Colorado House Democrats

New Laws Go Into Effect August 5

Democrats Jump-Start Jobs, Support Schools, Fight Fires and Back Bikers

(DENVER)  Wednesday, August 5 marks the day that a number of new laws spearheaded by Democratic legislators and signed by Governor Ritter go into effect.  New laws that top the list include those that intend to jump-start the lagging economy and create new jobs, and others that support schools and educational access.

Economy and Jobs:

HB 1001 (Rice-Heath) Income Tax Credit For Colorado’s Job Growth
Before he left for a tour in Iraq with the Army Reserve, Rep. Joe Rice (D-Littleton) sponsored House Bill 1001 with Sen. Rollie Heath (D-Boulder) to provide tax incentives to companies that move to Colorado and create at least 20 new jobs.  The new credit will allow employers to pay just half of the usually-required federal social security and Medicare taxes, for up to ten years.

HB 1035 (Riesberg-Heath) Clean Technology/Medical Device Tax Refund
House Bill 1035, a jobs bill sponsored by bio-science advocate Rep. Jim Riesberg (D-Greeley), encourages growth in Colorado’s most promising high-tech, green industries.  The new law will allow small technology-based companies (50 or fewer employees) to receive refunds of state sales and use taxes related to research and development for clean technology and medical devices.

Both of these Jobs Bills were a key part of Governor Ritter’s economic recovery agenda.

Affordable Healthcare:

HB 1023 (Gagliardi-Boyd) Blood Donations by Minors                                                

Nurse and lawmaker Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada) was interested in changing the age of legal blood donation when she heard that some teens in her district couldn’t do blood drives at their high schools.  With Senator Betty Boyd (D-Lakewood), she worked with Bonfils and other advocates to change the law.  Now, 16-year-olds, with parental permission, will be allowed to donate blood and a big boost in the number of high school-based blood drives is expected.

HB 1139 (Solano-Tochtrop) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders                                        

Rep. Judy Solano and Sen. Lois Tochtrop (both D-Adams County) created the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Commission to address issues concerning fetal alcohol disorders and make recommendations.  The recommendations will address prevention of and education about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and related health issues.

Education:

HB 1057 (A. Kerr-Bacon) Parental Involvement in Schools
In one of the hardest fought battles on the legislative session, teacher and Rep. Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood) won.  Now, working parents can’t be fired from their job at a large business (over 50 employees) for taking up to 18 hours of unpaid leave during an academic year, in less than three-hour increments, to attend school meetings for their children.

HB 1290 (Apuan/Nikkel-Harvey) “Soldiers to Students”
Representative Dennis Apuan’s (D-Colorado Springs) bi-partisan bill will help members of the Colorado National Guard go to college in Colorado.  House Bill 1290 helps soldiers who want to continue their education by providing scholarship funds. The Department of Higher Education can now provide up to $800,000 a year to the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs for Guard scholarships.

HB 1312 (A. Kerr–Schwartz) Renewables For Schools                                        
Governor Ritter and the Governor’s Energy Office drafted and promoted Rep. Andy Kerr's (D-Lakewood) House Bill 1312 to create an innovative “Renewables for Schools” program to provide schools access to affordable clean-energy with low-interest loans.  By purchasing high-efficiency school buses and producing energy on-site with wind and solar, schools can both reduce their utility bills to create a buffer against future energy price spikes and put more money toward educating our kids.  

Other:

SB 1 (Gibbs-Scanlan) Wildfire Plans
At the top of the Governor’s agenda was Senate Bill 1.  With the Governor’s leadership, Summit County lawmakers Sen. Dan Gibbs and Rep. Christine Scanlan crafted a law which will establish comprehensive, locally-led, community wildfire protection plans throughout the state.

SB 148 (Brophy-Merrifield) Pass Bicyclists With Care                                                

More and more, Coloradans are biking to work and biking for fun.  Now they can do so more safely.  Avid bicyclists Governor Ritter, GOP Sen. Greg Brophy and Rep. Michael Merrifield (D-Colorado Springs) worked together to increase road safety by making sure that, starting Wednesday, passing cars and trucks must stay at least three feet away from bicyclists.

