Bill To Replace Columbus Day Passes Senate

DENVER, CO - A bill that aims to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with a new state holiday recognizing Italian-American humanitarian, Frances Xavier Cabrini, passed the Senate today. The bill was passed with a vote of 19-15.

“Colorado has an opportunity to replace a holiday that is extremely painful for indigenous communities with a celebration of an Italian-American woman who has made an impact serving children in Colorado and beyond,” said Sen. Angela Williams (D-Denver). “I’m proud that we took another step towards honoring indigenous voices and ending the cruel, yearly reminder of their painful past.” 

Indigenous people suffered a great deal following the arrival of Columbus, and his actions have caused pain that has lasted centuries. For descendants of native populations, Columbus Day serves as a dark reminder of the violent past their ancestors endured.

“With this bill, we are not only ending our tribute to a painful part of history but also establishing the first state holiday in Colorado to honor a woman– a woman who worked selflessly to serve disadvantaged and vulnerable communities throughout Colorado,” said Sen Chris Hansen (D-Denver). "Frances Cabrini represents the best of us and her memory stands as a shining example of true compassion and kindness." 

HB20-1031 would abolish Columbus Day and officially establish Cabrini Day as a paid state holiday on the first Monday in October.

Mother Cabrini is a Colorado Humanitarian who founded 67 education, health, and spiritual institutions to serve the poor across the country. Cabrini also worked diligently to support vulnerable communities here in Colorado, including establishing The Queen of Heaven Orphanage for Girls in Denver and a summer camp for orphans in Golden. Her legacy is a shining example of service and commitment to the community that warrants a day of commemoration across the state.

The bill now heads to the Governor for final approval. For more information about HB20-1031, please click here.

Bill To Create Scholarship For Rural Peace Officer Training Moves Forward

DENVER, CO - Senator Bridges’ bill to support rural law enforcement training programs passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee today. HB20-1229 aims to create a scholarship fund for small, rural agencies in order to help cover tuition costs for law enforcement training academy. 

“Our police officers and sheriffs deserve to get the training they need in order to best serve our communities. But right now there are too many small-town programs that are struggling,” said Sen. Jeff Bridges. “No matter their zip code, those who are dedicating their lives to protecting our safety need to be invested in.”

Rural law enforcement agencies with limited resources are struggling to financially support law enforcement recruits with the tuition costs necessary for officer training. With rural budgets already stretched thin, this bill gives the opportunity for peace officer candidates to attend basic law enforcement training academy with financial support, and support their rural communities thereafter.

Under HB20-1229, the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (P.O.S.T) would be authorized to create and oversee a scholarship fund for small and rural agencies to help law enforcement recruits with the cost of training. This much-needed assistance. 

For more information about HB20-1229, please click here. 

Governor Polis Announces Additional Information on COVID-19

Denver, CO – In light of additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, Governor Jared Polis announced a state of emergency for Colorado this morning. This executive action will guide response and release funds to bolster efforts to contain these cases and ensure the health and safety of Coloradans. 

“As a practicing paramedic, the concerns surrounding the potential risk presented by COVID-19 are ones that I do not take lightly,” said Senate President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo). “As we continue to monitor the situation closely, Coloradans should keep with their normal daily routines, taking extra precautions to protect their health, including regular hand washing, avoiding close contact and face-touching, using at least 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer and most importantly staying home if sick."

Senate President Leroy Garcia serves as vice-chair of both the Executive and Legislative Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Committees, which help deploy the Continuity Of Operations Protocol and relevant procedures in emergencies.

“I can assure our legislative body that much like the governor, we will have an effective plan in place if and when implementation is necessary. I urge legislative staff to work with their supervisors on a plan to stay home if they are feeling sick," said President Garcia. "We are currently reviewing all emergency preparedness protocols, and the legislative emergency preparedness committee will meet tomorrow morning to ensure that these plans are effectively protecting Coloradans.”

For additional daily updates, visit: www.coemergency.com

Bill to Strengthen State Workers' Rights Passes Committee

HB 20-1153 gives state employees right to collectively bargain

Denver, CO – Today the Senate State Veterans & Military Affairs passed HB20-1153 to strengthen state workers' rights! The bill gives state employees a voice and codifies the right to collectively bargain.

