ICYMI: Pair of Bills to Provide Fee Relief for Health Care Workers, Build a Healthier Colorado Clear Committee

Legislation will save essential workers money

DENVER, CO – The Senate Finance Committee this week unanimously approved two bills that would save health care workers money on professional licensure and certification. HB22-1298, sponsored by Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, would provide fee relief to nurses and psychiatric technicians. HB22-1299, sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, would reduce license fees for mental health professionals. 

“Our health care heroes have faced immeasurable challenges over the last two years, but regardless of these challenges, they have stepped up to the plate every day to care for Coloradans,” said Hinrichsen. “That’s why I’m proud to sponsor this bill which will help alleviate the pressure our essential workers have faced through much deserved fee relief for professional licensing and certification. This bill will save Coloradans money and provide the support these workers deserve to move forward.”

Fee Relief for Nurses: HB22-1298, sponsored by Hinrichsen, would provide licensure and certification fee relief for nurses, nurse aides and psychiatric technicians. Colorado’s health care workforce is experiencing a major shortage of qualified health care professionals. In addition, above-capacity patient levels and frequent exposure to COVID-19 have only added to the stress for health care professionals working at hospitals, assisted living residences and mental health facilities. This bill will save health care workers $11.7 million on their professional licensing and certification.

“The pandemic has not only exacerbated stress for Coloradans, it has significantly increased the workload for our mental health workers,” said Fields. “To help them out, we’re going to make it easier and cheaper for mental health workers to apply or renew their licenses so our psychologists, counselors, therapists, and social workers can focus on providing critical services to patients, not on paperwork and fees. ” 

Fee Relief For Mental Health Professionals: HB22-1299, sponsored by Fields, would reduce license fees for two years for mental health professionals regulated by state boards. Collectively, mental health professionals seeking licenses will save nearly $3.7 million next year. Pandemic pressures have contributed to an increase of Colorado adults seeking mental health services for symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia.

Both bills now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. 

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Bipartisan Bill to Address Fentanyl Crisis, Save Lives in Colorado

H22-1326 strengthens criminal penalties for fentanyl dealers and increases access to harm reduction tools & treatment to prevent overdose deaths

DENVER, CO - The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved a bill that addresses the fentanyl crisis in Colorado and aims to save lives.

Sponsored by Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, and Senator John Cooke, R-Greeley, HB22-1326 represents a comprehensive approach to address this crisis that includes both proven harm reduction strategies to save lives and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers to keep fentanyl off Colorado streets. 

“We are in the third wave of the opioid epidemic and in the worst overdose crisis in the history of this country. Fentanyl is the drug of choice for the cartels because it’s potent, cheap and easy to traffic," Pettersen said. "We need to go after the dealers who are poisoning our communities and provide training and resources to better equip law enforcement to investigate fentanyl poisonings while increasing access to desperately needed treatment and life-saving harm reduction tools. This bill is about saving lives with a comprehensive public health and public safety approach, and will complement the work we’re doing to fix our broken behavioral health system throughout Colorado.”

The bill will strengthen criminal penalties on any individual distributing fentanyl, and integrate mandatory substance use disorder (SUD) assessments and treatment into the state’s sentencing process to ensure people can access treatment and recovery services. 

HB22-1326 focuses on compound fentanyl, which is fentanyl mixed with other drugs or substances. The legislation provides law enforcement with additional tools to go after dealers, while providing treatment options to individuals with a SUD. 

Under the bill, individuals dealing or importing fentanyl will face increased felony charges, and if the defendant has distributed any amount of fentanyl that leads to someone’s death, they can be charged with a level one drug felony and face the drug code’s strongest penalties.

Defendants in possession of any amount of fentanyl compound will be assessed for a substance use disorder and required to complete an education program developed by the Office of Behavioral Health in the Colorado Department of Human Services. Individuals assessed as having a substance use disorder will be ordered to complete a treatment program.

HB22-1326 would make it a felony to knowingly possess more than one gram of fentanyl compound/mixture while creating legal guardrails for individuals who didn’t know they were in possession of fentanyl. Additionally, once Colorado’s labs have the ability to test for the percentage of fentanyl within a compound, this bill adopts a “no tolerance” policy for the possession of pure fentanyl. 

The new felony, which is not prison eligible, would be repealed on June 30, 2025 and includes a “wobbler” provision to allow individuals that complete treatment to have the felony moved down to a misdemeanor on their record. The legislation creates a grant fund for law enforcement agencies to pursue investigations of fentanyl poisonings, and provides additional funding to crisis stabilization centers and detoxification centers.

This crisis also demands a robust public health approach that will reduce harm, expand access to treatment, and prevent overdose deaths. Colorado will save lives by investing in effective public health and substance use prevention and treatment strategies and giving people the tools they need to protect themselves. 

The legislation directs $29 million in federal pandemic relief funds to implement recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force to expand access to proven harm reduction tools like the life-saving opioid antagonist Narcan as well as fentanyl test strips. It will also expand access to Medication-Assisted Treatment within the criminal justice system to help folks get the care they need and ultimately help reduce recidivism.

Finally, HB22-1326 directs the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to develop, implement and maintain a three-year statewide prevention and education campaign to address fentanyl education needs in the state, including the message that even small amounts of fentanyl can be deadly. The bill will also provide grants to develop and implement community-focused education campaigns on the dangers of fentanyl.

