Monday, February 4, 2008

LAWMAKERS DEMAND FAIR PLAY FOR COLORADO FANS

Bill giving fans more control over the tickets they buy for events passes Senate

DENVER–One day after Senator Lois Tochtrop (D-Thornton), Representative John Soper (D-Thornton) and others gathered at Invesco Field at Mile High to discuss the bill informally known as the “Colorado Fan Act,” Senate Bill 24 passed the Senate unanimously on its final vote. The proposed legislation would allow individuals to resell their tickets without team or venue approval.

“I’m pleased to see this bill pass today,” remarked Sen. Tochtrop. "Denver has some of the most loyal fans in the country, and it's unfair not to allow these people to sell their tickets to whomever they choose. This is a personal property rights issue, and I’m proud to stand with the fans on this.”

The proposed legislation is intended to counter professional sports teams from monopolizing the secondary ticket market by ensuring that once a fan buys a ticket, he or she is the sole owner. It also ensures that fans receive refunds for event cancellations, admission denials, counterfeits, or if a ticket fails to conform to its description as advertised.

“It’s not about punishing any one team,” said Rep. Soper. “It’s about clarifying and enforcing the rights of ticket holders. And it’s about consumer freedom. It is absolutely wrong not to let fans who love and follow these teams resell their tickets.”

The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

BI-PARTISAN BILL ON VOTING MACHINES CLEARS SENATE

DENVER—Today House Bill 1155 passed through the Senate on its third reading. Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon (D-Denver), Senator Steve Johnson (R-Ft Collins), Representative Rosemary Marshall (D-Denver) and Representative David Balmer (R-Centennial), the bill takes the first step toward solving the voting machine problem in Colorado and ensuring that our state’s elections are operated a manner that is fair, accurate, accessible and transparent.

The bill gives Secretary of State Mike Coffman authority to recertify voting machines, which were decertified in December of last year. The bill prohibits Coffman from relaxing existing standards for voting systems and requires him to identify the reasons for any decision to amend or rescind certification orders.

General and primary elections are conducted by county clerks and recorders in Colorado using voting equipment purchased by the counties. Prior to its use, this equipment is subject to certification by both federal and state agencies to ensure it meets certain standards. State leaders plan to have both electronic and paper ballots available for voters in time for the presidential election.