"Though their work often goes unnoticed, our state employees consistently ensure the well-being of our veterans and families," said Senate President Leroy Garcia. "Colorado state workers should feel the same support and stability they provide us every day."

Right now, 1 in 5 Colorado state jobs remain unfilled, forcing state employees to work multiple jobs and unconventional hours, stripping them of valuable time with their families. This has led to deficits and costly turnover as state agencies and crucial services need to compete with the private sector to retain good employees and ensure their voices are heard. 

“This bill is about improving state services and jobs for Colorado families. The people who serve the citizens of Colorado do critical work every day to keep us safe, clear our roads and provide us care," said Sen. Brittany Pettersen. "In order to combat high turnover rates and fill these needed positions, we have to be able to compete with the private sector. That starts by ensuring state workers feel valued — by having a collective voice and a seat at the table.”

The bill now moves to Senate Appropriations. Read more: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB20-1153

Colorado Secure Savings Program Unveiled

Increase Savings, Boost Independence, & Support Small Business

Denver, CO – Today Senators Brittany Pettersen and Kerry Donovan introduced their bill to tackle Colorado's growing retirement savings crisis. SB20-200 would make it easier for every hardworking Coloradan to automatically invest in their future and take their retirement savings with them when they change jobs, or if they work multiple jobs.  

"We are proud to announce that we will be introducing a bill this week that enables the Colorado Secure Savings board to move forward with implementing a Colorado facilitated automatic retirement savings plan. The plan will make sure that Coloradans have access to a retirement savings plan at work where they can save automatically each month - a key to boosting individual retirement savings over time," said Sen. Kerry Donovan.

Currently, nearly half of Coloradans in the private sector aged 25 to 64 don’t have retirement plans at work.  Even among those families who are nearing retirement, 4 out of 10 have no retirement assets. This lack of savings puts millions of people and our economy at risk. And with some 10,000 baby boomers turning 65, every day in the US, a generation is reaching retirement in worse financial shape than the previous generation for the first time since Harry Truman.

"As a millennial who has worked in a variety of jobs in my career, I know first hand how difficult it can be to try to save for retirement. Many jobs don’t offer a plan and unless you are paying into a retirement account automatically through your employer’s, it can be near impossible to consistently put money away," said Sen. Brittany Pettersen. "The economy is changing, gone are the days where most workers have a pension. Young workers today are more likely to move between jobs instead of staying with one company for their career. Our benefits system must evolve with it, because right now, too many Coloradans don’t have the ability to save for retirement through their jobs."   

According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, if a person has a retirement savings contribution automatically deducted from their paycheck, they are 15 times more likely to save for your retirement. So in February 2020, the Colorado Secure Savings Plan Board unanimously recommended Colorado create a state-facilitated, automatic retirement savings program for all Coloradans without access to workplace plans. Based on their detailed analysis, the program will be based on thorough market and financial analyses and managed by a financial services company.

How the Secure Savings Program Works 

• Creates a state-facilitated program managed by private firms, solicited through a competitive bidding process. 

• Gives workers the ability to invest through pooled, professionally managed accounts with low fees. 

• Enables workers to save a portion of their wages through automatic payroll deductions, increasing or decreasing the amount as they prefer or opting out entirely. 

• Allows workers to move from job to job or work multiple jobs and contribute to the same account. 

• Enables small businesses to provide employees access to a retirement savings program at a low cost. 

• Applies to businesses with five or more employees that have been in business for two or more years and do not currently offer retirement savings plans. 

• Shields the state and employers from financial obligation or liability. 

• Coloradans who are contractors or are self-employed can easily invest in their future. 

• Has no impact on Social Security eligibility.

The bill will now be heard in the Senate Finance Committee. To learn more click here. 

Consumer & Employee Dispute Resolution Fairness Act Passes Senate!

Denver, CO – Today the Senate took an important step toward increasing transparency for Colorado consumers and employees with the passage of SB-093!

“Forced arbitration clauses dominate so many goods and services, and they often tip the scales in favor of corporations," said Sen. Mike Foote. "These clauses can really do a disservice to consumers and employees, and this bill simply aims to make the process more fair and transparent for Coloradans.”

