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April 9, 2023
Our next meeting is Monday, April 10, 2023. Our meeting is from 9:30AM to 11:30AM.
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We will be very busy at this meeting! | |
Monday is going to be very busy. We do not see how we will be able to do anything other than the top priority bills, those in committee next week, and the new bills. As a preview: | |
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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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SB23-031 Improve Health-care Access For Older Coloradans - CCA Strongly Supports this bill and it is still in appropriations. Jodi is working on another push for SB23-031 to key stakeholders, those that testified, or CCOA folks. CCA will also be sending out more Action Alerts for this bill the week of April 10th. Our CCA advocates for this outreach are Jodi Waterhouse, Rich Mauro, and Jeanette Hensley.
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SB23-213 Land Use - CCA Advocacy Committee leadership submitted amendment information on this bill prior to the hearing. The committee hearing for the bill was on Thursday, April 6th and here is an article about the hearing - CLICK HERE. And here is a link to the recent bill text - CLICK HERE. Our CCA Advocate for this bill is Rich Mauro.
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HOA Bills - Sara Gagliardi will give us some updates on the HOA bills. We need another person to step in and help with following the HOA bills as Julie Evans has had to step down.
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- HB23-1065 Local Government Independent Ethics Commissions - Support
- HB23-1090 Limit Metropolitan District Director Conflicts - CCA was Supporting this bill and it has been Postponed Indefinitely (PI’D)
- HB23-1105 Homeowners' Association And Metropolitan District Homeowners' - CCA is Supporting this bill and it is still in appropriations.
- HB 1131 Majority of Unit Owner’s Required For Home Owner’s Association Budgets - Postponed Indefinitely (PI’D) on 2-14-23
- SB23-110 Transparency For Metropolitan Districts - This bill is on the Governor’s Desk for signature.
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The week of April 3rd the CCA organization sent out Action Alerts to CCA Members, Legislators, and/or specific Committees on SB23-031, SB23-058, SB23-144, HB23-1008, and some of the HOA bills. Please watch for more Action Alerts this week. We have five more Monday morning CCA Advocacy Committee Meetings. 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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MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND
April 13, 2023 - Thursday, 8:00AM - 9:00AM
Legislative Caucus on Aging - Attend in Person or via Zoom
Location: The Colorado Capitol - House Committee Room 112
Address: 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Join us for a legislative Caucus on Aging meeting in-person at the Capitol or virtually via Zoom. The program will include legislators presenting bills that have a direct impact
on older Coloradans. You are encouraged to attend in person at the Capitol Building in House Committee Room 112. Please contact Lucy Carroll (Rep. Young's aide) at
aide.hd50@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link.
View Flyer - CLICK HERE
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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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Sweeping housing bill has pitted some local leaders
against the state lawmakers that represent their cities
"Nearly 300 people were expected to testify at a committee hearing on Thursday about a sweeping bill to change how growth and development are managed in Colorado. The hearing showed how the proposal has created unusual political divides. In some cases, it has pitted state lawmakers against local leaders in their districts — even ones from the same party. 'We think removing local input from land-use decisions would be a step in the wrong direction for our state,' said Guyleen Castriotta, mayor of the reliably blue city and county of Broomfield ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.cpr.org/
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EPA estimates Colorado needs $12 billion to remove existing lead water pipes
"A new survey from the Environmental Protection Agency found there are over 110,000 lead pipes in Colorado, which could cost more than $12 billion to completely remove. The findings mark the first time the EPA has put a number on the amount of lead pipes in the nation. Colorado ranks relatively well in terms of how many lead pipes are still underground. Florida and Illinois top the list with more than 1 million lead pipes each. pipes, known officially as lead service lines, are defined as pipes contaminated with lead that are connected to active water mains. Congress banned lead pipes in 1986. Lead can enter drinking water and cause negative health effects if it enters the bloodstream, especially for children. Symptoms can include developmental delays, weight loss, and difficulties with memory or concentration ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.cpr.org/
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First Lady Jill Biden visits Colorado, calls the state a model for workforce training
"First lady Jill Biden praised Colorado lawmakers for working across party lines to become a model in providing residents options to get workforce training in a visit Monday to the state’s Capitol. Biden visited Colorado as part of a national tour to highlight President Joe Biden’s investments and commitment to workforce training and how states have used federal money to prop up programs to help Americans ..."
