Bills to address auctioning of alcohol and housing
How many of you have attended a fundraiser for your favorite nonprofit and bid on a wine basket at their silent auction? Unfortunately, under the Colorado Liquor Code, the auctioning of alcohol in sealed containers is prohibited.
Many organizations include a wine basket or other sealed alcohol as an item in fundraising auctions. Despite this being a common practice, these transactions run counter to the law in Colorado.
SB18-067 aims to address the ability of certain organizations conducting a special event to auction alcoholic beverages in sealed containers for fundraising purposes. The bill has wide bipartisan support and will be heard in the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee on Monday, January 29 at 2pm.
Another one of my bills,
SB18-006, will also be heard in committee this week. This bill aims to address issues with being able to afford housing.
Currently, each county clerk and recorder collects a surcharge of one dollar for each document received for recording or filing a real estate document. The bill allows counties, if they choose, to impose an increased surcharge in the amount of $5 and
to transmit the additional $4 to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.
The funds will be used by CHFA for the purpose of supporting new or existing programs that provide financial assistance to persons in households with an income of up to 80% of the area median income for the purpose of financing, purchasing, renting, or rehabilitating housing.
The bill will be heard on Wednesday, January 31 at 1:30pm in the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
Attending the NARAL luncheon with Sen. John Kefalas, Doug Roper (aide), Ruben Torresdey (aide), Sen. Andy Kerr, and Rep. Chris Hansen
Education Committee unanimously approves bill
Last Thursday, the Senate Education Committee unanimously approved
SB18-069 to address enforcement issues with our statewide transfer agreements.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for approval.
Years ago, we created legislation that outlined statewide transfer articulation agreements between community colleges and universities so that students do not lose credits when transferring. The statute requires that students who complete transfer agreements be admitted with junior status and need not take more than 60 credits to complete their Bachelor's degrees.
These agreements are critical in assuring that students can access an affordable Bachelor's degree and reduce their time to completion by assuring their credits transfer. The bill aims to address growing concerns about issues students encounter during the transfer process.
Students from Front Range Community College testify in favor of SB18-069
Update on CHIP
Even though the Children's Health Insurance Program is a federal program, my office has received a number of emails and phone calls from constituents asking for my support in its renewal.
Congress has renewed federal funding for the
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years and the President has signed the bill in to law. This means the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program will continue in Colorado.
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
Mark your calendar for our next Coffee With Constituents event on Friday, February 9 at 7:00 am, at the Indian Tree Golf Club, 7555 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003. Come have a cup of coffee and enjoy a conversation about bills of concern to you. See you then!
With Jeffco Commissioner Casey Tighe at the CCI legislative breakfast
Legislative Town Hall
Our next legislative town hall meeting will be on Saturday, February 17 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm, at the Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling St, Arvada, CO 80005. The topic will be mental health and will include speakers from the Jefferson Center for Mental Health, the Colorado Department of Human Services, and others. They will discuss the strengthening of
Colorado's statewide response to mental and behavioral health, including the crisis system. We hope to see you there!
Constituents representing Colorado and Jeffco PTA visiting the Capitol
Date for next 'What's Brewing' shifts one week
Ordinarily, "What's Brewing at the Capitol?" takes place the third Wednesday of the month. However, due to a scheduling conflict, we are pushing February's event to the following week. Join us on the fourth Wednesday, February 28 at 7 pm for an informal conversation at a local brewery about the latest happenings at the Capitol. We are still working on the brewery location. We'll post details to my
website as they become available. Thanks!
SD19 Constituent Shawna Fritzler testifying on SB18-008
Tracking your Senator
On Monday, I met with
Padres Jovenes to discuss several bills that affect youth and schools... I also attended the
NARAL legislative luncheon... On Tuesday, I was interviewed by
Channel 7 News about SB18-001 on transportation... as well as
Colorado Public Radio... On Wednesday, I met with members of the
Jeffco School Board, as well as key staff and the superintendent... I also attended the
Colorado Politics legislative reception... On Thursday, I attended the
Colorado Health Foundation's Blueprint to End Hunger luncheon... I also presented
SB18-069 to the Education Committee... And, I attended the
Colorado Hospital Association's legislative reception... On Friday, I hosted the
CCI (Colorado Counties Inc) legislative breakfast... and I met with
Colorado Succeeds to discuss STEM initiatives... I also toured a nursing home,
Peaks Care Center, to discuss issues related to aging and Medicaid... Also, I attended the
Arvada Chamber's Annual Awards Dinner... On Saturday, I delivered a legislative overview at the
JDLI (Jeffco Democratic Latino Initiative) retreat... Also, I attended the
Metro North Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.
Westminster Councilwoman Emma Pinter & Metro North Chamber board member Carolynne White
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!