In the last 20 years, the number of workers in arbitration clauses has more than doubled. After Wells Fargo manipulated consumers with fake accounts, forced arbitration clauses prevented over 64,000 Coloradans from seeking justice in a class action suit. Millions of workers and consumers are forced into these clauses with little ability to defend themselves against corporations with endless resources.

"Coloradans deserve a fair process in arbitration disputes, but they haven’t been receiving one: Banks and lenders use forced arbitration clauses in loans issued to the more than 48,000 active-duty service members, reservists, and veterans in Colorado. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also found that 85% of private student loans studied were subject to these unfair terms," said Majority Leader Steve Fenberg. "It is time that Colorado reformed forced arbitration. With Senate Bill 93 passing the Senate, we are one step closer to ensuring all Coloradans receive a transparent and fair process during these proceedings."

The Consumer And Employee Dispute Resolution Fairness Act addresses the need for ethics, fairness and transparency in arbitration and other agreements so everyday consumers and employees have an equal opportunity for justice.
SB-093 would:

• Establish ethics and conflicts of interest standards for arbitrators similar to those followed by judges and others in the legal profession to prevent bias and discrimination

• Create basic public transparency requirements for arbitrators so consumers, employees and the public are able to identify bad behavior and prevent corporate concealment

• Addresses unenforceable terms that discourage people from bringing their claim forward, such as forcing out-of-state arbitration and waiving rights under other areas of law

The bill now heads to the House. Read more here: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-093

Diverse Educator Workforce Passes Committee

HB20-1007 aims to identify barriers to increasing diversity in classrooms

Denver, CO – Today the Senate Education committee passed HB20-1007 to increase diversity in our K-12 classrooms. The bill would create a working group to investigate barriers to preparation, retention, and recruitment of diverse educators, and consider strategies to increase representation in Colorado classrooms.

“It’s critical that our diverse population of students see themselves reflected in their educators," said Sen. Rhonda Fields. "I’m proud to sponsor this bill to identify barriers to success as well as ways we can ensure better representation in our classrooms.”

In 2019, 67% of Colorado's teachers identified as white women, a number that hardly reflects the diverse makeup of our state's students. Only 46% of elementary school teaching candidates pass the licensing test on the first try. But when these statistics are broken down by race — only 38% of black teaching candidates and 54% of Hispanic candidates pass the licensing test, compared with 75% of white teaching candidates. This bill aims to identify barriers to licensing in order to prepare and recruit diverse teaching candidates.

The bill now heads to Senate Appropriations. Read more here.

Bill to Increase Higher Efficiency Home Construction Passes Committee

DENVER, CO– Today the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy passed Senator Chris Hansen’s bill to require builders to offer home buyers more options for energy efficiency systems in new homes. 

"Coloradans are passionate about decreasing carbon pollution, but installing energy-efficient systems in our homes after they are built, can be expensive," said Sen. Chris Hansen (D-Denver). "This bill gives homeowners the opportunity to save money by allowing them to request these installations beforehand. In the end, this legislation will increase the amount of energy-efficient homes being built and reduce our use of fossil fuels across the state."  

Current law requires a home builder to offer a buyer one of the following:

• A solar panel system or a solar thermal system;

• To prewire or pre-plumb the home for these systems; or

• A chase or conduit to wire or plumb the home for these systems in the future.

HB20-1155 would require that a home builder offer each of these options, as well as at least one of the following: 

• An electric vehicle charging system;

• Upgrades of wiring to accommodate future installation of an electric vehicle charging system; or

• A 208- to 240-volt alternating current plug-in located in a place accessible to a motor vehicle parking area.

The bill will now be heard in the Committee of the Whole. 

Bill To Honor Carrie Ann Lucas Passes Committee

Denver, CO — The Senate Health and Human Services Committee today voted in favor of the Honoring Carrie Ann Lucas Act (SB20-165). Carrie Ann Lucas was a lawyer and disability advocate. In 2018, she helped pass the Family Preservation for Parents with Disability Act (HB18-1104), which prohibited the practice of removing children from families because of the parent or guardian’s disability. Carrie Ann passed away in 2019. The Honoring Carrie Ann Lucas Act would rename that statute for her, to recognize her efforts on this law and her lifelong dedication to the rights of people with disabilities.