HB22-1326 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Follow the bill's progress HERE.

Bipartisan School Finance Act to Make Historic Investment in School Funding Clears Committee

Legislation would increase K-12 public school funding by an average of $545 per student, or $13,600 for a classroom of 25 students

DENVER, CO - The Senate Education Committee today voted unanimously to advance the bipartisan 2022 Public School Finance Act, which sets funding levels of Colorado’s public school districts.

Sponsored by Senator Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Senator Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, HB22-1390 increases state funding for public schools by $431 million to $8.4 billion and reduces the Budget Stabilization Factor by more than $180 million.

“Thanks to the hard work we have done on this year’s School Finance Act, the Budget Stabilization Factor will fall to the lowest level since its inception," said Zenzinger. "I’m proud of the responsible way that we have managed this issue, and I’m proud of the increases we will see to Colorado school districts’ per pupil funding. This year’s School Finance Act makes resources available to teachers and students that they need and deserve.”

The increases in funding for K-12 public schools will result in an increase of $545 per student, or approximately $13,600 for a classroom of 25 students. This funding can be used to reduce class sizes, increase teacher pay, and provide individualized support to help students learn.

The bill makes additional changes to support students and school districts, such as extending the K-5 Social and Emotional Health Pilot Program and the Dyslexia Screening and Intervention Program. It also strengthens the successful Educator Recruitment and Retention grant program by encouraging recipients to teach for three years in areas where there are educator shortages.

Additionally, the School Finance Act incorporates the text of HB22-1002, which lifts the current cap on the number of students who can participate in the ASCENT concurrent enrollment program and makes it available to more postsecondary students. This program saves Coloradans money as they pursue their higher education degrees.

HB22-1390 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Track the progress of the bill HERE.

Jaquez Lewis Bill to Boost Colorado’s Emergency Stockpile of Personal Protective Equipment Clears Committee

HB22-1352 will better prepare state, health care workers for future health emergencies

DENVER, CO – The State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee Affairs Committee passed a bill, sponsored by Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County, that would require the State of Colorado to maintain a stockpile of essential materials, including personal protective equipment (PPE).

HB22-1352 would help the State of Colorado prepare for future emergencies by maintaining a stockpile of essential materials and PPE to be available for distribution after the governor has declared a disaster emergency.

“The last few years have been challenging, but we’ve learned a lot and we’re in a much better position than we were two years ago,” Jaquez Lewis said. “It’s now time to apply those lessons as we begin to live alongside this disease and balance returning to normal with keeping ourselves, our families, and our communities safe. This legislation will boost our emergency stockpile of PPE so that our health care providers have the critical tools and resources they need, and ensure they are better prepared to respond and keep us safe the next time a public health emergency strikes.”

Face masks, medical gloves, eye protection and other PPE worn by health care professionals are necessary for treating patients and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. This bill will invest nearly $2 million to stockpile medical-grade PPE in Colorado so hospitals, vaccine clinics and other medical sites can have access to the protective equipment to keep them safe. Schools, community centers and other organizations can also receive stockpiled PPE.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Public Safety was charged with maintaining the state’s emergency stockpile of PPE and associated warehouses. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has since maintained a 60-day stockpile of five key PPE product categories to dispatch to state agencies as needed. This bill ensures Colorado has adequate PPE supplies for the next pandemic or declared national disaster.

HB22-1352 now moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill HERE.

Zenzinger’s Bipartisan Bill to Get More Teachers in Classrooms Clears Committee

Legislation would reduce financial barriers to entering the educator workforce

DENVER, CO - The Senate Education Committee today voted to advance Senator Rachel Zenzinger’s, D-Arvada, bipartisan legislation that would invest more than $52 million in federal funding to attract new educators to the workforce by reducing financial barriers to entry.

Co-sponsored by Senator Don Coram, R-Montrose, HB22-1220 would create two educator preparation stipend programs and a temporary educator loan forgiveness program in the Department of Higher Education to reduce financial barriers to entering the workforce and help teachers pay off their student loans. 

“I know from personal experience how nearly impossible it is for student teachers to meet their prep obligations while supporting themselves financially via a second or third job,” said Zenzinger. “This bill establishes several programs that will help reduce students’ stress and make the pathway toward a career in education far more appealing. It’s way past time to implement this kind of legislation.”

Currently, the Colorado Department of Education can issue a temporary educator eligibility authorization to students in an educator preparation program for special education who have not yet met all the requirements for initial licensure. The bill expands the temporary authorization to students in both regular and alternative teacher preparation programs.

HB22-1220 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Track the progress of the bill HERE.

Senate Approves Pair of Bills to Improve Public Safety

Legislation will reduce crime, create safer communities across Colorado

DENVER, CO – The Senate today approved a pair of bills aimed at reducing crime and improving public safety across Colorado.

HB22-1003, sponsored by Senator James Coleman, D-Denver, and Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, would establish the Delinquency Prevention and Young Offender Intervention Pilot Grant Program to help keep kids out of the juvenile justice system.

The program would award two-year grants to local governments, Native American Tribes, and nonprofit organizations to fund projects that reduce crime, violence and delinquency among youth. Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate a community-based response involving collaboration with multiple agencies to reduce crime.

