Last Wednesday we wrapped up the 2017 legislative session. I want to thank the voters of Senate District 19 who entrusted to me the duty of serving our community in the State Senate. It was a tremendous honor to represent you at the Capitol!
Below is a guide to the 2017 legislative session, spelling out what I believe to be some of our biggest accomplishments, as well as a few disappointments.
During the interim, I will continue working as your Senator in the following ways:
District Tours: Each month I'll be conducting tours in the district to focus on different segments of our community. We are planning for a business tour, non-profit tour, health care tour, and a school tour. Please let me know if you have any ideas of places in the district that I should include on these tours.
Meetings & Communication: We will continue to host our Arvada/Westminster Legislative Town Meeting the third Saturday of each month. During the summer we will be taking a break from 'Coffee With Constituents', and will resume in the Fall. Also, the newsletter will shift to monthly instead of weekly.
Working on legislation: Be on the lookout for announcements in the newsletter for constituent listening tours where I am seeking legislative ideas for the next session. Also, feel free to make aone-on-one appointment
with me to discuss any issues or ideas you may have as well.
I want to thank my incredible office staff for their invaluable assistance this session: Aaron Silverstein, Reginald Perryman, Andrea Thorsted, and Cathy Schuster. Also, I'd like to acknowledge the staff in the Senate Minority Office who also did an incredible job of supporting me this session. And, once again, thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the State Senate!
Office staff: Reginald Perryman (intern), Aaron Silverstein (aide), Andrea Thorsted (intern), and Cathy Schuster (not pictured-volunteer)
2017 Legislative Wrap-up
As the Minority Leader stated in her opening day speech, the Senate Democratic Caucus planned to focus on issues important to the middle class:
progress on healthcare, protecting our natural environment, and maintaining our business-friendly climate. Despite a challenging budget year, we fought to protect programs and services that everyday Coloradans rely on, and in the most efficient manner possible. We also worked to protect Colorado's civil rights and environmental laws, so that we could protect our Colorado way of life.
Accomplishments:
Hospital Provider Fee Bill (SB267):The Minority Leader led bipartisan discussions on a bill to save funding for rural hospitals. In this tight budget year, hospitals were facing a $264 million cut from the hospital provider fee ($500 million when including federal matching grants). These cuts would have devastated our rural hospitals leading to job losses, diminished services, and possible closures. The bill prevented these cuts, while also freeing up funding for transportation and rural schools.
Construction Defects (HB1279): Finding the right solution to address construction defects has eluded the legislature for years. But this year the legislature struck a compromise that will make changes to the requirements facing owners of condominium units who want to sue builders because of perceived construction defects. Hopefully, this change to our laws will encourage contractors to build more affordable condominiums.
Combating the Opioid Epidemic (SB74 and SB193): Heroin and opioid addiction has become epidemic in Colorado, not to mention our entire country. Yet, until now, there weren't enough treatment options available to combat the problem. SB17-074 creates a pilot program that will increase access to addiction treatment and SB17-193 establishes a research center focused on strategies for prevention and treatment of addictions to opioids and other controlled substances, including alcohol.
Protecting LGBTQ Coloradans and Coloradans with Disabilities from Harassment (HB1188):This bill strengthens Colorado's already existing bias-motivated harassment statute to include sexual orientation, transgender status, and physical or mental disability.
Workers' Compensation for PTSD (HB1229):First responders are often faced with gruesome injuries and incredibly stressful situations that can result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previously, when first responders would seek professional help to treat their PTSD, they had to pay for treatment out of their own pockets. The bill expands the definition of traumatic events, thereby allowing workers, such as first responders, to be covered by worker's comp for PTSD due to an on-the-job event.
Modernizing CORA (SB40):Public records belong to the people and should be accessible. The bill modernized the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) by making public records more easily available in digital, searchable, and sortable formats.
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform (HB1313): The effort to increase transparency in civil asset forfeiture cases finally passed! The bill requires law enforcement to submit reports with greater detail on personal property taken and kept (or forfeited) by the government.
Housing for Homeless: Funding chronic homelessness is a growing problem in Colorado. With bipartisan support, we successfully added a $16.3 million appropriation into the state budget to provide housing and treatment for persons who are chronically homeless.
