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Bill to Increase Cost of Living Adjustment for CO Works Advances
SB 20-029 passes the Senate Finance Committee unanimously
Denver, CO – Today the Senate Finance committee advanced legislation to increase the cost of living adjustment for Colorado Works program participants. Colorado families of all backgrounds work hard to provide a better life for their children. But poverty rates among children in Colorado vary by race and ethnicity, as a result of policies and practices that have created and maintained inequitable opportunities in areas like housing and employment. SB-029 helps bridge those gaps.
"When we as a community remove barriers to financial security for families experiencing the most obstacles, we ensure kids start off on a strong path," said Sen. Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora).
"Studies show that increases in family income – including through direct financial assistance programs – can lead to improved outcomes for kids living in poverty and even increase a child’s future earnings," said Sen. Dominick Moreno (D-Denver).
In 2018 the Colorado Works program saw its first cost-of-living increase in a decade. SB-29 would increase the amount of Basic Cash Assistance payments to make up for the lack of adjustment for inflation since the program was created in 1996. It would implement an annual cost-of-living adjustment so that the Basic Cash Assistance value keeps up with actual living expenses.
Bill to Pay Student Athletes Passes Education Committee Unanimously
SB 20-123 allows for compensation and legal representation
DENVER, CO – SB 20-123 to pay student athletes passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously today. The bill, sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields and Jeff Bridges, would allow student athletes to receive compensation when their identity is used.
“This bill is all about doing what's best for the students,” said Senator Fields (D-Aurora). “Student athletes are waking up early in the morning, training for hours all while maintaining a full schedule of classes and good grades — and they deserve to be fairly compensated for that.”
"This is about the Colorado values of fairness and opportunity," said Sen. Jeff Bridges (D-Littleton). "Universities and the NCAA make hundreds of millions of dollars from the efforts of our student athletes. They deserve the right to control the use of their own name, image and likeness."
The bill establishes college athletes' rights to earn compensation from the use of the student's name, image, or likeness, and allows for them to obtain professional and legal representation. Additional information about SB20-123 can be found here.
Senate Education Committee Passes Training Supports For Educators
SB 20-001 heads to Senate Appropriations committee
Denver, CO – Today the Senate Education committee passed SB-001 to expand behavioral health training for K-12 educators. Our teachers, administrators, and school personnel are on the frontlines of the growing mental health crisis in our schools, and this bill establishes programs to support them in supporting our students. The statistics speak for themselves:
• America’s teen suicide rate is increasing at an alarming rate. Between 2013 and 2017, suicide was the leading cause of death among Colorado youth ages 10 – 18.
• A report recently published by the United Health Foundation found that half of Colorado children aged 3 to 17 do not receive the mental health counseling that they need.
“Teachers are in many ways, the mental-health first responders for our kids. They exist on the frontlines of our child suicide crisis, and they need our help,” said bill sponsor Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora). “We must give educators the necessary tools to support students when they desperately need it, or we will continue to see kids struggle in silence."
SB20-001 will provide funding to expand professional development opportunities via the Colorado Department of Education for school personnel related to youth behavioral and mental health issues. Prevention, early intervention, and stigma reduction are key factors in improving mental health and wellness.
“My son Robbie died by suicide October 11, 2018. He was 15 years old. We were at a parent teacher conference and came home to our worst nightmare," said Keri Eckert founder of Robbie’s Hope Foundation. “Mental illness is treatable, yet many teens struggle silently alone. It’s time we give teachers and students what they are asking for and need.”
This bipartisan bill will establish a network of qualified trainers in schools across the state. These trainers will be able to instruct their colleagues in the skills they need to identify students facing behavioral health or substance use issues and provide them with the tools and resources they need address this challenge. Learn more about the bill here.
Bill To Make Biking Safer Advances to State House
DENVER, CO – February 6 – On Thursday, the Colorado State Senate voted to advance SB20-061, Yield to Bicycles in Bicycle Lanes, on a 22-11 vote. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Foote and Speaker K.C. Becker, intends to help make bike lanes safer and clarify who is at fault for crashes that occur within bike lanes.