“Part of preventing crime and creating safer communities means investing in effective intervention and prevention programs to help stop criminal activity from happening in the first place,” Coleman said. “By investing in our communities, we can keep more youth out of the juvenile justice system and build a safer Colorado for all.”

“As we continue to move Pueblo and Colorado forward, we’re committed to making investments that reduce crime and improve public safety,” Hinrichsen said. “This bill will help local governments support our youth and reduce recidivism rates in our communities, which will ultimately give young people the support and resources they need and create safer communities across the board.” 

The Senate also passed HB22-1234, sponsored by Senator Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, which creates a grant program to prevent identity-based violence. The grants will help build strong communities and prevent acts of violence that target a specific population of people, and build awareness to prevent these types of crime from happening in the first place. 

The bill allows law enforcement to develop strategies needed to solve serious crimes that have widespread ramifications on a community’s sense of safety, including projects to strengthen local collaboration and capabilities to prevent and intervene in identity-based violence.

"We’ve seen a growing number of threats and violence targeted at specific communities across our state, and it must come to an end,” Rodriguez said. “This bill will give communities, nonprofits, and law enforcement the tools they need to prevent these types of crimes, and help ensure that everyone feels safe and secure in their community.”

Both HB22-1234 and HB22-1003 will now move to the Governor for final consideration. Track HB22-1234’s progress HERE, and HB22-1003’s progress HERE.

JOINT RELEASE: General Assembly Democrats Introduce Legislation to Provide Coloradans Expedited Tax Relief

SB22-233 will provide relief to more than 3 million Coloradans

DENVER, CO - Democrats in the legislature yesterday introduced legislation to provide working Coloradans with expedited tax refunds. Under the proposed Colorado Cashback plan, individual tax filers will receive a flat amount of $400, and joint filers will receive $800, pushing refunds up to provide relief to Coloradans as soon as possible.

SB22-233, sponsored by Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, Senator Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, Representative Tony Exum Sr., D-Colorado Springs, and Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, speeds up the timeline for refund checks to help families afford basic necessities like gas and groceries. All full-time residents of Colorado who filed their 2021 income tax returns by May 31st, 2022 will receive a check under the bill as currently drafted.

“Coloradans are feeling the pain of inflation, and they need our help,” Hinrichsen said. “That’s why we’re taking action to provide immediate support to families and individuals in the form of direct relief to taxpayers. This relief will put money directly back into Coloradans’ wallets, making it easier for folks to afford everyday necessities like rent and groceries and helping families make ends meet during this challenging time.”

“With Coloradans facing rising costs from pandemic-induced inflation, supply chain challenges and global unrest, pushing for earlier refund checks will provide relief to Coloradans who are hurting now,” said Exum. “We’re accelerating the timeline so Coloradans can receive their $400 or $800 refund checks when they need it the most, putting money back into people’s pockets to help families pay for rent, groceries and other essentials.” 

“We’ve worked hard this session to save working Colorado families money, and this legislation will do even more to ease the pain we’re all feeling due to rising inflation,” Rodriguez said. “As we continue building back from the pandemic, this relief will help ease the financial burden folks across our state are struggling with when they need it most.”

“With everyday essentials costing more, we’re providing Coloradans with financial relief now,” said Daugherty. “Colorado taxpayers will get $400 refund checks this September, which will add some much needed breathing room to their budgets. We know Coloradans are feeling the pinch at the pump and the grocery store, so we’re fast tracking refunds to put money back in people’s pockets as soon as possible.”

Colorado Democrats' state stimulus plan, fair tax reform, and responsible governance combined has led to a robust economic recovery and a record state surplus that is being returned to taxpayers via this tax rebate, in addition to existing refund mechanisms including the senior homestead exemption and a temporary reduction in the rate of the income tax.

The expedited tax relief provided by SB22-233 will add to the savings from the comprehensive tax reform legislation and property tax relief passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Polis last year that is already putting money back into Coloradans’ pockets. By repealing tax loopholes for large corporations and millionaires and reducing property tax assessment rates, Democrats have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in economic assistance and tax relief for hard working Coloradans, seniors, and small businesses.

SB22-233 will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Historic Investment to Save Coloradans Money on Housing Clears Committee

HB22-1304 invests $178 million to facilitate affordable housing development

DENVER, CO - The Senate Local Government Committee today signed off on legislation to invest $178 million to build and sustain affordable housing across Colorado - the largest investment in state history in affordable housing.

HB22-1304, sponsored by Senator James Coleman, D-Denver, and Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, invests $178 million in federal pandemic relief funding to provide direct, flexible, and timely grant funding to nonprofits and local governments all across the state that have or are pursuing measures to facilitate affordable housing development, including purchasing land.

“Our state is growing, and we must make sure communities have the resources they need to keep pace,” said Gonzales, Vice Chair of the Affordable Housing Task Force. “This bill will help local governments and nonprofits access the space and funding that communities need to equitably accommodate that growth. By helping communities increase their housing supply we can make sure every Coloradan has access to a home they can afford.”

