Letter to Friends

Dear Friends,

Serving as a Colorado State Representative these past six years has been an honor and a privilege. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of the magnitude of this responsibility.

This legislative session was exciting because we focused on issues that make a real difference in the lives of every Coloradan…

  • Expanding full day pre-school and kindergarten
  • Building better schools
  • Making the use of wind and solar energy easier

I will continue to fight for equality in public education, support working families and small businesses, find sensible solutions to the healthcare crisis, and ensure that our neighborhoods are safe and clean.

The vision I have for the people of Colorado is one of hope, opportunity, prosperity, and equality for all. With your help, I will continue to promote the values that give all Coloradans a chance at the best life possible.

Sincerely,
Judy Solano

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Judy Solano

Bills Sponsored 2010

 

·        HB10-1035 –Eligibility Childcare Assistance Plan Extends eligibility for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program from six to twelve months; slashes the number of reporting requirements, thus easing the administrative burden on parents, providers and counties; aligns CCCAP eligibility with the Head Start school year for children who receive aid from both programs. Passed the House 64-1 and now in Senate

·        HB10-1026 –Quality Childcare Grant Incentive Program This is an opt-in program that allows counties and local early childhood councils to determine a child care quality incentive plan based on local needs. It will be administered by the Colorado Department of Human Services and is contingent on federal funding. Criteria for quality improvement plans that will receive grant funds include employing teachers with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in early childhood, participating in a quality rating or accreditation rating system, and investing in teachers’ professional development. Passed both Chambers, waiting for signature

·        HB10-1052- Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Program- It will extend the length of the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity fund. The RREOP helps businesses make use of recycled materials generated in the state, as well as provides markets for recycled material and increased recycling in the state. The fund also contributes to job growth in the recycling field.  Passed both Chambers, waiting for signature

·        HB10-1182 – CEDA - The bill expands the types of loans and financing agreements the Colorado clean energy development authority may make to facilitate electric power interconnection projects. Passed both Chambers, waiting for signature

·        HB10-1365- Colorado Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act The bill may serve as a national model for reducing air pollution, increasing the use of cleaner energy sources and strengthening the economy. This bill is comprehensive. It’s Colorado-driven. It protects our clean air and it creates jobs, especially in the natural gas industry and renewable energy industries. This ground-breaking proposal will help stabilize utility bills for the people and the businesses of our state Signed into Law April 19, 2010

·        HB10-1430 New K-12 Ed Assessment Program- Would replace the costly and unrequired CSAP and ACT testing of 9th, 10th and 11th grade students with postsecondary and workforce planning assessments. Extends the current date of implementation of a new state assessment system to 2013-2014 school year. Requires statewide, summative testing only in the subjects of reading and math. Results are to be used to diagnostic purposes. A stakeholder committee will be developed to assist in designing the new testing system. Passed through House of Representatives on a bi-partisan vote of 47-16, now in Senate Education Committee

·        SB10-81- Farm to School Taskforce –In order to provide for the development of a state farm-to-school program, which will promote to the consumption of nutritional foods provided by state agricultural producers, the bill creates the "Farm-to-School Healthy Kids Act", which establishes the interagency farm-to-school coordination task force. The bill describes the composition and duties of the task force, and sets a future repeal date of December 31, 2013. Signed into law

·        SB10-131- Quality Full-Day Kindergarten Incentives- The bill encourages school districts to implement full-day kindergarten programs.  The criteria include requiring the full-day kindergarten program to be available to every child of kindergarten-age who resides in the school district and whose parents choose to enroll him or her in full-day kindergarten.  This bill was postponed indefinitely in the Senate Education Committee on February 25th.

·        SB10-14- Family System Navigators- This bill allows family system navigators to perform the same services as family advocates during the examination of persons with mental illnesses involved in the criminal and juvenile court systems. Signed into law

 

