Colorado House Democrats

Big Day for Jobs Bills

Small Biz Credit, Job Training & Future Research Get Boosts

(DENVER) -   As the daily economic news darkens, House Democrats announced the rare bit of good news:  three bills designed to bolster Colorado’s economy and create jobs passed out of House committees.

Senate Bill 67 establishes the Colorado Credit Reserve Program which will increase the availability of loans to small businesses to help them expand, meet payroll, and create jobs. Co-sponsored by Sen. Rollie Heath( D-Boulder) and Rep. Don Marostica (R-Loveland), Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada) led the bill to unanimous passage in the House Business Affairs Committee.  

“A small state investment guarantees a pool of up to $50 million in new loans to small businesses,” said Rep. Gagliardi.  “Loans of up to $500,000 will be made available for job creation in a time when small businesses desperately need access to capital.”

House Bill 171, New Energy Economy Job Training, offers targeted funding for community colleges to work directly with new energy companies to create customized job training programs. The House Transportation & Energy Committee unanimously endorsed HB 171, sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass), Rep. Nancy Todd (D-Aurora), and Rep. Edward Vigil (D-Alamosa).

Senate Bill 31, the Clean Technology Discover Grant Program sponsored Sen. Heath and Rep. Jim Riesberg (D-Greeley) advances research and the development of clean technology.  As amended, the program will now be funded by gifts, grants and donations.  The bill “sets up the framework” so that if money becomes available in the future, it can be easily directed to these ends.


Rep. Riesberg said, “Colorado is known for its tremendous research capability.  We always produce big results from small investments.”  

SB 31 passed out of the House Transportation & Energy Committee unanimously.

-- Posted by Staff

Legislative, Business, and Labor Leaders Work To End Initiative Petition Fraud

Integrity in Initiatives Passes First Committee

DENVER –Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll led his plan to restore integrity to the initiative petition process through its first legislative hurdle.  His House Bill 1326 was supported by Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, Senate Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) and Representative Lois Court (D-Denver) as well as business and labor leaders.  As of 3/30/09, the bill had 35 co-sponsors including Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry and House Minority Leader Mike May.

HB 1326 passed out of the House State Affairs Committee on a unanimous vote.

Speaker Carroll began, “Paid petitioning is ripe for abuse and we must stop that abuse. We have seen numerous examples of fraud, from under-aged petitioners to fake addresses to misleading explanations. I am proud that we have found a bi-partisan solution to restoring integrity to citizen petition efforts.”

Secretary Buescher said, “There have been numerous problems with paid petition-gatherers.  Too many people accept as fact that if one has the money, one can get anything on the ballot.  Well, we should not accept that Colorado law is for sale.”

Senator Shaffer continued, “By allowing the District Courts to rule on cases of fraud and by requiring petition companies be licensed in the State of Colorado, we are holding those who attempt to change our Constitution or statutes to the highest level of responsibility. We will not tolerate fraud in Colorado.”

“Colorado Concern appreciates Speaker Carroll’s sponsorship of HB1326 and his leadership in convening a bi-partisan, labor-business coalition that has worked together to draft this legislation.  It is incredibly important that the voters have trust in the system and this bill will restore integrity in Colorado’s ballot initiative process,” said Oakwood Homes Chairman and CEO, Pat Hamill.  Hamill was representing Colorado Concern and is a board member of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. Both groups have endorsed the bill.

Phil Hayes, Political Director of the AFL-CIO added, “We must all be held to a higher standard when placing an initiative on the ballot. These changes are common sense solutions that many of us are already implementing. We cannot subject voters to more of the fraud and abuse as we saw in 2008.”

Rep. Court added, “My major concern is voter education.  Voters must have all the tools and all the information needed to understand the impact of their signature.”

