A Failure of Vigilance

The New York Times
In the trial of Alex Blueford, an Arkansas jury voted him not guilty on charges of capital and first-degree murder, but deadlocked on lesser charges. By a 6-to-3 vote last week, the Supreme Court misguidedly ruled that the state can retry him on all charges, including those for murder.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor properly noted in dissent, “the threat to individual freedom from reprosecutions that favor states and unfairly rescue them from weak cases has not waned with time. Only this court’s vigilance has.”

For the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote that the Constitution’s protection against double jeopardy — trying a defendant twice for the same offense — does not apply in this case. There was “no formal judgment of acquittal” on the murder charges, he said, so there was no “final resolution of anything” that would trigger the bar against double jeopardy.

But Justice Sotomayor rightly explained that the principle of double jeopardy applies when a jury makes a decision for acquittal, and that the form of the acquittal is less important than the substantive determination. In this case, the forewoman announced in open court that the jury had voted unanimously that Mr. Blueford was not guilty of the murder charges. Justice Sotomayor also said that the trial judge should have asked the jury to deliver a partial verdict before declaring a mistrial, as the defendant requested. Chief Justice Roberts said the Supreme Court has “never required” a trial judge to break the impasse of a jury by seeking a partial verdict.

That position ignores a reality of Arkansas law. The jury was instructed to decide the most serious charge first, and then move on to the next charge (in descending order of seriousness) only if it acquitted on the previous charge. The Blueford jury reached an impasse only when it got to the lesser charge of manslaughter; it did not vote on the least serious charge, negligent homicide.

The trial judge, as Justice Sotomayor noted, failed to respect the finality of the jury’s vote to acquit on murder. The court’s majority failed to protect the defendant’s constitutional right to be spared double jeopardy, and instead protected the trial judge’s mistake.

Inmates Considerig Escape from DOC Find the Bar Raised

The Denver Post

All 50 inmates who escaped from Colorado prisons since 2000 were captured, most within 24 hours of absconding.
Corrections officials credit changed search protocols and more accurate assessments of weak links in prison building security.
"Something different had to be done," said Jay Kirby, chief investigator for the Colorado Department of Corrections. "More and more escapes were taking place."
In the mid-1990s, the DOC developed a command center in the agency's Colorado Springs headquarters. There, investigators calculate where an escaped inmate might seek solace, and they coordinate the hunt with other agencies.
Also, the DOC began conducting vulnerability assessments in 2003 on facilities to discover weaknesses,

DOC Chief Investigator Jay Kirby sits in the command center the DOC uses to track and coordinate the apprehension of escaped inmates on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at DOC headquarters in Colorado Springs. Since 2000, 50 inmates - 47 male, three female - have escaped various prisons in a variety of manners, according to officials, with all 50 having been captured. (THE DENVER POST | Seth A. McConnell)

spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti said."That made a big difference," she said.
The escapees — 47 men and three women — were captured due to the changes.
Despite perception, officials said escapes occur more frequently than people realize. In 2003, 11 inmates escaped, the most in a single year since 2000.
Although most of the 50 inmates escaped from work crews and lower-level facilities, other prisoners were far more bold, Sanguinetti said.
"In 2010, one at Sterling went through a lethal fence that should have killed him," she said.
The inmate escaped by crawling over razor wire and under an electrified fence, she said. He was eventually captured after taking a woman hostage in her home.
That inmate's route out of the prison has since been eliminated.
"That is not going to happen again," Sanguinetti said.
Another inmate ended up literally running around the streets of downtown Denver in 2003 after he escaped from Buena Vista Correctional Complex in the back of a trailer hauling saddles that were made at the prison, Sanguinetti said.
Along with a few others, these inmates did not have a plan in place for what they would do once out, an oversight

officials said is not uncommon. "Many just think it through up to the point where they are over the fence," Kirby said.

Read more: Inmates considering escape from Colorado prisons find bar raised - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20719965/inmates-considering-escape-from-colorado-prisons-find-bar#ixzz1wGMxW3zs
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Addicition Diagnosis May Rise Under Guideline Changes

NY TIMES

By IAN URBINA

WASHINGTON — In what could prove to be one of their most far-reaching decisions, psychiatrists and other specialists who are rewriting the manual that serves as the nation’s arbiter of mental illness have agreed to revise the definition of addiction, which could result in millions more people being diagnosed as addicts and pose huge consequences for health insurers and taxpayers.

The revision to the manual, known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or D.S.M., would expand the list of recognized symptoms for drug and alcohol addiction, while also reducing the number of symptoms required for a diagnosis, according to proposed changes posted on the Web site of the American Psychiatric Association, which produces the book.

In addition, the manual for the first time would include gambling as an addiction, and it might introduce a catchall category — “behavioral addiction — not otherwise specified” — that some public health experts warn would be too readily used by doctors, despite a dearth of research, to diagnose addictions to shopping, sex, using the Internet or playing video games.

Part medical guidebook, part legal reference, the manual has long been embraced by government and industry. It dictates whether insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid, will pay for treatment, and whether schools will expand financing for certain special-education services. Courts use it to assess whether a criminal defendant is mentally impaired, and pharmaceutical companies rely on it to guide their research.

The broader language involving addiction, which was debated this week at the association’s annual conference, is intended to promote more accurate diagnoses, earlier intervention and better outcomes, the association said. “The biggest problem in all of psychiatry is untreated illness, and that has huge social costs,” said Dr. James H. Scully Jr., chief executive of the group.

But the addiction revisions in the manual, scheduled for release in May 2013, have already provoked controversy similar to concerns previously raised about proposals on autism, depression and other conditions. Critics worry that changes to the definitions of these conditions would also sharply alter the number of people with diagnoses.

While the association says that the addiction definition changes would lead to health care savings in the long run, some economists say that 20 million substance abusers could be newly categorized as addicts, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in additional expenses.

“The chances of getting a diagnosis are going to be much greater, and this will artificially inflate the statistics considerably,” said Thomas F. Babor, a psychiatric epidemiologist at the University of Connecticut who is an editor of the international journal Addiction. Many of those who get addiction diagnoses under the new guidelines would have only a mild problem, he said, and scarce resources for drug treatment in schools, prisons and health care settings would be misdirected.

“These sorts of diagnoses could be a real embarrassment,” Dr. Babor added.

The scientific review panel of the psychiatric association has demanded more evidence to support the revisions on addiction, but several researchers involved with the manual have said that the panel is not likely to change its proposal significantly.

The controversies about the revisions have highlighted the outsize influence of the manual, which brings in more than $5 million annually to the association and is written by a group of 162 specialists in relative secrecy. Besieged from all sides, the association has received about 25,000 comments on the proposed changes from treatment centers, hospital representatives, government agencies, advocates for patient groups and researchers. The organization has declined to make these comments public.

While other medical specialties rely on similar diagnostic manuals, none have such influence. “The D.S.M. is distinct from all other diagnostic manuals because it has an enormous, perhaps too large, impact on society and millions of people’s lives,” said Dr. Allen J. Frances, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke, who oversaw the writing of the current version of the manual and worked on previous editions. “Unlike many other fields, psychiatric illnesses have no clear biological gold standard for diagnosing them. They present in different ways, and illnesses often overlap with each other.”

Dr. Frances has been one of the most outspoken critics of the new draft version, saying that overly broad and vaguely worded definitions will create more “false epidemics” and “medicalization of everyday behavior.” Like some others, he has also questioned whether a private association, whose members stand to gain from treating more patients, should be writing the manual, rather than an independent group or a federal agency.

Under the new criteria, people who often drink more than intended and crave alcohol may be considered mild addicts. Under the old criteria, more serious symptoms, like repeatedly missing work or school, being arrested or driving under the influence, were required before a person could receive a diagnosis as an alcohol abuser.

