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Legislative Status Sheet 2004
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Denver Women's Commission
Legislative Status Sheet 2004
CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER
AGENCY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Lucía Guzmán., Executive Director
DENVER WOMEN’S COMMISSION
Chaer Robert, Director
201 W. Colfax Dept 1102
DENVER, CO 80202
TELEPHONE: 720-913-8465
FAX: 720-913-8470
TTY: 720-913-8492
www.denvergov.org\women
John Hickenlooper
Mayor
June 7, 2004--Final
STATE LEGISLATION AFFECTING WOMEN
Bill # Sponsor Title Rated**
SIGNED INTO LAW:
46 Groff Rape Victim Identity Protection +s,l,j
64 Reeves Support Obligations
88 Hanna Encourage & Recognize Breastfeeding +d,j
154 Anderson Sex Offender Registration Changes
156 Groff Prohibit Employ Sex Offender as Guards
211 Hillman Unclaimed Prop Fund & CoverColorado +h
1029 Boyd CO Works Participation in Vocational Ed +a,z,9,d,l,b,c,w
1030 Frangas Evaluation of the Colorado Works Program +a,9,d,l,b,c,w
1038 Berry Immunity for Hotline Volunteers +d,l,x,j
1047 Rose Child Support for Child Care Assistance
1049 Williams S Transitioning to Child Care Assistance +a,x,9,l
1075 Romanoff Extend Service for High Risk Pregnancies +t,d,l.b,a,h,x,w,j
1119 Hefley Extend Child Care Facilities Tax Credit +l,a,9,d
1153 Stengel Domestic Violence Victims Housing Protect +v,l,b,a,d,j
1206 Mitchell Replace CoverColo CAPCO Tax Credit +h,w
1375 Mitchell Education re Alternative Lifestyles -w***
1416 Witwer Beast & Cervical Cancer Program
VETOED:
1225 Berry Low Income Energy Assistance +a,d,c
KILLED:
49 Veiga Sexual Orientation Gender Variance Disc sJUD +9,k,l,x,w
194 Jones Colo Civil Rights Act sfloor -9,k,d,l,w
203 Anderson Reauthorize Tobacco Securitization hfin -h
210 Andrews Immigration Functions by State Personnel ` s2nd -l,9,k,v
227 Lamborn Defining Abstinence Education sfloor -n
1070 Schultheis Abortion Clinic Licensing hHEW -p,n,d,k,l,b,x,w
1085 Plant Civil Unions hIT +d,k,9,l,w
1094 McGihon Unemployment Benefits Domestic Abuse hfloor +9,v,d,k,l,b,w
1105 Madden Second Parent Adoption hIT +l,9,x,w
1144 Judd Claims Made Child Support Restitution Tax s
1175 Boyd Emergency Contraception sSA +n,p,l,k,x,s,d,w
1191 Stengel More Access Sexual Offender Registry sJUD
1229 Cerbo Unemployment Benefits Pt Time Workers hSA +9,l,k
1294 Garcia Altern Base Period Unemployment Insurance hBUS +9,k,l,d
1297 Sinclair Parenting Time at Temporary Orders hAPP -d,v
1303 Rhodes Women's Right to Know hHEW -n,l,d,p,w
1342 May M. Parental Consent hFIN -n,l,d,p,w
HJR1013 Lundberg Support for Federal Marriage Amendment hFloor -l,w
*HEWI=Health, Environment, Welfare & Institutions; JUD=Judiciary; LG= Local government ; SA=State, Veterans & Military Affairs; APP -Appropriations ; IT=Information & Technology; BUS=Business; FIN=Finance; ED=Education;TE=Transportation & Education h=House s=Senate
**+=support, -=oppose a=AFDC Coalition b=Business & Professional Women c=Colo Social Legislation Committee; d=Denver Women’s Commission; h=Colo Consumer Health Initiative; j=National Council of Jewish Women ; k= Colo Women's Agenda; l=Women’s Lobby; p=Planned Parenthood; n=NARAL; s=Colo Coal Against Sexual Assault; t=Colo Substance Abuse Task Force; v=Colo Coalition Against Domestic Violence; w= League of Women Voters;x= Colo Women's Bar Assc. 9= 9to5 Ntl Assn Working Women; z=Project Wise
***= position taken before most recent admendments, which dramatically alter the bill
If your women’s organization has taken a position on any of these bills, add its name to this list by contacting Chaer Robert at 720-913-8465 or fax 720-913-8470 or email robertc@ci.denver.co.us. To identify your representative and senator, call your County Clerk’s office or online at www.vote-smart.org . Denver residents call 720-913-8656. Updates of this are available online at www.denvergov.org/women For more information about the status of any bill call the Bill Room at 303-866-3055 or online at http://www.leg.state.co.us. For corrections, updates, or more information on this summary, contact Chaer Robert 720-913-8465 or chaer.robert@ci.denver.co.us
Welfare Oversight Committee Bills: The All Families Deserve a Chance Coalition and their members helped develop these bills:
HB 1030 continues evaluation of Colorado's Welfare Program- The last report of a five-year independent evaluation is due out this year. Under this bill by Rep. Frangas, a new RFP would be issued for a new evaluation contract. Especially under Colorado's greatly devolved welfare system, with county to county variations, evaluation is critical.
