Trio of Michaelson Jenet Bills to Improve Access to Health Care Clear Committee

Bills would create a streamlined behavioral care system for youth and address health care workforce shortages

DENVER, CO – Three bills sponsored by Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, aimed at improving access to health care cleared the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today.

“Every Coloradan deserves access to high quality, affordable health care regardless of their age, income, or zip code,” Michaelson Jenet said. “Legislation we’re advancing today will help children get the behavioral health care they need efficiently and at costs that won’t break the bank. We’re also working to address health care workforce shortages by making it easier to provide telehealth and mental health care services in Colorado, helping secure access to care for every Coloradan who needs it.”

SB24-141, also sponsored by Senator Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, would allow out-of-state health care providers to register and practice telehealth in Colorado. To apply for telehealth registration, applicants would be required to possess an active and unencumbered license, certificate, registration, or credential issued by a governmental authority in another state.

SB24-059, also sponsored by Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, would establish the Office of the Children’s Behavioral Health Statewide System of Care in the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to develop and implement a comprehensive children’s behavioral health care system. The system would allow children and youth up to 21 years of age who are currently uninsured or on Medicaid to have a single point of access to behavioral health care. The bill would also require the office to study the cost of providing services to all children regardless of payer, insurance, and income.

Under the bill, the BHA would also explore data collection and workforce innovations, and would implement programs to encourage youth to continue their education and work in shortage areas within the system of care.

Finally, SB24-115 would modify requirements for licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and addiction counselors, to practice in Colorado. The bill would remove the requirement that mental health professionals provide clients with an explanation of levels of regulation on their profession including information on the differences between licensure, registration, and certification.

It would also add a Colorado jurisprudence exam for certain mental health professionals and remove the requirement of the licensure exam for master's level social work license, which has been shown to disproportionately benefit White test takers. Finally, the bill would allow for a process for renewing licenses.

SB24-141 and SB24-059 now head the Appropriations Committee, while SB24-115 moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.

Fields, Jaquez Lewis Bill to Improve Health Insurance Transparency Clears Committee

Bill would require insurance compliance with federal regulations in Colorado

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis’, D-Longmont, legislation to enhance transparency in health care coverage. 

Currently, insurers are required to disclose and post pricing details and submit prescription drug spending information to the federal government. However, this information is not easily accessible to Coloradans. SB24-080 would ensure transparency for consumers so they can make informed decisions on their health care. 

“Coloradans deserve to have easy access to information on health insurance costs,” said Fields. “Right now, too many health insurance carriers aren’t complying with federal price transparency laws. By addressing the problem at the state level, we can hold these companies accountable and help save Coloradans money on health care.”

“I’m proud of our work to make health care coverage more affordable for Coloradans. This bill is the next step forward in that process,” Jaquez Lewis said. “Folks would have a digital tool to compare rates, covered items and services, and get real time responses on questions so they can find an option that works best for them and their family.”

The bill would require carriers to submit information on their negotiated rates and prescription drug trends to the Division of Insurance (DOI) in an easy-to-read, accessible format. DOI would have the ability to ensure compliance from insurers by creating a consumer price comparison tool that insurers use to input data – so that Coloradans can have easy access to cost sharing information on all items and services. 

SB24-080 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Follow its progress HERE.

Hinrichsen Bills to Support Veteran Employment Pass Committee

Legislation would increase career pathways for veterans after service

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee voted to advance two bills sponsored by Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, that would expand employment pathways for veterans.

SB24-109, also sponsored by Senator Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, would extend the Colorado Veterans’ Service-To-Career Program for another three years. The program allows nonprofit agencies to partner with workforce centers to provide veterans, their spouses, and their dependents with skills training, internships, work placements, mentorship opportunities, career counseling, and support services. From 2018 to 2022, the program supported nearly 900 individuals and helped nearly 250 participants gain employment.

HB24-1093 would allow for an accelerated path for properly trained peace officers within the armed forces to become civilian peace officers. Current law allows certified peace officers from other states to receive a provisional certification in Colorado if they have served within the last three years, in good standing for more than one year.  Peace officers include traditional law enforcement as well as other positions including game wardens and parks and recreation officers.

“Veterans have many specialized and transferable skills from their years of service, yet too many still face barriers to employment,” said Hinrichsen. “These bills will expand training, support, and pathways to employment for our armed service members and their families. I am proud that we are working to support veterans in their transition back to civilian life.”