-- Posted by Staff

Representative Christine Scanlan, Senator Dan Gibbs and Mayor Bud Elliot Host Town Hall Meeting Friday

Wildfire legislation and forest health to be discussed

WHO:  State Representative Christine Scanlan (D-Dillon) 
             State Senator Dan Gibbs (D-Silverthorne) 
             Mayor Bud Elliot (Leadville)

WHAT:  Town Hall Meeting with Rep. Scanlan, Senator Gibbs and Mayor Elliot
Rep. Christine Scanlan, Sen. Gibbs and Mayor Elliot are hosting a town hall meeting to discuss forest health issues and wildfire legislation.  

All are invited to join them for conversation about forest health issues.  Community members are encouraged to bring their comments, concerns, and questions.

WHEN:  Friday, April 3rd
                5:30pm-6:30pm

WHERE:  Leadville Mining Museum 
                  Auditorium
                  120 West 9^th Street 
                  Leadville, CO 80461

-- Posted by Staff

Rep Kerr Promotes “Renewables for Schools”

HB 1312 Passes Committee 8-4

DENVER – Representative Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood), a teacher and renewable energy advocate, presented his House Bill 1312 to the House Education Committee today which passed the bill on an 8-4 vote.  It now heads to the Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 1312 creates an innovative “Renewables for Schools” program to provide schools access to affordable clean-energy with low-interest loans.  By producing energy on-site with wind and solar, schools can reduce their utility bills, create a buffer against future energy price spikes, and put more money toward educating our kids.  

It is estimated that loans of $10,000 and up could be made available to school districts based on what is cost effective for those districts.

“As a teacher, I look forward to seeing kids driven to school in 21^st century school buses powered by hybrid-electricity, and then teaching them 21^st century skills in buildings energized by 21^st century solar, wind and geothermal technologies,” said House sponsor Rep. Kerr.

“The Renewable for Schools program creates a win-win-win situation,” said Treasurer Kennedy.  “It’s win for taxpayers and schools who will save money on energy costs, providing more funds for the classroom; it’s a win for the state which will see a good investment return on our dollars loaned to schools; and it’s a win for the economy as we create new “green” jobs across the state.”

-- Posted by Staff

Rep. Scanlan Moves Three Bills Forward Today

Wildfires and Bootleggers Beware!

(DENVER) — State Representative Christine Scanlan (D-Summit County) moved three important pieces of legislation through the House on initial voice votes today.

Senate Bills 20 and 105 came out of the bi-partisan Interim Committee on Wildfires, where Rep. Scanlan served as Vice-Chair. The bills signal the state's ongoing efforts to mitigate the threat of wildfires.

Senate Bill 20 streamlines and clarifies the roles of state and local emergency personnel when fires occur. It also allows sheriffs to develop and update wildfire preparedness plans, and specifies what information should be included in a plan to be effective.  

Senate Bill 105 expands the ability of counties to raise money to fight fires. Specifically, the bill removes the limit on property taxes that a county can collect – with voter approval – for forest fighting.  

“This legislation helps our first responders prepare effectively for emergencies,” said Rep. Scanlan. “And importantly, this is a local control issue. Local communities should be able to decide how much they want to invest in their own fire mitigation strategies and preparedness without the state placing an arbitrary limit on their efforts.”

Rep. Scanlan has been a champion of bark beetle and wildfire mitigation. Along with Sen. Dan Gibbs, she recently led a trip to Washington, DC to urge the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Forest Service, Interior Secretary Salazar and the Colorado Congressional delegation to address the bark beetle epidemic and reduce the threat of a potentially devastating forest fire.

Senate Bill 36 creates a more severe offense for people who illegally make hundreds of thousands of dollars making bootlegged copies of sound recordings. Currently, Colorado is one of the only states where this sort of piracy is a misdemeanor, instead of a felony offense.

“We are overdue in tackling this issue and Colorado’s small businesses need our support,” said Rep. Scanlan. “This is a growing problem, and surrounding states are taking an aggressive stance. By making this piracy a higher offense with stiffer penalties, Colorado will no longer be used as a ‘safe haven’ for this illegal practice.”