 “I had the privilege to work with Carrie Ann Lucas to pass a law that helps keep families together, regardless of a parent’s disability,” said sponsor Senator Jessie Danielson (D-Wheat Ridge), who also sponsored HB18-1104. “Though that bill was only a small piece of the enormous contribution she made to our state, naming the law for her is the right thing to do, and I am humbled to bring this bill forward to honor her.”

The bill now heads to the committee of the whole. Read more about the bill here.

Colorado Imagination Library Clears Committee!

Denver, CO – Today the Senate Education Committee approved Senator Jeff Bridges' bipartisan bill to boost child literacy rates by providing books to every child in Colorado. SB20-185 would create the first official, statewide Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) program for Colorado kids, from enrollment to their fifth birthday.

DPIL would mail one book, selected by a committee of nationally recognized teachers, early childhood educators, and related professionals, to every child. The books include strategies for parents to use during shared reading time to engage their child and increase vocabulary and comprehension skills. The program has multiple language tracks as well as culturally and age-appropriate material.

“We have more than a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles that show that this program works. There is hard data from Tennessee and other places that show a measurable increase in third-grade literacy and a major increase in preparedness for kindergarten because of this program," said Sen. Jeff Bridges (D-Littleton). "The longer children are in the program the bigger the impact, which means it's not a selection bias issue. It's not just parents who would have read to their kids anyway—it is that this program works."

Since implementation, Tennessee has seen significant improvement in school-readiness with children who graduate the program. Studies have also confirmed this success: showing that DPIL increases the odds of being developmentally prepared for kindergarten by 90%.

This bill would create a one-to-one match for all private donations and encourage the establishment of an affiliate in every county of our state—bringing a beloved and effective program to every corner of Colorado.

The bill now heads to Senate Appropriations. Read more here.

Bill to Replace Columbus Day With Cabrini Day Moves Forward

DENVER – Yesterday, the Senate Local Government Committee passed HB20-1031: Replace Columbus Day with New State Holiday, on a vote of 3-1. This bill repeals Colorado’s holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus and replaces it with Cabrini Day. 

Mother Cabrini is a Colorado Humanitarian who founded 67 education, health, and spiritual institutions to serve the poor across the country. Her legacy is a shining example of service and commitment to community that warrants a day of commemoration across the state. 

“This bill to replace Columbus Day with Cabrini Day is the product of decades of conversation around the impact of exploration and colonization around the world," said sponsor Senator Angela Williams (D-Denver). "HB20-1031 shows that we can celebrate both our Italian and Indigenous Coloradans and their unique histories in this state. Replacing Columbus Day with Cabrini day is a strong step forward to commemorate an incredible woman with a statewide holiday."

While Columbus Day is a federal holiday, less than half of states in this country observe the day. The nationwide inconsistency of this holiday is evidence that while many of us owe our presence in this country to Christopher Columbus, there are individuals whose contributions are more worthy of our recognition and celebration. 

“While Columbus' arrival in the Americas has historical significance, we must recognize the painful consequences his presence caused Indigenous people”, said sponsor Senator Chris Hansen (D-Denver). “This bill allows us to celebrate Italian-Americans and their contributions to our country while acknowledging the trauma our Indigenous communities have felt in the many centuries since Columbus’ arrival.”

HB20-1031: Replace Columbus Day with New State Holiday would make Colorado one of nearly two dozen states that no longer celebrate Columbus Day. With the passage of Mother Cabrini Day, Colorado will be the first state to have a paid holiday commemorating a woman.

HB20-1031 will next be heard on the Senate floor. To learn more about the bill, please visit: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb20-1031

Colorado Consumer Protection Act Expansion Passes Senate

SB 20-080 gives Coloradans fair opportunity to seek relief

Denver, CO – Today the Senate advanced legislation to increase protections for Colorado consumers with the passage of SB-080. This bill amends the Consumer Protection Act to add more potential damages that can be awarded to consumers.