Injuries to bicyclists are becoming increasingly common. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), who supports SB20-061, cyclist fatalities in Colorado have increased by 31% over the last five years.
“We have seen instances where a cyclist is in the bike lane obeying the law but still given a ticket after being hit by a motorist,” Sen. Foote said. “Enforcement varies across jurisdictions and police departments so we want to make sure the law is clear.”
The bill will create a class A traffic offense for failing to yield in a bike lane and sets a penalty for individuals cited for that offense. The bill will now move to the Colorado State House, where Speaker K.C. Becker is the prime sponsor.
More information on SB20-061, including the text of the bill, can be found at: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-061
Bill to Support Our State Military Forces Passes Unanimously
SB 20-091 increases the minimum pay for service members
Denver, CO – Sen. Rachel Zenzinger's bill SB-091: Minimum Pay For State Military Forces passed the Senate on Friday. The bipartisan bill increases pay for our military members who are called into service by the governor.
"Our state military forces leave paying jobs to protect and defend Colorado in the event of a disaster or emergency to work 12-hour shifts on less than $2 an hour," said bill sponsor Sen. Rachel Zenzinger. "This bill brings the minimum pay for our members into the 21st century."
Right now, the minimum pay for our service members called up to active duty is just $20 a day. When Colorado experiences natural disasters or emergencies, our members deserve pay that has kept pace with today's inflation and living costs.
SB-091 passed the Senate State Veterans & Military committee and the full Senate unanimously. The bill now heads to the House.
Learn more here.
Senate Democrats Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care
GOP bills target access, emergency contraception
Denver, CO – Today is Reproductive Freedom Day at the Colorado StateCapitol, and right now, Senate Democrats are defending all aspects of reproductive health care in our state, including abortion access.
Caucus members on the State, Veterans & Military Affairs committee voted down an incredibly misleading bill on Monday, SB-077, which is a dangerous attempt to limit reproductive care in some of the most tragic and deeply personal cases.
At least two other extremely troubling anti-choice bills have been introduced in the legislature, including attempts to make Plan B a felony and a 22-week abortion ban, which would actively harm those needing urgent care in cases of fetal anomalies, genetic disorder or severe medical problems.
And right now, 87% of Colorado counties have no access to necessary reproductive services, including abortion care. With the fate of Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance at the Supreme Court, we're fighting to make sure that all Coloradans can make these important and personal decisions without restrictions or government intrusion.
“Government doesn’t have a place in these kinds of personal decisions," said Sen. Jeff Bridges. "I’m committed to ensuring access to reproductive health care for everyone in Colorado.”
In light of Reproductive Freedom Day today, it's essential to ensure that Coloradans, regardless of geography, age, or income deserve access to the full spectrum of reproductive rights and health care, including emergency contraception, maternity care, and birth control — without shame or stigma.
“Reproductive freedom is a cornerstone of our democratic commitment to access and privacy in health care, and these deeply personal decisions should only ever be between families and their doctor,” said Sen. Jessie Danielson.
Food Donations, Courthouse Access & Workers Compensation for Dispatchers Bills Pass Senate
Denver, CO – Three critical bills passed an important hurdle Tuesday on their way to becoming law:
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SB-090 to ease restrictions for organizations looking to donate food passed unanimously. This bill helps clear the way for individuals and nonprofits looking to donate wholesome foods to assist those facing hunger and poverty.
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SB-026, which supports the mental health of our emergency responders and dispatchers also passed the Senate with bipartisan support. Our emergency response centers, highway patrols and officers protect us every day while being subject to extreme and taxing situations. The bill expands workers' compensation to include psychological audible trauma.
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SB-083 also passed with bipartisan support and ensures access to justice for all Coloradans by outlawing civil arrests in our courthouses. By protecting that access, we uphold our commitment to justice for all.
