fee placed on employers until the Unemployment Trust Fund reaches solvency, the bill saves businesses money while they continue recovering from the economic conditions created by the pandemic. The bill makes further improvements to ensure the unemployment system works better for Colorado families. It raises the benefit amount part-time workers can receive from 25 percent to 50 percent of the weekly benefit amount, in order to make it easier for workers who are laid off to find part-time employment while seeking a full-time job. It also creates a Benefit Recovery Fund to ensure that workers in Colorado who lack work authorization receive the benefits they already contribute to and their employers pay premiums into. The bill also eliminates the one-week waiting period to help workers access their benefits as quickly as possible once the Fund reaches a sustainable level, clarifies what constitutes an overpayment to ensure workers are not unnecessarily penalized for errors or miscalculations made by administrators or their employer, explores the feasibility of a dependency allowance to better support primary caregivers as they return to work, and requires employers to inform all workers of their unemployment benefit eligibility upon separation. SB22-006 , sponsored by Representatives Barbara McLachlan and Snyder, allows retailers with taxable sales under $100,000 to retain 5.3 percent of the sales tax they collect. Retailers are currently permitted to retain a 4 percent vendor fee to compensate them for the cost of collecting and remitting sales tax. This bill increases the amount small retailers can retain, saving retailers $5.9 million over the next two years. The bill passed 60-5. “Many small businesses could use just a little extra help, and that’s what the bill we passed today will do by saving small retailers nearly $6 million,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Small retailers face costs when they have to collect and remit sales taxes. This bill allows them to keep even more of the money they collect to cover those costs and avoid price increases or cuts to wages or hours.” Previous Next

Bill carries out recommendations from the Environmental Justice Action Task Force < Back April 22, 2024 House Passes Bill to Address Long-Standing Environmental Injustices in Colorado DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation to help address some of the long-standing environmental injustices that have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities in Colorado. HB24-1338 passed by a vote of 43 to 18. HB24-1338 , sponsored by Representatives Manny Rutinel and Elizabeth Velasco, would direct the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to carry out recommendations from the Environmental Justice Action Task Force, created by HB21-1266 . “For nearly a year, the Environmental Justice Action Task Force met with community members and collected data-driven information to create a comprehensive checklist to clean up our air and support communities disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution,” said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City. “This bill implements key task force recommendations, including increased oversight of known polluters, like refineries, and better response time to community complaints of air pollution. By diving deeper into the cumulative impacts of environmental injustice, we can create policy that addresses the pollution negatively affecting our neighbors of color and low-income neighbors.” “Poor air quality and other environmental factors can lead to breathing issues, such as asthma,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “We owe it to our neighbors to implement the recommendations of the Environmental Justice Action Task Force to clean up our air, take air pollution complaints seriously and combat long-standing environmental injustices. Environmental justice is a statewide issue, and we all deserve access to clean air and water. Our bill implements the task force recommendations to help our neighbors most affected by poor air quality lead healthy lives.” HB24-1338 would authorize the CDPHE to carry out recommendations of the Environmental Justice Action Task Force and address long-standing environmental injustices. Specifically, this bill would: Increase oversight of petroleum refineries. The bill would fund the hiring of an expert in air pollution control for petroleum refineries. This expert would assess gaps in public health protections and identify the best regulatory tools to fill those gaps. The bill would also require refineries to provide near real-time emissions monitoring and compliance data. Improve response to air pollution complaints. The department’s Air Pollution Control Division would house a new rapid response inspection team to support quicker responses to air pollution complaints by impacted communities. Analyze the cumulative impacts of pollution . The bill would implement recommendations of the Environmental Justice Action Task Force by formally establishing and authorizing the creation of at least two Environmental Equity and Cumulative Impact Analyses to analyze the cumulative air, water, soil, and demographic impacts in specific disproportionately impacted communities. Founded in 2021 through HB21-1266, the Environmental Justice Action Task Force hosted several in-person meetings and gatherings with Coloradans in Commerce City, Grand Junction, Greeley, and Pueblo in addition to receiving more than 300 written comments and survey responses. The task force provided its final recommendations to Governor Polis, the legislature and the CDPHE in 2022. Previous Next