“As Colorado’s population continues to grow, we have to make sure communities have the land and resources required to develop affordable housing now and in the future,” Coleman said. “Local governments and nonprofits are the experts when it comes to pinpointing their communities’ unique needs. That’s why this bill is targeted at uplifting their work and providing the necessary tools to achieve their housing development goals.”

HB22-1304 also provides for the development of supportive, rental, and for-sale housing targeted at populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The bill also makes a substantial investment for local communities to create strategic development patterns, including funding for infrastructure projects and updating land and use codes.

This legislation was developed based on recommendations from the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force.

HB22-1304 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.

ICYMI: Senate Passes Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Higher Ed Tuition

HB22-1155 would help more Coloradans earn post-secondary degrees

DENVER, CO – Yesterday, the Senate passed legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, and Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, that will save Coloradans money on higher education tuition by expanding in-state tuition to more students and families.

Under current law, students must reside in Colorado for at least three years before they are eligible for in-state tuition. HB22-1155 changes the requirement to allow any student who graduates from a Colorado high school and has resided in the state for one year to receive in-state tuition.

"The cost of higher education shouldn't deter Colorado's students from pursuing a post-secondary degree at one of the excellent colleges and universities in the state," said Moreno. "By expanding the pool of students who qualify for in-state tuition, we lower the cost of education and  empower students to make decisions for their future based on their goals rather than the price tag."

“We know that access to higher education can be transformational for a young person’s life, but during the pandemic we saw a significant decrease in enrollment,” said Gonzales. “Immigrant Colorado high school graduates should be able to access our public higher education institutions in the same manner as their U.S. citizen friends and neighbors. This is a common sense, bipartisan measure, and it also has the benefit of being good for our economy, particularly in corners of the state that are desperate for young, educated workers. I am honored to work alongside a broad coalition of business groups, higher education institutions, and immigrant rights organizations to bring forward this bill.”

The bill now moves to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill HERE.

ICYMI: Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Health Care Workforce Clears Committee

Legislation would support the education, training, recruitment and retention of nurses and health care workers

DENVER, CO - The Senate Health and Human Services Committee yesterday unanimously voted to advance Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis’, D-Boulder County, bipartisan bill to bolster Colorado’s health care workforce through a $61 million investment in the education, training, recruitment and retention of nurses and health care workers.

Co-sponsored by Senator Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, SB22-226 would address the shortage of health care workers by assisting with tuition and fees to help people get into high-demand health care fields. These programs require clinical hours at health facilities, currently a major limiting factor in how many students schools can accept. To address this, the bill would also provide funding for health care facilities to increase training slots to build long-term capacity to train new and existing employees.

“It’s no secret - the past two plus years have been tough. We’ve gone through some incredibly challenging times, weathered difficult storms, and held strong in the face of real adversity,” said Jaquez Lewis. “As we move forward together, we must invest in Colorado’s health care workforce and better prepare and equip our health care heroes. This will not only result in better quality of care for Coloradans, it will give workers advanced skill sets that help them grow and move forward in their careers.”

Additionally, the bill would create the Health Care Workforce Resilience and Retention Program in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to develop employee well-being programs and support the retention of health care workers.

SB22-226 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Track the progress of the bill HERE.

Bill to Expand Collective Bargaining Rights to More Than 37,000 Public Service Workers Advances

Building upon the 2020 state workers bill, SB22-230 would more than double the number of public workers with recognized collective bargaining rights

DENVER, CO - The Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee today advanced landmark legislation sponsored by President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, and Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, to support workers by extending collective bargaining rights to more than 37,000 county public service employees, a historic step forward in Colorado’s labor and workers rights movement.

SB22-230 builds upon the state workers bill from 2020 to extend similar collective bargaining rights to county workers. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would give public service workers who choose to form a union a seat at the table to collectively bargain on issues like working conditions, job safety, pay and benefits, and to collaborate with management to address shared challenges like staff shortages, retention issues, and improving public services.

“County workers kept Colorado running through some extremely difficult years of pandemic disruptions and health and safety hazards,” said Fenberg. “These tens of thousands of unsung heroes have more than earned what nearly every private sector and state worker already enjoy — the right to organize and negotiate for fair and safe workplaces. It’s time for county public service workers to be given the choice to form a union.”

“Across Colorado, tens of thousands of county workers perform hazardous jobs and provide the critical services that keep communities running safely and smoothly,” Moreno said. “These public servants deserve to have a seat at the table to negotiate their employment, just like private sector and state employees currently do. By granting Colorado’s 37,000 county workers the right to choose to form a union, this bill will help Colorado take the next step on the path to ensuring collective bargaining rights for every Coloradan.”

Right now, only four out of Colorado’s 64 counties recognize public service workers’ right to collectively bargain. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would guarantee Colorado statutory county workers the ability to organize and form a union to advocate for safer workplaces and better public services, if they so choose.

Additionally, the Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would extend protections to workers who are currently vulnerable to retaliation, discrimination, and coercion for exercising basic union rights.

SB22-230 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill HERE.

HHS Committee Clears Bills to Streamline and Improve Colorado’s Behavioral Health System

Legislation would help improve access to services for folks with behavioral health needs, expand treatment options

DENVER, CO – The Health & Human Services Committee today approved three bipartisan bills to streamline and improve Colorado’s behavioral health system. 

HB22-1278, sponsored by Senator Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, and Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, will help increase and streamline access to behavioral health services for individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders through the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA).