SB24-109 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee and HB24-1093 heads to the full Senate for further consideration. Follow the bills’ progress HERE and HERE, respectively.

Rodriguez Bill to Streamline Access to Benefits for Firefighters Clears Senate

Legislation would help cut through the red tape standing between firefighters and the benefits they’ve earned

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, that would better support Colorado’s firefighters by streamlining access to critical health care benefits cleared the Senate today.

Employers of firefighters, like local governments and special districts, are required to provide health care coverage for heart and circulatory conditions related to elevated risks firefighters are exposed to throughout the course of their jobs. Right now, employers can fulfill this obligation through self insurance, accident insurance, or by participating in a multiple employer trust. SB24-089 would instead require that all employers of firefighters participate in a trust.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line to keep our families and our communities safe, and they deserve the best possible care when they experience medical issues related to their dangerous and demanding jobs,” Rodriguez said. “This bill will help cut through the red tape standing between firefighters and the benefits they’ve earned, and ensure firefighters can focus on themselves and their recovery instead of fighting to get a claim approved.”

Participating in the trust instead of through self insurance will make it easier and more likely for firefighters to have their claims approved.

SB24-089 will now move to consideration before the House. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Approves Michaelson Jenet Bill to Require Continuity of Health Care Coverage

Legislation would require new insurance providers to cover existing courses of treatment as in-network for transferring enrollees

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, that would require continuity of health care coverage passed the Senate today.

If a person is disenrolled from their health plan and begins receiving coverage from a new insurance provider for certain existing courses of treatment, SB24-093 would require the new provider to cover the treatment as in-network until the course of treatment is completed or for up to 90 days.

“Every Coloradan deserves access to high quality, affordable health care,” Michaelson Jenet said. “Right now, if you change insurance providers while undergoing a course of treatment, you risk losing in-network coverage guaranteed by your original provider. This important bill would require new insurance providers to continue in-network coverage for existing courses of treatment, ensuring more Coloradans can afford to have their health needs met with the health care providers they trust.”

Qualifying medical circumstances covered by the bill include serious and complex medical conditions, pregnancy, and terminal illness. After the coverage timeframes outlined in the bill have been reached, the new insurance provider would be able to conduct a utilization review to determine continued treatment or authorize additional treatment.

SB24-093 will now head to the House for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Senate Committee Passes Bill to Improve Youth Sports Safety

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Education Committee approved Senate President Pro Tem James Coleman, D-Denver, and Senator Tony Exum’s, D-Colorado Springs, bill to make Colorado youth sports safer.

SB24-113 addresses the fact that many non-scholastic sports organizations lack basic athletic safety policies. It would require youth sports coaches to complete abuse prevention training and abide by a code of conduct policy while also establishing a process for handling violations of the policy. The bill would apply to private for-profit or non-profit youth sports organizations.

“All kids should have the opportunity to participate in sports and know that they’re surrounded by safe, trusted, and vetted adults,” said Coleman. “Playing sports can help kids stay engaged in their community while building life skills and reducing youth violence. I’m proud to see this bill move forward as we work to create safer spaces for Colorado’s young athletes.”

“Youth sports teach kids to be a part of a team, develop leadership skills, and help students succeed in and out of the classroom,” said Exum. “The last thing families should be concerned about is if the coaches have been properly trained in abuse prevention – it should be a given. With this bill, we can ensure our kids are safe while having fun.”

Under this bill, organizations would be required to do the following: institute comprehensive abuse prevention on an annual basis for adults working directly with minors; have a mechanism to receive reports of possible violations; and be required to conduct background checks on adults working with athletes who are minors, including but not limited to a national criminal check and the national sex offender registry.

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further review. Follow its progress HERE.

Senate Approves Sullivan Bill to Establish Merchant Codes for Firearms, Combat Gun Violence

Legislation would make it easier to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns

DENVER, CO – Legislation that would combat gun violence by establishing a new code to categorize gun sales and help law enforcement recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns passed the Senate today.

Sponsored by Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, SB24-066 would require payment card networks like Visa or Mastercard to provide a specific code, known as a merchant code, for businesses that primarily sell firearms and ammunition. Merchant codes would allow banks and credit card companies to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns – like a domestic extremist building up an arsenal – and report them to law enforcement.