Abused Kids May Mingle with Delinquents

WESTWORD
Behind his glasses, Jack has a sweet face. It's the face of a kid who's been hurt by the very people who were supposed to protect him. A kid who's carefully creeping toward learning to trust adults and to believe that they won't manipulate him or abandon him like his parents did. Slowly, Jack is coming to realize that what happened isn't his fault.
Jack, who is sixteen, was removed from his home just after his twelfth birthday. The call was made by his mentally ill mom and domineering stepdad. Take our oldest son, they told child-welfare workers. He's the reason we're poor and down on our luck; he's the one who is mentally ill. Although Jack's stepdad never beat him, he demanded that Jack hurt himself, punishing the boy by making him hold a squatting position long after his thighs burned with pain. There was also emotional abuse, and Jack and his four younger siblings have recently hinted that they may have been sexually abused, too.
But Jack, whose name was changed for this story, isn't mentally ill. His only diagnosis, after more than four years of therapy, is post-traumatic stress disorder. Still, he's not like most sixteen-year-old boys. His attorney describes him as "pesky," the way a ten-year-old little brother might be pesky. His development has been stunted by trauma. For his sixteenth birthday, Jack asked for Matchbox cars.
What he wants most is a family, but that hasn't happened. Although his social workers don't have the heart to tell him, there's little chance that someone would adopt Jack at his age.
Instead, a new law passed in April allows Colorado counties to put physically and emotionally abused boys like Jack at a remote, privately run facility that houses a quarter of the state's committed juvenile delinquents: boys ages 14 to 21 who are guilty of crimes such as car theft, aggravated assault and vehicular homicide.
Ridge View Youth Services Center in Watkins was supposed to be Colorado's answer to its problem of too many delinquent teenagers and not enough room. But lately it's had more empty beds than full ones. Expanding the types of youth that can go to Ridge View will certainly fill some of them, but those in favor of the plan — including state lawmakers, county officials and employees of Rite of Passage, the for-profit organization that operates Ridge View — insist that it's not about making money, saving money or warehousing children. Instead, they praise Ridge View's unique approach, which combines academics and athletics in a fence-less environment that proponents say more closely resembles a prep school than a prison.
If opening Ridge View to non-criminal youth helps just one boy, they repeatedly say, it'd be worth it.
But child-welfare advocates are skeptical. They insist that the two types of youth don't belong together. At a place like Ridge View, which is designed for "high-risk" kids, someone like Jack is sure to become a pawn or a punching bag or a delinquent youth himself.
"My concern is, we're starting out youth deep in the juvenile-justice system before they've even committed a crime," says Kim Dvorchak, executive director of the Colorado Juvenile Defender Coalition. "It feels like commitment without trial."
"We are very concerned...about what message we would send to a young person who has been traumatized by abuse and neglect and then placed in a juvenile correctional facility where the focus is on changing the behavior of the offender," Carla Bennett, a volunteer lobbyist on juvenile-justice issues for the League of Women Voters of Colorado, told lawmakers debating the bill. "Will there be a subtle message, or maybe not so subtle, that the [dependent or neglected] youth was somehow responsible for his problems?"

Tickets! Get you tickets!!

Voices For Justice

 

We are writing today in regards to the CCJRC annual fundraiser.

This year our event will be held on Thursday September 20, 2012 at the Mile-High Station

  Your support of our event will help CCJRC to continue to be at the forefront of criminal justice reform in Colorado. 

Early bird tickets are available for now only $50 each.

 

There are also several levels of sponsorship available. If you have any questions about what it means to be a sponsor, I am available at pam@ccjrc.org or (303) 825-0122. CCJRC is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible.

 

CCJRC invites our friends and supporters for our fourth annual night of fun and fundraising. 

VOICES FOR JUSTICE
Thursday September 20th 5 - 9:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR EARLY BIRD TICKETS!
THEY ARE ONLY $50 UNTIL JULY 20

BUY TICKETS EARLY

*AFTER JULY 20-TICKETS ARE $75

New Venue
Mile High Station
2027 W. Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80204

New Caterer
Biscuits & Berries

New Voices
VOICES FOR JUSTICE

New Award
Rupert-Tate Game Changer Award

DINNER and OPEN BAR
SILENT & LIVE AUCTION

 

COLORADO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM COALITION

Fact Sheet                             

 

CCJRC has been successfully advocating for sensible criminal justice reform in Colorado for over a decade.

We were founded in 1999 when Senator Dorothy Rupert, in alliance with Senator Penfield Tate, introduced legislation calling for a three-year halt on prison expansion and the creation of a task force on sentencing reform. Although this legislation did not pass, it served as a catalyst for uniting a diverse group interested in working on state level criminal justice policy reform. Today CCJRC includes over 100 diverse organizations and faith communities and over 7,000 individual members statewide.

We have worked diligently over the years to develop criminal justice policies and grassroots campaigns that effectively promote public safety and rehabilitation without relying on further prison expansion. CCJRC believes that continued growth of the prison population is neither sustainable nor inevitable.

Facts

• The Colorado prison population ballooned from under 4,000 people to over 23,000 people between 1985 and 2007 due to the “war on drugs” and the “get tough on crime” philosophy
• The annual state prison budget has grown from under $70 million to over $800 million today
• Since 1990 Colorado has spent over $800 million dollars building 12 state prisons and at one point contracted with 7 private prisonsNearly 25% of people in prison are there because of a drug offense (mostly possession), and 80% of the people in prison have a drug or alcohol abuse problem
• Approximately 65% of offenders will be returned to prison within three years, most of them for a technical violation of parole

CCJRC continues to develop and pass drug policy reform legislation that promotes recovery and prevention.  In addition, we have supported parole/re-entry reform that impacts the revolving door to prison and addresses the collateral consequences of conviction.

Successes

• Twenty four criminal justice reform bills that CCJRC was involved with were signed into law in the last three years
• 22.5 Million Dollars will be reinvested from the Department of Corrections budget into treatment and support services for people in the criminal justice system in Colorado because of legislative changes in the past four years.
• Four prisons have been closed in Colorado in the last three years, with a fifth, CSP II, to close in 2013!
• Named by GuideStar as one of the top high-impact nonprofits working in state criminal justice reform
• Revising and expanding the 3^rd edition of our Re-Entry Guide for release this summer
• Co-hosted Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, to help raise awareness of the deep impact of collateral consequences, particularly in the minority community

A Fair Shot At a Job

NT TIMES

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled 25 years ago that it was illegal under the Civil Rights Act for companies to exclude people from employment based on arrest or conviction records — unless there was a compelling business reason. Since companies all over the country appear to be ignoring this important policy, the E.E.O.C. needs to strongly reaffirm the ruling and give employers detailed guidance on how to comply when it meets to consider this issue on Wednesday.

According to a startling 2011 report from the National Employment Law Project, an advocacy group, about 90 percent of companies are using criminal background checks in hiring decisions and about 65 million people have criminal records. The group found that companies of all sizes routinely deny people with records any chance to establish their qualifications, even for entry-level jobs like warehouse worker. These blanket exclusion policies flout the E.E.O.C. rules. They also ignore research showing that many offenders who stay out of trouble for even a brief period after their original crimes present little or no risk to employers.

The E.E.O.C. rules say employers may deny job opportunities to individuals based on prior conduct that might indicate a lack of fitness for the position, not just because of an arrest or conviction. They are allowed to consider the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that has passed since conviction and the nature of the job. But too many employers don’t even know there is a standard. The agency could remedy that by laying out the policy clearly, with examples. It also needs to enforce the rules broadly.

Not a Good Night in Denver

Within minutes of each other the SVMA committee voted down Civil Unions 5- 4 during the Special Session called by the Governor.  Billed as the "kill committee"  it certainly lived up to it's name.

