Hello everyone,
It all must end before midnight on Wednesday! Like the end of most sessions, last week was filled with late nights and lots of action. There are still major issues outstanding, thankfully none of them impact the CSPA or its members directly. Some of the big questions to watch include: If as expected the legislature eliminates the second vote currently required to force all employees in a union shop to pay union dues or representation fees (SB 005) will Governor Polis veto it? (SB 005 does not apply to state employees.) And, if the legislature imposes new safety requirements on transportation network companies and their drivers (HB 1291) will Uber follow through on its threat to leave Colorado? Stay tuned.
As for the issues important to CSPA, there are only two bills we have positions on that are still on their journey through the legislature. The first, SB 281 Increase Penalties Careless Driving was amended last week in the Senate to make each person seriously injured or killed in a careless driving accident a separate violation and to make careless driving causing serious bodily injury a Victim Rights Act crime. The other bill, SB 310 Proposition 130 Implementation establishes the Peace Officer Training & Support Fund and the Death Benefit Fund approved by voters last fall as part of Proposition 130 Funding for Law Enforcement. The CSPA supports both bills. Both bills are scheduled to be heard on third reading in the House later this morning. They are expected to pass. SB 281 will then go to the Governor, while SB 310 will have to go back to the Senate so that it can concur with the House amendments and repass the bill before it goes to the Governor.
Last week, two bills the CSPA supports completed their journey through the legislature. SB 069 Tire Chain Traction Control Devise Permit creates a permit to allow a private company to install or remove tire chains at certain locations and SB 187 Sunset MOST Program continues the MOST Program for 5 more years (until September 1, 2030). Both bills passed the House Appropriations Committee and second reading in the House on Tuesday and third reading on Wednesday. Since neither bill was amended in the House, they both go to the Governor where he is expected to sign them.
So far, there have been 657 bills introduced – 335 in the House and 322 in the Senate. Only 2 more days until the General Assembly is required to adjourn sine die.
Bill Skewes
Lobbyist