“These updates to the Colorado Consumer Protection Act protect consumers and ensure that they get their fair shake," said Sen. Robert Rodriguez (D-Denver). "This bill empowers Coloradans to stand up to deceptive trade practices and establishes their right to equitable compensation.”

These practices can range from false representation of things like food services and goods to misleading representations of large purchases, such as water damaged vehicles or real estate. SB-080 expands protections for those who have been wronged by deceptive trade practices to more accurately and fully compensate the degree to which they have been wronged.

The previous law allowed for plaintiffs to be awarded the greater of the actual damages, or $500 total. This bill amends the possible award to the actual damages or $500 per violation. This bill also adds that a class action suit can be brought, and damages can be awarded both to compensate for damages incurred and for attorneys' fees as determined by the court.

The bill now heads to the House. Read more here.

Moreno Bill to Simplify Birth Certificate Requirements Passes Senate

SB 20-166 adds to Jude's Law to ease gender designation changes for minors

Denver, CO – Today the Senate passed SB20-166, which simplifies the requirements for minors seeking to change the gender designation on their birth certificate.

“This legislation builds on progress we made last session to make the process easier for individuals who want to change their gender designation on official documents," said Sen. Dominick Moreno. "It allows trans and non-binary Coloradans to obtain IDs that truly reflect their identity, without intrusive and burdensome requirements."

The revision removes the condition for a minor to have undergone surgical or hormonal treatment in order to change their gender designation —requirements that can often feel invasive and unnecessary. The bill amends this to require a statement from a licensed professional medical or mental health care provider that the minor's sex designation does not align with their gender identity.

The bill now heads to the House. Read more here.

Bill to Update FPPA Pension Plans Passes Committee

Denver, CO – Today the Senate Local Government committee advanced legislation to update pension plans administered by the Fire and Police Pension Association.

Our police officers and firefighters deserve the dignity and security provided by the Statewide Death & Disability Plan that covers them. But right now, this plan is significantly underfunded. An increase in disability claims as well as insufficient funding models have led to fewer contributions than the cost of these benefits.

"Firefighters and police officers put their lives on the line and serve as heroes for those who need them most," said Pres. Leroy Garcia. "Our first responders are showing up for us in our most vulnerable moments, and it is time we show up for them."

Firefighters and police officers work in high-risk, high-stress environments, yet they do not pay into Social Security and therefore do not qualify for disability. The D&D fund provides these public safety officers with compensation to allow them and their families to live in dignity after a disability or death. 

"These public safety officers should be supported in early retirement with full benefits, especially if they have had decades of service that has caused physical and mental injuries," Sen. Joann Ginal said.

Contributions from public safety officers are gradually increasing each year, headed toward a rate of 12%. But employer contributions still remain at 8%. This rate of employer contribution is much lower compared to other public pension plans, and remains unchanged since 1980.

The normal retirement age for vested firefighters and police officers is 55 years old, and early retirement with reduced benefit is available at 50. Due to the physical toll of their work, many first responders are forced to consider an early, reduced benefit retirement. HB-1044 would increase the employer contribution rate to the plan and make adjustments to fully support plan members in early retirement.

The bill now heads to committee of the whole. Learn more here.

Prescription Drug Importation Bill Passes Senate

SB20-119 aims to lower drug prices by providing options for consumers

Denver, CO – Today the Senate passed SB20-119 to allow the importation of prescription drugs from other countries to combat rising prices and provide affordable options for Coloradans.

1 in 3 Coloradans can’t afford to fulfill their prescriptions. Thousands of people are forced to cut their pills in half because the medicine they need is just too expensive. And many others simply go without and live with chronic pain and worsening conditions. 

"The system is in desperate need of reform. Coloradans, like all Americans, already pay among the highest drug prices in the world, and every year they are getting more and more expensive, not out of necessity, but out of greed," said Sen. Joann Ginal (D-Fort Collins).

More than 80% of active drug ingredients already come from outside the United States — yet Americans pay the highest prices in the world for these medications. This bill seeks to expand the Canadian prescription drug importation program passed in 2019 to include other countries as well.

"The US population is 10 times larger than that of Canada, and as several states explore drug importation from our northern neighbor, we must expand our options," said Sen. Ginal. 

