MY 2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAP-UP – WORKING FOR YOU

Data Privacy 

• (HB 1197) Protect the personal information of county staff involved in child abuse and neglect proceedings. The El Paso County caseworkers brought the problem of receiving death threats to my attention. These dedicated staff need address confidentiality protection similar to law enforcement and domestic violence victims. (Signed into law)
• (HB 1167) Require data privacy protections as part of authorizing a new technology for remote (electronic) notary service. This bill restricts what can be recorded by remote notarization and prohibits the sale or transfer of our personal data. (Died on the Senate calendar)

 Fire-Fighting and Wildfire Mitigation 

• (SB 40) Establish a State-Level Fire Commission to plan and implement arrangements among local and state firefighters for expedited regional firefighting. We need better coordination to put out fires as quickly as possible, and to expand wildfire mitigation efforts. Since fire doesn’t respect political boundaries, our response should do the same. (Signed into law)
• (HB 1006) Allocate additional funding to wildfire mitigation for partnerships with cities, counties, and neighborhoods on mitigation projects to remove dead trees and other forest fuels. (Signed into law)

Human Trafficking 

• (HB 1051) Allow the Colorado Dept. of Public Safety to provide human trafficking training to law enforcement and victim assistance groups in ongoing fight against trafficking. Direct School Safety Resource Center to provide training on awareness and prevention of human trafficking to local schools. (Signed into law)

Transportation 

• (SB 101) Limit CDOT authority to impose toll roads – especially when citizens are helping to pay for the project in local taxes. (Died in Senate)

 Prevent Crime; Protect Crime Victims 

• (SB 14) Require that secondhand dealers (such as pawn shops) record transactions involving store value cards (gift/store credit cards). I learned about the organized retail theft rings’ use of these cards from a Colorado Springs Home Depot and the DA’s office. (Signed into law)   
• (HB 1155) This bill adds certain conduct to the definition of illegal sexual contact, in response to a 2018 court acquittal in a sexual assault case. We must ensure that criminal sexual assault is fully prosecuted. (Signed into law)

Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth

• (SB 103) “Lemonade Stand” Bill. This prohibits local governments from imposing a business license or permit on minors who want to run a part-time business such as hosting a lemonade stand, shoveling snow, lawn care, etc. It’s based on an actual case in Denver where police shut down a kids’ lemonade stand because they did not have a permit. (Signed into law)

• (HB 1163) Small businesses are the engines that drive our economy and provide jobs. We must free these businesses from costly and unnecessary regulations that suppress economic growth and job creation. For the 2nd year, I have sponsored a bill to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses. (Died in House committee)

Seniors

• (SB 132) Preserve senior property tax exemption if a senior must move due to medical necessity, such as impaired mobility. County Assessor Steve Schleiker brought this issue to my attention. (Died in Senate committee)

Strengthen Our Legal System; Support Law Enforcement

• (SB 36) Modify the court hearing notification process to include texting. Data shows that more people will show up for their court hearing, decreasing arrest warrants and county jail time for failure to appear. (Signed intolaw)
• (SB 43) Increase number of judges due to increased number of court cases. We must have a judicial system that hears and resolves cases in a timely manner. (Signed into law)
• (HB 1244) Expand support for Peace Officers’ Mental Health Program, to provide more mental health resources for law enforcement across the state. (Signed into law)