A few minutes later just across the park, the Denver City Council votes 9-4 to Ban Homeless Camping in Denver.   Mayor Hancock is in support of the bill and is expected to sign it.  Here's the article from earlier about how this affects homeless families

Wheatridge Teen Treatment Center Lied to Patients

The Denver Post

A 14-year-old rape victim was ordered to strip and touch her toes while three people stared at her from behind for no apparent medical reason.
When the girl resisted, the staff at Adolescent and Family Institute of Colorado threatened to tell other teens at the treatment center that she had a sexually transmitted disease — even though she didn't. She then submitted to the "humiliating" exam, a lawsuit alleges.
The girl is one of four teens who, with their parents, have sued the Wheat Ridge facility in Jefferson County District Court. A parent of a fifth former resident has filed a separate lawsuit.
Former residents of the home that was created to address psychological and behavioral issues of unruly teens allege a laundry list of recurring issues.
They claim agency officials took them off medications for diagnosed medical and psychological conditions without justification; ordered them to lie, including claiming they wanted to kill relatives, to justify treatment; and isolated parents from children and fostered familial rifts, sometimes by claiming incestuous relationships that didn't exist.
AFIC's attorney Michael Drew released a statement saying that the allegations in the lawsuit against the agency are false and misleading. The agency will contest the claims in court, not in the media, he said.
Drew said the facility has been accredited by t he Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations since 1984 and licensed by the Department of Human Services' Child Care Division and the Division of Behavioral Health's mental-health office.
"Through its years of experience and dedication, AFIC has pursued its mission of caring for adolescents with difficult and complex behavioral health problems," Drew's statement said.
Request for damages
The latest lawsuits seek injunctive relief to stop AFIC from abusive conduct because "defendants' conduct is capable of repetition." Plaintiffs in both lawsuits seek more than $100,000 in damages.
Between 1990 and 2000, several civil suits were filed against AFIC, according to court records and a news report. Robert Rouse, a father of a former AFIC resident, said he settled a 1991 lawsuit against AFIC.
AFIC is led by president Alexander Panio, an unlicensed therapist who obtained his doctorate from California Coast University, a distance-learning program that has been described as a diploma mill by federal regulators.
"AFIC is essentially the alter ego of Panio," according to the lawsuit filed by Denver attorneys Jerome M. Reinan and Jordana Griff Gingrass.

Read more: Lawsuits allege Wheat Ridge teen treatment center lied to patients, fostered rifts with parents - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20611695/lawsuits-allege-teen-treatment-center-lied-patients-fostered#ixzz1uoE243Zg
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

DOC Population Numbers for April

COLORADO DEPT OF CORRECTIONS Monthly Report
COLORADO DEPT OF CORRECTIONS Dashboard Report
The numbers just keep dropping...Take a look, the template and reporting is different now.

All the Bills That Died

HB12-1255	Ending Continuous Appropriation Of State Moneys
Sponsors:	BAUMGARDNER
Summary:	Beginning on July 1, 2012, the bill ends all continuous appropriations from the general fund or any cash fund to any state agency. The general assembly is required to annually appropriate the moneys that were previously continuously appropriated, and it is prohibited from continuously appropriating moneys to a state agency in the future.
Status:	02/07/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:
Video Center:
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (22) in house calendar.

HB12-1309	Colorado Mandatory E-verify Act
Sponsors:	SWALM / KING K.
Summary:	Under current law, employers are required to examine, and retain records of examining, the legal work status of new employees. The bill enacts the "Colorado Mandatory E-verify Act", which requires all employers in the state, by January 1, 2013, to instead participate in the federal electronic verification program (e-verify program) for purposes of verifying the work eligibility status of all new employees hired by an employer. Employers are subject to fines of up to $5,000 for a first offense and up to $25,000 for a second offense for failing to participate in the e-verify program. For subsequent offenses, an employer is subject to a fine of up to $25,000 and a 6-month suspension of the employer's business licenses. The department of labor and employment (department) must notify employers via quarterly electronic publications and post a notice on its web site explaining the requirements of the act to employers. Additionally, the bill requires the secretary of state, in consultation with the department, to include information about the requirements of the act on its web site.
Status:	02/20/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Economic and Business Development 03/22/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Refer Amended to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources 05/07/2012 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources: HB12-1309 House Economic and Business Development : HB12-1309
Video Center:
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (20) in house calendar.

HB12-1356	No Sev Money For Local Gov That Impacts Oil & Gas
Sponsors:	SONNENBERG / BROPHY
Summary:	Currently, moneys in the local government severance tax fund are primarily used for 2 purposes: * For the executive director of the department of local affairs to provide grants and loans to political subdivisions impacted by development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels; and * For direct distributions to counties and municipalities based on factors related to oil and gas production. The bill prohibits any local government that restricts or delays the ability of an oil and gas producer to exercise the producer's property right as a lessee or owner to extract oil and gas from receiving any grants or direct distributions from the local government severance tax fund.
Status:	04/27/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources 05/07/2012 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:
Video Center:
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (21) in house calendar.

SB12-002	Civil Unions
Sponsors:	STEADMAN
Summary:	The bill creates the "Colorado Civil Union Act" (Act) to authorize any 2 unmarried adults, regardless of gender, to enter into a civil union. Parties wanting to enter into a civil union apply to a county clerk and recorder for a civil union license. Certain persons may certify a civil union. After the civil union is certified, the officiant files the civil union certificate with the county clerk and recorder. A priest, minister, rabbi, or other official of a religious institution or denomination or an Indian nation or tribe is not required to certify a civil union in violation of his or her right to free exercise of religion. The criteria for a valid civil union are set forth in the bill. The executive director of the department of public health and environment and the state registrar of vital statistics shall issue forms necessary to implement the Act. Each county clerk and recorder submits records of registered civil unions to the office of vital statistics. A county clerk and recorder collects a fee for a civil union license, which fee is credited to the vital statistics records cash fund. The state registrar of vital statistics is authorized to set and collect an additional fee for verification of civil unions, which fee is credited to the vital statistics records cash fund. A county clerk and recorder collects a $20 fee to be credited to the Colorado domestic abuse program fund. The legal benefits, protections, and responsibilities that are granted under the law to spouses apply in like manner to parties to a civil union, including the following: * Responsibility for financial support of a party to a civil union; * Rights and abilities concerning transfer of real or personal property to a party in a civil union; * The ability to file a claim based on wrongful death, emotional distress, loss of consortium, dramshop, or other laws, whether common law or statutory, related to or dependent upon spousal status; * Prohibitions against discrimination based upon spousal status; * The ability to inherit real and personal property from a party in a civil union under the probate code; * Priority for appointment as a conservator, guardian, or personal representative; * Survivor benefits under and inclusion in workers' compensation laws; * The ability to adopt a child of a party to a civil union; * The ability to insure a party to a civil union under group benefit plans for state employees; * The ability to designate a party in a civil union as a beneficiary under the state public employees retirement system; * Survivor benefits under local government firefighter and police pensions; * Protections and coverage under domestic abuse and domestic violence laws; * Rights and protections under victims' compensation laws and victims and witness protection laws; * Laws, policies, or procedures relating to emergency and nonemergency medical care and treatment and hospital visitation; * Rights to visit a party in a civil union in a correctional facility, jail, or private contract prison or in a facility providing mental health treatment; * The ability to file a complaint about the care or treatment of a party in a civil union in a nursing home; * Rights relating to declarations concerning the administration, withholding, or withdrawing of medical treatment, proxy decision-makers and surrogate decision-makers, CPR directives, or directives concerning medical orders for scope of treatment forms with respect to a party to a civil union; * Rights concerning the disposition of the last remains of a party to a civil union; * The right to make decisions regarding anatomical gifts; * Eligibility for family leave benefits; * Eligibility for public assistance benefits; * A privilege from providing compelled testimony against a party in a civil union and evidentiary privileges for parties to a civil union; * The right to apply for emergency or involuntary commitment of a party to a civil union; * The right to claim a homestead exemption; * The ability to protect exempt property from attachment, execution, or garnishment; * Dependent coverage under life insurance; and * Dependent coverage under health insurance policies; except that this provision is effective for plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2013. The same processes that are provided in law for dissolution, legal separation, and declaration of invalidity of a marriage apply to dissolution, legal separation, and declaration of invalidity of a civil union. Any person who enters into a civil union in Colorado consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of Colorado for the purpose of any action relating to a civil union even if one or both parties cease to reside in the state. The courts are directed to follow the laws of Colorado in a matter filed in Colorado that is seeking a dissolution, legal separation, or invalidity of a civil union that was entered into in another state. The courts are authorized to collect docket fees for the dissolution of a civil union, legal separation of a civil union, and declaration of invalidity of a civil union. The Act shall not be construed to create a marriage between the parties to a civil union or alter the public policy of this state that recognizes only the union of one man and one woman as a marriage. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Act shall not be interpreted to require a child placement agency to place a child for adoption with parties to a civil union. The Act includes a reciprocity and principle of comity section that states that a relationship between persons of the same sex that does not comply with section 31 of article II of the state constitution that is legally entered into in another jurisdiction is deemed in Colorado to be a civil union and that, under principles of comity, a civil union, domestic partnership, or a substantially similar legal relationship that is legally created in another jurisdiction is deemed to be a civil union for purposes of Colorado law. A severability clause is included in the Act. The executive director of the department of revenue is authorized to appoint a study commission to investigate and report on what changes in the law could be made to ensure equitable tax treatment and to allow parties to a civil union to file a joint state tax return without violating the federal tax laws. Until a statutory change is enacted to authorize the filing of a joint state tax return by parties to a civil union, the Act shall not be construed to permit the filing of a joint income tax return by the parties to a civil union. A custodian of records is prohibited from allowing a person, other than the person in interest or an immediate family member of the person in interest, to inspect the application for a civil union license of any person; except that a district court may order the custodian to permit inspection of the license application for a civil union upon a showing of good cause. A person who has entered into a designated beneficiary agreement under Colorado's designated beneficiary statute is precluded from entering into a civil union with a different person. If both parties to a designated beneficiary agreement are eligible to enter into a valid civil union and subsequently enter into a civil union, the civil union certificate constitutes a superseding legal document that supersedes and invalidates the prior designated beneficiary agreement. The bill makes other conforming amendments. The bill takes effect October 1, 2012; except that the provision relating to the inclusion of a partner in a civil union as a dependent on a health insurance policy takes effect January 1, 2013.
Status:	01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary 01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary + Finance 01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary + Finance + Appropriations 02/15/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Finance 02/16/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 04/17/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/19/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/20/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/25/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/26/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments 05/01/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary 05/03/2012 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Finance 05/04/2012 House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:	Civil unions bill killed along with 30 other bills in late-night game of political chicken Civil unions bill dies in Colorado House after 'impasse' Editorial: If Colorado civil unions bill stalls, special session should be called Rep. Cheri Gerou says fellow Jeffco Republican “lied” about civil unions
Audio, Floors and Committees:	House Finance: SB12-002 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 107: SB12-002 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 106: SB12-002 Senate Judiciary : SB12-002 Senate Judiciary : SB12-002
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 106: SB12-002 Senate Legislative Day 107: SB12-002 Senate Legislative Day 106: SB12-002
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (29) in house calendar.