If Congress enacts legislation that allows states to import prescription drugs from foreign countries, this bill would permit Colorado to expand the Canadian prescription drug importation program to other nations as long as certain safety regulations and conditions are met.

"Patients in Colorado want a fair price for pharmaceutical drugs, comparable to other high-income nations that are paying a fraction of what we pay in the US. Every Coloradan could benefit from this program, especially our seniors," Sen. Ginal said.

Read more: http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-119

Senator Bridges Introduces Bill to Improve Childhood Literacy

SB20-185 Invests In Kids At The Most Crucial Point Of Their Development

DENVER – Today, Senator Jeff Bridges introduced his bipartisan bill to increase child literacy and support student success. SB20-185 would create the first official, statewide Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) program for Colorado kids, from enrollment to their fifth birthday.

DPIL would mail one book per month that is age-appropriate, high-quality (typically hard-cover), and selected by a committee of nationally recognized teachers, early childhood educators, and related professionals. Several books would also include reading strategies for parents to use during shared reading time to engage their child and increase vocabulary and comprehension skills

“Dolly Parton's Imagination Library produces impressive and verifiable results, and at just $15 per child per year, the price point that simply can't be beat,” said Senator Bridges (D-Englewood). “This program is one of the least expensive and most impactful ways to make sure our Colorado kids are prepared to succeed in school.”

Identical programs are already running in many cities across the country, as well as statewide in Tennessee. Since implementation, Tennessee has seen a marked improvement in school-readiness of children who graduate the program. Studies have also confirmed this success– showing that DPIL increases the odds of being developmentally prepared for kindergarten by 90%. 

“We all know that parents reading to kids is really, really important,” said Senator Jack Tate (R-Centennial), a cosponsor of the bill. “Research shows that parent involvement in children’s education leads to meaningful improvements in student success. This program will encourage folks to engage with their kids and support the increased frequency of quality family reading.”

This bill would create a one-to-one match for all private donations and encourage the establishment of an affiliate in every county of our state—bringing a program that is already beloved and proven, to every corner of Colorado. In other words, for just $15 per child per year, we can ensure that every kid in Colorado from 0-5 receives a book in the mail every month.

You can watch a brief overview of the program from PBS NewsHour here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWUAkeI2MD0

Bill To Protect Families From Unfair Filings Passes Committee

HB20-1009 prevents eviction filings from hindering housing opportunities

Denver, CO – Today the Senate Judiciary passed HB20-1009: Suppressing Court Records Of Eviction Proceedings, which protects Coloradans from unfair reports being listed on their records. 

The word "eviction" strikes immediate fear in renters and tenants, who are already struggling to keep up with skyrocketing housing costs. From 2014 to 2017, Denver rents increased more than 22%, and surrounding cities weren't immune to these steep increases. The bill requires a court to suppress court records and filings related to any eviction proceedings unless the case results in an eviction.

"An eviction filing is not an eviction, and for these filings to come up and prevent people from accessing housing is unfair," said Sen. Faith Winter."Let's not have a filing, in which people are found innocent, hinder them from future housing options and success."

Filings like these — that never result in an eviction — leave families susceptible to housing discrimination. Four Colorado municipalities, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Westminster and Lakewood, have the unfortunate distinction of being listed in the top 100 cities in eviction rates and saw rates higher than the national average. This bill ensures that tenants and families aren't forced to contend with unnecessary hurdles.

The bill passed Senate Judiciary unanimously and now moves to the committee of the whole. Learn more here.

Bill to Protect Health Coverage and Expand Preventative Care Moves Forward

SB 20-156 Codifies The Affordable Healthcare Act and Increases Accessibility

Denver, CO – Today the Senate Health & Human Services Committee passed critical legislation to codify protections created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as well as expand preventative healthcare services covered by insurance carriers.

SB20-156 enshrines provisions already set out by federal law by solidifying their place in Colorado law and ensuring that regardless of potential national rollbacks of insurance coverage– Coloradans will be protected. 

"Thousands of Coloradans who rely on benefits provided by the ACA, are deeply concerned that their coverage could be taken away any moment," said Sen. Brittany Pettersen (D-Lakewood). "This bill makes sure that no matter what happens in Washington, Coloradans can count on their coverage." 