--Posted by Staff

Transportation Committee Takes Field Trip

Colorado overloaded with waste tires; TLRC tours facilities
 
 
WHO:
    State Representative Buffie McFadyen (Chair)
State Senator Dan Gibbs (Vice-Chair)
TLRC (Transportation Legislation Review Committee) members
    Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) staff
    Regional Transportation District (RTD) staff
 
WHAT:
The Transportation Legislation Review Committee (TLRC) is having their first of four meetings during the interim.  The all-day field trip will tour three facilities in southern Colorado: a tire recycling center, a world class federal rail transportation test facility and concrete plant that uses recycled waste tires for energy. Colorado is home to more waste tires than any other state. 
 
WHEN/WHERE:
Monday, July 27th- all day tour, with tour stops in Midway, Pueblo and Florence
 
9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m- Midway
Tour of Colorado Energy Recyclers
19755 Boca Raton Heights 81008-3735
From I-25 south of Colorado Springs, take exit #119, stay on the asphalt,  
drive west  1/8 mile and turn left, drive 3/8 mile and the facility is on the  
left.
   
 
10:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Pueblo
Tour of Transportation Technology Center, Inc.
55500 DOT Road, Pueblo, CO  81001, a map to TTCI can be found here.
 
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - Florence
Tour of Holcim Concrete Plant
3500 E State Highway 120, Florence CO

Click here for posts featuring Representative McFadyen

--Posted by Staff

Economic Task Force Kicks Off Meetings

Task Force charged with expanding economic opportunity

WHAT:  
The first meeting of the Economic Opportunity and Poverty Reduction Task Force Committee
As created by House Bill 09-1064, sponsored by State Representative John Kefalas and State Senator Paula Sandoval, the task force is charged with developing a strategic, integrated plan to reduce the number of Coloradans living in poverty by half and expand economic opportunities for people statewide. The Task Force will also study issues relating to nutrition programs, employment programs, and self-sufficiency. Other representatives from local governments, business and labor organizations, education organizations, and advocates will serve on subcommittees.
A complete agenda can be viewed here.

WHO:
State Representative John Kefalas (Chair)
State Senator Paula Sandoval (Vice-Chair)
Bi-partisan members of the committee
Community advocates

WHEN:  Monday, July 27th
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHERE:  Hearing Room A, Legislative Services Building at 200 E. 14th Avenue, Denver

 “Expanding the circle of opportunity demands a comprehensive, integrated, and strategic action plan,” Rep. Kefalas, chair of the committee said.  “With so many Coloradans living paycheck to paycheck, we cannot afford to wait.  Reducing poverty is absolutely essential to building a strong, 21st century economy that works for everyone.”

Click here for posts featuring Representative Kefalas

--Posted by Staff

Speaker Carroll Congratulates Marostica on new Post

(DENVER) -   Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll released this statement today after Governor Ritter’s announcement that State Representative Don Marostica will be his new Chief Economic Development Director: 

        “Although we are from different parties, I have always respected his sound, pragmatic choices when it comes to our state budget.  I wish him all the best in his new role.  I know he will continue moving Colorado forward.” 


The Minority Leader, Mike May, not Speaker Carroll, will make an appointment to fill Representative Marostica’s powerful seat with the Joint Budget Committee.

Click here for posts featuring Speaker Carroll

--Posted by Staff

Rep. Primavera Talks about the Colorado Pink Plate License Plate on 9News

Surviving a Recession

Stretching your Dollar During Tough Economic Times

WHAT:
Town Hall meeting with State Representative John Kefalas, State Representative Randy Fischer and State Senator Bob Bacon

Topic: Personal Finance - Surviving a Recession and Stretching Your Dollar, including:

*Refinancing and new ways to avoid foreclosure
*Bankruptcy - when and when not
*Consumer Credit
*Handling Credit and Credit Cards
*Retirement Planning - recovering from 401K losses, savings, investing
*Scams to Avoid

ALL welcome. There will be an opportunity for Q&A. Bring your questions, your friends, your family and co-workers!

