Our legislative session in Colorado lasts 120 days. On Thursday, we hit the 60th day, or the midway point. Each legislator is permitted up to five bills per session, although many ask for an exception, called a late bill, and will introduce more.
I have introduced all five of my regular bills and was granted one late bill. Also, as a member of the Statutory Revision Committee, I have carried a number of Committee bills that do not count against my five bill limit.
Here is an update on all the bills I've introduced thus far:
SB18-006: Recording Fee To Fund Attainable Housing:
LOST IN SENATE COMMITTEE
SB18-067: Auction Alcohol In Sealed Container Special Events:
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
SB18-069: Enforcement Statewide Degree Transfer Agreements:
AWAITING GOVEROR SIGNATURE
SB18-082: Physician Noncompete Exemption For Rare Disorder:
PASSED SENATE; AWAITING HOUSE HEARING
SB18-090: Terminology Referencing "Rights Of Married Women":
PASSED SENATE; AWAITING HOUSE HEARING
SB18-095: Outdated References To "Illegitimate" Children:
PASSED SENATE; AWAITING HOUSE HEARING
SB18-098: Unconstitutional Language Interest On Damages:
PASSED SENATE; AWAITING HOUSE HEARING
SB18-102: Odometer Reading Physical Vehicle Identification Number Verification: PASSED SENATE; SECOND READING IN HOUSE
SB18-107:Repeal Nomination Vacancy Filling In Municpal Elections: PASSED SENATE; AWAITING HOUSE HEARING
SB18-147: Educator Loan Forgiveness Program: LOST IN SENATE COMMITTEE
SB18-159: Innovation School Operating As A Community School: LAID OVER IN SENATE COMMITTEE
HB18-1137: Reporting Requirements Department Of Transportation And Department Of Public Safety To General Assembly: PASSED HOUSE; THIRD READING CONSENT IN SENATE
HB18-1138: Public Official Oaths And Affirmations: PASSED HOUSE; SECOND READING IN SENATE
HB18-1139: Reporting Requirements For Park Fees Set By Rule: PASSED HOUSE; SECOND READING CONSENT IN SENATE
HB18-114: Modernize Early Childhood Council Language: AWAITING GOVERNOR SIGNATURE
HB18-1142: Remove Term "Pauper" From Colorado Revised Statutes:
AWAITING GOVERNOR SIGNATURE
I have a few more bills yet to come over from the House, including a bill that will increase the amount of funding to schools for capital construction (HB18-1070) and another bill (HB18-1193) that will extend the advanced placement incentives pilot program for another three years.
While the bills in which I am a prime sponsor will diminish, there are several very important bills yet to come that will be debated and voted upon in the Senate. I am hopeful the second half of the session will be just as productive as the first!
Activists from Moms Demand Action came to the Capitol to lobby against SB18-097
PERA bill heads to Senate committee on Tuesday
Senators Tate and Priola have introduced a bill aimed at addressing the unfunded liability of the Public Employee Retirement Association fund. PERA provides retirement and other benefits to employees of school districts, state, local governments, and other public entities across the state.
Senate Bill 200 makes changes to the hybrid defined benefit plan administered by PERA with the goal of eliminating the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of each of PERA's divisions and thereby reach a 100% funded ratio for each division within the next 30 years. The bill also modifies benefits, increases contributions, ensures alignment of contributions, service credit, and benefits, and other modifications.
The process of getting a bill through the Senate will require many trade-offs, but I agree that whatever the details of the plan, everything in the bill should address the unfunded liability. Certainly nothing in the bill should make it worse. The bill in its current form is not one that I can support.
Extending the Defined Contribution option to the other divisions, even as optional and only for new employees, should be coupled with increased revenues to balance the accounts. We will already be asking much from our retirees and our employees. The balancing revenue might come from the State and districts, but that might just ripple the problem further out. Anyone bringing a plan to broaden the Defined Contribution under this bill will face a lot of questions from me about how they intend to address this concern.
I want to assure you that this bill has a long way to go. We expect to see a number of amendments in the Senate Finance Committee and if/when the bill comes out of committee and to the Senate floor, we will have an opportunity to make even more adjustments. I would like to see some sort of PERA bill pass this year in order to shore up the fund, but it may very well come down to the final negotiations in Conference Committee. TBD!
Speaking in the Old Supreme Court Chambers
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She serves on the Senate Trasnportation Committee, Education Committee, and Statutory Revision Committee. She is also a member of several interim committees including the CDOT Efficiency and Accountability Committee and the School Finance Interim Committee.
Monthly Legislative Town Hall Meeting: PERA
Please join Rep. Lang Sias and Westminster City Councilwoman Kathryn Skulley on Saturday, March 17 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at Covenant Village, 9153 Yarrow St, Westminster, for a Pro/Con discussion on PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association). This meeting conflicts with the Democratic County Assembly, so I won't be able to join you. Nevertheless, we hope you will enjoy the opportunity to listen to the many sides of this important issue!
Constituents attending Reproductive Freedom Day at the Capitol
"What's Brewing at the Capitol" at Some Place Else
Our next "What's Brewing" event will take place at the Some Place Else Brewery,
6425 W 52nd Ave, Unit 6, Arvada, CO 80002. We visited this new brewery last fall during my District Discovery Tour and we really enjoyed it. The location is tucked into a small strip mall east of Marshall Liquors. Join us on Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30 pm for some good conversation and a microbrew with your state Senator!
Constituents attending Caucus at Standley Lake High School
Coffee With Constituents
Please join me on Friday, April 13 from 7 - 8 am at the Indian Tree Golf Course,
7555 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003, for my monthly "Coffee With Constituents" event. I provide the coffee and you provide the questions. Hope to see you then!
Colorado Business and Professional Women at the Capitol
Tracking your Senator
On Monday, we celebrated the
Padres y Jovenes day at the Capitol... We also welcomed the
Boy Scouts of America to the Senate floor... And I spoke at the
Jeffco Fired Up Indivisible meeting... On Tuesday, we welecomed students with the
Colorado Opportuity Scholarship Initiative (COSI)... We also welcomed
Moms Demand Action who came to the Capitol to speak out on gun violence... We also welcomed the
Jefferson County Business Lobby to the Capitol... And we wore purple in honor of the
March of Dimes who were also at the Capitol... On Wednesday, it was
Reproductive Freedom day at the Capitol... Also, we welcomed the
Leadership Jeffco group to the Capitol... I presented
HB18-1138 on
Standardizing Oaths of Office in the State Affairs Committee... I also met with a group of
Occupational Therapists who were lobbying on various bills... On Thursday, we celebrated
Arts for Colorado Day at the Capitol... Also, I was happy to host the
Business and Professional Women of Colorado to the Capitol... We also celebrated
International Women's Day... I presented
HB18-1137 on Reporting Requirements Department Of Transportation to the Senate Transportation Committee... I also presented
HB18-1139 on Reporting Requirements For Park Fees Set By Rule in the Senate Agriculture Committee... On Friday, I hosted my monthly
Coffee With Constituents at Indian Tree Golf Course... Also, we welcomed
DRCOG (Denver Regional Council of Governments) to the Capitol... On Saturday, we had our special town hall meeting on the
"Great Schools, Thriving Communities" school funding proposal.
Lisa Weil speaking on "Great Schools, Thriving Communities"
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
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