This list contains the Eleven Best of 61 bills I passed this year.  I had lots to choose from, but these stand out.  I hope you like them.

[Click on the Bill # to read the full text of the final bill, or use the Fiscal Note link to read an explanation of how the bill operates and what it will cost to implement.  The Fiscal Note is often much more interesting and enlightening to read than the bill!]

1.  The Long Bill:  SB 230

The Colorado Constitution requires that a balanced budget be passed each year, contained in a single bill, that provides for the funding of the ongoing operation of all three branches of state government.  It takes the Joint Budget Committee close to five months to draft the bill, and it takes a week to move the bill through each chamber of the legislature.  The JBC forms a conference committee at the end to put it back in balance.  This year’s budget spends $20.5 billion on everything from highways and prisons to schools, universities and national guard armories.  Approximately $8 billion of that comes from the general fund, the remaining portions being federal funds and cash funds of various types. 

The budget for fiscal year 2013-14 makes strong investments in education, human services and economic development.  At the request of Gov. Hickenlooper the budget prioritized improvements to our child welfare system and mental health community resources.  The senior homestead exemption was fully funded, and support for senior services such as meals on wheels was increased.  Services for people with developmental disabilities were expanded and waiting lists were reduced or eliminated.   State support for institutions of higher education was increased for the first time in four years.  State employees will receive a pay increase for the first time in as many years as well.  The list goes on and on – read more here.

The Long Bill is the only bill that doesn’t get a Fiscal Note.  It’s way cooler than that; it gets a Narrative.

2.  Drug Offense Sentencing Reforms:  SB 250

This bill has been years in the making.  The Drug Policy Task Force of the Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice began talking about a new sentencing grid for drug offenders in 2010, and those talks got serious in 2012 when I introduced SB 12-163 with Sen. Shawn Mitchell.  We ended up turning SB 163 into a directive for the CCJJ’s Drug Policy Task Force to study the reforms and report back by the end of the year, and SB 250 is the result.  Unanimously recommended to the legislature by CCJJ, the reforms in SB 250 go beyond a new sentencing grid.  They continue a transition to a more flexible approach to drug offenses, and one that emphasizes treatment over incarceration for those struggling with addiction.  Savings in the prison budget from sentencing reform allows those resources to be re-directed to community-based drug treatment programs.  Better outcomes, less recidivism, more cost effective use of taxpayer resources.  This is my fourth year sponsoring bills for the Drug Policy Task Force, and Rep. Claire Levy has been my co-sposnor on many of those bills, including this one.

 Click Here for the Fiscal Note for SB 250

3.  The School Finance Act:  SB 260

After three years of cuts to K-12 education through the insertion of a “negative factor” in the school finance formula, SB 260 reverses the trend and begins the process of restoring cuts.  Unfortunately, we have a long way to go as the “negative factor” has cut over $1 billion from what should have been spent on public education.  A school finance act is passed each year, and SB 260 is the best we’ve seen in a while.  On top of fully funding inflation and growth in student enrollment, the bill provides $40 million toward reducing the “negative factor” and a $20 million increase in support for special education services.   Sen. Evie Hudak chairs the Senate Education Committee and was my co-sponsor on this bill.

Click Here for the Fiscal Note for SB 260

4.  Collateral Consequences:  SB 123

I’ve worked on this bill for three years, and I’m very thankful we got it passed this year.  Collateral consequences are the things that happen to a person with a criminal history not because of the sentence they received, but because of all the provisions in civil law that pose barriers, limitations and disqualifiations based on conviction of various crimes.  There are literally thousands of them throughout the law, and every year the legislature enacts more.  SB 123 helps people with criminal records as they reintegrate back into the community or while doing time on probation.  One of the reason people commit new crimes while on probation or after being released is because collateral consequence laws make it difficult for people with records to find housing or employment.  SB 123 seeks to lessen barriers faced by people with records. It makes modest expansions to record sealing laws, allowing petty offenses and municipal ordinance violations to be sealed after three years with a clean record.  It allows judges to waive housing or occupational licensing sanctions when sentencing someone to probation, so they can keep their home or their job.  It requires data collection and analysis to examine the impact of criminal history disqualifications for various occupations and professions, which hopefully will lead to more informed decisions by future legislatures when voting on collateral consequences. 