“In the weeks before my son Alex was killed in the Aurora Theater shooting, his killer purchased multiple firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition – and nobody batted an eye,” Sullivan said. “Credit cards have been repeatedly used to finance mass shootings, and merchant codes would have allowed the credit card companies to recognize his alarming pattern of behavior and refer it to law enforcement. This bill will give us more tools to protect people, and make it easier to stop illegal firearms-related activity like straw purchases before disaster strikes.”

SB24-066 would be enforced by the Attorney General, and will now head to the House for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Majority Leader Rodriguez and Priola’s Bill to Improve Gig Worker Rights, Boost Transparency Passes Committee

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee passed Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, and Senator Kevin Priola’s, D-Henderson, bill to improve flexibility, fairness, safety, and transparency for gig transportation network company (TNC) workers and consumers. 

“All workers deserve to know how much they get paid and what their job entails, but currently rideshare and delivery gig workers aren’t given that information,” said Rodriguez. “This bill gives basic rights to TNC drivers and provides much-needed transparency for customers.” 

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done to craft this legislation, which increases transparency for drivers and the public as it relates to TNCs,” Priola said. “This bill will provide essential details, like pay, destination, and direction, that all app-based drivers deserve.”

Gig work has risen over the last decade, but many workers struggle to make ends meet or plan for their financial future due to the volatile nature of their earnings and unjust terminations. SB24-075 would address a number of issues gig workers and consumers face by requiring the following:

• Companies must disclose the fare, distance, and direction to all drivers before they accept a ride, which can prevent last-minute ride cancellations initiated by drivers.
   

• Companies must disclose fare information to customers, including the total amount paid, how much the driver received, and how much went to the TNC. 
   

• Companies must disclose earning and ride-related information to the state of Colorado, such as total mileage driven, deactivations and dispute results, and more. 
   

• Companies must disclose terms and grounds for termination or deactivation of drivers and communicate their reconsideration process. 

The bill aims to provide customers with the information needed to make decisions about whether and how much to tip through detailed fares. Additionally, the bill would protect workers from discrimination, harassment, and assault by requiring clear guidelines within TNCs. 

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Follow its progress HERE. 

Bill to Help Mitigate Wildfire Destruction Earns Committee Approval

HB24-1091 would allow residents living in HOAs to opt for fire-hardened building materials

DENVER, CO – Legislation aimed at mitigating damage from wildfires by allowing Coloradans living in homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to use fire-hardened building materials cleared the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee today.

HB24-1091, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, would prevent HOAs from restricting the installation, use, or maintenance of fire-hardened building materials such as metal, certain types of stucco, and fiber cement siding in residential property.

“As the effects of climate change continue to impact our state, the threat of destructive wildfires continues to grow, and we must do everything in our power to be prepared,” Cutter said. “Folks in my district live under constant threat from wildfires, and need to be able to defend their property. It endangers homes and entire communities when HOAs prevent homeowners from using fire hardened materials. This bill will help make it easier for Coloradans to keep their homes secure and their communities safe.”

“Defending our homes and property against the increasingly severe threat of wildfires is one of my top priorities,” said Jaquez Lewis. “Combating wildfires starts with mitigation, and this bill will allow homeowners to take the proper precautions and build safer, more fire-resistant homes.”

HOAs would still be allowed to develop reasonable standards regarding the design, dimensions, placement or external appearance of fire-hardened building materials used for fencing within the community. The fire-hardened building materials outlined in HB24-1091 would meet the standards set forth by the 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.

HB24-1091 will now move to further consideration before the full Senate. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Sullivan Bill to Establish Merchant Codes for Firearms, Combat Gun Violence Advances in Senate

Legislation would make it easier to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns

DENVER, CO – Legislation that would combat gun violence by establishing a new code to categorize gun sales and help law enforcement recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns advanced on an initial vote in the Senate today.

Sponsored by Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, SB24-066 would require payment card networks like Visa or Mastercard to provide a specific code, known as a merchant code, for businesses that primarily sell firearms and ammunition. Merchant codes would allow banks and credit card companies to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns – like a domestic extremist building up an arsenal – and report them to law enforcement.