“Coloradans deserve easy access to the behavioral health care they need to maintain their health and well-being, but far too many folks are left with limited or no options for help,” Lee said. “Accessing our behavioral health system can be complex and difficult, which is why we’re pushing for the creation of a Behavioral Health Administration to help streamline services for people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. With this bill, we will be able to ensure accessible, equitable and high quality care for all.” 

The legislation would establish a comprehensive, accountable behavioral health safety net system available in every region of Colorado. This includes 15 different critical behavioral health services including substance use, crisis services, criminal justice diversion, trauma informed care, youth services and more.

The BHA will reduce bureaucracy by consolidating fragmented behavioral health networks into one behavioral health administrative services organization per region. The push for this legislation stems from patient frustration surrounding disjointed behavioral health care services. With this bill, patients would be able to more easily access behavioral health services in their community.

By July 1, 2024, the bill requires the BHA to establish:

• Universal standards for accessibility and quality of care;

• A behavioral health performance monitoring system;

• A comprehensive behavioral health safety net system;

• Regionally-based behavioral health administrative service organizations to ensure every region in Colorado has accessible and high quality services; and

• A statewide behavioral health grievance system.

HB22-1303, sponsored by Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Senator Jim Smallwood, R-Parker, invests $65 million to expand inpatient and residential treatment options for adults in our state. Currently, Colorado lacks the residential treatment beds needed to treat individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, including individuals with co-occuring conditions.

This bill supports the addition of 16 beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan and a further 125 residential treatment beds across the state for adults with urgent behavioral health needs who need long-term services and support. The facilities will provide integrated care to flexibly serve all populations, including individuals awaiting competency restoration services.

“Far too many of our neighbors are struggling with mental illness and substance use disorders. We must increase our capacity to support folks in need of urgent, immediate care,” said Winter. “This legislation will provide additional inpatient and residential treatment beds for folks in need, which will make a world of difference and allow more Coloradans to access the care they desperately need.”

HB22-1283, sponsored by Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Senator Kevin Priola, R-Brighton, will make it easier for families and youth to access residential and outpatient care in Colorado. Right now, Colorado does not have adequate capacity to serve children and youth with complex behavioral health needs. As a result, too many children are sent out-of-state for treatment, far away from their families and support network. This bill will invest $54 million to support intensive youth and family residential and outpatient care, ensuring that children, youth, and families can access behavioral health treatment and services they need right here in Colorado.

“Colorado families are struggling to get the behavioral care their children need, and too often must send their kids out-of-state to get that care,” Buckner said. “This important legislation will invest $54 million to increase access to intensive youth and family residential and outpatient care, helping families access the critical care their kids need, much closer to home.”

These bills were developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force.

The bills now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of HB22-1278 HERE, HB22-1303 HERE, and HB22-1283 HERE.

Lawmakers Announce Bipartisan Bill to Save Businesses Money, Improve Unemployment Insurance for Colorado Workers

Legislation will invest $600 million to improve and expand unemployment benefits, create a more resilient future economy

DENVER, CO - Members of the House and Senate today announced bipartisan legislation to save businesses money and improve unemployment insurance for Colorado workers.

Sponsored by Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, Sen. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, and Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, the bill would infuse the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund (UITF) with pandemic relief funds while expanding eligibility and improving benefits to help support Colorado’s working families.

“When the pandemic hit and thousands of Coloradans lost their jobs, the state’s unemployment insurance program was there to help families pay rent and keep food on the table,” Hansen said. “Now we’re doubling down to protect this critical safety net for working families and our economy by investing hundreds of millions into unemployment insurance to protect future solvency while improving and expanding the benefits it offers. This bill will better prepare us to weather any future economic downturns, and help make sure unemployment insurance continues to benefit working Colorado families for years to come.”

“The bipartisan legislation we introduced today has the support of the business community, workers and lawmakers in both parties because we all agree – this is a responsible path forward to reduce costs for businesses, improve protections for workers, and save everyone money,” Snyder said. “The pandemic made it very clear - Colorado workers need an unemployment insurance system that works for them and delivers the assistance they need, when they need it. We’ve crafted a bill that will help ensure the stability of the fund and make common sense improvements to ensure the system meets the needs of the moment.”

“This bill reforms our unemployment insurance program to better deliver assistance to workers and save people and businesses money,” Ortiz said. “At the start of the pandemic, changes to the system worked well to help get people back to work, and I’m excited to make them permanent. Not only does this bill stave off steep cost increases on businesses, it will ensure more workers get the assistance they need to get back on their feet.”

“Colorado businesses have endured one of the most challenging economic environments in our state’s history,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman, who was instrumental in the bill negotiations. “Through no fault of their own, many were forced to close and lay off valued employees, which has put them on the hook for the depletion of the UITF. After months of negotiations, this bill is an important first step in providing real relief to Colorado businesses. While we are still in need of a long-term solution, these funds will prevent significant unemployment premium increases, which will in turn help Colorado workers and local communities across the state.”

The legislation announced today 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 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.

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 remove disincentives 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 can access the benefits they 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, and requires employers to inform their workers of their unemployment benefit eligibility upon separation.