The bill also mandates an expansion of covered preventative healthcare benefits to include: osteoporosis screening, urinary incontinence screening, and the screening and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

"By increasing preventative treatments available to Coloradans, we will more substantially protect the health and safety of our community while also ensuring that folks get the treatment they need as early as possible," said Sen. Dominick Moreno (D-Denver). 

Due to the rising number of STI cases in Colorado, covered screenings are especially important for public health. As reported by the Westword: in 2017, there were 36,291 newly reported STI cases here in Colorado: 26,995 involving chlamydia, 8,478 pertaining to gonorrhea and 818 dealing with all stages of syphilis. Those are the highest figures ever recorded in the state for each of the three conditions.

Under current law, a health care provider or facility is only required to perform a diagnostic exam for an STI and subsequently prescribe treatment, when a patient is experiencing symptoms. However, many STIs do not result in external symptoms– leaving large portions of the population, especially men, untreated.

The bill allows a health care provider to administer, dispense, or prescribe preventive measures or medications to all patients without the hurdle of a copay. Moreover, it allows minors to receive confidential treatment and care without the consent of a guardian. This measure is meant to increase the health of young adults as well as decrease the frequency of STI transmission in minor populations. 

The bill will now be head in the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Zenzinger Bills Advance to Protect Exotic Animals, Refine Good Governance Practices

Denver, CO —Two great bills sponsored by Senator Rachel Zenzinger were advanced this week: SB20-125 which aims to prohibit exotic animals in traveling performances, and HB20-1156, a bill to ensure that laws around Colorado's mail-in ballot processes are in sync up to date.

Circus animals spend most of their lives — sometimes up to 90% — in cages. They are often transported in small quarters and subjected to extreme heat, cold, vehicle exhaust and noise. These animals are frequently unable to exercise or perform normal acts for their species, rarely receiving adequate veterinary care. With SB-125, which passed the Senate on Wednesday, Colorado aims to join a handful of other states in banning these performances.

“Circus animals often have quite difficult lives, and this bill aims to prevent exotic animals from being used in such a way here in our state," said Sen. Zenzinger. "The bill does nothing to prohibit Colorado’s beloved events like rodeos or stock shows — it simply ensures that exotic animals aren’t forced to perform in traveling circuses.”

HB20-1156, which will simplify and clarify portions of the municipal mail ballot procedures, also passed this week. Sen. Zenzinger's previous experience as a former city councilor informs her advocacy for clear and efficient laws on good local governance. HB-1156 now heads to the Governor's desk.

“This bill cleans up language and processes for mail-in ballots to eliminate duplications, inefficiencies and ensure that our military and overseas voters are fully enfranchised," said Sen. Zenzinger.

In addition to these two bills, HB-1262 passed the Senate Appropriations committee unanimously on Tuesday. The bill clarifies how unspent community corrections funds should be utilized to ensure these programs are being run efficiently. HB20-1262 will be heard on the Senate floor on Thursday.

Bill to Expand Youth Shelter Access Passes Senate

SB 20-106 aligns state law with federal practices on shelter access for minors

Denver, CO – Today the Senate passed critical legislation to address unhoused and unaccompanied youth in Colorado. SB-106 aligns state law with federal provisions to allow youth under 18 to consent to shelter and services. This bill allows youth 15 or older to consent to receive shelter and services without guardian or parental consent.

During the 2018-2019 school year, Colorado's Department of Education reported 23,000 students experienced homelessness statewide, and 2,397 of those students were identified as unaccompanied minors. The 2018 Point In Time Homelessness Survey also recorded 595 persistent, unaccompanied homeless youth in Colorado. 

"There are so many barriers under current law for minors seeking assistance," said Sen. Joann Ginal. "This bill ensures that young people are able to stay somewhere safe and warm when facing, abuse, abandonment, or neglect. This particular age group, 15-17, are some of the most vulnerable youth in our community and we must protect them when they are reaching out for help."

Allowing children under the age of 18 to consent to be sheltered protects some of the most endangered kids in our state. Many homeless youth are at high risk for physical abuse, sexual violence, trafficking and substance disorders. Meeting them in a time of need can truly help alter the course of their life.