“In the weeks before my son Alex was killed in the Aurora Theater shooting, his killer purchased multiple firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition – and nobody batted an eye,” Sullivan said. “Credit cards have been repeatedly used to finance mass shootings, and merchant codes would have allowed the credit card companies to recognize his alarming pattern of behavior and refer it to law enforcement. This bill will give us more tools to protect people, and make it easier to stop illegal firearms-related activity like straw purchases before disaster strikes.”

SB24-066 would be enforced by the Attorney General, and will next be heard on third and final reading before moving to the House for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Michaelson Jenet Bill to Require Continuity of Health Care Coverage Clears Committee

Legislation would require new insurance providers to cover existing courses of treatment as in-network for transferring enrollees

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, that would require continuity of health care coverage cleared the Senate Health & Human Services Committee today.

If a person is disenrolled from their health plan and begins receiving coverage from a new insurance provider for certain existing courses of treatment, SB24-093 would require the new provider to cover the treatment as in-network until the course of treatment is completed or for up to 90 days.

“Every Coloradan deserves access to high quality, affordable health care,” Michaelson Jenet said. “Right now, if you change insurance providers while undergoing a course of treatment, you risk losing in-network coverage guaranteed by your original provider. This important bill would require new insurance providers to continue in-network coverage for existing courses of treatment, ensuring more Coloradans can afford to have their health needs met with the health care providers they trust.”

Qualifying medical circumstances covered by the bill include serious and complex medical conditions, pregnancy, and terminal illness. After the coverage timeframes outlined in the bill have been reached, the new insurance provider would be able to conduct a utilization review to determine continued treatment or authorize additional treatment.

SB24-093 will now head to further consideration before the full Senate. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Kolker’s Bill to Increase Licensed Professional Counselors in Communities Passes Committee

Legislation would create a dual licensure stipend program 

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance Senator Chris Kolker’s, D-Centennial, bill that would increase the number of licensed professional counselors (LPCs) in Colorado.

SB24-015 would create a stipend program to remove barriers for school counselors seeking dual licensure as an LPC. Currently, school counselors are eligible for LPC licensure, but the process can be expensive. This bill would create a stipend program to reimburse candidates for examination and application fees along with clinical supervision costs.

“There is a shortage of licensed professional counselors in the state. Too often the challenge is simply the cost of pursuing dual licensure for school counselors,” said Kolker. “This bill makes it easier for qualified people to get licensed and increases the ability of school counselors to provide the services their communities need.”

In particular, rural youth are less likely to have access to youth-serving mental health facilities than those living in urban areas. This bill would increase the number of licensed professionals and reduce the service gap.

SB24-015 now heads to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. Follow the bill's progress HERE.

Rodriguez Bill to Streamline Access to Benefits for Firefighters Clears Committee

Legislation would help cut through the red tape standing between firefighters and the benefits they’ve earned

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, that would better support Colorado’s firefighters by streamlining access to critical health care benefits cleared the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee today.

Employers of firefighters, like local governments and special districts, are required to provide health care coverage for heart and circulatory conditions related to elevated risks firefighters are exposed to throughout the course of their jobs. Right now, employers can fulfill this obligation through self insurance, accident insurance, or by participating in a multiple employer trust. SB24-089 would instead require that all employers of firefighters participate in a trust.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line to keep our families and our communities safe, and they deserve the best possible care when they experience medical issues related to their dangerous and demanding jobs,” Rodriguez said. “This bill will help cut through the red tape standing between firefighters and the benefits they’ve earned, and ensure firefighters can focus on themselves and their recovery instead of fighting to get a claim approved.”

Participating in the trust instead of through self insurance will make it easier and more likely for firefighters to have their claims approved.

SB24-089 will now move to consideration before the full Senate. Track the bill’s progress HERE.

Colorado Democrats Unveil Bill to Reduce the Cost of Housing

Legislation puts ‘people over parking’ to lower the cost of building new homes, increase Colorado’s housing supply, and reduce harmful air pollution

DENVER, CO - Colorado Democrats today introduced legislation to make housing in Colorado more affordable and reduce traffic congestion by eliminating parking mandates that drive up the cost of building new housing, especially multifamily developments.

“Requiring more parking spots than the market demands drives up the cost of construction, makes housing more expensive in Colorado, and puts more and more distance between homes and destinations," said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs. “We have quite literally paved paradise to put up a parking lot. With each new off-street parking spot adding potentially tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a new building, the evidence is overwhelming that eliminating minimum parking mandates will allow for more diverse housing stock, free up space for more transportation choices, and improve air quality. It's time for us to put people over parking, and ensure Coloradans can live, work, and play affordably throughout our great state.”