Bills Sponsored 2009

  • HB09-1021 Reauthorize Mentally Ill Offenders Study Allows for the continuation of a task force originally created in 1999 that studies the treatment of persons with mental illness who are involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems.  It also adds one member to the task force and gives the task force a more specific group of topics to which it should devote its attention.  Signed into law on 3/20/09
  • HB09-1022 Recidivism Reduction Grant Program Along the same lines as HB 1021, this bill creates a Recidivism Reduction Grant Program.  The goal is to keep those with mental illnesses from going back into the criminal justice system once they have left.  To do so, county governments will be able to apply for grants to fund programs like mental health courts, alternatives to incarceration, transition services, and others. Signed into law on 5/21/2009
  • HB09-1139 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Creates the 10-member Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Commission to address issues concerning fetal alcohol disorders and make recommendations.  The recommendations will address prevention of and education about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and related health issues. Signed into law on 4/21/2009
  • HB09-1234 Driver’s License Suspension Hearing When a person fails to appear at a license suspension hearing, this bill eliminates a requirement by the Department of Revenue to send out a second notice to appear. This bill would speed up the suspension hearing process. Persons can still request a hearing delay if necessary. Signed into law on 4/3/2009
  • HB09-1300 Clean Energy Development Authority Increase in Powers Was recommended by the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth.  It will encourage new, “green collar” jobs by expanding the powers of the Colorado Clean Energy Development Authority, by increasing the number and types of projects it may be used to finance. Postponed Indefinitely on 4/23/2009 in House Transportation & Energy Committee on a 10-1 vote
  • HB09-1304 Suspend Writing CSAP & 9th and 10th Grade CSAP Would have temporarily suspended portions of the CSAP tests not required by federal law in order to make millions of dollars available for the state budget.  Postponed Indefinitely in the House Education Committee on a 7-6 vote
  • HB09-1316 Judge and Law Enforcement Information Private Expands the existing crime of posting personal information about a peace officer on the Internet to include law enforcement officials (judges, magistrates, and prosecutors) who are likely to be targeted. When the posting of information knowingly puts law enforcement officers at risk of harm. Signed into law on 5/21/2009
  • SB09-006 County Jail ID Unit Creates a new County Jail Mobile Identification Unit within the Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Revenue.  This mobile unit will travel to jails in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties on a regular basis to issue new identification cards to each prisoner who does not already have an identification card, but does have all of the proper documentation. Signed into law 6/2/2009
  • SB09-019 Grants Zoning Changes Mentally Ill Would have established a pilot program for local governments. The pilot program encourages local governments to change their zoning regulations to allow housing facilities for individuals who are mentally ill or who have a co-occurring disorder, and who are involved with the criminal justice system. Postponed Indefinitely on 2/3/2009 by the Senate Local Government and Energy Committee on a 6-0-1 vote.
  • SB09-022 State Land Board Investment and Development Fund Provides more money to our schools by increasing from $1.0 million to $5.0 million, over 3 years, the annual limit of payments generated from state school lands that can be credited to the State Board of Land Commissioners Investment and Development Fund. Signed into law on 5/14/1009
  • SB09-033 Early Childhood Education Free Lunch Services Expands the list of students who qualify to receive a free lunch. The program will now include children in public preschool programs who are eligible to receive a reduced-cost lunch (no cost to Colorado) under the federal “National School Lunch Act.”  Signed into law on 3/25/09
  • SB09-231 Extend State Methamphetamine Task Force Extends the Colorado Methamphetamine Task Force, created in 2006.  The purpose of the task force is to develop a statewide strategy to respond to methamphetamine use in the state.  It receives funding from private foundations and is comprised of 27 members from government and the private sector. The recent work of the task force includes creating a blueprint for addressing the methamphetamine problem in the state, conducting demonstration initiatives, and developing strategies to protect communities from the effects of methamphetamine. Signed into law on 4/20/2009
  • SB09-238 Enforce Limited Local Fee Solar Panels Was recommended by the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth and limits the fees that counties or municipalities may charge for issuing a permit to install an active solar energy device. Postponed Indefinitely on 4/16/2009 in the Senate Local Government and Energy Committee
  • SB09-285 Career Tech Ed Concurrent Enrollment Concerning the inclusion of career and technical educational program providers among institutions of higher education that are allowed to offer concurrent enrollment opportunities to high school students. Signed into law 6/4/2009

Bills Sponsored 2008:

  • HB08-1016 Juvenile Justice Mental Health Process Concerning justice procedures for juveniles who may benefit from mental health services. Signed into law.
  • HB08-1160 Net Metering & Rural Electric Utilities Concerning net-metering for customer generators of electric utilities. Signed into law.
  • HB08-1164 New Solar Energy Technologies Concerning the advancement of new utility-scale solar energy technologies. Signed into law.
  • HB08-1186 No Penalty for Students Missing CSAP Concerning the exception of certain students' CSAP scores from calculations of a schools' academic performance. Vetoed.
  • HB08-1304 Illegal Taking & Possessing of Bald Eagles Concerning protection of the bald eagle. Signed into law.
  • HB08-1357 Alignment of Federal & State Educational Assessments Concerning the alignment of the CSAP with federal testing requirements for the purpose of making more effective use of state moneys in improving student performance in K-12 grade public schools and increasing funding for the Dropout Prevention Activity Grant Program and the Teacher Development Grant Program. Passed House, Lost in Senate Committee.
  • SB08-006 Suspend Medicaid for Confined Persons Concerning suspension of Medicaid benefits for persons confined pursuant to a court order. Signed into law.
  • SB08-008 Mentally Ill Offender Task Force Member Concerning the addition of a representative from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to the task force for the continuing examination of the treatment of persons with mental illness who are involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Signed into Law.