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Bill to Increase Health Providers for Colorado Seniors Passes Senate Health & Human Services Committee
Denver, CO – The Senate Health & Human Services committee passed SB-022: Increase Medical Providers for Seniors on a 4-1 vote today. SB-022 tackles one of Colorado’s most pressing issues — the lack of health care available to our state’s aging population. This bill aims to increase the number of medical providers available to senior citizens by offering education incentives for geriatric care providers.
With a sharp rise in Colorado’s aging senior population in the coming decades, Colorado faces a severe shortage of geriatric medical providers available to take care of their growing medical needs. Without health care readily available for this aging population, it can often mean the difference between life and death for them.
“Our growing senior population deserves compassionate and capable health care, but right now Colorado simply doesn’t have enough physicians to care for them,” bill sponsor Sen. Jessie Danielson said. “We need to work proactively to stem this growing issue now. This bill helps address the problem by incentivizing great providers to pursue great careers in geriatric care.”
Colorado’s 65+ population will increase by 40% between by 2030, and will only continue to grow from there. There’s already a shortage of at least 200 medical care providers trained to work with seniors, and that gap will only continue to grow. SB-022 helps address this gap.
This bill aids critical shortages in Colorado by expanding the Colorado Health Service Corps loan repayment program to advanced practice nurses, physicians assistants, and other providers who practice geriatric primary care in our state’s shortage areas, including rural areas and underserved parts of our state.
For more information about SB20-022, please click here.
Alcohol Beverage License and Permit Expiration Passes Senate Business, Labor + Tech
DENVER, CO — The Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee passed SB20-086: Alcohol Beverage License and Permit Expiration unanimously. This bill gives the State Licensing Authority and Liquor Enforcement division authority to set a renewal application fee by rule and the ability to allow online renewals and payment of fees. Per statute, all fees must be set at an amount to cover the direct and indirect costs of the LED operations.
“SB20-086 helps solve a fundamental problem in the funding structure that has been getting worse instead of better. By altering the funding structure while also allowing for online renewal and fee payments, both the Liquor Enforcement Division and the businesses that work with them will be able to function more efficiently,” said prime sponsor Senator Angela Williams (D-Denver).
Co-sponsor Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert said that “application fees have changed 6 times since 2016. This inconsistency has affected the market and makes the job more challenging for both licensing authorities and licensees. Stabilizing the fees gives the Liquor Enforcement Division the resources they need to do their jobs and provides the predictability small businesses need to take part in Colorado’s economy."
Allowing the Liquor Enforcement Division to set renewal fees stabilizes the new application fee and spreads the cost of licensing across all licensees. LED anticipates a $50 renewal application fee for all licensees as well as stabilizing the new application fee at $1,300. Additionally, current statute requires renewal to be done by mail. This bill eliminates that language in order to provide flexibility for licensees to adapt to changing technology, though mail will always be an option. The bill now heads to the Senate floor.
To learn more about this bill, please visit:
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-086
Consumer & Employee Dispute Resolution Fairness Act Passes Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 20-093 promotes transparency and protections for consumers & employees
Denver, CO – Today the Senate Judiciary advanced legislation to increase transparency for Colorado consumers and employees with the passage of SB-093. The bill now heads to the Senate floor.
“The forced arbitration clauses that we are dealing with, partially, in this bill are everywhere, on virtually everything,” bill sponsor Senator Mike Foote said. “I can guarantee you that everyone in this room, as a matter of fact, has used product or service today that has a forced arbitration clause attached to it."
In the last 20 years, the number of workers in arbitration clauses has more than doubled. After Wells Fargo manipulated consumers with fake accounts, forced arbitration clauses prevented over 64,000 Coloradans from seeking justice in a class action suit. Millions of workers and consumers are forced into these clauses with little ability to defend themselves against corporations with endless resources.
"By 2024, it's estimated that more than 4 in every 5 workers will be forced to sign an arbitration agreement in their hiring process. It can be used to silence victims of sexual harassment in the workplace, and can impact students who take out private loans for their education," Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg said. "This issue touches all Coloradans, and we all deserve a fair process when we have a dispute."
The Consumer And Employee Dispute Resolution Fairness Act addresses the need for ethics, fairness and transparency in arbitration and other agreements so everyday consumers or employees can hold corporations responsible.