SB12-005	Ofc Econ Dev Business Retention & Expansion Prog
Sponsors:	NEWELL / MASSEY
Summary:	In order to retain and grow existing businesses in the state, the bill directs the Colorado office of economic development (office) to develop and administer the Colorado business retention and expansion program under the office's statewide economic development plan. The bill describes the office's specific duties under the program, including the requirement that the office annually report on the program to the general assembly.
Status:	01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor and Technology 01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor and Technology + Appropriations 01/30/2012 Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/03/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/05/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/09/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/23/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/24/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 04/27/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations 05/04/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 105: SB12-005 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 104: SB12-005
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 105: SB12-005 Senate Legislative Day 104: SB12-005
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (15) in house calendar.

SB12-012	DOR Audits Auto Emission Test Centers
Sponsors:	KING S. / MIKLOSI
Summary:	Legislative Audit Committee. The bill implements the recommendations of the legislative audit committee regarding the department of revenue's audits of facilities that conduct automobile emission inspections. Specifically, federal environmental protection agency rules require such inspections at least twice per year while current state law generally requires them every 90 days; the bill conforms state law with federal law. Current law requires the department to conduct performance audits on each test lane at enhanced inspection centers and equipment audits on each lane at all types of inspection centers; the bill requires such audits to be conducted at least twice per year on each lane at the facilities. Finally, the bill authorizes the department to conduct risk-based audits for stations and facilities employing inspectors or mechanics suspected of violating rules.
Status:	01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation 01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation + Appropriations 01/24/2012 Senate Committee on Transportation Refer Unamended to Appropriations 02/03/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 02/10/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 02/13/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 02/16/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation 03/15/2012 House Committee on Transportation Refer Unamended to Finance 03/29/2012 House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 04/20/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole 04/23/2012 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed 04/24/2012 House Third Reading Passed 05/02/2012:42 PM 04:10 Signed by the President of the Senate 05/03/2012:36 PM 04:20 Signed by the Speaker of the House 05/04/2012 Sent to the Governor
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado House Audio 2012 Legislative Day 105: SB12-012 Colorado House Audio 2012 Legislative Day 104: SB12-012 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 34: SB12-012
Video Center:	House Legislative Day 104: SB12-012 House Legislative Day 105: SB12-012 Senate Legislative Day 34: SB12-012 Senate Legislative Day 31: SB12-012
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-027	Committee Of Reference Review Of Rules
Sponsors:	SCHEFFEL
Summary:	The bill creates an additional rule review process for rules adopted on or after November 1, 2011, that are determined by the staff of the committee on legal services (the office of legislative legal services) to be related to legislation enacted during any legislative session, regular or special, commencing on or after January 1, 2011. The rules are to be reviewed by a committee of reference of the general assembly. The legislative council staff determines what committee of reference appears to be the most appropriate based on the principal departments assigned to each committee of reference as specified in legislative rule. The committees of reference must review all assigned rules no later than the 45th day of the legislative session. Each committee of reference may establish its own procedures for the review, but the bill sets forth minimum requirements for at least one public meeting. The bill allows the committees of reference to disapprove a rule for any reason, but provides the committees of reference some minimum considerations. The bill requires that the committees of reference recommend to the general assembly a bill regarding the committee's determinations related to the expiration or postponement of the expiration of rules assigned to and reviewed by the committee of reference. The bill also requires the posting of a completed cost-benefit analysis on the official web sites of the agencies completing the cost-benefit analysis and the official web site of the department of regulatory agencies.
Status:	01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary 01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary + Appropriations 02/01/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only 02/14/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/10/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/12/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/24/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/25/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily 04/26/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/01/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Economic and Business Development 05/03/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 107: SB12-027 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 105: SB12-027 Senate Judiciary : SB12-027 Senate Judiciary : SB12-027
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 107: SB12-027 Senate Legislative Day 105: SB12-027
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (11) in house calendar.

SB12-028	Aggravated Juvenile Offenders
Sponsors:	GRANTHAM
Summary:	When a juvenile is adjudicated a delinquent for either murder in the first or second degree and adjudicated an aggravated juvenile offender, the court may sentence the juvenile consecutively or concurrently for all adjudicated offenses arising from the petition. Under current law, an aggravated juvenile offender whose custody is transferred to the department of corrections is subject to the adult parole provisions. The bill sets the period of parole for an aggravated juvenile offender who was adjudicated a delinquent for first degree murder at 20 years after the completion of his or her sentence. Under current law, when an aggravated juvenile offender who is under the jurisdiction of the department of human services reaches 20 years and 6 months of age, the court conducts a hearing to determine the offender's further placement. The bill requires the court to order a psychological evaluation before the hearing to determine if the juvenile is a danger to himself or herself or others.
Status:	01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary 01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary + Appropriations 01/30/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/10/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/12/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/24/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/25/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily 04/26/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/01/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary 05/03/2012 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/04/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 107: SB12-028 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 105: SB12-028 Senate Judiciary : SB12-028 Senate Judiciary : SB12-028
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 107: SB12-028 Senate Legislative Day 105: SB12-028
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (6) in house calendar.