Click Here for the Fiscal Note for SB 123

5.  Health Care Reform Implementation:  HB 1245 & HB 1115

Okay, so this is two bills, but they really work in tandem to make several good things happen.  HB 1245 sets up sustainable funding sources for the new Colorado Health Benefits Exchange, which begins operations later this year in preparation for the Jan. 1, 2014 start date for many key provisions of the federal health care reform law, including the individual mandate.  The Exchange will receive one-time funds (twice, actually) and authorization for some of the same funding mechanisms used by CoverColorado, which HB 1115 repeals after a phase-out period.  Thanks to ObamaCare, the high-risk individuals insured by CoverColorado will no longer be denied coverage in the commercial market due to pre-existing conditions, so the state-subsidized high-risk pool can be phased-out and it’s funding transitioned to the Exchange, which is where many of CoverColorado’s clients will be buying insurance. 

CoverColorado had been receiving a monthly distribution of interest earned on the state’s Unclaimed Property Fund.  HB 1115 retroactively put a stop to that.  A portion of the savings (the retroactive part) is being transferred to the Exchange, and dental benefits for adults in the Medicaid program (SB 242) are being funded through the future savings.  There’s still money left over which for now will be used to replenish the reserve account on the Unclaimed Property Fund.  Rep. Beth McCann was the House sponsor on both of these bills, and together we devised the plan for how to dovetail the bills and the funding as carefully as possible.

Click Here for the Fiscal Note for HB 1245, and Here for HB 1115

6.  Limited Gaming Tax Distributions: SB 133

The Colorado Constitution specifies how portions of the taxes on casino gaming are spent, but a portion is directed to the general fund or to any other fund designated by the General Assembly.  Several programs have been so designated.   In bad years those programs get reduced, and in good years those dollars get restored.  SB 133 increased funding to the tourism promotion fund and other economic development programs, including funding for the arts and film incentives.  This distribution formula will likely be changed again in future, but for now a lot of people were happy to see increased support for our tourism industry and other job creating programs.  My colleague from the Joint Budget Committee Rep. Cheri Gerou sponsored the bill in the House.

Click Here for the Fiscal Note for SB 133

7.  Increasing State Reserves:  SB 237

Current law requires the legislature to maintain a 4% reserve in the general fund.  This money saved from year to year provides a cushion in our budget and can be accessed when the economy goes in the tank and tax revenues decline.  Most people agree that 4% is too small a reserve, and we’ve passed laws that will increase our reserves when certain economic indicators trigger the requirement.  SB 237 gets a head start on that process by increasing our reserves to 5% during the current 2012-13 fiscal year.  This was one of Governor Hickenlooper’s requested uses of what he considers to be one-time revenues in the budget.  It’s a fiscally responsible, prudent move and it will help Colorado weather the next economic downturn.  This bill originated in the Joint Budget Committee.

Click Here for the Fiscal Note for SB 237

8.  Crimes Against Pregnant Women:  HB 1154

This isn’t the first time this bill has been proposed.  In 2011, Rep. Mark Waller introduced a very similar bill and I was the Senate sponsor.  What appeared to be a carefully crafted compromise quickly fell apart.  Despite our bipartisan efforts the bill became impossible to pass in a divided legislature.  Like so many other issues, this legislation had to wait until 2013 to pass.

HB 1154 fills a gap in our current criminal code where crimes that result in the loss of a pregnancy sometimes escape justice.  The bill creates a comprehensive scheme for all assaults on pregnant women that cause the loss of the pregnancy.  The subject matter isn’t pleasant, and the stories of drunk driving accidents (and worse) with tragic endings are hard to endure.  But somehow the debate invariably becomes about abortion rights.  To avoid that political pitfall HB 1154 carefully defines the criminal acts and makes clear that the woman is the victim of the crime.  Colorado voters have twice rejected fetal personhood laws by overwhelming margains, and HB 1154 respects their wishes in its approach to defining and punishing these crimes.  Rep. Mike Foote was the House sponsor of the bill, where it passed with strong bipartisan support on a vote of 50 to 14, with House Minority Leader Mark Waller voting Yes.  In the Senate the bill passed on a straight party-line vote of 20 to 15. 

Click Here for the Fiscal Note for HB 1154

9.  Sales Tax on Cigarettes:  HB 1144

Once upon a time, cigarettes were exempt from sales tax in Colorado.  But a few years ago the exemption was temporarily suspended as a means of generating additional general fund revenue during the recession.  That suspension was set to expire on June 30, 2013, meaning cigarettes were scheduled to once again become exempt from sales tax.  HB 1144 ends the temporary nature of this tax treatment, making cigarettes permanently subject to state sales tax.

