JBC finalized state budget for introduction Monday
The Joint Budget Committee, of which I am a member, completed our negotiations on the budget Wednesday afternoon and approved the "Long Bill" package for introduction. The Committee focused on responsibly managing tax-payer dollars while taking care of the priorities of the entire state.
Members of the JBC presenting to our colleagues about the 2019-20 Budget
Highlights of the budget package include:
Increased K-12 education funding by $335.9 million, including $66 million to keep the budget stabilization flat and $77 million buy-down of the budget stabilization factor
Set-aside $185 million for a bill that would begin to implement full-day Kindergarten
Invested $120 million in higher education in order to keep tuition flat for students
Increased funding by $5.7 million toward the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities waitlist
Added an additional $30 million from the General Fund for transportation, bringing up the total to $230 million
Added $10 million for implementation of the Colorado Water Plan
Increased provider rates an additional $10 million for mental and behavioral health care services
Invested $65 million in capital development for Higher Education
56 projects approved in the capital maintenance backlog
Again, these are just the highlights and bound to change. We worked to balance several competing priorities to come up with a bipartisan budget that was fiscally responsible. We made some tough decisions, but the JBC believes we have drafted a budget that will address many of our state's biggest needs.
The budget will be introduced on Monday, heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday morning, then it will be brought up on special orders for Second Reading debate on Wednesday. The full Senate will then have an opportunity to offer up amendments to the budget and, pending its approval, will be heard on Third Reading Thursday. After the Senate has its shot at the budget, it will then proceed to the House for their approval.
A very productive week
This past week was incredibly busy and very productive. I passed several major bills either in committee or on the Senate floor every day this week. Those bills include:
Members of ABATE Colorado after testifying on SB144 on Motorcycles & Inoperable Signals
SB19-102,
Innovation School Operating As A Community School, a bill that would allow a public school to include operation as a community school in its innovation plan, making it eligible for billions of dollars in federal funding. The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday and heads to Governor Polis for signature.
Read more here.
SB19-003,
Educator Loan Forgiveness Program, passed on third reading on Friday. The bill will offer educators that agree to teach in a shortage area and/or content area up to $5,000 in student loan forgiveness. This is a creative solution that districts with educator shortages can use to help recruit educators to these critical shortage areas.
Learn more here .
HB19-1007,
Contribution Limits For County Offices, which passed on third reading on Friday, will require campaign contribution limits for county candidates. This bill will help level the playing field for candidates for county office. Contribution limits are important for preserving the integrity of our electoral process, they keep candidates accountable, and they help prevent the appearance of impropriety.
Read more here.
HB19-1166,
Name-based Criminal History Record Checks, a bill that will add require a person to submit a name-based criminal history record check when the fingerprint-based check reveals a record of arrest but does not show a disposition in the case. The bill passed out of committee on Monday and out of the Senate on Friday.
SB19-144,
Motorcyclists And Malfunctioning Traffic Signals, a bill that would allow motorcycles to proceed through a red light if a sensor isn't working or if the light is malfunctioning. The bill unanimously passed the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee on Tuesday and second reading on Friday.
Learn more here.
SB19-194,
National Guard Tuition Assistance Colorado State University Global, a bill that would add Colorado State University Global Campus to the list of designated institutions of higher education for purposes of tuition assistance for members of the National Guard.
Read more here.
As a member of the Joint Budget Committee, I will be primarily focusing on presenting and debating the budget throughout the week, and will take up my outstanding bill priorities the following week.
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She also served as Senator for SD19 in 2014. Sen. Zenzinger is a member of the Joint Budget Committee, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a member of the Statutory Revision Committee, a member of the Interim School Finance Committee, and a board member of the Statewide Internet Portal Authority.
Coffee With Constituents
Our next 'Coffee' event will be on Thursday April 11 from 7 am - 8 am at the Morning Story Restaurant,
8025 Sheridan Boulevard, Arvada, CO 80003. Menus will be available for folks to order breakfast if they so choose. The coffee will be on us!
La Patisserie Francaise of Arvada participating in Ag Day at the Capitol
What's happening in the JBC this week?
Monday, March 25
Introduction of SB19-207 the "Long Bill" also known as the Budget.
Tuesday, March 26
7:30 Long Bill in Senate Appropriations
Wednesday, March 27
Long Bill Public Caucus am
Long Bill Second Reading pm
Thursday, March 21
Long Bill Third Reading
'What's Brewing at the Capitol' event at Twenty Tap Brewhouse
On Monday, Pomona High School toured the Capitol... I presented
HB1166 on Name Based Employment Background Checks to the Judiciary Committee... I had a bill signing with the Governor for
SB44 on CDPHE Environment Emergency Medical And Trauma Care System... In
JBC we began approving budget set-asides and departmental requests...
On Tuesday, I chaired the
Senate Appropriations Committee... I presented
SB144 Motorcyclists Malfunctioning Traffic Signals to the Transportation Committee...
On Wednesday, the
JBC closed out the 2019-2020 budget... I presented
SB194 on National Guard Tuition at CSU Global University to the State Affairs Committee... We celebrated
Ag Day at the Capitol... I hosted
"What's Brewing at the Capitol"...
On Thursday, we celebrated
Rural Schools Day at the Capitol... We also hosted several
Native American Tribes, including a
Ute Flag Ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda... The
Colorado Sierra Club had their Day at the Capitol... We also celebrated
CMS Medical Student Day at the Capitol... On Friday, I chaired the
Senate Appropriations Committee... It was also
National Small Business Development Center Day at the Capitol.
Greeting members of the
Ute Nation on the Senate floor
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
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