The Legislature Is In Session
Focus On Jobs, Education, Recovery
By Rep. Beth McCann
The 2014 legislative session began on Jan. 8. Democrats are focusing on the economy, education, and recovery from last year’s massive floods and wildfires. We are committed to continue creating more jobs for Colorado residents. In light of the defeat of Amendment 66, we are examining other ways to improve our education system. We are fortunate that Colorado’s revenue situation continues to improve, which will allow us to begin to reverse some of the extensive education cuts over the last several years. In addition, a bipartisan task force has been examining the issues surrounding the devastating floods last fall, and the members of that committee have proposed several bills that will bring some relief to those who suffered such catastrophic losses.
I expect that there will be efforts to repeal some or all of the gun safety laws passed last year as well as the bill requiring more use of renewable energy by rural electric co-ops. I will resist these efforts.
My legislation
I am working on several bills for this upcoming session. Here is a brief outline:
The first is an important bill concerning the processes surrounding involuntary mental health commitments. I sponsored a bill last year setting up a task force to look at these issues. The resulting proposed bill will help to make the involuntary commitment process more understandable and will, for the first time, provide a definition of “danger to self or others.” We have a broad stakeholder group that has been working on this bill so I believe we have good agreement on the issues. Another possible related bill requires that when law enforcement officers take someone in for a 72-hour mental health evaluation, they be notified when the person is released if the person has committed a crime.
Another bill I am sponsoring will bring our human trafficking laws in line with recommendations by the Uniform Commission on State Laws, a national advisory group. I am working with the district attorney’s and other interested groups to draft this legislation. Human Trafficking Awareness Day is Feb. 20 at the Capitol. It will be an opportunity for us to educate legislators about this human tragedy.
Prescription drug overdose is a big problem in Colorado. We are second in the nation in prescription drug misuse. More people die nationwide from this problem than from traffic accidents! There has been a large group convened by the governor’s office working on many aspects of this issue. I am carrying a bill to strengthen our Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which allows physicians and pharmacists to access and monitor the prescription drug usage of their clients. Another bill will reauthorize the Department of Human Services to oversee drug abuse programs that treat patients with prescription drugs and expand abuse program access.
I will be bringing two foreclosure bills this session: One requires that companies provide a single point of contact for a borrower who is trying to modify a loan. It would also prohibit the practice of dual tracking, which occurs when a borrower believes that a loan has been modified and he/she is complying with the terms, but a lender forecloses at the same time. The other bill concerns when a public trustee must return funds to a borrower.
Another bill would make it easier for the renewable energy industry to access tax credits and reinvest tax savings in Colorado.
My bill requiring health insurance companies to provide similar coverage for pediatric dentistry both inside and outside of our health benefit exchange has already passed out of committee and will soon pass on the House floor.
Finally, I am sponsoring a bill to raise the tobacco smoking age from 18 to 21.
I will be the House sponsor for some bills that are starting in the Senate including one to allow firefighters to administer basic care to an animal in an emergency, and a bill to allow hospital compounding of drugs to address drug shortages. Another bill will allow birth parents access to adoption documents.
I will continue as Majority Whip, the Chair of the House Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee, and will serve this year as the chair of the oversight committee for the Colorado Health Insurance Exchange, which is now running fairly smoothly. More than 50,000 Coloradans have signed up for private heath insurance through the exchange and another 80,000 or so have signed up for Medicaid, and registrations continue. Having more people insured will increase access to preventive and quality health care for many more Colorado residents.
As always, please contact me with any thoughts or suggestions about state matters. My door is always open at the Capitol, Room 317. Hope to see you soon!