“Addressing Colorado’s housing crisis requires an all-of-the-above approach - and with parking mandates eating up more and more space and money, it’s long past time we act to eliminate them,” Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, said. “Parking minimums stifle housing development and act as barriers to building the new housing we need to bring down prices and get folks housed. This bill will make it easier to increase Colorado’s housing supply, and encourage practices that will reduce emissions and help us reach our climate goals.”

“The research is clear, the actions we’re taking will keep rents from rising, reduce the cost of building new apartments, homes and condos, and will save people money on housing,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “There are eight parking spaces for every vehicle on the road, and most municipalities require up to three parking spaces per unit, which can add millions to the cost of building new multifamily housing. This common sense reform empowers consumers to choose the housing options that work best for them instead of continuing to force higher costs on builders, renters and homeowners for parking spaces they don’t need or want.”    

“This year we’re taking a multifaceted approach to combating the housing crisis in Colorado, and removing parking mandates that drive up housing costs is a key part of our agenda,” said Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. “Studies have shown time and again that mandated parking minimums negatively impact health outcomes and the environment while slowing housing development and raising prices. I look forward to working on this commonsense solution that can improve affordability for the hardworking folks of Pueblo.”

Beginning January 1, 2025, HB24-1304 would prohibit counties or municipalities from establishing or enforcing minimum parking requirements for residential or commercial properties within a metropolitan planning organization.

Parking minimums increase home prices and rents by requiring developers to use valuable space for cars that may not be fully utilized and could instead be dedicated to more housing units. With new structured parking spaces costing $25,000 each in the Denver Metro in 2020, developers are disincentivized from building new residential projects or must reduce the number of units that are developed.

Since the city of Minneapolis eliminated residential parking minimums in 2021, rents have only increased 1 percent, while Denver saw an average increase of nearly 5 percent in just the last two years. Research attributes the significant expansion of the housing supply in Minneapolis to the elimination of parking minimums.

The oversupply of parking is also directly linked to higher vehicle miles traveled. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in Colorado, with cars contributing nearly 60 percent of the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified Denver and the Northern Front Range as having unhealthy levels of ground level ozone, which can lead to negative health impacts like asthma and bronchitis, especially for vulnerable Coloradans. Additionally, replacing wildlife habitat to build massive surface lots for parking harms the environment by increasing soil and water pollution, flooding, and the heat island effect.

The bill does not impact parking spaces required for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Hansen, Michaelson Jenet Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Social Media Companies, Protect Children Online

Legislation would require social media companies to create policies that keep kids safe 

DENVER, CO – Senators Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, recently introduced legislation aimed at keeping kids safe online.

SB24-158 would require social media companies to make their platforms safer for children and teens. This includes commonsense measures like requiring them to verify the age of users, defaulting to protective settings for kids, and providing easy-to-use parental tools to limit some risky or more addictive features. 

“As the parent of two teenagers, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact unfettered access to social media can have on our youth,” Hansen said. “Without laws forcing them to protect our kids, social media companies will continue to fall short. This bill will put critical guardrails around these companies, and make Colorado a national leader in the fight to create a safer and healthier online environment for our kids.”

“Unregulated social media platforms have wreaked havoc on our kids’ mental health while making it dangerously easy for predatory adults to target Colorado children and teens for sexual exploitation - and it’s only getting worse,” said Michaelson Jenet. “It’s far past time we stand up and say enough is enough. I am proud to champion this legislation that will better protect our kids and address the toxic role social media platforms play in young people’s lives.”

SB24-158 would improve content moderation by requiring social media companies to publicly post the process for flagging content and their process for responding to user flags, as well as contact information for policy inquiries. It would also require companies to post a statement that various forms of illegal activity are prohibited and that violations will be reported to law enforcement. 

Further, social media companies would also have to comply with law enforcement inquiries on specified timetables, and provide data to the Colorado Attorney General on how the platforms are being used by kids and how companies are complying with the safeguards created in this bill. 

SB24-158 will be heard by the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee in the coming weeks. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.

Marchman Hosts Loveland Town Hall, Discusses Legislative Priorities

Marchman: “I look forward to continuing to fight for the issues that matter most to District 15 in the Capitol”

LOVELAND, CO – Yesterday, Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, held a town hall at the Loveland Fire Station to hear directly from constituents and discuss priorities as the legislative session ramps up. 