Bills Sponsored 2007:

  • HB07-1058 Juvenile Justice Mental Health Process Incorporates mental health assessments in juvenile justice proceedings. Passed House, Lost in Senate Committee
  • HB07-1062 Early Childhood Councils Creates statewide system of early childhood councils to ensure better quality, capacity, accessibility and affordability of early childhood programs. Signed into law
  • HB07-1080 Art Therapist Requirements Concerns requirements to become an art therapist Passed House, lost in Senate Committee
  • HB07-1169 Cooperative Electric Net Metering Concerning homegrown power through net-metering. Signed into law
  • HB07-1288 Sustain Resource Economic Opportunity Creates the sustainable resources economic opportunity commission through recycling.  Signed into law
  • SB07-012 Investigation of Early Childhood Providers Concerning the investigation of child care providers who receive public funds from state child care assistance programs on the child’s behalf. Signed into law
  • SB07-135 Bingo-Raffle Charitable Gaming Promotion Concerning regulations of games of chance that are in a charitable market. Passed Senate, lost in House on 2nd Reading.

2006 Special Session

During the interim of the 2006 session the legislators were hard at work addressing immigration issues in a special session. For a list of bills that were proposed and passed:

http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics2006b/csl.nsf/BillFoldersAll?OpenFrameSet

Bills Sponsored 2006:

  • HB06-1289 Statewide Assessment Penalties - Concerning the elimination of penalties arising from a parent's choice regarding student participation in statewide assessments. Postponed Indefinitely in the House of Representatives
  • HB06-1397 Early Childhood Councils – Concerns the creation of a statewide system of early childhood councils. Vetoed
  • HB06-1074 Waste Tires– Concerns the waste tire recycling development fees. Signed into law
  • HB06-1145 Methamphetamine– Concerns the development of a comprehensive response to the methamphetamine problem in Colorado, and, in connection therewith creates a state methamphetamine task force to examine the prevention, intervention, and treatment of the abuse of methamphetamine and to examine the production and distribution of methamphetamine. Signed into law
  • HB06-1146 Animal Confinement– Concerns the proper confinement of animals. Postponed Indefinitely on a 7-4 vote in the House Judiciary Committee
  • HB06-1316 Health Care Expenditures– Concerns the health care expenditures paid by an employer for employees. Postponed Indefinitely on a 7-2 vote in the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee
  • HB06-1406 Traffic Light Devices– Concerns the regulation of electronic devices that are designed to cause traffic lights to change. Signed into law
  • SB06-005 Mental Health Services– Concerns the mental Health services coverage under health care benefits plans. Signed into law
  • SB06-227 Reporting Requirements– Concerns the reporting requirements regarding the payment of health care costs. Vetoed
  • SB06-045 Child Care Providers– Concerns the investigation of child care providers. Signed into law

Bills Sponsored 2005:

  • HB05-1024 Dropout Prevention Grant Program - Creates a dropout prevention activity grant program to fund before & after school arts-based and vocational activity programs with the goal of reducing student dropout rates. Signed into law May 24, 2005
  • HB05-1092 SUTA (State Unemployment Tax Avoidance) “Dumping” Compliance - Prevents a business from dumping unemployment histories into “ghost” companies for purposes of attaining lower unemployment tax rates. Colorado now complies with federal law concerning this practice. Signed into law May 24, 2005
  • HB05-1093 Adoptive Parent Criminal History Check - Requires prospective adoptive parents to submit to a CBI and FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check and to present findings to the court. Signed into law May 26, 2005
  • HB05-1245 Public Health Benefits Report Employers - Requires public funded healthcare beneficiaries to report employment information. Requires state department to report annually to the general assembly employers with 50 or more employees whose employees use public funded healthcare programs. Vetoed
  • HB05-1246 CSAP Scores and Alternative Assessments – Establishes a study committee to look at alternative assessments for special education students. Signed into law May 10, 2005
  • HB05-1336 State and Veterans Nursing Homes Quality of Care - Establishes a legislative oversight committee to evaluate the quality of care provided in our state and veterans nursing homes. Signed into law
  • HB05-1347 Gathering Personal ID by Deception – Criminalizes attempts at identity theft by internet, telephone, or other electronic means a class 1 misdemeanor. Signed into law
  • SB05-88 Kindergarten Program - Requires each school district to provide a kindergarten program for all children who are 5 years of age. Signed into law March 25, 2005

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Judy Solano

 

 
 
 
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