SB-093 would:
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Establish ethics and conflicts of interest standards for arbitrators similar to those followed by judges and others in the legal profession to prevent bias and discrimination
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Create basic public transparency requirements for arbitrators so consumers, employees and the public are able to identify bad behavior and prevent corporate concealment
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Addresses unenforceable terms that discourage people from bringing their claim forward, such as forcing out-of-state arbitration and waiving rights under other areas of law
Rural Economic Development Initiative Grant Program Passes Senate!
Sen. Kerry Donovan's bipartisan bill stimulates job creation and rural growth
Denver, CO – Big news: The REDI grant program passed the Senate with bipartisan support today. SB-002 directs REDI grant money towards applicants like small businesses, beginning farmers and local governments to support job creation in rural communities. Grant requests have exceeded the programs budget each year, illustrating its success and the increased need to stimulate rural economies through job creation.
"I am proud that this bill passed today with bipartisan support," said bill sponsor Sen. Kerry Donovan (Vail). "This sends a clear message that the Senate wants to invest in rural Colorado and support job creation that will build economic opportunity in rural communities for years to come."
REDI targets rural counties with populations of 50,000 residents or smaller and will create new jobs in rural Colorado. The Department of Local Affairs, in conjunction with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, oversee the allocation of grant funds.
REDI is a program that was established in 2013-2014 as a response to closed correctional facilities and job loss in rural Colorado. SB20-002 strengthens the REDI grant program and promotes job creation in rural economies for a sustainable economic future.
Senate Education Advances Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Adult Education
More than 300,000 Colorado adults lack a high school diploma. But 74% of jobs in Colorado now require some level of postsecondary education. Today the Senate Education committee advanced bipartisan legislation to expand adult education grant programs. SB-009 strengthens our current workforce as well as future ones: adult education supports families through increasing likelihood of childhood academic success, improved health outcomes and reducing recidivism rates.
"Basic education should be a right for all citizens, no matter their age," said sponsor Senator Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada). "We need strong, supportive programs that equip our residents for a rapidly changing workforce and also give them the tools necessary to be active partners in their children's education and participants on our democracy."
SB-009 expands grant funding to adult education providers who partner with K-12 schools, not just providers who partner with postsecondary and job placement programs. This helps improve literacy and livelihoods for not just today's adult students, but future generations as well. It's anticipated that SB-009 will raise the number of adult learners served by 50%.
Military + Veterans' Support Bills Pass Unanimously
Two bills passed unanimously out of Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs committee this afternoon to honor and recognize our military members & veterans:
SB-091: Minimum Pay for Military Forces
Sen. Rachel Zenzinger
Right now the minimum pay for a member called to service by the governor is just $20 per day. Under existing law, the governor may activate the state military forces, including National Guard units, for state active duty to protect and serve during natural disasters and civil emergencies. A member's pay is determined by the member's rank and years of service, but this bill increases the minimum pay and establishes the standard that enlisted members receive pay equal to E-4 rank with over six years of service.
SB-082: Department Of Military And Veterans Affairs Awards
Sen. Nancy Todd
This bill creates the Colorado Legion of Merit Medal to honor our exceptional service members and those who exhibit unprecedented acts of heroism. The bill makes changes regarding eligibility and criteria for certain medals awarded by Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs.
Both bills are now moved to second reading to be approved on the consent calendar.
JOIN US FOR #COSIDay AT THE CAPITOL
Denver, CO – A 2013 Georgetown study predicted that by 2020, Colorado’s economy will require the second most educated workforce in the nation, with 74% of jobs needing some kind of postsecondary education. But right now, just over half of Colorado adults have a degree or certificate. We're tackling higher education affordability and access this session to expand funding and opportunities to all Coloradans in a number of ways:
The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) is Colorado’s premier scholarship program. Since 2014, COSI has served over 75,000 students in 61 counties across the state. Join sponsor Sen. Rachel Zenzinger and stakeholders tomorrow to kick things off:
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
West Foyer, 8:15 - 8:45
Meet & Greet Breakfast
What SB-006 does:
• Changes "tuition assistance" to "financial assistance" tied to cost of attendance
Changing this definition allows funds to be utilized for wraparound services, and would provide clarification around eligible expenses for financial aid administrators.