During the town hall, Marchman detailed her legislation to improve behavioral health outcomes in rural Colorado. Her bipartisan bill, SB24-055, would better connect farmers, ranchers and their families to behavioral health care resources. Additionally, SB24-034 would increase access to school-based health care via telehealth, mobile services and referrals – which particularly supports rural and agricultural communities.

“It was great to connect with folks in the Sweetheart City ahead of Valentine’s Day,” said Marchman. “I’m laser focused this session on championing bills that support rural and aging communities, improve behavioral health outcomes, and bolster our schools. I look forward to continuing to fight for the issues that matter most to District 15 in the Capitol.”

Members of the community expressed concern about the potential increase in natural gas prices after the February cold snap. Last session, Colorado Democrats passed legislation to improve accountability and transparency for utilities while saving people money. 

Senate Gives Initial Sign Off to FY 23-24 Budget Supplemental Package

Bills include measures to set students up for success, increase access to behavioral health care, support seniors, & improve public safety

DENVER, CO – The Colorado Senate today advanced the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Supplemental Package on a preliminary vote. The suite of bills includes measures to set students up for success, increase access to behavioral health care, support seniors, and improve public safety.

“Our bipartisan supplemental budget package will help all Coloradans access the resources they need to thrive,” said JBC Vice Chair Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “In response to mid-year budget adjustments like changes in caseloads and pupil counts, we’re investing responsibly to make sure we meet the needs of programs ranging everywhere from education to behavioral health care to public safety. I look forward to continuing our work to craft a budget that delivers for Colorado families and communities while keeping Colorado on solid financial footing.”

“This year’s supplemental budget package reflects our Colorado values,” said JBC member Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. “We’ve worked in a bipartisan fashion to invest in our shared priorities – supporting behavioral health care, improving public safety, and bolstering our early childcare system.”

Each year, the legislature adopts a Budget Supplemental Package to make mid-year adjustments to the current fiscal year’s budget based on changes to caseload, pupil counts and other considerations. 

Supporting Education, Setting Students Up for Success

• HB24-1183 would provide over $4.6 million from the State Public School Fund to support at-risk students in their educational journey. This bill would help school districts meet the needs of their at-risk students to help them succeed and graduate.

• HB24-1206 would make facility schools as well the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind eligible for state nutrition programs, including Healthy Schools Meals for All. This bill aims to ensure all youth have access to healthy, nutritious food during the school day.

• HB24-1182 would allocate over $11 million of federal Child Care Development Funds money to the Child Care Sustainability Grant Program and the Early Care and Education Recruitment and Retention Grant and Scholarship Program.

Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Care

• HB24-1187 would devote $58 million to properly staff hospitals that house patients with pending criminal charges that require competency evaluations, and would allocate $13.1 million to Pueblo’s Colorado Mental Health Hospital to fill staff openings with contract staffers. Additionally, the bill would allocate $500,000 to the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind, allowing the state to meet the rising demand for the long-term needs of Coloradans and maintain accessibility services.

• HB24-1203 would allocate $11.4 million for inpatient treatment beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan to ensure Coloradans can receive the behavioral health care treatment they need, when they need it. 

• HB24-1185 would offer $10.4 million to increase rates for child behavioral therapies with autism spectrum disorder, meeting the recommendations of the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee.

Improving Public Safety

• HB24-1214 would support survivors of crime by boosting the Community Crime Victims Grant Program with a $4 million investment. This fund directly supports qualified victims of crime by assisting with emergency housing, child care and medical visits.

• HB24-1197 would aid local places of worship, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques, in ramping up their security measures through a $1 million allocation to the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The bill would also set aside more than $200,000 in grant funding for local education providers and eligible nonprofits to help schools keep their students safe through improved physical security measures as well as advanced security training for their staff and teachers.

Supporting Services for Older Coloradans 

• HB24-1211 would offer $2 million in supplemental funding to the Meals on Wheels program and other senior services to ensure the thousands of Coloradans who rely on these programs can have access to healthy, nutritional meals. Due to interruptions in federal funding, older Coloradans who use the popular Meals on Wheels food delivery program could experience a lapse in service without action by the legislature.