Senate Approves Rodriguez’s Bipartisan Bill to Expand Rural Access to Essential Health Care Services

SB22-173 would expand telepharmacy services, improving access to life-saving prescription drugs for rural Coloradans

DENVER, CO - The Senate today passed Senator Robert Rodriguez’s, D-Denver, bipartisan bill to expand access to health care services for rural Coloradans by increasing the availability of telepharmacy services.

Co-sponsored by Senator Jim Smallwood, R-Parker, SB22-173 would remove the current restriction requiring telepharmacy outlets to be located more than twenty miles from the nearest prescription drug outlet or other telepharmacy outlet. It would also require the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy to take into consideration areas of need when determining locations for new remote pharmacy sites.

“During the pandemic, we saw a need for greater flexibility in accessing health care services in every corner of the state, and telepharmacy emerged as a way to bring high quality services directly to underserved areas," Rodriguez said. “By increasing the availability of telepharmacy outlets, we can ensure all Coloradans, particularly in rural and remote areas, have access to the essential health care services they need to thrive.”

Telepharmacy is the delivery of pharmaceutical care via telecommunications to patients in locations where they may not have direct contact with a pharmacist. SB22-173 would also require the Board of Pharmacy to adopt rules to specify additional criteria for telepharmacy outlets.

SB22-173 now heads to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill HERE.

Senate Passes Pair of Bipartisan Bills to Improve Community Safety

SB22-145 & SB22-005 will establish critical crime prevention programs, expand mental health support for law enforcement

DENVER, CO – The Senate today gave final approval to a pair of bipartisan bills to improve public safety across Colorado. 

SB22-145, sponsored by Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and Senator John Cooke, R-Greeley, aims to address recruitment, retention, and training concerns in law enforcement agencies across the state through three innovative grant programs.

“Every Coloradan deserves to feel safe in their community, but like the rest of the country, crime has been on the rise here in Colorado, which is why we’re taking action,” Buckner said. “This bipartisan bill will provide critical resources to help communities cut down on crime, address law enforcement workforce shortages, and get folks in crisis the help they need to prevent crime from occurring in the first place. I am proud to champion this common sense legislation, and I look forward to reducing crime and creating a safer Colorado for us all.”

Research shows that crime prevention strategies that include collaboration between communities and local law enforcement are most effective. The Community Safety Investment Act will create three grant programs within the Department of Public Safety: 

• The first grant program will provide $15 million over two years to community-based organizations and local law enforcement agencies to implement collaborative, data-driven intervention strategies such as co-responder programs, violence interrupter programs, early intervention teams, and restorative justice services in identified high-crime areas. 

• The second grant program will provide law enforcement agencies with $7.5 million over two years to help recruit and retain staff, as well as improve training curriculums, including mental health training. 

• The third grant program - the State’s Mission for Assistance in Recruitment and Training (SMART) policing grant - will provide $7.5 million over two years to help local law enforcement agencies recruit and train officers that better represent the communities they serve. 

The Community Safety Investment Act also establishes a front-end stakeholder crime prevention forum, and provides funding for oversight and administration within the Colorado Department of Public Safety which will administer the grant programs. 

The Senate also approved SB22-005, sponsored by Senator Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, and Senator Cooke, which would make a one-time $5 million investment to the existing Peace Officers Behavioral Health Support and Community Partnership Fund to expand mental health support for law enforcement. The bill adds to the program services that support peace officers involved in job-related traumatic situations.

“The mental health crisis in Colorado reaches every community in unique ways,” Bridges said. “For members of law enforcement, serving on the frontlines of traumatic situations can have devastating effects on their mental health. By investing in behavioral health services specifically supporting law enforcement, we’ll ensure they are well equipped to continue to show up for our communities whenever and wherever needed.”

Both bills now head to the House for further consideration. Track SB22-145’s progress HERE, and SB22-005’s progress HERE.

Saving People Money & Moving Colorado Forward: Governor Polis Signs Free Universal Preschool Into Law

Colorado families on average will see historic savings up to $4,300 per year with free universal preschool program starting in the 2023-24 school year 

Early Childhood Department creates one-stop shop for early childhood programs, committed to breaking down barriers to accessing education, making early childhood system easier to navigate, bolsters highly skilled workforce

DENVER, CO — Today, Governor Jared Polis joined state officials, bill sponsors, and parents and students to sign legislation creating the voter-approved universal preschool program in Colorado, and implementing the new, unified Department of Early Childhood, helping Colorado families save on average up to $4,300 every year. Last year, the legislature and Polis administration finalized plans for the Early Childhood Department to streamline the early childhood system, prepare our students for success, build a highly-skilled early childcare and education workforce, and give families economic freedom.

“Today, we’re taking another bold step forward in ensuring Colorado kids have access to free universal preschool. There’s no better investment than education which leads to a stronger, healthier and competitive workforce. Thanks to Speaker Garnett, President Fenberg, Senator Buckner and Rep. Sirota - dedicated early childhood education champions - families are going to save up $4,300 per year and our youngest students will be prepared for the success they deserve from the start,” said Governor Polis. 

The bipartisan HB22-1295 implements recommendations for the Department of Early Childhood to elevate early childhood education and ensures that early childhood care is easy to navigate for all Colorado families. The bipartisan legislation builds on HB21-1304, signed into law in 2021, which established the Department of Early Childhood and charged the agency with implementing universal preschool, improving education outcomes, and supporting families in expanding access to enriching early childhood experiences.