• Removes funding cap requirement to improve student success and support services
Removing the cap will allow for the expansion of wraparound support programming, which directly impacts COSI recipients by increasing student retention and degree completion.
• Allows more government agencies such as colleges, universities, and school districts to receive funding, in addition to community organizations and related foundations
COSI currently provides funding to colleges, universities, school districts and community organizations. Many of the agencies that receive funding and provide services are likely governmental agencies, but the law requires district or college foundations to receive the funding when in some cases the district or college itself may be a more appropriate recipient.
"As a result of the proposed changes, COSI will be administered more efficiently to allow the program to align with research and national best practices and aid the Department in reaching 66% educational attainment by 2025. I'm proud to see how far COSI has come since our early days working on
the program, and can’t wait to achieve even more success," said Sen. Zenzinger.
In addition to COSI, Sen. Zenzinger's bill (SB-009) expands grant programs for existing and new adult education. Better investment in Colorado's adult education systems bolsters our economy and improves the workforce while supporting the families and communities who need it most.
Senate Dems Introduce First 5 Bills
Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020
CONTACT: Bella Combest | bella.combest.senate@state.co.us
Senate Dems Introduce First 5 Bills
With a focus on health care, the environment, and economic opportunity
DENVER, CO – Colorado Senate Democrats introduced their first five bills of the second session of the 72nd General Assembly today.
“Over the last year, we have made huge strides on behalf of Colorado families, and we’re excited to continue this effort in 2020. These bills reflect the issues Coloradans sent us here to make bipartisan progress on, and that’s what we intend to do,” said President Leroy Garcia. “We are focused on protecting Colorado’s natural beauty, improving health care, and restoring the economic dignity of hardworking Coloradans everywhere.”
SB 20-001 – Expanding Behavioral Health Training for K-12 Educators
Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora
This bill will provide the training that parents, teachers, and students need in order to support themselves and the people they love when mental health challenges arise.
SB 20-002 – Rural Economic Development Initiative Grant Program Protections
Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail
This bill will create the REDI grant program including more specific guidelines for awarding REDI grants focused on job creation and resiliency in rural Colorado.
SB 20-003 – Fisher’s Peak Preservation & State Park Creation
Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo
This bill will create a new state park in Southern Colorado, expanding public lands and protecting this beautiful environment for generations to come. Additionally, it will provide infrastructure funding for other state parks.
SB 20-004 – Get On Your Feet!
Sen. Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder
This bill aims to support new Colorado graduates by providing two years of student loan forgiveness for new graduates from Colorado, who commit to stay in Colorado, and enroll in an income-based repayment (IBR) program.
SB 20-005 – Simplified Health Care Billing
Sens. Faith Winter, D-Westminster and Kevin Priola, R-Brighton
The bill requires health insurance companies to collect copays, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts and provide patients with a single, consolidated bill––cutting through the confusion and bureaucracy and allowing people to see clearly their total liability amount.