Under HB 1029 by Rep. Betty Boyd, Voc-Ed Training would be allowed more frequently for TANF recipients under a bill by Rep. Betty Boyd. Counties would be given more frequent reports on the work placement rates, so that they can allow some recipients to pursue education and training before work. Such opportunities would be limited based on workforce shortages. The bill does not pay for higher education. Project Wise proposed this bill.
Self-Sufficiency: Rep. Terrance Carroll’s HB 1139 would have had the state to adopt regional standards regarding the true cost of living. The widely use "poverty level" is very misleading- it is a nationwide standard based on three times a family's food budget.
Domestic Violence- Rep. Stengel’s HB 1153 relates to domestic violence and rental housing. As amended, a victim of domestic violence could not be evicted for calling the police. Originally it included provision to prohibit a victim from being evicted because of the domestic violence. Originally, landlords could not give a bad rental reference based on circumstances related to domestic violence and survivors of domestic violence would be allowed out of their lease or relocated to a different unit.
Unemployment Insurance- Rep. Cerbo’s HB 1229 would have expanded eligibility for part time workers. Rep. Garcia's HB 1294 would have allowed for an alternate base base period to be used in calculating unemployment benefits. This would aid workers newer to the work force or who work at a series of temporary jobs. Under HB 1094 by Anne McGihon workers who lose their job due to domestic violence would no longer have to provide documentation of both reporting the incident and being in counseling for domestic violence. Either one would do. The bill would also allow 45 days for establishing stability before a job seeking is required.
Energy Bill Assistance- The largest funding source for the Colorado Energy Assistance Foundation (now Energy Outreach Colorado) was the Fort St. Vrain Public Service lawsuit settlement money. This is the last year of that funding. Rep. Gale Berry’s HB 1225 is proposing a systems benefit charge on everyone's Xcell bill to help pay costs for those with low income. People could chose to opt out.
Reproductive Health- Rep. Betty Boyd’s HB 1175 asked hospital emergency rooms to provide emergency contraception to rape survivors. This bill was proposed by Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault and NARAL Prochoice Colorado. On the other hand, under HB 1070, Rep. Dave Schultheis proposed adding 20 pages of new regulations onto abortion clinics. HB 1303 by Rep. Pam Rhodes would have added additional requirements for women seeking abortions.
Health- Funding for CoverColorado-- the Health Insurance for those who cannot find insurance in the private market was beefed up under two proposals--- HB 1206 and SB 211. Sen. Anderson's SB 203 proposes securitization of tobacco settlement money, and outlines how the money would be used.
Substance Abuse- HB 1075 by Rep. Andrew Romanoff proposes an extension of coverage for substance abuse treatment for women on Medicaid who have recently given birth. Currently the only substance abuse treatment available under Medicaid is for pregnant women until 2 months post-partum. This would extend coverage until 1 year after giving birth.
Affirmative Action-SB 194 by Sen. Ed Jones would have PROHIBITED public colleges from considering race as one factor in higher education admissions will likely be introduced. The Supreme Court decision ALLOWS universities to consider race as one factor in admissions in the goal of having a diverse student body. The bill also disallows affirmative action in contracting and local government hiring, except as required by law or court rulings. Colorado Unity OPPOSES such legislation.
Immigration- Sen Andrew's SB 210 would have authorized the governor to contract with the federal government to have state personnel enforce immigration law. This could undermine efforts to work with immigrant community in the areas of domestic violence, crime, health, and education.
GLBT- Rep. Plant's HB 1085 would have recognized civil unions between same sex couples and give the rights and responsibilities similar to married couples. Rep. Madden's 1105 would have created same sex couples parental rights and responsibilities. Sen Veiga’s SB 49 would have prohibited employment related discrimination. On the other side, Rep. Lundberg's HJR 1013 was a resolution supporting U.S. Rep Marilyn Musgrave proposal to amend the U.S. constitution to limit marriage to one man and one women. Rep. Mitchell's HB 1375 originally banned any discussion of homosexuality except in the context of sexually transmitted diseases. As amended it codifies notification requirements regarding sex education to go to parents.
Sexual Assault-Rep. Peter Groff's HB 46 tries to protect the identity of rape victims. His SB 156 prohibits sex offenders from being hired as prison guards. Rep. Stengel's HB 1191 attempted to broaden availability of information on registered sex offenders.
Budget Constraints- A number of concurrent resolutions are proposals to be referred to the ballot changing the Colorado constitutional provisions related to TABOR and Amendment 23. They would each need 2/3rds support from each house to be placed on the ballot. While a majority of legislators believe there is a severe budget problem, there may not be enough of a consensus about what needs to be fixed.
To correct or update this list, or for more information, contact Chaer Robert, Director, Denver Women's Commission chaer.robert@ci.denver.co.us or call 720-913-8465
2004LEGStatus.doc
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