Reaching Climate Goals 

• HB24-1196 would provide a $1.3 million grant renewal to help Coloradans transition to eco-friendly, electric lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other lawn equipment. Additionally, the bill would allocate $214,000 to ensure the state can educate on and protect Colorado’s water and ecosystems following the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision that left Colorado’s wetlands vulnerable to pollution and destruction.

Mullica Receives Outstanding Government Service Award from the American Medical Association

Senator recognized for his work to implement health policy that benefits Coloradans

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, received the Outstanding Government Service Award from the American Medical Association for his contributions to advancing public health in Colorado.  

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the American Medical Association for my commitment to improving public health in Colorado,” said Mullica. “As an ER nurse, I know firsthand the challenges that patients face when seeking care, as well as the challenges providers face in delivering care. Throughout my time in elected office, I have fought for policies that ease the burdens for patients and providers alike and improve health outcomes for all Coloradans.”

This year, Mullica is sponsoring legislation to reduce medical waste and increase affordability for patients, expand treatment options for Coloradans with substance use disorders, and allow counties to prohibit nicotine products to discourage Colorado’s youth from vaping and tobacco use.

In previous years, Mullica championed legislation to increase Colorado’s vaccination rates, expand access to community health care services, support the health care workforce, and better prepare for public health emergencies.

Outside of public office, Mullica is an emergency room nurse and is the only active medical practitioner serving in the Colorado Legislature.

Danielson Bill to Bolster Colorado’s Workforce by Connecting Apprenticeships with Education System Clears Committee

SB24-104 aligns currently siloed education and workforce systems to increase apprenticeships

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee unanimously passed Senator Jessie Danielson’s, D-Wheat Ridge, bill to seamlessly connect apprenticeship programs with the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and high school and technical education (CTE) programs. 

SB24-104 would require the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) and the CCCS to align high school CTE programs with registered apprenticeships, which includes things like working with apprenticeship sponsors on including credit for CTE programs completed. There are currently over 300,000 high school and community college students enrolled in CTE programs, and this would help more of these students to progress into paid apprenticeships with concrete career pathways. Programs and occupations would focus on areas of workforce shortages, such as infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, education, or health care.

“Currently, there is a gap between technical education and apprentice programs across the state," said Danielson. "This bill bridges that gap by connecting students with quality apprenticeships that will give them the opportunity to earn as they learn.”

While Colorado has made progress in advancing registered apprenticeships over the last several years, according to CDLE, apprenticeships make up only 0.1 percent of the state’s workforce. Reports show that students benefit from experiential learning opportunities, leading to higher grades, greater engagement, and stronger career-readiness. 

The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Follow its progress HERE.

Legislation to Boost Substance Use Disorder Prevention Efforts Clears Committee

Bill a result of interim committee work to save lives, prevent overdose deaths in Colorado

DENVER, CO – Legislation aimed at boosting substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and saving lives in Colorado cleared the Senate Health & Human Services Committee today.

SB24-047, sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, would support Coloradans with SUDs by updating the Colorado Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to improve data collection and access, and by creating the Substance Use Disorder Prevention Gap Grant Program to provide grants to community-based organizations to address funding for SUD prevention services.

“Addressing the overdose and substance use disorder crisis requires an all-of-the-above approach, and this prevention bill starts with doing a better job on the front end by preventing folks from becoming at all.” said Jaquez Lewis. “These resources will empower community organizations and folks on the ground as they work to prevent substance use and abuse while connecting Coloradans who are struggling with the treatment and support they need.”

“We have lost far too many Coloradans to accidental overdoses and substance use disorders. Something has to change,” Priola said. “By cultivating more supportive recovery programs and promoting proven prevention methods, our multi-pronged approach will help save lives and get more of our neighbors the support they need to thrive.”

SB24-047 also updates data-sharing permissions for local overdose fatality review boards and establishes a statewide grant for substance use screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment in Colorado schools and pediatric settings to identify treatment resources and needs for adolescents. Finally, the bill expands the statewide perinatal substance use data linkage project, adding access to state and federal data to improve legislative recommendations for those impacted by substance use during pregnancy. 

This legislation originated from the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee, which met over the interim and developed policies aimed at bolstering prevention efforts, improving treatment programs, promoting harm reduction strategies, and supporting Coloradans in recovery to prevent overdose deaths and save lives.

SB24-047 will now move to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.