“Free universal preschool is a historic accomplishment that will help parents get back to work, save families money, and prepare our youngest learners for success,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “As a dad of three young children, I know how important this is to families and how expensive child care has become for parents. Governor Polis, Representative Sirota, and so many others have made expanding and lowering the cost of early childhood education a top priority because we know it gives children the leg up they need to thrive, while at the same time, it boosts our economy, creates jobs and helps working families save money.”

 “Universal preschool is officially coming to Colorado,” said Sen. President Steve Fenberg. “Quality early childhood education is critical to a child’s future success, and streamlining the process to increase availability and affordability will be just as beneficial to the parents of young children. This new law will make transformational changes for Colorado kids and their families well into the future. I’m so proud to see it across the finish line.”

“Decades of research has shown us that greater access to early childhood education leads to better outcomes for children all the way into adulthood,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Parents across our state spend too many hours trying to find a preschool option for their child. The Department of Early Childhood will be a one-stop shop where every family can go to easily access high quality early childhood education for their kids.”

“Access to child care not only supports critical early development and future educational outcomes but also the very well-being of families across our state,” said Sen. Janet Buckner. “As we work to move Colorado forward, this new law will directly benefit families across our state, saving people money and setting our future leaders up for success. I am so proud of the work that we’ve done to get to this point, and am excited to see how the new Department of Early Childhood will benefit Colorado’s youth for generations to come."

 This legislation is the result of years of work and more than 130 meetings with leaders in the early childhood space, and implements the will of Colorado voters through Prop EE. The recommendations of the Transition Working Group are reflected in the legislation after receiving unanimous support from the Early Childhood Leadership Commission, establishing the Department of Early Childhood’s scope, mission, and framework to ensure smooth delivery of critical programs and services to Colorado children and families.

“We are moving forward today to make sure every child has access to early childhood education. After over 47 years, it’s amazing what we can accomplish and help teach each other when we work together. After all of these years, it was democracy in action — people from every facet of this diverse arena — saying we can do this, we are doing this, for the greater good. Today, we make Colorado a model for the rest of the country to follow,” said Anna Jo Haynes.

Pair of Bipartisan Bills to Save Parents Money on Child Care, Support Rural Colorado Win Committee Approval

Legislation will use Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Funds to bolster Colorado’s economy

DENVER, CO - A pair of bipartisan bills to save Coloradans money on child care and increase access to lifesaving health care in rural Colorado were both approved by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee yesterday.

SB22-213, sponsored by Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, will boost Colorado’s economy and make it easier for families to access child care by increasing capacity across the state and better developing workforce to help Coloradans get the training they need to provide that care.

“The pandemic exposed glaring gaps in our state’s child care system, and it’s hurting Colorado’s families and our economy,” Fields said. “That’s why I am proud to sponsor this bipartisan bill that will increase our state’s child care capacity and help more folks train for and land jobs in the child care field. This bill will help us provide critical support for working families across Colorado who have been doing their best to make sure their children have a safe place to learn and grow during the workday.”

The $50 million bill will help boost child care capacity by providing $16 million in grant funding to open a new child care center or expand capacity at an existing licensed childcare facility. It will also invest $10 million to support the employer-based child care facility grant program, which will help business owners and other employers provide convenient, high-quality child care on-site while parents are at work.

SB22-213 also adds $15 million to a successful workforce recruitment and retention grant program, and provides $7.5 million to support and train license-exempt informal caregivers working with young children in their communities.

SB22-200, sponsored by Sen. Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, Sen. Bob Rankin, R- Carbondale, will create a $10 million Rural Provider Access and Affordability Stimulus Grant Program to provide grants to rural hospitals aimed at increasing access to, and improving the affordability of, the lifesaving care rural Coloradans depend upon.

“Every Coloradan deserves quality and affordable health care, but that care is too often hard to come by, especially in the rural and underserved parts of our state,” Ginal said. “That’s why I’m proud to support this bill to better support Colorado’s rural hospitals and give them the tools and resources they need to reach even more patients. By increasing access and driving down costs, we can get more Coloradans the lifesaving care they need to thrive.”

SB22-200 will provide millions to improve affordability by expanding access to telehealth services, supporting coordination and referral mechanisms between providers, and enabling coordinated and shared care management between rural providers.

The bill also provides millions to improve access through extended hours for primary care and behavioral health settings, dual track emergency department management, telemedicine, and the replacement of unused inpatient hospital beds with in-demand inpatient services such as long-term care, skilled nursing facility recovery days, and behavioral healthcare.

Both bills will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track SB22-200's progress HERE, and SB22-213's progress HERE.

Bipartisan Bills to Better Connect Coloradans with Behavioral Health Support Clear Committee

Legislation would make it easier & more efficient for people to navigate the state’s complex behavioral health system

DENVER, CO – The Senate Health & Human Services Committee today approved bipartisan legislation that seeks to better connect Coloradans with mental health conditions and substance use disorders with the appropriate care they need to maintain their health and well-being.  

SB22-177, sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, and Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, appropriates $12.2 million to improve Colorado’s statewide care coordination infrastructure to better serve Coloradans seeking behavioral health care. 

