INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS ACT CLEARS SENATE APPROPRIATIONS

DENVER—Today the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 130. Sponsored by Senate President Peter Groff (D-Denver) and Senator Nancy Spence (R-Centennial), the bill would encourage schools and school districts to innovate to improve student performance by creating Zones of Innovative Performance (ZIPs) free of certain district and state regulations.

If schools’ applications are approved by their local board of education, these schools could be granted the power to control budgets, hiring, curriculum, length of the school day and teacher compensation, for example. Upon local board approval, these schools would have the option of submitting the innovation plan to the State Board of Education for designation as an innovative school or zone of innovation.

The bill would serve as a tool to allow schools to assess their particular school needs to reform and remove barriers by implementing strategies based on individual school assessments.

“A status quo approach is no longer working and in fact is hindering our ability to graduate our students with the skills they need to succeed in a global economy,” said Groff.

“These schools and districts of innovation would have the potential to instruct students in exciting new ways,” said Spence. “I think we have the potential to improve student achievement by offering flexibility in the way education is administered.”

The bill next heads to the full Senate for consideration.

JBC APPROVES EXPANDED FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

DENVER—This week the Joint Budget Committee tentatively approved Governor Ritter's request to expand funding to the Developmentally Disabled.

The JBC added $6.8 million to fund services to the developmentally disabled but with federal matching funds, the state could add as much as $14.7 million to services provided to this very vulnerable population.

Senator John Morse (D-Colorado Springs) said, "This is one of those examples that proves the adage that the budget is a moral document. Caring for those among us that are most vulnerable is not only good stewardship, it is also the right thing to do. We will no longer turn our back on these citizens. These funds will help reduce the list of those waiting for services.”

JBC members were quick to caution that nearly four times this amount would be needed to eliminate the waiting lists. Morse added, “There is still much work to be done, but our tight budget does not permit additional progress on this front at this point.”

PUT DOWN THE BALD EAGLE AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!

Bill Addressing Eagle
Legality Passes Committee

DENVER—Today the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee passed HB08-1304, which would make it illegal to hunt, take, or illegally possess bald eagles in Colorado.

Sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass), the bill would make each violation an unclassified misdemeanor that would carry a fine of $1,000 to $100,000, up to one year imprisonment in a county jail, or both. Additionally, a fine of 20 points could be assessed against a violator’s hunting license.

Although the bald eagle will continue to be protected under the federal “Bald Eagle Protection Act” and the “Migratory Bird Treaty Act,” once the bald eagle is not listed as threatened or endangered, the penalties for illegally taking or possessing bald eagles will drop significantly.

“The recovery of the bald eagle in America is a major conservation accomplishment,” said Schwartz. “It is imperative that Colorado maintain its aggressive protection of bald eagles so that future generations can enjoy these magnificent symbols of America.”

The bill next heads to the full Senate for consideration.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES RECOMMENDATIONS

DENVER—Today members of the Legislative Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Reform held their last meeting and announced their recommendations in an afternoon press conference.

The committee was charged with examining Colorado’s statutory and constitutional initiative process and recommending potential improvements.

Senate President Pro-Tem Abel Tapia (D-Pueblo) said, “This committee has been one of the most satisfying things I’ve been a part of this session. We took our charge very seriously, and I’m proud of the committee’s work in bringing these recommendations forward. I look forward to working with my colleagues as we move these proposals through the legislature and onto the ballot.”

Representative Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood) said “I look forward to hearing from the voters about creating a more thoughtful process for amending Colorado’s most sacred document."

The Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Reform began meeting in early February. The committee was chaired by Senate President Pro-Tem Abel Tapia (D-Pueblo), and included Senator Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont), Senator Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield), Representative Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood), Representative Ellen Roberts (R-Durango) and Representative Al White (R-Hayden).

The Select Committee was advised by former U.S. Senator and CU President Hank Brown, former Senate President Stan Matsunaka, former Senate Majority Leader Norma Anderson, former Senator Penfield Tate, Barbara Montgomery, Cathy Shull and Lorez Meinhold. The Select Committee also reviewed the recent constitutional study and 12 recommendations proposed by the University of Denver’s constitutional panel.

SHAFFER’S AUTISM MEASURE CLEARS SENATE

Bill Would Create Autism Commission to
Develop Strategic Plan for Colorado

DENVER—Today the full Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 163, which would support research and treatment for people diagnosed with Autism.

Sponsored by Senator Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont), the bill calls for the creation of an Autism Commission to study autism spectrum disorders, identify existing services and gaps in services for people with autism spectrum disorders, and identify best practices in providing services.

If passed, the Autism commission would develop a 10-year strategic plan for Colorado that would clarify the range and effective coordinated services needed to provide support for people with autism spectrum disorders. The plan would also explore possible sources of funding needed to provide those coordinated services.

According to the Colorado Autism Commission, Autism is a brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate, to reason and to interact with others. The disease is a spectrum disorder that affects people in varying degrees of severity and is often found in combination with other disabilities. Most side affects of the disease can be recognized before a child reaches three years old. The disease is more commonly passed through hereditary genes. In uncommon cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects.

Research shows that early intervention leads to improvements in behavioral, development of functional skills, communication and intelligence.

The 23-member commission would be asked to provide a report to the Governor and to the General Assembly in the fall of 2009.

The bill next heads to the House for consideration.

HOMEGROWN POWER ROUNDS THIRD, HEADS FOR HOME

DENVER—Today the full Senate gave final approval to HB-1160, which would expand homegrown energy opportunities for agricultural producers and rural communities statewide.

Sponsored by Senator Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont), Senator Jim Isgar (D-Hesperus) and Representative Judy Solano (D-Brighton), the bill allows customers who generate more energy than they use to sell excess power back to the utility company for others to use.