SB12-046	Discipline In Public Schools
Sponsors:	NEWELL / NIKKEL
Summary:	Legislative Task Force to Study School Discipline. The bill amends the statutory grounds for suspension or expulsion of a student to increase the discretion of school administrators and school district boards of education (local boards). The only circumstances under which expulsion remains mandatory are those that involve a student who is determined to have brought a firearm to school or possessed a firearm at school. The bill defines the terms "suspension", "in-school suspension", "out-of-school suspension", and "expulsion". The bill relocates, with substantive amendments, certain statutory provisions concerning school conduct and discipline codes (codes) and safe school reporting requirements. Each code shall include criteria distinguishing minor code violations from behavior that will result in the referral of an offending student to a law enforcement agency. Each code shall include a specific policy concerning the prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence. Each public school of a school district shall require each student enrolled in the public school to be familiar with the provisions of the code. In creating and enforcing a code, each local board shall: * Ensure that the code is designed to protect students from harm, provide opportunities for students to learn from their mistakes, foster a positive learning community, keep students in school, and implement a graduated set of age-appropriate responses to misconduct that are fair and proportionate in relation to each student's individual conduct; * To the extent practicable, limit the use of out-of-school suspensions and expulsions to incidents that involve conduct that poses a serious and credible threat to the safety of pupils and staff; and * To the extent practicable, use prevention, intervention, restorative justice, peer mediation, counseling, and other approaches to address student misconduct. In creating a code, each local board shall solicit and consider input from the school district accountability committee of the school district and a local or statewide law enforcement agency. To the extent practicable, each local board shall assist teachers and other school employees, as may be appropriate, in obtaining training in conflict resolution in and out of the classroom, disciplinary alternatives, and restorative justice for the purpose of preventing violations of the school district's code. If a student is suspended from school, the suspending authority shall provide an opportunity for the student to make up school work during the period of suspension for full academic credit. The report of code violations that is required of each school principal as part of the safe school reporting requirements shall specifically identify each violation that resulted in referral to a law enforcement agency. On and after October 1, 2012, the peace officer standards and training (P.O.S.T.) board shall create and provide a training curriculum to prepare peace officers to serve as school resource officers. In creating the training curriculum, the P.O.S.T. board shall solicit and, to the extent practicable, implement the suggestions of relevant stakeholders. On and after October 1, 2013, neither a school administrator nor a local board shall accept the assignment of a peace officer acting in his or her official capacity as school resource officer in a public school unless the peace officer has successfully completed the school resource officer training program.
Status:	01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education 02/16/2012 Senate Committee on Education Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only 03/01/2012 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/24/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/26/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/27/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/01/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education 05/02/2012 House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 108: SB12-046 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 107: SB12-046
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 108: SB12-046 Senate Legislative Day 107: SB12-046
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (5) in house calendar.

SB12-047	Basic Skills Testing In High School
Sponsors:	KING K. / MASSEY
Summary:	Educational Success Task Force. The general assembly recognizes the federal high school testing requirements; recognizes that most states have adopted the common core state standards in mathematics and English language arts; and states its intent and expectation that ACT, Inc., will reconfigure the ACT to align with the common core state standards and thereby enable the states to administer the ACT as the statewide high school assessment that meets the federal high school testing requirements. The bill clarifies that each public school, including each charter school, will assist each student and his or her parent in creating and maintaining an individual career and academic plan (ICAP) no later than ninth grade. The school will work with the student to use the ICAP to guide course selections and performance expectations with the goal of ensuring the student demonstrates postsecondary and workforce readiness upon graduation at a level that enables the student to progress toward his or her postsecondary goals, as identified in the ICAP, without needing remedial educational services. Starting in the 2012-13 school year, each public school, including each charter school, that includes grades 9 through 12 will administer to students in those grades the basic skills placement or assessments tests (basic skills tests) that are used by the community colleges for first-time freshman students, except the schools need not administer the tests to students with disabilities who take the alternative statewide assessments. The school district or charter school will receive state funding to pay for one administration per student of all of the basic skills test units. If indicated by the student's scores, the school will create an intervention plan for the student to ensure that the student receives the classes and other educational services necessary for the student to demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness at graduation at a level that allows the student to advance toward his or her identified postsecondary goals without needing remedial educational services. The school, the student, and the student's parents may agree to concurrently enroll the student in basic skills courses at an institution of higher education if the student is in twelfth grade. Each student's ICAP will include the student's scores on the basic skills tests and the student's intervention plan, if any. When adopting the criteria for endorsed high school diplomas, the state board of education and the Colorado commission on higher education will establish the criteria for demonstrating postsecondary and workforce readiness at various levels that reflect the postsecondary education options available to students. Because the criteria for issuing endorsed high school diplomas are not yet adopted, the bill changes the beginning date on which schools and school districts will be held accountable for the number of students who receive endorsed high school diplomas.
Status:	01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education 01/11/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education + Appropriations 02/15/2012 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/10/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/12/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/23/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/24/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments 04/27/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education 04/30/2012 House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/03/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 105: SB12-047 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 105: SB12-047 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 104: SB12-047
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 105: SB12-047 Senate Legislative Day 105: SB12-047 Senate Legislative Day 104: SB12-047
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (16) in house calendar.

SB12-083	Dynamic Modeling For Fiscal Impact Of Bills
Sponsors:	SCHEFFEL / DELGROSSO
Summary:	The bill changes the process by which legislative council staff obtains a dynamic model to be used initially to analyze the direct and indirect or secondary economic effects related to a limited number of bills making a tax policy change. Specifically, the bill requires the director of research to solicit and accept proposals to develop or procure a dynamic model and to present the proposals to the executive committee of the legislative council (executive committee). The executive committee then selects the dynamic model. As soon as there is sufficient moneys in the dynamic modeling cash fund, which includes gifts, grants, and donations, the director must purchase the dynamic model to be used by legislative council staff. The requirement that the director hire an independent contractor if there is $120,000 in gifts, grants, and donations is eliminated, and the prohibition on using general fund moneys is limited to prohibiting such moneys from being used to purchase the model. The bill also exempts the dynamic modeling cash fund from general reporting and repeal requirements related to gifts, grants, and donations.
Status:	01/19/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance 05/01/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations 05/04/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/07/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments 05/08/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/08/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance 05/08/2012 House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Legislative Council
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 119: SB12-083 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 118: SB12-083
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 118: SB12-083
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-086	Study Cost Of Regulatory Compliance
Sponsors:	CADMAN
Summary:	This bill creates a legislatively appointed task force to study the cost of regulatory compliance for businesses in Colorado subject to Colorado's regulatory system. The task force consists of 9 members: 2 of the members are appointed by the president of the senate; 2 by the minority leader of the senate; 2 by the speaker of the house of representatives; and 2 by the minority leader of the house of representatives, respectively. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives jointly appoint one member of the task force. The bill establishes the qualifications required for each of the members of the task force. The duration of the study is 2 years with an interim report and a final report to the general assembly of the results of the study at its conclusion. The bill establishes the general guidelines for the contents of the study and authorizes the task force to consult similar studies, including studies that have been carried out for the federal government. The bill requires the task force to be funded privately by gifts, grants, and donations and adequate funding for the study must be tracked by the legislative council staff as provided by law. The bill authorizes the directors of the legislative council staff and the office of legislative legal services and the state auditor to provide staff to the task force if adequate funding is received. The task force may also accept staff support from the private sector.
Status:	01/19/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance 01/19/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance + Appropriations 02/09/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 03/09/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 03/13/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 05/01/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed 05/02/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/02/2012 Senate Third Reading Reconsidered 05/02/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Economic and Business Development 05/03/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Refer Unamended to Legislative Council 05/04/2012 House Committee on Legislative Council Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Legislative Council Committee: SB12-086 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 113: SB12-086 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 113: SB12-086 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 112: SB12-086
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 113: SB12-086 Senate Legislative Day 113: SB12-086 Senate Legislative Day 112: SB12-086
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (24) in house calendar.

SB12-101	Authority Of A Local Improvement District
Sponsors:	NICHOLSON / BRADFORD
Summary:	The bill modifies certain provisions of the law governing county and city and county local improvement districts (districts) to make the provisions consistent with the law governing improvement districts. Section 1 of the bill allows a district in which a sales tax is levied to include noncontiguous areas. Section 2 allows a district to use sales tax revenues for the organization, promotion, marketing, and management of public events. It further specifies procedures for a property owner to petition to be included in or excluded from a district.
Status:	01/26/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government 01/26/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government + Appropriations 02/09/2012 Senate Committee on Local Government Refer Unamended to Appropriations 04/10/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/12/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/24/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/25/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily 04/26/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/01/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Local Government 05/02/2012 House Committee on Local Government Refer Amended to Appropriations 05/04/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 107: SB12-101 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 105: SB12-101 Senate Local Government: SB12-101
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 107: SB12-101 Senate Legislative Day 105: SB12-101
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (7) in house calendar.

