I was very pleased to see my bill,
HB18-1070, pass unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee this week. The bill will help funnel more of the marijuana excise tax revenue into the
Building Excellent Schools Today program.
According to Amendment 64
the first $40 million of the excise tax on marijuana goes to the BEST program for the purposes of capital construction. And if the revenue exceeds $40 million, the leftover flows into the Public School Fund (used mainly for the purpose of generating interest).
According to the bill, we will now credit the first $40 million or 90% of the revenue, whichever is greater, to the BEST fund. This change increases the amount of money for the two types of grants that BEST awards: 1) cash awards, including emergency grants; and 2) long-term borrowing, typically in the form of lease-purchase agreements known as COPs.
Faculty and staff of
Mountain Phoenix Community School
PERA bill update
On Tuesday, the public employee retirement bill, known as
Senate Bill 200, passed out of the House Finance Committee 10-3 on a bipartisan vote.
The bill was amended quite a bit from the original version that came out of the Senate.
In my opinion, the bill is in much better shape than when I was forced to vote on it. For a good side-by-side comparison of all the changes, I recommend visiting the Secure PERA website. The bill is still in process, so I expect changes will occur. The next stop for the bill will be the House floor on Monday for 2nd Reading.
Teachers from across Colorado rallied at the Capitol to advocate for PERA
City of Westminster officials visiting the Capitol and observing from the Senate floor
Happy Earth Day 2018
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.
Coffee With Constituents
Please join us for our final "Coffee With Constituents" of the session, Friday, May 11 from 7 - 8 am at the Indian Tree Golf Course,
7555 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003. The gathering will occur two days after the legislative session ends, so I will provide a wrap-up. Hope to see you then!
Arvada Deputy City Manager Bill Ray receives Senate tribute recognizing 40 years of public service
Legislative Town Hall
Please plan to join Representatives Tracy Kraft-Tharp, Lang Sias and myself for our monthly bipartisan and bicameral town hall meeting on the third Saturday of the month, May 19 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the Standley Lake Library.
Topic is TBD.
Kathy Gebhardt of the BEST Board testifying in favor of HB18-1070
Tracking your Senator
On Monday, I welcomed hundreds of educators from the
Colorado Education Association who rallied at the Capitol... I met with constituent, and teacher,
Mark Castleman... I met with
Jack Arrowsmith, the executive director of SIPA for my orientation to the Board... I presented a tribute to
Bill Ray, Deputy City Manager, during the Arvada City Council meeting... On Tuesday, we welcomed the
Colorado Association of Pschyotherapists to the Capitol... On Wednesday, several officials from the
City of Westminster joined me on the Senate Floor... We also welcomed
NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) to the Capitol... I presented
HB18-1070 to the Senate Education Committee... I also met briefly with
Amanda Stevens and Ali Lasell of the Jeffco School Board... I attended a press conference on
HB18-1368 concerning local control of minimum wage bill... I met with
Conservation Colorado to discuss transportation... And I hosted
"What's Brewing at the Capitol" at the Yak And Yeti in Olde Town Arvada... On Thursday, we welcomed the
Colorado Student Leaders Institute Board... On Friday, I attended the
Arvada Chamber of Commerce 3rd Friday Breakfast where I heard
Mayor Pro Tem John Marriott deliver the State of the City Address... We welcomed the
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to the Capitol... I also met with faculty and staff from the
Mtn. Phoenix Community School... And on Saturday, we hosted our monthly
Legislative Town Hall where we heard from Cary Johnson from the Jeffco District Attorney's office.
"What's Brewing" attendees
Chris, Michelle and Shaunda
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
Donations
Can you help us by making a contribution? While the campaign activity has concluded, we still need your help so that we may continue keeping in touch with constituents. Your contribution helps pay for events, direct mail, the website, newsletter, and other tools that make voters aware of what is happening down at the State Capitol. THANK YOU!