The bill specifies that any person who transports recorded articles that do not clearly display the name of the manufacturer on the cover is breaking the law. It also requires law enforcement to confiscate all illegal recordings and directs the offender to pay the owner of the original recording.

-- Posted by Staff

“Troops to Teachers” Passes Out of House – Next Stop Gov’s Desk

(DENVER) — A bill that provides financial incentives and professional development for our troops to become teachers passed unanimously out of the House today.

Senate Bill 62 adds military veterans to individuals the Colorado Department of Education considers when allocating scholarship money to colleges and universities getting teacher-training funds from the state’s Teach Colorado initiative.

“By providing scholarships for our troops to become teachers, everyone wins: veterans are more able to afford schooling and get a good job, schools that are having trouble hiring teachers will have a larger pool to choose from, and our economic and educational systems are strengthened. And veterans can continue serving their community – as a teacher,” said Rep. Dennis Apuan (D-El Paso).

The Teach Colorado Grant allows the state’s higher education institutions to establish a finance scholarships to help students go into teaching. If a student receives the grant, that student is required to fill a teaching job in a high-needs area like special education or high school math. Or, the recipient would have to work in a rural area where there are teacher shortages in virtually every subject.

The Senate sponsor was Sen. Brandon Shaffer.

-- Posted by Staff

Daniel Kagan, Colorado’s Newest Legislator, Sworn in Monday

Denver – Last Thursday, attorney and businessman Daniel Kagan of Englewood was selected to succeed Anne McGihon as the State Representative for House District 3, representing south central Denver and Cherry Hills Village. 

Representative-elect Kagan was sworn in to office by Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll in the House Chamber on Monday, March 30. 

 

Daniel was joined by his local family and friends as well as by his brother Michael from New York.

 

Biographical information is available at:  http://denverdemocrats.net/node/3212

 

-- Posted by Staff

Rep Primavera's Bill to Help Traumatic Brain Injury Vicims Passes Out of House

(DENVER) — A bi-partisan bill that helps those affected by a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) passed unanimously out of the House today. Senate Bill 5, sponsored by State Representative Dianne Primavera (D-Broomfield), expands the definition of a TBI to include blast injuries, like those experienced by individuals serving in the military who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The state's TBI program was established in 2002 with the mission of improving the lives of Coloradans living with TBI. It is funded from surcharges on certain traffic offenses, such as drunk driving. The bill is expected to allow 250 more adults and children to get rehabilitation help through the TBI Program.

“We are going to help a lot of people with this legislation, and I am thrilled there was unanimous support,” said Rep. Primavera. “I have had a lot of jobs in my life, but the most meaningful jobs I have had are working with traumatic brain injury victims. The triumph of the human spirit is overwhelming; helping and watching these victims learn to walk again, swallow again, and talk again is testament to their strength and determination. I am always happy to promote bills that help traumatic brain injury victims.”

The Senate sponsor was Sen. Nancy Spence.

 

-- Posted by Staff

New Bill on New Energy at New Sites:

Treasurer and Lawmaker Unveil “Renewables for Schools”

DENVER – Under bright sunny skies with a steady breeze, Representative Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood) and State Treasurer Cary Kennedy unveiled a new bill that combines two of the hottest issues at the legislature this year: education and the New Energy Economy.

By producing energy on-site with wind and solar, schools can reduce their utility bills, create a buffer against future energy price spikes, and put more money toward educating our kids.  

“As a teacher, I look forward to seeing kids driven to school in 21^st century school buses powered by hybrid electricity, and then teaching them 21^st century skills in buildings energized by 21^st century solar, wind and geothermal technologies,” said House sponsor Rep. Kerr.

“The Renewable for Schools program creates a win-win-win situation,” said Treasurer Kennedy.  “It’s win for taxpayers and schools who will save money on energy costs, providing more funds for the classroom; it’s a win for the state which will see a good investment return on our dollars loaned to schools; and it’s a win for the economy as we create new “green” jobs across the state.”