SB12-104	Drug Treatment Fund Consolidation
Sponsors:	STEADMAN / DELGROSSO
Summary:	Currently, there are 3 major state funding sources for substance abuse treatment. The bill consolidates the 3 sources into the correctional treatment cash fund (fund). The bill creates the correctional treatment board (board) that will prepare an annual treatment plan that the judicial department shall include in its annual presentation to the joint budget committee. The board shall review information regarding drug treatment programs in the state provided by the department of human services and suggestions from judicial district drug treatment boards before preparing the annual treatment plan. Currently, the drug treatment board for each judicial district recommends allocations of moneys for local drug treatment needs from one of the existing treatment funds. Each judicial district drug treatment board will be expanded to include a community corrections board chair, a local parole officer, a person with expertise in juvenile matters, and a county sheriff. The judicial district drug treatment boards will make suggestions to the board regarding assessed local drug treatment needs.
Status:	01/31/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary 01/31/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary + Finance 01/31/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary + Finance + Appropriations 02/14/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Finance 02/16/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 04/24/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/26/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/27/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/01/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary 05/03/2012 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Finance 05/04/2012 House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	House Finance: SB12-104 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 108: SB12-104 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 107: SB12-104 Senate Judiciary : SB12-104
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 108: SB12-104 Senate Legislative Day 107: SB12-104
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (25) in house calendar.

SB12-108	Medicaid Dental Services Pregnant Women
Sponsors:	NICHOLSON
Summary:	The bill includes dental services as a benefit for pregnant women under Colorado's medicaid program. The implementation date is January 1, 2014. The dental services provided to pregnant women will include those relevant dental services provided to children under the early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment benefit, with the addition of certain supplemental dental services. The department of health care policy and financing (state department) is required to report to the general assembly concerning the oral health outcomes for pregnant women and their children and the cost-effectiveness of providing the dental benefits to pregnant women, and is authorized to contract for an independent evaluation of the program. The state department is authorized to seek gifts, grants, and donations to pay for any necessary computer system changes and federal authorization for the dental benefit and services. The provision concerning gifts, grants, and donations repeals after three years.
Status:	01/31/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health and Human Services 03/29/2012 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/24/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/26/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/27/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily 04/30/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/01/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Health and Environment 05/03/2012 House Committee on Health and Environment Refer Amended to Appropriations 05/04/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	House Health and Environment : SB12-108 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 111: SB12-108 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 107: SB12-108 Senate Health and Human Services : SB12-108
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 111: SB12-108 Senate Legislative Day 107: SB12-108
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (8) in house calendar.

SB12-116	Bath Salts As Controlled Substances
Sponsors:	FOSTER / BROWN
Summary:	The bill defines cathinones and establishes criminal penalties for possession of cathinones and for distributing, manufacturing, dispensing, or selling cathinones. Any person or entity that sells a product that is labeled as a "bath salt" or any other trademark and contains any amount of a cathinone commits a deceptive trade practice and is subject to a civil penalty.
Status:	01/31/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government 01/31/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government + Appropriations 02/21/2012 Senate Committee on Local Government Refer Amended to Appropriations 03/02/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 03/06/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 03/08/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 03/09/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 03/13/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary 03/16/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 03/16/2012 Senate Third Reading Reconsidered 03/21/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary 05/01/2012 House Committee on Judiciary Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only 05/03/2012 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations 05/04/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	House Judiciary : SB12-116 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 59: SB12-116 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 58: SB12-116
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 59: SB12-116 Senate Legislative Day 58: SB12-116
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (9) in house calendar.

SB12-117	Penalties For DUI Offenses
Sponsors:	KING S.
Summary:	In any prosecution for a driving under the influence (DUI), driving while ability impaired (DWAI), vehicular assault, or vehicular homicide, if at the time of the commission of the alleged offense, or within two hours thereafter, the defendant's blood, urine, or saliva contains any amount of a schedule I controlled substance, except for tetrahydrocannabinols; a schedule II controlled substance; salvia divinorum; or synthetic cannabinoids, or the defendant's blood contains 5 nanograms or more of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol per milliliter in whole blood, such fact gives rise to the permissible inference that the defendant was under the influence of drugs. The bill expands the existing definition of "DUI per se" to include driving when the driver's blood, urine, or saliva contains any amount of a schedule I controlled substance, except for tetrahydrocannabinols; salvia divinorum; or synthetic cannabinoids, and driving when the defendant's blood contains 5 nanograms or more of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol per milliliter in whole blood. The bill removes statutory instances of the term "habitual user".
Status:	01/31/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans & Military Affairs 02/27/2012 Senate Committee on State, Veterans & Military Affairs Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/27/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/01/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/02/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/02/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary 05/03/2012 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 113: SB12-117 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 112: SB12-117 Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs : SB12-117
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 113: SB12-117 Senate Legislative Day 112: SB12-117
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (26) in house calendar.

SB12-129	Rural Broadband Jobs Act
Sponsors:	SCHWARTZ / CORAM
Summary:	The bill creates definitions of "broadband" and "broadband access". It also requires the public utilities commission, in collaboration with the office of information technology and other broadband providers, to make recommendations regarding a strategy to connect more Coloradans in noncompetitive unserved and underserved markets to broadband. The commission and the office of information technology, using existing office broadband data and mapping, must identify noncompetitive unserved and underserved areas of the state no later than January 1, 2013.
Status:	01/31/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy 02/16/2012 Senate Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Lay Over Amended 02/29/2012 Senate Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 03/06/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 03/09/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 03/12/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 03/15/2012 03/15/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily 03/19/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 03/23/2012 03/23/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 04/02/2012 04/02/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 04/09/2012 04/09/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 04/16/2012 04/16/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 04/23/2012 04/23/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily 05/02/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/02/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation 05/03/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources 05/07/2012 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources: SB12-129 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 113: SB12-129 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 112: SB12-129 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 97: SB12-129 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 65: SB12-129 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 59: SB12-129 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 58: SB12-129 Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy : SB12-129
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 113: SB12-129 Senate Legislative Day 112: SB12-129 Senate Legislative Day 97: SB12-129 Senate Legislative Day 65: SB12-129 Senate Legislative Day 59: SB12-129 Senate Legislative Day 58: SB12-129
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (18) in house calendar.