“This bill is about creating jobs in Colorado,” Shaffer said. “By encouraging the development and use of renewable energy in all four corners of the state, we will stimulate the economy and move towards energy independence.”

HB-1160 streamlines the inconsistent patchwork of rural electric association (REA) and municipal utilities’ (MUs) rules for connecting and metering individual wind and solar systems. By creating a uniform statewide standard, Coloradans will have the opportunity to produce renewable energy easily and efficiently.

“This is the culmination of a lot of tremendous work done by a lot of people,” said Solano. “When Governor Ritter signs this bill into law, all Coloradans will finally have a genuine chance to participate in the new energy economy.”

If a customer generates electricity in excess of his or her monthly consumption, the additional kilowatt-hours must be carried from month-to-month and credited back to the customer's electricity consumption in subsequent months. Within 60 days after the end of each billing year, the power company is required to credit the customer for any excess generation in a manner deemed appropriate by the utility company.

The bill next heads to the Governor for consideration.

GROFF CAPS PREDATORY LENDERS

DENVER—Today the Senate Judiciary Committee passed HB-1310, which is designed to stop predatory lenders from unfairly targeting Colorado’s most vulnerable populations.

Sponsored by Senate President Peter Groff (D-Denver), the bill would help people who take out short-term – or payday – loans pay the loan back without getting caught in an endless cycle of debt.

“The dishonest practices of predatory lending are a real and urgent problem in Colorado,” said Groff. “For many people caught in the debt trap, a payday loan can mean total financial ruin for themselves and their families.”

Payday loans are short-term (usually two weeks) and made for a small amount ($300-$500). Payday lenders can charge $60 for a $300 loan for two weeks, resulting in an APR of 521 percent. House Bill 1310 caps annual interest rates at 45% for all payday loans. It also changes current practice on finance charges: the proposed legislation allows lenders to charge a maximum finance fee of $60 one time per twelve months.

After an interest rate cap regulating the industry was abolished in 2000, statistics have spiraled: since 2003, payday loan volume in Colorado has increased 117 percent. Based on average APR, payday loan customers will pay $544 in finance fees on an average $343 loan. And more than 70% of short-term loans went to borrowers with 11 or more loans in the last full year. Excessive fees on payday loans are estimated to cost Colorado working families more than $76 million annually.

“We are taking this bold step to bring some measure of relief to those who would otherwise be taken advantage of by predatory lenders, while still allowing the industry to operate in an already lucrative market,” Groff said. “It’s time these outfits stopped enriching themselves on the backs of Colorado’s most vulnerable citizens.”

The bill next heads to the full Senate for consideration.

COMMITTEE APPROVES V.O.T.E. ACT

Verifiable, Open and Transparent
Elections Act Moves Ahead

DENVER—Today the Senate State Affairs Committee approved SB08-189, the long-awaited VOTE Act of 2008, a bi-partisan bill aimed at ensuring accurate and secure elections in 2008.

Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon (D-Denver) and Senator Andy McElhany (R-Colorado Springs), the bill will help to restore voter confidence in Colorado’s election system following Secretary of State Mike Coffman’s decertification of voting machines. The bill calls for the use of paper ballots at polling places in addition to early or mail voting and federally-mandated electronic voting machines.

Given the unprecedented voter turnout in Colorado’s caucuses and across the country, the 2008 general election will likely have a larger turnout than any previous election conducted in the state’s history.

“This bill will require that the 2008 election be conducted primarily by paper ballot,” Gordon said. “We think that this is the method that will best ensure that everyone will be able to vote and that the votes will be counted accurately.”

Details of the legislation:

The 2008 election will be conducted primarily by paper ballots. Polling places will be located in precincts, “super”—i.e. combined—precincts, or vote centers. The bill allows counties that have successfully conducted vote center elections in the past to continue to do so.

The counties will educate voters about exactly where to vote as the primary and general elections near.

Voters may still choose and are encouraged to vote by mail-in ballot. All electors are still eligible to gain permanent mail-in ballot status.

The electronic voting machines required by the Help America Vote Act will still be available to voters who wish to use them.

All Colorado voters may continue to cast ballots at early voting sites—early voting sites open 15 days before the general election, and 10 days before the primary election.

The voter information card will now be sent to all registered electors except those who have changed addresses and been designated inactive. The voter information card includes the registered elector’s name and address, precinct number, and polling place, and gives voters the option to choose mail-in ballots permanently.

The bill directs the Secretary of State’s office to convene a working group to consider how to improve audits and recounts.

HOMEGROWN POWER GATHERING STEAM

Bill Supporting Energy Independence and
Savings for Colorado Passes on 2nd Reading

DENVER—Today the full Senate gave initial approval to HB-1160, which would expand homegrown energy opportunities for agricultural producers and rural communities statewide.

Sponsored by Senator Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) and Senator Jim Isgar (D-Hesperus), the bill requires power providers with more than 5,000 customers to credit those customers who produce excess energy in their homes or businesses. Residential customers who generate up to10 kilowatts and commercial or industrial customers who generate up to 25 kilowatts of renewable energy would be able to make up for their retail electricity consumption with the generated electricity.

If a customer generates electricity in excess of his or her monthly consumption, the additional kilowatt-hours must be carried from month-to-month and credited back to the customer's electricity consumption in subsequent months. Within 60 days after the end of each billing year, the power company is required to credit the customer for any excess generation in a manner deemed appropriate by the utility company.

HB-1160 streamlines the inconsistent patchwork of rural electric association (REA) and municipal utilities’ (MUs) rules for connecting and metering individual wind and solar systems. By creating a uniform statewide standard, Coloradans will have the opportunity to reap the benefits of our new energy economy.

The bill will next be considered by the Senate on third and final reading.