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Joint Release: Continued, but Slower Growth Expected, Difficult Budget Choices Lie Ahead
DENVER, CO — The Joint Budget Committee today received economic and state revenue forecasts, which predict continued expansion, low unemployment, and wage growth above the national average throughout the forecast period. The forecasts from Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budget both indicate the state will issue TABOR refunds in upcoming years and exceed the Referendum C revenue caps, which limit the state’s ability to invest in critical priorities, such as education and transportation. “The forecasts confirm that this year’s budget will be much tighter than before and will require difficult decisions on how to balance our state’s important priorities,” said JBC Chair Rep. Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo). “Every dollar is precious, and I will be working with my House and Senate colleagues and the governor to responsibly allocate our limited resources in a way that invests in our state’s future and helps build an economy that works for all Coloradans in all parts of our state.”“Both revenue forecasts anticipate growth, which is welcome news for the services that Coloradans depend on. But the real story behind both forecasts is how TABOR hamstrings essential spending for critical priorities like education, health care and transportation. As cash fund revenues increase, so do TABOR refunds. It’s important to continue looking for solutions to problems posed by TABOR in order to preserve the most basic services government provides,” said JBC Vice Chair Sen. Dominick Moreno (D-Denver).“Both forecasts show continued growth, which is good news for our state,” said JBC member Rep. Chris Hansen (D-Denver). “Still, we will have to evaluate our budget carefully to ensure we are investing state funds as best we can and for the greatest impact. Despite increased revenue forecasts, we won’t be able to invest those additional resources in transportation, K-12 education, or higher education because of TABOR. The budget is tight, and we know it will be a challenge to continue this progress.”“We're seeing healthy projections for the upcoming year that will allow us to continue prioritizing investments in crucial areas like transportation and education, but due to TABOR caps, we’re limited in our ability,” said JBC member Sen. Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada). “Risks of recession have eased, but as our economy grows, we must ensure that we continue to practice fiscal responsibility amid expected budgetary pressures.”The forecasts from economists in the Governor’s Office and General Assembly show that growth will continue at a slower rate due to an increasingly tight labor market. The tight labor market, however, will lead to accelerated wage growth, and recessionary risk for 2020 has eased. The state’s trade dependent industries, such as food and agriculture, are still facing pressures from ongoing trade tensions.The OSPB forecast shows that General Fund revenue is expected to grow 3.5 percent in FY 2019-20, which was revised down from September by $101.2 million due to lower collections from individual income tax withholding. General Fund revenues are projected to grow by 4 percent in FY 2020-21. The LCS forecasts that General Fund revenue will grow by 3 percent in FY 2019-2020 and 4 percent in FY 2020-2021. The LCS forecast shows that the state will issue TABOR refunds totaling above $1 billion over the next three years, estimates that were revised upward from September. Revenue above the Ref C cap is expected to be $304.3 million in FY 2019-20, $367.3 million in FY 2020-21, and $453.4 million in FY 2021-22.
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Flags Lowered to Honor Sgt. Joshua Voth, Rep. Kimmi Lewis, and Firefighter Ken Jones
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Sen. Kerry Donovan and Rep. Dylan Roberts Release State Insurance Option Proposal
Denver, CO — Last session, a bipartisan group of lawmakers passed HB19-1004, which tasked the state with developing a proposal for something that has never been done before: a state option for insurance.After over 20 public meetings across the state, 260 formal public comments, and extensive data and financial analysis, we are pleased that the final proposal is being released today. This proposal contains the parameters for a fiscally responsible and transformative state insurance option that will increase Coloradan’s choices and lower prices. First and foremost we are excited that will continue to bring down the cost of care in the individual market and give rural Coloradans more choices on the insurance market. Now, the proposal is being sent to the Legislature where we will work with all interested stakeholders and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to craft legislation to move the ideas in this proposal forward.Representative Dylan Roberts and Senator Kerry Donovan will be two of the sponsors of legislation in the coming 2020 legislative session to fully implement Colorado’s state health insurance option, the first of its kind in the nation.“HB19-1004 was a major bipartisan victory for Colorado last legislative session, and I am proud to have carried this bill through the House and excited today see the results of that work,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts (D-Avon). “The plan released today is a promising and well thought-out proposal for an insurance option that will result in more choices, shared accountability across the health care industry, and lower prices. I thank the Polis administration for their thoughtful outreach and meticulous work in putting this proposal together. Now, the legislature is tasked with moving this forward and I am excited to work with my colleagues and all stakeholders to craft and pass legislation that enacts a first-in-the-nation public insurance option that works for Colorado. The bottom line is that no Coloradan should go without the security of health insurance coverage and in Colorado, cost is too large a barrier for too many — that is the problem we are seeking to solve.”“Working with Rep. Roberts and the Polis administration on this proposal has renewed my faith in the power of people to take on huge challenges like addressing the underlying reasons of high health care costs,” said Senator Kerry Donovan (D-Vail). “We still must work on mental health and rural funding, but this plan is a big piece of the overall solution. I look forward to crafting a bill that responsibly moves this state option forward. We know that leading the nation with new ideas can be challenging, but Coloradans deserve solutions to the high cost of health care.”More details on the State Public Option Proposal can be found by clicking here.