WHEN:
Wednesday July 15th, 2009
6:00 PM
Harmony Library
4616 S Shields St
Fort Collins, CO 80526

WHO:
Hosts:
State Representative John Kefalas (D - Ft. Collins)
State Representative Randy Fischer (D - Ft. Collins)
State Senator Bob Bacon (D - Ft. Collins)

Panelists:
Laurel Kubin, County Extension Director, Family Economist, CSU
Sara Gilbert- Executive Director, Consumer Credit Counsel Service of Northern Colorado
Shelley Glause, Investigator, Better Business Bureau
Colleen Miller, Certified Financial Planner, Finance by Design

--Posted by Staff

Surviving a Recession: Stretching your Dollar During Tough Economic Times

WHAT: 
Town Hall meeting with State Representative Dennis Apuan 

Topic: Personal Finance - Surviving a Recession and Stretching Your Dollar, including: 

*Refinancing and new ways to avoid foreclosure 
*Bankruptcy - when and when not to declare 
*Consumer Credit 
*Handling Credit and Credit Cards 
*Retirement Planning - recovering from 401K losses, savings, investing 
*Scams to Avoid 
        * Pay Day Loans 

ALL are welcome. There will be an opportunity for Q&A. Bring your questions, your friends, your family and co-workers! 

WHEN: 
Saturday July 18th, 2009 
11:00 AM 

WHERE: 
Ruth Holley Public Library 
685 North Murray Blvd. 
Colorado Springs, 80915 

WHO: 
Host: State Representative Dennis Apuan (D – Colorado Springs) 


Panelists: 
State Representative Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) 
George Shoemaker - Regional Director of Education and Community Relations, Colorado Center 
        for Financial Education 
Mason Finks – Director of Fraud Prevention, District Attorney’s Office, 
                18^th Judicial District of Colorado 
Marc Schtul –Attorney at Law with expertise in bankruptcy, Webb & Schtul, LLC 

"While it may feel like we are in this economic crisis alone, we are not.  During tight economic times, we can benefit each other with different tips and suggestions for stretching limited dollars."  - State Representative Dennis Apuan 

Click here for posts featuring Representative Apuan

--Posted by Staff

Government at the Grocery

Rep. Primavera at Broomfield Safeway for a Government at the Grocery

WHO:   State Representative Dianne Primavera (D-Broomfield) 

WHAT: State Representative Dianne Primavera will visit with her constituents at the Broomfield Safeway on July 18^th. They will listen to concerns and answer questions during the "Government at the  Grocery" event. 

WHEN:        Saturday, July 18th, 2009

         10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

WHERE:     Safeway, 3602 W. 144th Ave. Broomfield

Click here for posts featuring Representative Primavera

--Posted by Staff

Speaker Carroll to Host Town Hall for Rep. Rice

While Rice is in Iraq with Army Reserve, Carroll Holds In Absentia Meeting 7/11

For a few months while he is in Iraq as a Colonel with the Army Reserve, State Representative Joe Rice (D-Arapahoe County) won’t be able to talk to his constituents face-to-face, but he is still keeping in touch.

He has sent home to family and friends his photos and his personal on-the-ground insights of his experiences in Iraq.   While off duty, he even somehow manages to return emails, texts and phone calls from his base in Baghdad. And since he’s not able to attend his standard monthly town hall meetings, he asked the Speaker of the Colorado House to be there in his stead.  Speaker Terrance Carroll will share legislative updates with Rep. Rice’s constituents and will pass their questions and concerns back to him overseas.

Before he left for Iraq, Rep. Rice said, “I think it is important to be in touch with the people in House District 38. At our town halls, the people in my district always come with thoughtful questions and comments, and I always leave with new ideas about how to move Colorado forward. Some of my best legislative ideas have come from ideas brought to me by constituents.”