Smokers are paying the sales tax today, and thanks to HB 1144 they’ll still be paying it in July.  But because this revenue was supposed to be ending, we didn’t include it in the revenue estimates used to build the fiscal year 2013-14 budget.  HB 1144 generates “new” revenue, available for appropriation for new legislation passed this year, which wasn’t otherwise funded through the budget process.  HB 1144 made possible lots of important investments in job creation, health care and civil rights.

Had this bill not passed, cigarette taxes in Colorado would have dropped in July.  Cigarette taxes should never go down.  Health care advocates supported HB 1144 because studies have shown taxes to create barriers that prevent young people from starting to smoke.  But smokers won’t notice a difference, because they’re already paying this tax today.  In addition to sales tax, other state and federal taxes apply to cigarettes.  Because HB 1144 was a revenue raising measure it was required to originate in the House of Representatives where Rep. Daniel Kagan was the sponsor.  The two of us sponsored the last temporary suspension bill two years ago, and now we’ll never have to do that again.

Click Here for the Fiscal Note for HB 1144

10.  Right to Legal Counsel:  HB 1210

And speaking of Rep. Daniel Kagan, he was also the sponsor of this bill to bring Colorado into compliance with a United States Supreme Court ruling about when the right to legal counsel begins for people accused of crimes.  We agreed to tackle this problem and use revenue from cigarette sales taxes to pay for the court-appointed lawyers for indigent defendants.  The 6th Amendment right to be represented by a lawyer when your liberty is threatened by criminal prosecution is a core part of our Bill of Rights, but Colorado law denied this opportunity in misdemeanor cases.  HB 1210 corrects this problem and provides additional resources to the Public Defender’s office. 

Click Here for the Fiscal Note for HB 1210

11.  Civil Unions:  SB 11

Third times a charm.  The law took effect on May 1, 2013, and already hundreds of committed couples across Colorado have made the trip to their County Clerk’s office to form a legally recognized civil union.  Families are stronger, children are protected, love and commitment are respected and Colorado is a better place than it was a couple of weeks ago.  Special thanks to House Speaker Mark Ferrandino for helping me make this happen.

Click Here for the Fiscal Note for SB 11

I’ve served on the JBC for three years now, but this year I am the chair and tax revenues are returning to our General Fund.  My first two years on the committee were all about making budget cuts, but this year we’re starting to restore those cuts.  We’ve turned a corner and we’re on the path of economic recovery, and the budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 shows it.

I’m proud of our work-product and the budgetary priorities reflected in SB 230.  We’ve assembled a fiscally responsible budget that begins the process of restoring cuts to public education, shoring up the safety net and investing in our people and our economy.  This budget funds the state government we want and deserve: a government that lives within its means but cares about those in need, and one that invests in our future.

Several of Governor Hickenlooper’s key budget initiatives are included in SB 230.  Substantial improvements to our child welfare and mental health systems are included.  Economic development funds targeting rural Colorado will help revitalize struggling communities on the Eastern plains and in Southern Colorado.  Wildfire mitigation funds will help clear beetle-killed pine trees in our mountains and reduce the risk of another year of catastrophic fires.  And increased general fund reserves will better position our state to weather the next economic downturn.

SB 230 is a fiscally responsible budget.  The JBC approved the Governor’s request to build our “rainy day fund” reserves to 5% of general fund appropriations.  On our own initiative, the JBC repaid with interest a loan taken from the Veteran’s Trust Fund that had been used to fund the construction of three new National Guard armories.  We are making our scheduled payment to the Fire & Police Pension Association and prepaying an extra $20 million, saving millions in future interest payments. 

 SB 230 does right by the people of Colorado.  It invests in education, health care, human services and economic development.  For the first time in three years school funding is going up, helping students achieve their full potential.  SB 230 makes new investments in services for seniors such as Meals on Wheels, helping them live independently and avoid reliance on medical assistance programs and costly long-term care.  SB 230 supports veterans, continuing a grant program started last year to provide housing supports and other programs designed to help those who made sacrifices for our country.  SB 230 adds new funding for people with developmental disabilities, reducing the waiting lists for vital services.  Libraries, affordable housing and school-based health centers also are winners in SB 230, each contributing to the strength of our communities.

