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April 16, 2023
Our next meeting is Monday, April 17, 2023. Our meeting is from 9:30AM to 11:30AM.
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We will be very busy at this meeting! | |
After today's meeting we will have three more Monday CCA Advocacy committee meetings before the 2023 Colorado Legislative Session ends on Monday, May 8, 2023. It is crunch time at the Capitol to see if bills we support will get funded. At this Monday meeting Jeanette, Rich and other members of the CCA Capitol Gang will share the status of the bills we are supporting. | |
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View our meeting agenda to see a list that prioritizes bills for discussion
at the Monday morning meeting - CLICK HERE
Our approach is to review the bills one week and then the following week our members vote on whether to monitor, support, strongly support, or oppose but as we enter the last half of the session, bills move more quickly; so we may consider and take a position on a bill at the same meeting. If we keep a bill in our Bill watch account, we need a member to step up as a point of contact.
We ask that those who have volunteered to track a specific bill
be prepared to report to the group on its status.
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News from CCA Capitol Gang | |
The past week we sent out emails to legislators, individuals testified on bills, other individuals were at the Capitol talking to legislators and advocating for older adults, and we researched bills. See details below: | |
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SB23-144 Prescription Drugs For Chronic Pain - SB23-144 has passed both chambers. The Senate now just needs to accept the House amendments and send the bill to the governor. Our CCA advocates for this outreach are Christina Johnson and Jeanette Hensley.
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SB23-213 Land Use - Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government & Housing. Our CCA Advocate for this bill is Rich Mauro.
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HOA Bills - Sara Gagliardi and Jeanette Hensley will give us updates on the HOA Bills.
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HB23-1065 Local Government Independent Ethics Commission - House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to Appropriations - Support
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HB23-1090 Limit Metropolitan District Director Conflicts - CCA was Supporting this bill and it has been Postponed Indefinitely (PI’D)
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HB23-1105 Homeowners' Association And Metropolitan District Homeowners' - House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
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HB23-1131 Majority of Unit Owner’s Required For Home Owner’s Association Budgets - Postponed Indefinitely (PI’D) on 2-14-23
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SB23-110 Transparency For Metropolitan Districts - Governor Signed: 04/03/2023
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SB23-178 Water-wise Landscaping In Homeowners' Association Communities - April 18 - Tuesday - House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
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The week of April 10th the CCA organization sent out Action Alerts to CCA Members, Legislators, and/or specific Committees on SB23-031, SB23-058, and SB23-144. Please watch for more Action Alerts this week. We have four Monday morning CCA Advocacy Committee Meetings remaining. The 2023 Legislative Session ends Monday, May 8th and we will be meeting on May 8th. | |
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Questions about CCA Advocacy Committee
Jeanette Hensley - email - 303-249-5598
Co-Chair of CCA Advocacy Committee
Rich Mauro - email - Direct: 303-480-6778
Co-Chair of CCA Advocacy Committee and Senior Policy and Legislative Analyst Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)
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Zoom Link for Monday's Meeting | |
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Topic: CCA: Advocacy Committee Meeting
9:30AM - 11:00AM/11:30AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8814815119?pwd=cXJGUFRVQ09kV1RzZ25QVG90RHBOQT09
Meeting ID: 881 481 5119
NEW Passcode: CCA2023#
One tap mobile
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+12532158782,,8814815119#,,,,*01201897# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 881 481 5119
Passcode: 01201897
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbZvU5bskJ
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News & Highlights from CCA & our Network | |
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The Legislative Caucus on Aging was on Thursday, April 13th
The April 13th Legislative Caucus on Aging was well attended. In case you missed the meeting, below is a link to the meeting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6XpHVeNPEA
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Colorado Commission on Aging Meetings
The Public is welcome to attend
The Colorado Commission on Aging (CCOA) was established under the authority of the Older Coloradans Act Section 26-11-101, C.R.S. to serve as the primary advisory body on all matters affecting older persons. The CCOA is a Governor-appointed, citizen-led, multidisciplinary Commission, comprised of representatives from both the public and private sectors to coordinate and contribute to guiding state programs, services, projects, policies, procedures, and resources in the area of aging and coordinate and guide the implementation of the strategic action plan on aging (Master Plan on Aging). The CCA members interested in aging issues in Colorado are encouraged to attend the committee meetings. All meetings are virtual until further notice. The meetings are:
- CCOA committee meets monthly every 3rd Thursday of the month
- CCOA Executive Subcommittee meets first Tuesday of the month
- CCOA Age-Friendly Subcommittee meets 4th Friday of the month
- CCOA Public Policy Subcommittee 2nd Monday of the month
Find times and Zoom link for the meetings on the CCOA web page -
https://cdhs.colorado.gov/our-services/older-adult-services/state-unit-on-aging/colorado-commission-on-aging
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CU Program for Low-Income Seniors: Senior Smiles
Patients who are currently participating in the CU Dental Team Care Clinics or those who are accepted through the CU School of Dental Medicine screening process and are age 60+, do not qualify for Medicaid or Old Age Pension Health and Medical Care Program, do not have private dental insurance, and their income is at or below 250% of the most current federal poverty guidelines based on family size, and are a Colorado Resident are eligible for Senior Smiles - LEARN MORE
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Spending priorities ranked by Dems
Tally doesn’t guarantee what passes but offers insight for leadership
The Denver Post has an interesting article on, "Spending priorities ranked by Dems," but the article is behind their PayWall. If you have access to the Denver Post check out the article which ran in the Friday, April 14th edition. We will share the article at Monday's meeting if time allows.