WHAT:          An In Absentia Town Hall for Rep. Joe Rice

WHO:           Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll

WHEN:        10:00 AM on Saturday, July 11, 2009
WHERE:        Bemis Public Library    www.littletongov.org/Bemis
                   6014 S. Datura Street, downtown Littleton, 80120

The event is free and open to the public.  Coffee and snacks are available in the library.

--Posted by Staff

Too Many Deaths Lead to Overdue Carbon Monoxide Detector Law

DENVER – It took years of work by Representative John Soper (D-Adams County) to build a coalition with  fire and health officials,  with citizens whose lives have been affected by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and with Rep. Lois Court and Senator Chris Romer whose constituents were killed by such poisoning in recent months. 

But today, all that work is worth it, although nothing eases the pain of the deaths of the Lofgren family, Lauren Johnson, and the hundreds more killed by CO poisoning in Colorado each year.  As of today, all new homes and apartments are required to have CO detectors.   

Rep. Soper said, “I am proud to see this bill finally become law. We have lost far too many Colorado lives. As an electrician, I know that the installation of carbon monoxide detectors is a reasonable addition to new homes that will prevent senseless deaths and injuries.” 

Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass) was a co-sponsor on HB 1091.  “It’s with deep regret that the Lofgren family lost their lives in my community and I hope that as a result of the passage of this bill, we will prevent tragedies like this in the future. It’s a very simple concept that will save lives.  By requiring carbon monoxide alarms in residential properties we will keep people safe and impact everyone’s lives in Colorado.  We cannot allow another unnecessary death from carbon monoxide.” 

Rep. Lois Court (D-Denver) said, “I applaud the Johnson’s and the Lofgren’s many family and friends for their activism and commitment to passage of this law.  They raised the awareness of this danger and have helped many others avoid the tragedy they’ve experienced.” 

A CO alarm costs $15-$30; consumers should place one on each floor of existing homes.  For more information on CO poisoning visit www.knowaboutco.com 

Click here for posts featuring Representative Court

Click here for posts featuring Representative Soper

--Posted by Staff

Speaker Announces Citizen Appointments to the Long-term Fiscal Stability Commission

Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll has appointed three community leaders to the Long Term Fiscal Stability Commission, an interim committee.  Saying that "They bring a deep understanding of the issues from a variety of perspectives" to the Commission, Speaker Carroll appointed The Honorable Carol Boigon, Mr. Cris White, and Dr. Kirvin Knox to the Long-term Fiscal Stability Commission.   

Carol Boigon, Denver City Council At-large member. Past executive director of the Mayor’s Office for Education and Children. 

From her City Council website: 
  
"A few of my recent accomplishments of which I’m most proud include: 

•         Led the effort to add more police officers using current city resources
  • Worked to increase transparency of City budget and accounting
  • Key player in the redevelopment of the Lowenstein Theater/Tattered Cover Bookstore
  • Helped revise zoning to support small businesses
  • Denver leader in supporting changes to TABOR to free up funds for education"
  
  Cris A. White, Chief Operating Officer of Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.  Cris has been with the CHFA for 20 years serving in various capacities including loan origination, credit administration, and asset management.  In January 1996, Cris left CHFA for a position with GE Capital where he assisted with the startup of that company’s Small Business Finance office in Denver.  Cris returned to CHFA in 1997. Cris serves on the Executive Committee of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, Mayor Hickenlooper’s Denver Housing Plan Task Force and served on the housing committee of the Downtown Denver Partnership.   
  
  Dr. Kirvin Knox.  In 1964, Kirvin began his career in animal science as a professor at Colorado State University and later became the director of the CSU metabolic laboratory. In 1972 he moved to the University of Connecticut (UConn) as professor and head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences. Later he served as a dean. After 20 years he retired from UConn and returned to CSU as vice provost for Agriculture and University Outreach and dean, College of Agricultural Sciences. He has more than 50 published scientific papers and has held leadership positions in international organizations, distance education organizations and also consulted in Italy (FAO), India (USAID), Switzerland (WHO), and Pakistan (USAID). He has received many awards, citations and recognitions and recently was elected to the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame and named the Educator of the Century by the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.  

Click here for posts featuring Speaker Carroll

--Posted by Staff