Finally, SB 230 investments in state infrastructure with over $195 million dedicated to capital construction and controlled maintenance projects.  This money goes directly into our economy, keeping roofers and construction workers busy and employed.  State buildings will be repaired and made more efficient, a lots of new roofs will be installed.  College campuses across Colorado will see new construction and improvements, keeping them competitive and the source of pride.  This year the repairs to the Capitol building’s dome will be funded out of the capital construction budget, rather than relying on grants from the State Historical Fund.  This allows $5 million in State Historical Fund grants to be used for smaller projects across Colorado, sharing the wealth and spurring construction activity far and wide.

Colorado’s economic recovery is outpacing the nation right now, and with the investments SB 230 makes in our state and our future, we hope to keep that recovery on track.  The effects of federal budget cuts due to sequestration may dampen this recovery.  There are indications that some portion of the increased revenue in the FY 2013-14 budget are from capital gains taxes and other non-recurring sources.  We’ve crafted SB 230 to be cautious in this regard, investing in capital construction, loan repayment and increased reserves to make one-time use of these revenues and avoid spending increases that are not sustainable.  A lot of thought went into this budget and I’m very grateful for the hard work my colleagues on the Joint Budget Committee dedicated to this task.  This is a budget Colorado can be proud of.

Click Here to access the narrative document that accompanies the Long Bill.  This narrative is produced by JBC staff and it details the changes SB 230 makes in comparison to the prior year’s budget.  It also contains summary tables and information about other bills that are part of the annual budget package.  It’s a lot to digest — you can see why it takes us five months to produce!

On Tuesday, March 12, 2013, the House of Representatives voted to pass SB 13-011 by a margin of 39 to 26.  All Democratic members of the House and Senate voted to support the extension of basic legal rights that SB 11 offers to couples in our state, as did a handful of Republican members.  The bill will soon be delivered to the desk of Governor John Hickenlooper for signature.

I’m incredibly proud of our state and this historic accomplishment.  We’ve come a long way from the dark days of 1992, when voters added a controversial and discriminatory provision to the Colorado Constitution that sought to exclude gays and lesbians from the equal protection of the law in our state.  The United States Supreme Court struck down “Amendment 2,” as it was known, in a 6 to 3 decision in 1996.  I sat in the courtroom the October day in 1995 when they heard oral arguments in the Romer v. Evans case.  Looking back on this chapter of our history puts today’s victory in perspective.

The road to equality is long and rocky.  We’ve overcome some major obstacles along the way, but there is more work still to do.  Another provision of the Colorado Constitution continues to discriminate against gay men and lesbians and prevent their equal inclusion in the fabric of our society.  Some day soon it too must be overturned.  As Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the Romer v. Evans opinion, “A state cannot so deem a class of persons a stranger to its laws.”  Passage of SB 11 helps remedy the inequality enshrined in our state constitution and ends the status of “strangers to our laws,” but we still have far to go before the promise of liberty and justice for all is fulfilled.

Since the beginning of the gun debate I’ve been watching from a distance.  As Chair of the Joint Budget Committee I keep plenty busy.  I’m not sponsoring or taking a lead role in the gun bills, so I could sit back and watch and listen as they progressed.  I was familiar with the debate around HB 1228, the bill charging a fee for background checks, because the JBC has debated this issue for the past several years.  It’s not really a gun bill, but instead a question of fiscal policy, and I’ve supported this change since my first year on JBC.  But for the rest of the bills I listened to the debate and learned more about the issues.

And the debate has been interesting, noisy and intense.  My office has received more calls and emails about guns than any other issue this year.  We’re hearing from both sides, and the volume has been overwhelming to keep up with.  Most of the messages have been from people outside Senate District 31, and indeed, all over the country.  But I’ve also heard from plenty of constituents, and I have a pretty clear idea of where most of them stand.  It’s time for common sense approaches that keep guns out of the wrong hands. 

I voted for all five of the bills that passed the Senate on Friday.  Some were easier decisions than others.  Background checks for gun sales should be required in all settings, not just at licensed dealers and gun shows.  The background check system needs this integrity.  It should be uniformly applied and the users of the system, the people making gun purchases, should pay a fee to support its operation.   I support both HB 1229 and HB 1228.

SB 195 requires applicants for concealed weapons permits to take the required training course in person with a certified instructor.  It prohibits courses taught entirely online, which are currently accepted in some jurisdictions.  This bill makes sense and has the most support of any in the package.

SB 197 amends state law to give effect to the requirements of federal law.  It requires people who have been convicted of domestic violence crimes, as well as those who have domestic violence protection orders entered against them by a court of law, to relinquish their firearms.  Federal law prohibits gun possession by such offenders but up until now we’ve had no way to enforce this requirement in Colorado.  SB 197 addresses this gap in our law and will help keep victims of domestic violence safer.

