Bill to stop underage smoking
passes with strong bipartisan support
DENVER—Today the Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 88, sponsored by Sen. Ron Tupa (D-Boulder), to close a loophole in law and make it illegal for minors to possess or use tobacco products.
Currently, Colorado law only prohibits the sale and distribution of tobacco products to people younger than 18 years old. Colorado was one of 15 states to not have that law.
“This bill is a long overdue change that closes Colorado’s ‘teen nicotine’ loophole,” Tupa said. “No longer will anyone younger than age 18 years old be able to legally use and posses tobacco products. This goes a long way toward reducing the incidence of teens picking up this dangerous, if not, deadly habit.”
Ninety percent of tobacco users pick up the habit before age 18. This bill will help keep our children safe and will ultimately save taxpayer dollars in long-term health costs.
About 92,000 youth smokers 17 years old and younger are expected to die prematurely as a result of tobacco use. For every person who dies from tobacco, another 20 suffer with at least one serious tobacco-related illness.
For the first time ever it requires a retailer to ask for an identification card if the purchaser looks younger than 30 years old. According to testimony from Jodi Radke with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 54 percent of teens were not asked for identification before purchasing tobacco products.
The bill moves to the full Senate next for consideration.
Monday, February 11, 2008
PIRACY BILL CREATES STRICTER PENALTIES
Senator Gibbs’ bill ups illegal recordings fine
to a Class 6 for repeat offenders
DENVER— Today the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Senate Bill 08-104 sponsored by Sen. Dan Gibbs (D-Silverthorne) to increase penalties for music piracy.
The bill increases the penalty for selling illegally packaged recordings to a Class 6 felony if the offense involves more than 100 articles or the person has already been convicted of the same crime. This bill allows law enforcement to confiscate the recordings and any equipment used to make them and turn them over to the local district attorney.
The district attorney may request a court order to destroy the recordings and a court order to allow for the equipment to be donated to a charitable or educational organization. Under current law, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor to sell illegally packaged recorded materials.
“The loss to our small businesses is staggering,” Gibbs said. “My hope is to restore the estimated $8.1 tax revenue of lost music sales in Colorado and restore the 518 jobs piracy takes from hardworking people.”
With this law, offenders are liable to felony prosecution thus giving Colorado law enforcement agencies the legal tools needed to create an impact against music piracy.
The bill moves to Finance Committee next for consideration.
to a Class 6 for repeat offenders
DENVER— Today the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Senate Bill 08-104 sponsored by Sen. Dan Gibbs (D-Silverthorne) to increase penalties for music piracy.
The bill increases the penalty for selling illegally packaged recordings to a Class 6 felony if the offense involves more than 100 articles or the person has already been convicted of the same crime. This bill allows law enforcement to confiscate the recordings and any equipment used to make them and turn them over to the local district attorney.
The district attorney may request a court order to destroy the recordings and a court order to allow for the equipment to be donated to a charitable or educational organization. Under current law, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor to sell illegally packaged recorded materials.
“The loss to our small businesses is staggering,” Gibbs said. “My hope is to restore the estimated $8.1 tax revenue of lost music sales in Colorado and restore the 518 jobs piracy takes from hardworking people.”
With this law, offenders are liable to felony prosecution thus giving Colorado law enforcement agencies the legal tools needed to create an impact against music piracy.
The bill moves to Finance Committee next for consideration.
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM COMMITTEE CONVENES TUESDAY
DENVER— Early Tuesday the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Reform will convene its first meeting to begin a substantive legislative discussion on untangling contradictory provisions in Colorado’s State Constitution.
Chaired by Senate President Pro-Tem Abel Tapia (D-Pueblo), the committee will also include 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 Committee will meet at 8 a.m. in the Senate Committee Room 353 to begin their work.
The Select Committee will work with former legislators who have a unique understanding of Colorado’s constitutional quagmire, including former U.S. Senator and CU President Hank Brown, former Senate President Stan Matsunaka, former Senate Majority Leader Norma Anderson, former Senator and JBC member Penfield Tate.
The Select Committee will also review the recent constitutional study and 12 recommendations proposed by the University of Denver’s constitutional panel.
Chaired by Senate President Pro-Tem Abel Tapia (D-Pueblo), the committee will also include 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 Committee will meet at 8 a.m. in the Senate Committee Room 353 to begin their work.
The Select Committee will work with former legislators who have a unique understanding of Colorado’s constitutional quagmire, including former U.S. Senator and CU President Hank Brown, former Senate President Stan Matsunaka, former Senate Majority Leader Norma Anderson, former Senator and JBC member Penfield Tate.
The Select Committee will also review the recent constitutional study and 12 recommendations proposed by the University of Denver’s constitutional panel.
BIPARTISAN PROGRAM INCREASES JOBS FOR DISABLED
Senator Williams’ SB-05 boosts employment for developmentally disabled
DENVER— Today the Senate unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Suzanne Williams, (D-Aurora) to help create initiatives for community centered boards and other vendors to provide employment services for developmentally disabled persons.
The purpose of Senate Bill 08-05 is to create a two-year pilot program to improve the efficiency of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and to increase the number of persons with developmental disabilities who are employed. The bill would require the DVR to create a funding system to support employment services for persons with developmental disabilities, chronic mental illness, and traumatic brain injuries.
“Our goal is to make it easier for people who are developmentally disabled to become active members of our community,” Williams said. “It is also important that we back that up with incentives for those changes to take place.”
The bill would be implemented within existing appropriations and would improve Colorado’s fiscal strength by allowing people to work, thus expanding our tax base.
The bill moves to the House next for consideration.
DENVER— Today the Senate unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Suzanne Williams, (D-Aurora) to help create initiatives for community centered boards and other vendors to provide employment services for developmentally disabled persons.
The purpose of Senate Bill 08-05 is to create a two-year pilot program to improve the efficiency of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and to increase the number of persons with developmental disabilities who are employed. The bill would require the DVR to create a funding system to support employment services for persons with developmental disabilities, chronic mental illness, and traumatic brain injuries.
“Our goal is to make it easier for people who are developmentally disabled to become active members of our community,” Williams said. “It is also important that we back that up with incentives for those changes to take place.”
The bill would be implemented within existing appropriations and would improve Colorado’s fiscal strength by allowing people to work, thus expanding our tax base.
The bill moves to the House next for consideration.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, January 28, 2008
SEN. MORSE & GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCE SCHOOL SAFETY BILL
The bill would establish a resource center within the Department of Public Safety to gather best practices from safe schools around the country. The bill would also create a pilot program in five districts to begin to implement these best practices. The Center would blend expertise from education, law enforcement, mental health, and social service professionals as a resource for schools and communities.
"Senate Bill 1 strives to ensure the safety of our schoolchildren by gathering real world solutions and best practices from safe schools around the country,” remarked Morse. “Our children are among our most precious resources; there can be no exception to their safety."
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