- READ MORE
Source https://coloradosun.com
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Construction students in Trinidad are fixing up blighted homes.
Hands-on training and helping their community is the payoff.
"Being a construction worker was not some long-held dream for Brian Moreno. He worked in an auto body shop. It was the birth of his daughter eight months ago that led the 33-year-old to start evaluating a different career path. He just wasn’t making enough money. 'Yeah, for my life right now,' Moreno said, 'I just need to get a job and something quick, you know? Start supporting my family.' So, he started studying in the welding program at Trinidad State College in Southern Colorado. The certification takes a year, though, and that was too long to wait for Moreno to wait for work. Then, next to where his welding classes were being held, he saw another program underway and quickly transferred. It was a new effort from the college offering to help plug eager workers into construction jobs with just four weeks of training ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.cpr.org
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What’s a “reasonable” rent increase? Colorado lawmakers often leave vague —
but important — language for courts to interpret.
"Imagine driving down a Colorado highway and instead of seeing a posted speed limit, you pass a road sign that reads: 'Go an appropriate speed.' The idea may seem ludicrous, but similarly vague language is often inserted into bills by Colorado’s state lawmakers. Undefined terms like 'reasonable' and 'substantial' are included in key parts of legislation and then left to courts to sort out later. Sometimes, the ambiguity arises as laws are tested because it’s impossible for the legislature to imagine every possible scenario in which a statute may apply. Other times, loosey-goosey terms are intentionally added by lawmakers trying to build enough political support to pass a controversial bill ..." - READ MORE
Source https://coloradosun.com
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As Older Adults Prepare to Walk Around, Will Infrastructure Let Them?
"Shelter-in-place restrictions are being lifted and the country is beginning to open up, which means that more Americans will be eager to get out and explore, or rediscover, their downtowns. But some particularly those whose vision or coordination isn't what it used to be may find unexpected difficulties ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.nextavenue.org
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My Cane Is Not A Decoration
"After decades of walking miles around New York City, a herniated disc tickled my sciatic nerve, creating searing pain in my back and leg. It promptly threw me into the category of a person with a disability last fall. I thought of my friend, disability advocate Edith Prentiss, who died at 69 in 2021. She would have carefully selected a sturdy cane, sent me on to doctors and advised me of travel routes throughout our transit system ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.nextavenue.org
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How a Texas judge’s Affordable Care Act ruling could
impact health insurance coverage in Colorado
"A federal judge in Texas threw health insurance for more than 100 million Americans into disarray last week when he ruled that certain preventive coverage requirements are unconstitutional. That ruling if it survives the forthcoming appeals could ripple into Colorado, but its impacts here will likely be more muted than they are elsewhere in the country. That’s because Colorado lawmakers have written many of the same coverage requirements into state law, where at least most of the judge’s ruling won’t apply. Depending on how they get insurance, though, potentially over a million people in Colorado could see impacts to services they currently receive at no additional cost .."
- 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 10, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, April 10, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
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April 13, 2023 - Thursday, 8:00AM - 9:00AM
Legislative Caucus on Aging - Attend in Person or via Zoom
Location: The Colorado Capitol - House Committee Room 112
Address: 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Join us for a legislative Caucus on Aging meeting in-person at the Capitol or virtually via Zoom. The program will include legislators presenting bills that have a direct impact
on older Coloradans. You are encouraged to attend in person at the Capitol Building in House Committee Room 112. Please contact Lucy Carroll (Rep. Young's aide) at
aide.hd50@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link.
View Flyer - CLICK HERE
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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 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 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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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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