Source https://www.denverpost.com/
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Get Familiar with the Long Bill - SB23-214
"Concerning the provision for payment of the expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state of Colorado, and of its agencies and institutions, for and during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, except as otherwise noted. The Long Bill provides for the payment of expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state of Colorado, and of its agencies and institutions, for and during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, except as otherwise noted ..." - READ MORE
Source https://leg.colorado.gov/
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Joint Budget Committee Budget Package - FY 2023-24
Joint Budget Committee (JBC) staff prepare this publication for the purpose of describing the JBC’s budget proposal for the next state fiscal year that begins July 1, 2023. The JBC’s budget proposal is the culmination of five months of analyses, consultation, and deliberation. The budget proposal includes the following:
- The annual general appropriation bill, which is referred to as the “Long Bill” and includes most appropriations for the expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments based on current law;
- Several JBC-sponsored bills that make statutory changes related to the budget proposal and are introduced as part of a package of bills with the Long Bill; and
- Assumptions concerning the budget impacts of other legislation that has been or will be considered by the General Assembly
The Long Bill narrative summarizes the Long Bill Package as introduced and does not reflect final action - READ MORE
Source https://leg.colorado.gov/
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Four voters will decide $60B in Granby Ranch metro-district debt, highlighting calls to reform special tax districts
"Grand County’s Middle Park Times newspaper was extra hefty this week, with 10 pages of small-print legal notices. The pages outlined the May 2 ballot issues for Granby Ranch’s metropolitan districts. The community has 10 special taxing districts and eight of them are undeveloped land without any homes. There are four voters connected to the property’s developer who will approve the 24 ballot measures in each of the Granby Ranch Metropolitan Districts No. 2 through 7 elections ..." - READ MORE
Source: https://coloradosun.com/
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Colorado’s big land-use bill, explained
"Gov. Jared Polis and influential Democrats want to open up large swaths of Colorado’s cities to denser development and make fundamental changes to how growth happens in Colorado. The bill, which is simply titled “Land Use,” is one of the longest pieces of legislation being debated at the capitol this year. We read through the 105-page draft and talked to experts. Complicated bills are often revised as they pass through the many steps of the legislative process. Here are the biggest points to understand about the bill in its starting form ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.cpr.org/
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More than $32M has been spent lobbying Colorado legislature, state government since July. These are the biggest spenders.
"Nearly $32 million was spent lobbying the Colorado legislature and state government from July 1 through Feb. 28, a Colorado Sun analysis of data from the Secretary of State’s Office shows, a big increase over the $29 million spent during the same period the prior year ..." - READ MORE
Source https://coloradosun.com/
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Colorado is giving away thousands of free catalytic converter marking kits. Here’s how to use them to protect your car
"Colorado has a not-so-new defense against catalytic converter thefts: stickers and paintbrushes. Metro Denver residents can get their hands on a free catalytic converter marking kit at a number of state-run events this month. Colorado legislators upped funding for the kits last year to help cut into thefts of the valuable car part. Across the country, car owners reported roughly 600,000 converter thefts last year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Cases in Colorado have hovered in the tens of thousands in recent years, but exact numbers are hard to come by because the crime is underreported, said Cale Gould, public outreach coordinator for the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.cpr.org/
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Colorado, other states confront medical debt that’s bankrupting millions
"Cindy Powers was driven into bankruptcy by 19 life-saving abdominal operations. Medical debt started stacking up for Lindsey Vance after she crashed her skateboard and had to get nine stitches in her chin. And for Misty Castaneda, open heart surgery for a disease she’d had since birth saddled her with $200,000 in bills. These are three of an estimated 100 million Americans who have amassed nearly $200 billion in collective medical debt - almost the size of Greece’s economy according to the Kaiser Family Foundation ..." - READ MORE
Source https://coloradosun.com
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Keeping this article resource in for another week ...