SB12-155	Transparency Of Elections & CORA
Sponsors:	HEATH / COURT
Summary:	The bill prohibits the designated election official (official) from fulfilling a request under the "Colorado Open Records Act" (CORA) for the public inspection of either ballots or ballot images arising out of any election in the state during the period commencing with the 45th day preceding election day and concluding with the date by which the official is required to certify an official abstract of votes cast for the applicable candidate contest or ballot issue or ballot question. The stay required by the bill does not apply to a recount undertaken as provided by law. As with other public records open for inspection by the public under CORA, an interested party may inspect ballots in connection with the recount without having to obtain a court order granting such inspection. In connection with the public inspection of ballots that an interested party is authorized to undertake in connection with a recount, the bill permits an interested party to witness the handling of ballots involved in the recount to verify that the recount is being conducted in a fair, impartial, and uniform manner so as to determine that all ballots that have been cast are accurately interpreted and counted but prohibits the interested party from handling the original ballots. Prior to and later than the stay period required by the bill, election records and ballots are required to be made available for inspection by the public in accordance with the following requirements: * The original election records or ballots are required to remain in the custody of the official or his or her designee. In the discretion of the official or his or her designee, and subject to the requirements of the bill and existing CORA requirements, the official or his or her designee is obligated to determine the manner in which such records or ballots may be viewed by the public. * The designated election official or his or her designee is required to cover or redact, based upon the most practical means available, any markings or message on a ballot that may identify the particular elector who cast the ballot before the ballot may be made available for public inspection; * To protect the privacy of particular electors, any ballots cast by electors within groups of discrete individuals who are more susceptible of being personally identified, such as military and overseas electors, shall be made available for public inspection only to the extent such ballots may be duplicated without identifying elector information. Insofar as such ballots are not able to be duplicated without identifying elector information, they are not available for public inspection. The bill prohibits any ballot, or any portions or pages of a ballot, from being made available for inspection where the ballot, or any portion thereof, is identical in such form, considering a combination of the election contests at issue and precinct coding, to only 9 or fewer ballots, or portions thereof, among all ballots used in the same election. However, any such ballot, or any portion thereof, that is equal in such form to 10 or more ballots, or any portions thereof, used in the same election may be inspected. * To protect the privacy of particular electors, ballots made available for inspection may be presented in any random order selected by the official or his or her designee; * For the purpose of minimizing the costs of making ballots available for public inspection, the person seeking the inspection may indicate the candidate contest, ballot issue, or ballot question for which the person seeks to inspect the ballots; and * Any actual costs incurred by the office of the official in making the election records and ballots available for inspection may be charged to the person requesting the inspection of the records or ballots. If the official selects a person other than an employee of his or her office to conduct the duties required by the bill, the actual costs to be charged the person seeking inspection are limited to the actual costs that would have been incurred if the work involved in complying with the requirements of the bill was completed by an employee of the official. The bill specifies that its provisions shall not affect either the ability of a person to serve as a watcher or the operation of a canvass board.
Status:	03/01/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans & Military Affairs 03/14/2012 Senate Committee on State, Veterans & Military Affairs Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 03/19/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/23/2012 03/19/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 03/23/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 05/04/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/07/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/07/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs 05/08/2012 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 118: SB12-155 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 115: SB12-155 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 115: SB12-155 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 91: SB12-155 Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs : SB12-155
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 118: SB12-155 Senate Legislative Day 115: SB12-155 Senate Legislative Day 115: SB12-155 Senate Legislative Day 91: SB12-155
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (33) in house calendar.

SB12-163	Reduce Penalty Certain Drug Possession Offenses
Sponsors:	MITCHELL / BEEZLEY
Summary:	The bill reduces the penalty for possession of 4 grams or less of certain drugs from a class 6 felony to a class 1 misdemeanor and reduces the penalty for possession of more than 4 grams of those certain drugs from a class 4 felony to a class 6 felony. The bill appropriates the savings from the reduction in the criminal penalties to substance abuse treatment programs. The department of human services will develop a trauma-informed substance abuse treatment and best practices training program. The bill requires a post-enactment review after two years that addresses the impact of the bill on jails and the amount of funding for jail-based treatment.
Status:	03/20/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary 03/28/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Finance 04/10/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/27/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/01/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/02/2012 Senate Third Reading Reconsidered 05/02/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/02/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/02/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary 05/07/2012 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	House Judiciary : SB12-163 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 113: SB12-163 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 113: SB12-163 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 112: SB12-163 Senate Judiciary : SB12-163
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 113: SB12-163 Senate Legislative Day 113: SB12-163 Senate Legislative Day 112: SB12-163
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (32) in house calendar.

SB12-164	Operations Of Private Postsecondary Institutions
Sponsors:	HEATH / MASSEY
Summary:	The bill makes several changes to the existing statutes concerning authorization of private colleges and universities and seminaries and bible colleges (private institutions) in the state, including changing the term "bible college" to "religious training institution". The changes generally clarify the types of institutions that are subject to authorization and specifically require the Colorado commission on higher education (commission) and the department of higher education (department) to set procedures for authorizing, renewing, and revoking the authorizations for private institutions. The commission must also set the amount of the fees that a private institution pays for the administration of the authorization process, including a separate fee if a private institution seeks approval of an educator preparation program. Each private institution must also report specified student information. Each private institution must obtain authorization for each campus, branch, or site that is separately accredited and operates in Colorado. Authorizations for private colleges and universities are based on the institution's accreditation and are subject to renewal every 3 years or on the same schedule that applies for renewing the institution's accreditation, whichever is longer. Authorizations for seminaries and religious training institutions are based on whether the institution continues to meet the definition for seminary or religious training institution. The bill clarifies the process and standards for renewing authorizations and the conditions and procedures under which the commission may revoke a private institution's authorization or place the authorization on probationary status. Under current law, a private institution that ceases operations must tell the department where it will store its records. The bill requires the private institution to turn its records over to the department, authorizes the commission to seek a court order to seize the records in certain circumstances, and makes the records subject to the open records statutes. The department must keep the records for specified periods. Private colleges or universities that meet specified criteria are not required to file a surety or to otherwise demonstrate financial integrity. Each private college or university that does not meet the criteria must demonstrate financial integrity based on evidence that it meets other criteria. If the private college or university cannot demonstrate financial integrity, it must post surety in a specified amount, which surety may be in the form of a bond, that the commission can use to reimburse students for a loss of tuition or fees or to provide services if the institution ceases to operate in Colorado or a student files a claim against the institution. If a private college or university that does not post surety ceases operations in the state, the attorney general may file a claim on behalf of students to recover any unearned, prepaid tuition. The department must maintain a list of authorized private institutions and establish a process for reviewing and acting on complaints against a private institution. The commission may negotiate reciprocal agreements with other states to assist in implementing authorizations for private institutions. The bill changes the terms of members appointed to the private occupational schools board (board) so that fewer members will be appointed at one time. The current law authorizes a student enrolled in a private occupational school to file with the board a complaint against the school. Under the bill, the student must first exhaust any complaint procedures that the school has in place.
Status:	03/23/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education 04/05/2012 Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Finance 04/12/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 04/17/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/19/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/20/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/23/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/24/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 04/27/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education 04/30/2012 House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Finance 05/02/2012 House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/04/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 105: SB12-164 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 104: SB12-164
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 105: SB12-164 Senate Legislative Day 104: SB12-164
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (10) in house calendar.

SB12-165	Water Conservation Bd Construction Fund Projects
Sponsors:	SCHWARTZ / BAUMGARDNER
Summary:	The bill appropriates the following amounts from the Colorado water conservation board construction fund for the following projects: * $300,000 for continuation of the satellite monitoring system maintenance; * $175,000 for continuation of the weather modification program; * $500,000 for continuation of the Colorado floodplain map modernization program; * $500,000 for continuation of the watershed restoration program; * $300,000 to restore the flood response fund balance; * $1,000,000 for continuation of the phreatophyte control cost-sharing program; * $2,000,000 for continuation of the Colorado river water availability study; * $500,000 to begin implementation of the South Platte groundwater data collection and analysis project; * $1,000,000 for continuation of the alternative agriculture water transfer sustainability grant program; * $5,000,000 for the planning and implementation of the Rio Grande cooperative project; * $5,000,000 for implementation of the Chatfield reservoir reallocation project; * $12,000,000 for the third and final installment of the purchase of Colorado's allotment of Animas-La Plata project water pursuant to House Bill 10-1250, enacted in 2010; and * $300,000 to provide legal support and funding for litigation involving protests of individual water rights that the state engineer has placed on the abandonment list. Section 6 of the bill repurposes the flood response program to include drought preparedness and response and renames the flood response fund to the flood and drought response fund. Section 14 of the bill transfers from the perpetual base account of the severance tax trust fund to the Colorado water conservation board construction fund the following: * $30,000,000 for the Rio Grand cooperative project, including improvements associated with the Beaver Park reservoir and the Rio Grande reservoir; and * $13,000,000 for the implementation of the Chatfield reservoir reallocation project. Section 14 of the bill also changes the water supply reserve account to the water supply reserve fund. Section 16 of the bill authorizes the state engineer to receive and expend contributions from the Colorado water conservation board for use in discharging the state engineer's duties.
Status:	03/29/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy 04/04/2012 Senate Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/17/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/19/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/20/2012 Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily 04/23/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 04/24/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 04/27/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources 05/07/2012 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources: SB12-165 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 105: SB12-165 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 104: SB12-165 Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy : SB12-165
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 105: SB12-165 Senate Legislative Day 104: SB12-165
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (23) in house calendar.