Biggest Disappointments of the Session:
Death of the Transportation Funding Compromise (HB1242): Senate President Kevin Grantham and House Speaker Crisanta Duran came together on a bill that would put the power to decide our transportation funding future in the hands of the people of Colorado. HB1242 would have referred a measure to the November ballot to ask the voters for a half-cent increase in state sales tax to address our transportation needs. Despite having enought supprt to pass the full Senate, the bill was killed on a 3-2 party line vote in the Senate Finance Committee.
Loss of the Colorado Energy Office (SB301): A bill to renew full funding for the Colorado Energy Office was also highjacked by politics. The Colorado Energy promotes all types of energy, both traditional and renewable. It works on a number of projects around the state to promote financial assistance through grants, and helps maximize our energy resources. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans shifted the focus of the office from a balanced approach to a very narrow agenda. According to the bill, the focus will now be more heavily on items such as nuclear power and traditional oil and gas, and will reduce the renewable energy focus. The Colorado Energy Office now faces significant cuts and its mission is unbalance and severely compromised.
With my Education & Transportation Committee colleague, Sen. Nancy Todd on Sine Die
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. Previously, she served in the same capacity during the 2014 legislative session. During the upcoming, 71st General Assembly, she will serve on the Senate Education Committee, Transportation Committee and the Student Safety and Youth in Crisis Committee.
Arvada/Westminster Legilsative Town Meeting
I hope you will join us next Saturday, May 20 at 10:30 am for our monthly legislative town meeting hosted by Representatives Kraft-Tharp, Lang Sias and myself. We will be hosting journalists Peter Marcus and Ed Sealover for a legislative wrap-up. Don't forget we will be returning to the Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling St, Arvada, CO 80005. See you then!
Being interviewed by Channel 4 News
Govenor to sign bill at Foster Elementary
Students at Foster Elementary will receive a once in a lifetime civics lesson when Governor John W. Hickenlooper visits their school to sign one of my bills, HB17-1201, into law.
The STEM diploma endorsement bill adds a certification of proficiency to high school diplomas to encourage the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. A second bill I sponsored created a seal of bi-literacy, and was signed into law earlier this year. Foster Elementary has both STEM and biliteracy programs, and the Governor will highlight both measures during the ceremony.
WHAT: Governor Signs HB17-1201, SB17-123
WHERE: Foster Elementary School,
5300 Saulsbury Ct, Arvada, CO 80002
WHEN: Thursday, May 18th, at 3 pm
Second floor of Capitol waiting for the traditional 'rubberband ball' to drop
Tracking your Senator
In the final three days of the session, we had little time except to debate bills all day long! Nevertheless, we celebrated
Teacher Appreciation Week and heard a number of significant resolutions, proclamations and tributes...On Wednesday we celebrated
Sine Die... I was also interviewed by Shaun Boyd of
Channel 4 News about transporation issues... I was also interviewed by Nic Garcia of
Chalkbeat about education issues... On Thursday, I attended the
Denver Metro Chamber's State of the State Address and received a special shout-out from CDOT executive director Shailen Bhatt for my work on Transporation this session... On Friday we had our final
'Coffee With Constituents'... And, on Saturday, we participated in the
Westminster Community Pride Day by cleaning up litter along Little Dry Creek.
Cleaning up Little Dry Creek for Westminster Community Pride Day
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
02/15/2017 | Senate Committee on Education Postpone Indefinitely
SB17-144Sunset Review Education Data Advisory Committee: Concerning the recommended continuation of the education data advisory committee by the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies.
SB17-279 Applicability Recent Urban Renewal Legislation: Concerning clarification of the applicability provisions of recent legislation to promote an equitable financial contribution among affected public bodies in connection with urban redevelopment projects allocating tax revenues.
04/28/2017 | House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
SB17-085Increase Documentary Fee & Fund Attainable Housing: Concerning an increase in the fee imposed by counties in connection with the recording of real estate documents for the purpose of financing a statewide attainable housing investment fund.
02/13/2017 | Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
SB17-092Immunity Peace Officer Background Checks: Concerning requiring a personnel file waiver for private employment as part of the background check process for a person applying for a position as a peace officer.
02/6/2017 | Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
With CDOT Executive Director Shailen Bhatt at Denver Metro Chamber's 'State of the State'
Donations
Can you help us with a contribution? While the campaign activity has concluded, we still need your help so that we may continue keeping in touch with SD19 voters. Your contribution helps us pay for brochures, direct mail, the website, newsletter, and other tools to help make voters aware of what is happening down at the State Capitol. THANKS!