Discovering and Developing Missing Middle Housing
"Benefits of Missing Middle Housing The word 'middle' as used in the term 'Missing Middle Housing' principally refers to the midsized housing types that exist between single family homes and large (often high-rise) apartment or condominium buildings. But 'middle' also relates to the home type’s level of affordability ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2022/missing-middle-housing.html
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April is Stress Awareness Month
(And don't we feel it as the Colorado Legislative Session Winds Down!)
Stress can be debilitating, and it can cause and/or aggravate health problems. Every April, healthcare professionals from across the country join forces to increase public awareness about not only the causes, but also the treatments for the growing stress epidemic in our country.
Website https://www.chcw.org/april-is-stress-awareness-month/
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New Library Services Available through Strong Library
Thanks to Denver voters, Freegal Music+, an ad-free, unlimited streaming platform, and Statista, an easy-to-use portal for integrating statistics and reports, are available to anybody with a DPL library card. These new services are made possible because of #StrongLibraryStrongDenver, supported by the DPL Fund. Learn more here:
https://www.denverlibrary.org/stronglibrary_strongdenver
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CU Anschutz COAST-IT Program
Are you an older adult that would like to build a social connection with a CU Anschutz health professional student? The Multidisciplinary Center on Aging at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is actively reaching out to more older adults in the community for the COAST-IT (Connecting Older Adults and Students Through Inter-professional Telecare) program. Older adults will have the opportunity to engage with a student from either the CU Anschutz School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, or School of Dental Medicine programs to mentor the future generation of healthcare clinicians.
Contact Joanna Fitzgibbons at joanna.fitzgibbons@cuanschutz.edu for more information
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April 17, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, April 17, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
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April 18, 2023 - Tuesday, 12:15PM P.T. / 1:15PM M.T. / 2:00-3:15PM E.T.
Free Webinar: Closing the Justice Gap for Older Adults
Part Two: Representing Clients with a Range of Decisional Capabilities
The second webinar in the Closing the Justice Gap for Older Adults training series will explore how legal aid advocates may represent older individuals experiencing legal issues that threaten their autonomy, even when their decisional abilities may be questioned by some. This training will explore the ethical considerations involved in outreach and referrals, and the elements of such attorney client relationships, including duty of loyalty to the client, determining client goals for representation and the elements of legal capacity.
Register Today - CLICK HERE
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April 21, 2023 - Friday - 3:00PM - 5:00PM
Mobility Equipment Tune-Up
Location: PASCO
Address: 9197 W. 6th Ave Suite 1000, Lakewood, CO 80215
Join us at the PASCO office for a tune-up on your mobility equipment! Westpeak Mobility will be available to provide tune-ups and small repairs to your manual and power wheelchairs, gait and walking aids, and more. Need any repair needs beyond basic fixes? The Westpeak team will be able to provide referrals for in-depth repairs on the spot to make sure you get the fixes needed to make your equipment perfect for your unique needs. Crafts, activities, and refreshments will be provided.
RSVP Today - https://pascohh.com/events/mobility-equipment-tune-up/
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April 24, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, April 24, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
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May 1, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, May 1, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
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May 8, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, May 8, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
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May 11, 2023 - Thursday
6th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day - Virtual Meeting
Public health practitioners, professionals in the aging network, mental health providers, health care professionals, and anyone interested in ensuring the mental health of older adults should attend this free, virtual event on May 11, 2023. The symposium is brought to you by NCOA, the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Register now to join us on May 11. When you register, you will be automatically signed up for all of the day’s sessions. Click the green Register button above to get started
https://connect.ncoa.org/products/6th-annual-older-adult-mental-health-awareness-day
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Looking to Sharpen your tech Skills?
Cyber-Seniors provides FREE technology support and training for senior citizens
Founded in 2015 by the creators of the award-winning documentary film CYBER-SENIORS, this non-profit organization provides senior citizens with tech-training using an intergenerational, volunteer model.
Website https://cyberseniors.org/
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Live Online Classes for Seniors from Senior Planet
If you’re a senior aged 60 and older, these live online classes are designed just for you! Learn about finance, wellness, fitness, computers and technology, and so much more. You will also find a real community of fellow life-long learners.
Website https://seniorplanet.org/classes/
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CCA Advocacy Committee Meetings 2023 | |
The first CCA Advocacy Committee will be meeting every Monday while the legislature is in session. Note that we may not have meetings on certain Federal and State holidays. | |
If you are not a member of Colorado Center for Aging - Join Today! | |
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Colorado Center for Aging is a 501c3 non-profit organization,
born out of the roots of Colorado Senior Lobby (CSL) - LEARN MORE
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