Majority Leader Steve Fenberg Responds to Air Quality Study, Demands More Aggressive Action
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October 17, 2019 Fenberg Plans to Introduce Legislation for an Epidemiological Study, Increased Air Quality Monitoring Denver, CO – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) today released the state-funded “Human Health Risk Assessment of Oil & Gas Operations in Colorado” that shows a possibility of negative health impacts from chemicals used in oil and gas development at distances up to 2000 feet. In response, Majority Leader Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder) released the following statement and announced his plans to introduce legislation to address negative health implications of oil and gas development.“This study shows us that the oil and gas reforms the legislature enacted last session were the right thing to do in order to protect health, safety, and the environment for Coloradans," said Majority Leader Fenberg. “I am proud of the significant strides we made to protect the health and safety of Coloradans last session, but I recognize that there is always more work to be done and am committed to continuing the work.”Majority Leader Fenberg has been working on additional legislation for the 2020 legislative session that would require an epidemiological study to collect data from across Colorado to evaluate how oil and gas development affects human health.“This new CDPHE study is valuable, but what we really need is a comprehensive epidemiological study that looks at real health impacts on real people who live near oil and gas wells,” said Majority Leader Fenberg.While SB19-181 requires continuous air monitoring at oil and gas wells, that rulemaking is still underway and not yet fully implemented. Fenberg is also considering introducing legislation next year to increase regional air monitoring to better understand the overall impact of oil and gas development on Colorado’s air quality.Due to the clear need for aggressive and immediate action in response to the study, Majority Leader Fenberg also called for the following:
Majority Leader Fenberg sponsored SB19-181 earlier this year, the most significant and meaningful reform to oil and gas regulations in more than 60 years. The landmark legislation requires continuous air monitoring at oil and gas wells, changes the mission of the COGCC to ensure the protection of health and safety, reformed forced pooling laws, requires the minimization of emissions from wells, and also provided local control for cities and counties that wish to enact stricter health and safety measures than the state minimums. Some of these measures were enacted immediately and others are still in the rulemaking process and not yet fully implemented.For more information about SB19-181, please visit https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-181.
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Senator Zenzinger Named “Legislator of the Year” by the Economic Development Council of Colorado
October 15
Denver, CO -- Senator Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) recently received the “2019 Legislator of the Year” Award from the Economic Development Council of Colorado for her outstanding work supporting economic development excellence. The “2019 Legislator of the Year” Award is given to a legislator who has demonstrated leadership by building consensus across the political spectrum to successfully pass bills to strengthen Colorado’s economy, infrastructure, and workforce.“I believe it is critical that we analyze and ultimately support policies, regardless of party or politics, that help hardworking Coloradans and create a thriving environment for businesses,” said Senator Zenzinger. “That has been my guiding principle since 2016, and I am proud to have not only adhered to it, but to be recognized for it.”Senator Zenzinger is a member of the powerful Joint Budget Committee that is responsible for protecting the state’s financial standing and crafting its $42 billion budget. She was integral in writing and passing the 2019-20 balanced budget that funded free all-day Kindergarten and made a historic $300 million dollar investment in transportation infrastructure.“The Economic Development Council of Colorado is proud to honor Senator Zenzinger for this special recognition,” said Tammy Fields, Board Chair, Economic Development Council of Colorado. “Colorado is privileged to have legislators that demonstrate collaboration and strong leadership by advocating for important public policy which supports industry and economic development initiatives that strengthen Colorado’s economy.”For more information about Senator Zenzinger’s priorities and legislation carried during the 2019 session, please visit: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1106537889465&ca=29f368b7-7c64-4030-9fd8-4636392cee97. For more information about the award, please visit: https://edcconline.org/edie-awards/.