SB12-169	County Pest Control Inspector
Sponsors:	TOCHTROP
Summary:	Section 1 of the bill removes the statutory cap of $5,000 on the amount that a county may seek reimbursement for in connection with pest control efforts on private property. Section 2 authorizes a county pest inspector to exercise the powers already granted to counties to control weeds and rodents.
Status:	04/09/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy 04/26/2012 Senate Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only 05/01/2012 Senate Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/03/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/04/2012 Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily 05/07/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/07/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments 05/07/2012 Senate Third Reading Reconsidered 05/07/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources 05/07/2012 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 118: SB12-169 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 115: SB12-169 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 114: SB12-169
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 118: SB12-169 Senate Legislative Day 115: SB12-169 Senate Legislative Day 114: SB12-169
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (19) in house calendar.

SB12-171	Conservation Recreation Fund License Plate
Sponsors:	SHAFFER B. / BECKER
Summary:	The bill creates the Colorado conservation and recreation fund and program and designates the program as an enterprise. The program is directed to build a conservation and recreation center at Bonny lake and to use any remaining moneys for similar programs. The program is given bonding authority. The program may enter into business relationships with nonprofit entities and exercise the powers necessary for an enterprise. The bill also creates the Colorado conservation license plate. A person becomes eligible to use the plate by donating $150 to the Colorado conservation and recreation fund. In addition to the normal motor vehicle fees, the plate requires 2 one-time fees of $25. One of the fees is credited to the highway users tax fund and the other to the licensing services cash fund.
Status:	04/18/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance 04/26/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/02/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/04/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/07/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/07/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation + Finance 05/08/2012 House Committee on Transportation Refer Unamended to Finance
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 118: SB12-171 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 115: SB12-171
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 118: SB12-171 Senate Legislative Day 115: SB12-171
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	NOT ON CALENDAR

SB12-172	Multi-state Student Assessments
Sponsors:	JOHNSTON
Summary:	Under current law, the state board of education (state board) is directed to adopt a system of assessments aligned with state standards in a variety of subjects. The bill directs the state to join as a governing board member a consortium of states that is developing a common set of assessments. For assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics, the state board will rely upon assessments developed by the consortium. For all other assessments, the state board will, to the extent possible, rely upon assessments developed in conjunction with other states.
Status:	04/18/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education 04/26/2012 Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/01/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/02/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/02/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Education 05/07/2012 House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 113: SB12-172 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 112: SB12-172 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 112: SB12-172
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 113: SB12-172 Senate Legislative Day 112: SB12-172 Senate Legislative Day 112: SB12-172
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (31) in house calendar.

SB12-173	Repeal Mental Health Profl Verbal Disclose Reqmnt
Sponsors:	JAHN / SUMMERS
Summary:	In 2011 the general assembly required mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, registered psychotherapists, and addiction counselors, to begin making a variety of disclosures both verbally and in writing. The bill repeals the requirement that the disclosures be made verbally.
Status:	04/18/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health and Human Services 04/27/2012 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/02/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed 05/03/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/03/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Health and Environment 05/04/2012 House Committee on Health and Environment Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	House Health and Environment: SB12-173 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 114: SB12-173 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 113: SB12-173 Senate Health and Human Services : SB12-173
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 114: SB12-173 Senate Legislative Day 113: SB12-173
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (17) in house calendar.

SB12-176	Revisor's Bill
Sponsors:	BROPHY / LABUDA
Summary:	Committee on Legal Services - Revisor's Bill. This bill amends or repeals various statutory provisions that are obsolete, inconsistent, or in conflict with other law, clarifies the language to more accurately reflect the legislative intent of the laws, and reconstructs provisions to follow standard drafting format. The specific reasons for each amendment or repeal are set forth in the appendix to this bill. The amendments made by this bill are nonsubstantive in nature and, as such, are not intended to change the meaning or intent of the statutes, as amended.
Status:	04/24/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary 04/25/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/30/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed 05/01/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/01/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary 05/03/2012 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 112: SB12-176 Senate Judiciary : SB12-176
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 112: SB12-176
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (13) in house calendar.

SB12-177	Unemployment Ins Rates Revenue Bonds
Sponsors:	JAHN / LISTON
Summary:	Under current law, the Colorado housing and finance authority may issue unemployment revenue bonds for the unemployment compensation fund. The bill makes the following changes to current law: * Makes the unemployment insurance laws consistent with those of the Colorado housing and finance authority with respect to the issuance of unemployment revenue bonds by either the unemployment compensation section or the Colorado housing and finance authority. * Authorizes the deposit of all or any portion of bond assessments paid by employers for principal of the bonds into the unemployment compensation fund prior to being transferred to the Colorado housing and finance authority. This allows these payments to count toward improving the experience rating of employers. * Authorizes the assessment of interest and other bond costs through the employment support fund and requires the transfer of these assessments to the Colorado housing and finance authority for the payment of interest and other costs associated with the bonds. In order to facilitate the issuance of unemployment revenue bonds, the bill accelerates the date for the creation of the division of unemployment insurance by adding an effective date of June 1, 2012, to House Bill 12-1120 and placing a safety clause on that bill.
Status:	04/24/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor and Technology 04/25/2012 Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/30/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/01/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/01/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Economic and Business Development 05/03/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 112: SB12-177
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 112: SB12-177
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (12) in house calendar.

SB12-182	Authorize Benefit Corporations
Sponsors:	BACON / MASSEY
Summary:	Section 1 of the bill enacts the "Invest in Colorado Act", and authorizes the creation of benefit corporations. A benefit corporation must have, as one of its purposes specified in its articles of incorporation, the goal of creating general public benefit. The bill establishes the requirements for a corporation to be created as, or to elect to become, a benefit corporation, including: * The election and termination of benefit status; * The promotion of general public benefit as a purpose of the corporation; * Standards of accountability for the conduct of directors and officers of a benefit corporation; * Designation of a benefit director; * Rights of action in benefit proceedings; and * The preparation and availability of annual benefit reports. Section 2 specifies dissenters' rights for shareholders of a benefit corporation. Section 3 clarifies that an offer or sale of a security of a benefit corporation is not a solicitation for purposes of the "Colorado Charitable Solicitations Act" if the offer or sale complies with the "Colorado Securities Act".
Status:	04/26/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary 04/30/2012 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/02/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/04/2012 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments 05/07/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed 05/07/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Economic and Business Development 05/08/2012 House Committee on Economic and Business Development Refer Unamended to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:	Colorado Senate passes bill for benefit corporations
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 118: SB12-182 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 115: SB12-182 Senate Judiciary : SB12-182
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 118: SB12-182 Senate Legislative Day 115: SB12-182
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (30) in house calendar.

SB12-183	Utility Heating Disconnect Cold Weather Exemption
Sponsors:	BOYD
Summary:	Currently, utilities providing gas and electric services to residential customers are prohibited from terminating service during certain periods if the termination would be especially dangerous to the health or safety of the customer. The bill adds additional circumstances under which utilities providing gas or electric heating services for residential customers may not disconnect a residential customer's service between the months of November and March if the customer demonstrates that he or she is a member of a low-income household or that he or she, or a member of his or her household, is in the military and has been deployed on active duty. In addition to demonstrating his or her income eligibility, a residential customer who is a member of a low-income household must apply for a payment plan with the utility and demonstrate his or her eligibility, and application, for low-income energy assistance to be exempt from disconnection between the months of November and March.
Status:	04/30/2012 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health and Human Services 05/02/2012 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations 05/04/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 05/07/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments 05/08/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments 05/08/2012 Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations 05/08/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
Fiscal Notes:	Fiscal Note
News:
Audio, Floors and Committees:	Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 119: SB12-183 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 118: SB12-183 Colorado Senate Audio 2012 Legislative Day 118: SB12-183 Senate Health and Human Services : SB12-183
Video Center:	Senate Legislative Day 118: SB12-183 Senate Legislative Day 118: SB12-183
Comment:
Calendar Notification:	Wednesday, May 9 2012 GENERAL ORDERS -- SECOND READING OF BILLS (27) in house calendar.