They were joined by the Program Director for Environment Colorado, Pam Kiely, who praised the Governor and the legislature for their multi-year commitment to building a strong and successful New Energy Economy.

Monday at 1:30 pm, the House Education Committee will hear testimony and vote on the bill.

-- Posted by Staff

Capitol to Participate in “Earth Hour” Saturday Night

Event saves local energy…Raises global awareness

(Denver)  Doing their part to raise awareness of global climate change, state lawmakers – led by Rep. John Kefalas (D-Fort Collins) – have asked that state buildings, including the Colorado State Capitol have the lights turned Saturday night off as part of an international event called “Earth Hour.”

The state capitol in Denver will be part of a powerful international statement that includes over 930 cities, including Sydney, Seoul, Beijing, New York, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and many others in 80 countries across 25 time zones around the world.  Ancient and modern monuments alike, including the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the Great Pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt, and the Acropolis in Greece will also see their lights shut off as an important gesture of support for taking global action against climate change.  Organizers of the event hope to reach one billion people across the world.    

Although the “Earth Hour” is officially scheduled from 8:30 pm to 9:30pm, all non-essential lights (those not required for public safety) will be shut off in the entire capitol complex from 5:00 pm Saturday until 6:00 AM Monday.

Rep. Kefalas said, "In recognition of Earth Hour and the enormous threat of global climate change, millions of people and thousands of institutions around the world will turn off their lights for one hour on March 28.  The symbolic gesture of turning off the State Capitol lights underscores the importance of energy efficiency and conservation as one of the most effective means to address climate change."  

For more information, please see: www.EarthHour.org.

-- Posted by Staff

Rep. Primavera's Bill to Help Traumatic Brain Injury Victims Moves Forward

(DENVER)— Just days after the Capitol building was filled with victims of traumatic brain injuries, State Representative Dianne Primavera(D-Broomfield) successfully gained initial approval for a bill that will greatly aid their cause.

Senate Bill 5 expands the definition of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to include BLAST injuries, like those experienced by individuals serving in the military who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill also grants the Colorado TBI Program greater flexibility with regards to the make-up of its oversight board and how it can spend its funds.

The Colorado TBI Program and Trust Fund were created in 2002 to improve the lives of those affected by a TBI. The fund currently receives money from surcharges on traffic violations.

“I have had a lot of jobs in my life, but the most meaningful jobs I have had are working with traumatic brain injury victims,” said Rep. Primavera. “The triumph of the human spirit is overwhelming; helping and watching these victims learn to walk again, swallow again, and talk again is testament to their strength and determination. I am always happy to promote bills that help traumatic brain injury victims.”

The bill was passed on an initial voice vote in the House this morning.

-- Posted by Staff

“Troops to Teachers” Marches Forward

Representative Apuan’s bill passes second reading

(DENVER) — A bill removing the obstacles for military veterans who want to continue their service to our country by becoming teachers was passed by the House on an initial voice vote today.

Senate Bill 62 adds military veterans to individuals the Colorado Department of Education considers when allocating scholarship money to colleges and universities getting teacher-training funds from the state’s Teach Colorado initiative.

“By providing scholarships for our troops to become teachers, everyone wins: veterans are more able to afford schooling and get a good job, schools that are having trouble hiring teachers will have a larger pool to choose from, and our economic and educational systems are strengthened. And veterans can continue serving their community – as a teacher,” said Rep. Dennis Apuan (D-El Paso).

The Teach Colorado Grant allows the state’s higher education institutions to establish a finance scholarships to help students go into teaching. If a student receives the grant, that student is required to fill a teaching job in a high-needs area like special education or high school math. Or, the recipient would have to work in a rural area where there are teacher shortages in virtually every subject.

The bill now goes to the third reading of the House floor. The Senate sponsor was Sen. Brandon Shaffer.

-- Posted by Staff

Rep. Solano Proves “There Is Such a Thing as a Free Lunch” … at Least For Pre-Schoolers

State Representative Judy Solano and Senator Paula Sandoval set out to disprove the old adage that “there is no such thing as a free lunch.”  Thanks to their hard work, low-income Colorado pre-schoolers will, in fact, receive a free lunch at school, paid for with national, not state, funds.