“While there will always be more work to do to expand and improve our behavioral health care system, we need to make sure Coloradans can fully utilize already existing behavioral health services,” said Pettersen. “With this new infusion of funds, we can more quickly and efficiently connect Coloradans with the care they need. Behavioral health care navigators will be well equipped to help Coloradans navigate these complex systems to deliver quality, accessible services to those that need the most support."

The legislation requires the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to better train new and existing behavioral health care navigators on available behavioral health safety net system services and delivery, and on ways to better connect individuals seeking care with the support they need.

The bill also seeks to cut red tape associated with provider enrollment and credentialing for navigators and care coordination providers, so they can spend less time on paperwork and more time helping Coloradans in need.

The committee also approved HB22-1302, sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County, and Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, which invests $35 million to improve behavioral health outcomes by better integrating physical and behavioral health care. 

“Anyone who has tried to access behavioral health care in Colorado knows how hard it is to navigate the system as it is today,” said Jaquez Lewis. “That’s why we’re working to fix this broken system so that it meets people where they are before a crisis occurs. This bill will ensure that our primary care physicians are better equipped to connect patients with the appropriate behavioral health services they need.”

The bill will provide grants to primary care practices to integrate behavioral health care into their clinical models, helping Coloradans access whole person care and early behavioral health interventions before a crisis. This transformational investment will increase access to mental health and substance use disorder screening and treatment and help coordinate referrals to other levels of care.

Both bills were developed based on recommendations from the state’s Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force. 

The legislation now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the SB22-177 HERE and HB22-1302 HERE.

Introduced! Landmark Bill to Expand Collective Bargaining Rights to Over 37,000 Public Service Workers

Building upon the 2020 state workers bill, SB22-230 would more than double the number of public workers with recognized collective bargaining rights

DENVER, CO - Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, and House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today introduced landmark legislation to support workers by extending collective bargaining rights to more than 37,000 county public service employees, marking a historic step in Colorado’s labor and workers rights movement.

SB22-230 builds upon the state workers bill from 2020 to extend similar collective bargaining rights to county workers. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would give public service workers who choose to form a union a seat at the table to collectively bargain on issues like working conditions, job safety, pay and benefits, and to collaborate with management to address shared challenges like staff shortages, retention issues, and improving public services.

“County workers kept Colorado running through some extremely difficult years of pandemic disruptions and health and safety hazards,” said Fenberg. “These tens of thousands of unsung heroes have more than earned what nearly every private sector and state worker already enjoy — the right to organize and negotiate for fair and safe workplaces. It’s time for county public service workers to be given the choice to form a union.”

“County workers have been on the frontlines during the pandemic and often work dangerous jobs to protect our communities and deliver the services Coloradans rely on,” Esgar said. “We depend on these tens of thousands of workers, and now is the time to have their backs. This bill will give county public service workers the right to form a union to negotiate for fair and safe workplaces and to improve the delivery and efficiency of critical services. County workers who fix our roads, staff our public health departments and protect our communities deserve the right to negotiate for a better future for themselves and their families.”

“Across Colorado, tens of thousands of county workers perform hazardous jobs and provide the critical services that keep communities running safely and smoothly,” said Moreno. “These public servants deserve to have a seat at the table to negotiate their employment, just like private sector and state employees currently do. By granting Colorado’s 37,000 county workers the right to choose to form a union, this bill will help Colorado take the next step on the path to ensuring collective bargaining rights for every Coloradan.”

Right now, only four out of Colorado’s 64 counties recognize public service workers’ right to collectively bargain. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would guarantee Colorado statutory county workers have the ability to organize and form a union to advocate for safer workplaces and better public services, if they so choose.

Additionally, the Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would extend protections to workers who are currently vulnerable to retaliation, discrimination, and coercion for exercising basic union rights.

SB22-230 will be heard in the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. Track the progress of the bill HERE.

$45 Million Bill to Reduce Homelessness, Connect Coloradans with Supportive Services Clears Committee

Legislation would help develop recovery community to provide vital health services, behavioral health care & housing access resources 

DENVER, CO – The Senate Health and Human Services Committee today approved a bill sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, that aims to help people experiencing homelessness access the supportive services they need to care for their health and well-being. 

SB22-211 would invest $45 million to repurpose an unused, state-owned facility into a recovery oriented community to help those experiencing homelessness access services for mental health and substance use disorder services.

“Addressing homelessness is so much more than creating more housing options. It’s about connecting people without stable housing to services, care and housing they need to move forward and thrive,” said Fields. “With this bill, we will be able to better connect Coloradans experiencing homelessness with the care they need to support their health and stability, like access to recovery services as well as primary, dental and mental health care.” 

“If we want to help folks experiencing homelessness get back on their feet, we need to expand access to critical health services and housing resources to do it,” said Hinrichsen. “By expanding access to resources that will help folks access supportive housing and care for their health, we can set them  up for success and help them thrive in the future.” 

This legislation will help Coloradans with behavioral health needs on their recovery journey, provide resources for housing access so folks can more easily transition to supportive housing, and create a Federally Qualified Health Center or other primary care clinic that will offer primary care, dental and outpatient mental health care. 

SB22-211 now moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill HERE.