GORDON GETS GREENER GOVERNMENT GOING

Bill Would Save Tax Dollars Used
For State Facilities Maintenance

DENVER—Today the Senate Local Government Committee passed Senate Bill 147 to increase energy efficiency in state-assisted facilities.

The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon (D-Denver), authorizes the Department of Personnel to incorporate national and local energy efficient practices in performing life-cycle costs analyses.

Life-cycle costs analysis is a method for assessing the total cost of facility ownership. The process compares all costs of acquiring, owning, and disposing of a building or building system. The purpose is to find ways to maximize efficiencies and net savings.

“With the passage of this bill, Colorado will be a leader in energy efficiency in state buildings,” Gordon said. “In this day and age it is inexcusable for us to build buildings that waste energy. We can do better than that.”

The bill calls for energy efficiency within the designed, constructed and renovated housing projects and facilities of the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). With high performance buildings, Colorado stands to decrease energy consumption by nearly 30 percent and water use by between 30 and 50 percent.

The bill next moves to the full Senate for consideration.

MORSE SALUTES COLORADO TROOPS, FAMILIES

Bill Would Reauthorize Tax Checkoff
For Military Family Relief Fund

DENVER—Today the Senate Finance Committee passed House Bill 1035, which would reauthorize the tax checkoff for the Military Family Relief Fund on Colorado tax forms. The fund provides financial assistance for military families who face financial hardship due to military service.

Sponsored by Senator John Morse (D-Colorado Springs), the bill would extend the program created in 2005 to help military families pay for various living expenses, including day care, marital or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder counseling, car or home repair, even mortgage payments.

"Resolutions supporting our troops are important, but real financial support is critical,” Morse said. “With the passage of this bill, every taxpayer has the ability to put their money where their heart is."

The fund is available to all branches of the military, active, reserve and National Guard.

The bill next moves to the full Senate for consideration.

GIBBS GETS FRESH WITH SOFT DRINKS

Bill Encourages Healthy Choices for Kids’ Drinks

DENVER—Today the Senate Education Committee approved Senate Bill 129 in support of healthier beverage options in schools and healthier kids in Colorado.

Sponsored by Senator Dan Gibbs (D-Silverthorne), the bill requires school districts and the Colorado State Charter School Institute to establish policies prohibiting the sale of unhealthy beverages at school cafeterias, vending machines, school stores, and fund-raising activities.

“We can do better in Colorado and our kids deserve better,” Gibbs said. “With the passage of this bill we’re setting our sights on the problem of childhood obesity.”

The bill directs the State Board of Education to determine which drinks are considered healthy enough to meet child nutrition beverage standards. Those drinks could include milk, 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices and bottled water.

The bill also encourages schools to adopt a wellness policy ensuring a child's access to healthy food and beverages on the school premises, nutritional information, daily physical activity; and instruction regarding proper nutrition and health.

If passed, both parts of the bill would take effect Sept. 8, 2008. The federal "Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004" requires adoption of such a policy by all districts receiving funding under either the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.

The bill next heads to the full Senate for consideration.

BOYD SHINES LIGHT ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Measure Would Create Council
To Address Disease in Colorado

DENVER—Today the Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 08-58, sponsored by Senator Betty Boyd (D-Lakewood), which would address issues related to Alzheimer's disease in Colorado.

The bill would create the Colorado Alzheimer's Coordinating Council to assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease in the state and to formulate a plan to address the disease. The Council will report its findings to the Governor, the General Assembly, and participating state departments.

“With the passage of this bill people with Alzheimer’s and their families have new hope for support in their ongoing battle with the disease,” Boyd said. “We hope to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and find more opportunities for shared community support.”

The Council would include 22 members and would begin meeting no later than March of next year.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease every 72 seconds. The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias amount to more than $148 billion in annual spending. In 2000 nearly 49,000 Coloradoans suffered from Alzheimer's disease. That number is expected to grow by 47 percent, rising to 72,000 by 2010.

Senate Bill 58 next moves to the House for consideration.

TUPA: NO BUTTS FOR UNDERAGE SMOKING

Bill to Curb Underage Smoking Clears Senate

DENVER—Today the Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 88, sponsored by Senator Ron Tupa (D-Boulder), which would 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 is one of 15 states to have no prohibition on minors possessing tobacco products.

Ninety percent of tobacco users pick up the habit before age 18. The bill will help keep children safe and 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.

The bill next moves to the House for consideration.

TUPA DRAWS THE LINE ON HIGH COST OF TEXTBOOKS

College Textbook Affordability Act Clears Senate

DENVER—Today the full Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Senator Ron Tupa (D-Boulder), which would help lower the cost of textbooks in Colorado.

The College Textbook Affordability Act will prohibit college professors from ordering textbooks until they know how much the publisher is going to charge for those textbooks. The proposal also requires publishers to disclose changes made to each new edition of their textbooks. The bill will also prohibit publishers from bundling textbooks with additional materials such as CD-ROMs, as they are rarely used by instructors or students but significantly increase the price of textbooks.

Tupa represents Boulder, which has the highest student population in the state. Many of his constituents are already making enormous financial sacrifices to even enroll in colleges and universities.

The bill next moves to the House for consideration.

TUPA WINNING FIGHT AGAINST HIGH COST OF TEXTBOOKS

College Textbook Affordability
Act Passes on 2nd Reading

DENVER—Today the full Senate gave initial approval to Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Senator Ron Tupa (D-Boulder), which would help lower the cost of textbooks in Colorado.

The College Textbook Affordability Act will prohibit college professors from ordering textbooks until they know how much the publisher is going to charge for those textbooks. The proposal also requires publishers to disclose changes made to each new edition of their textbooks. The bill will also prohibit publishers from bundling textbooks with additional materials such as CD-ROMs, as they are rarely used by instructors or students but significantly increase the price of textbooks.

Tupa represents Boulder, which has the highest student population in the state. Many of his constituents are already making enormous financial sacrifices to even enroll in colleges and universities.

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