"Over 1,100 low-income 3- and 4-year-olds will now be able to get a free nutritious lunch,” said Rep. Judy Solano (D-Adams County). “This program is proven to help young children eat healthy and learn better.  It’s a great program, without using any state funds. I’m so happy to disprove the old line that there is no such thing as a free lunch.  Now there is – at least for pre-schoolers.”

This bill was signed into law today by Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr

-- Posted by Staff

Bill to Reduce High School Drop-Outs Passes Out of House

(DENVER) — A bill that will raise graduation rates in Colorado high schools passed out of the House today with a 60-3 vote. House Bill 1243 would provide support to schools with research-based solutions to reduce the problem of high school drop-outs.

The bi-partisan legislation creates the Office of Dropout Prevention and Student Re-engagement in the Colorado Department of Education. The office will identify school districts with high dropout rates and provide assistance to them. School districts will assess their practices and create plans for increasing graduation rates. The bill also creates a student re-engagement grant program to fund district efforts at providing educational services for student engagement and re-engagement in school.

“Reducing the dropout rate leads to long-term success for Colorado kids, and benefits our economy,” said co-sponsor Rep. Karen Middleton (D-Aurora). “Students who drop out of school have higher unemployment rates, earn less money over the course of their careers, are more likely to commit a crime, and are more likely to rely on public assistance. It is time to help tackle our drop-out problem and help all children stay in school and graduate.”

Increasing Colorado’s graduation rates is a critical investment in our long-term financial security. According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, if the dropouts from Colorado’s high school class of 2008 instead graduated with their peers, they would earn over $4 billion of additional income over their lifetimes. Consider that these students would pay income taxes on those earnings and are more likely to start or attract new businesses, the boost to Colorado’s economy would be profound.

Currently, one in every four Colorado students fails to graduate high school. The bi-partisan bill is also sponsored by Rep. Tom Massey (R-Poncha Springs).

-- Posted by Staff

Rep. Apuan’s Bill to Bring More Emergency Personnel Jobs to Colorado Passes Out of House

(DENVER) — Rep. Dennis Apuan’s (D-Colorado Springs) legislation to create good, high-paying jobs in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) industry and reduce the number of emergency personnel vacancies throughout Colorado passed unanimously through the House today.

House Bill 1275 is a product of the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth, and aims to create new jobs. Due to current long wait times to process out-of-state candidates, many vacancies remain unfilled. The legislation allows the Department of Public Health and Environment to offer provisional certifications for up to 90 days to out-of-state paramedics. This will create more EMT jobs, while at the same time increasing EMT readiness in rural parts of the state.  

“I am thrilled this bill had unanimous support and passed through the House. Not only will the legislation create jobs throughout the state, it will also cut down response time for people in emergencies – we will save lives, fast,” said bill sponsor Rep. Dennis Apuan (D-Colorado Springs). “We need to get people to work and we need to make sure every single Coloradan is safe and protected.”

When there are openings in the EMS industry, they can be difficult to fill due to the long wait time to process out-of-state applications for a Colorado State Paramedic Certification, and many candidates change their minds. Offering a provisional certification to an out of state Paramedic who can show that they have current certification in another state and/or National Registry certification would allow Colorado EMS agencies to fill open positions that normally take months to finalize.    

Under HB 1275, applicants must meet all Colorado statutory and regulatory requirements for EMT Certification. It is a cash funded certification program, where EMT applicants will pay a fee for the Provisional Certification.

Rep. Apuan continued, “Emergency Medical Services are essential to public safety along with police and fire services, as well as serving as a vital health care safety net for communities. It’s frankly unnecessary that these highly qualified emergency personnel cannot serve the people of Colorado because of needless bureaucratic delay. This legislation will help the first-responder system to run efficiently.”

-- Posted by Staff