Finally, HB 1224 limits the size of high capacity magazines to no more than 15 bullets.  In the worst mass shootings, such as Sandy Hook and Aurora, a common element was high capacity magazines that allowed the shooter to fire many rounds before stopping to reload.  This bill makes exceptions for law enforcement and the military, but beyond that I see no need for more than 15 bullets at the ready.  This is perhaps the most controversial bill of the bunch, but I think it has the potential to limit the scope of future tragedies, which is exactly what these bills aim to accomplish.

Two bills failed on Friday.  Sen. Rollie Heath moved to postpone HB 1226 until after the conclusion of the session, effectively killing it.  This bill would have added buildings and sporting venues on college campuses to the list of places where concealed weapons are not allowed.  Senate President John Morse also moved to kill his own bill, laying it over to May 10, 2013.  SB 196 addressed civil liability standards for harm caused by certain assault weapons.  It created quite a stir, but it did not get a thorough debate on the Senate floor. 

On Monday, March 11, 2013, the five remaining bills will receive a final vote.  I plan to vote for all five.

I appreciate all the input I have received on this issue, especially from constituents residing in Senate District 31.  I know we don’t all agree, but I believe my position on these bills is aligned with that of the majority of my constituents. 

As of the date of this post, 14 bills about firearms have been introduced.  Here’s a quick list of those bills and where they are in the process (if no Status is indicated then no action has yet been taken on the bill):

• HB 1043 by Rep. Mike Foote.  Modifies definition of “deadly weapon” in criminal code.
• HB 1048 by Rep. Justin Everett & Sen. Kevin Grantham.  Expands the “Make My Day Law” to apply at businesses (current law only applies to homes).  Status: defeated in committee
• HB 1085 by Rep. Perry Buck & Sen. Scott Renfroe.  Creates exceptions to restrictions on firearms possession by previous offenders with certain criminal convictions.
• HB 1162 by Rep. Chris Holbert & Sen. Owen Hill.  Allows concealed weapons to be carried without a permit.
• HB 1169 by Rep. Stephen Humphrey & Sen. Greg Brophy.  Allows concealed weapon permits holders to be exempt from background check requirements for subsequent gun purchases.
• HB 1170 by Rep. Stephen Humphrey & Sen. Owen Hill.  Allows concealed weapons to be carried in public schools.
• HB 1187 by Rep. Lois Landgraf & Sen. Kevin Lundberg.  Attempts to prevent new federal laws restricting firearms from applying within the State of Colorado.
• SB 9 by Sens. Scott Renfroe and Ted Harvey & Rep. Lori Saine.  Allows concealed weapons to be carried in public schools.  Status: defeated in committee
• SB 62 by Sen. Kent Lambert & Rep. Lori Saine.  Requires businesses that do not allow concealed weapons to be carried on their premises to hire private security.  Status:  defeated in committee
• SB 140 by Sen. Vicki Marble & Rep. Lori Saine.  Attempts to prevent new federal laws restricting firearms from applying within the State of Colorado.

The package of gun safety legislation has not yet been heard in committee, and some of the expected bill have not been introduced.  The announced package includes:

• HB 1224 by Rep. Rhonda Fields & Sen. Mary Hodge.  Bans sale and possession of high-capacity magazines (more than 10 rounds).
• HB 1226 by Rep. Claire Levy & Sen. Rollie Heath.  Closes loophole allowing concealed weapons in buildings on college campuses (in response to recent ruling from Colorado Supreme Court).
• HB 1228 by Rep. Lois Court & Sen. Rollie Heath.  Imposes a fee on the criminal background checks required for gun purchases at firearms dealers and gun shows.   CBI initial estimates put the fee at $10 to $12 per transaction.
• HB 1229 by Reps. Rhonda Fields and Beth McCann & Sen. Morgan Carroll.  Background check modernization act expands the requirement to private sales and improves data and process for conducting checks.
• (not yet introduced) by Sen. Lois Tochtrop & Rep. Jenise May.  Clarifies that required training courses for concealed weapon permits must be conducted in person and that online courses are not acceptable. 
• (not yet introduced) by Sen. Evie Hudak & Rep. Beth McCann.  Clarifies domestic violence convictions and protection orders that prevent firearms transfers and improves method tracking this data for background check purposes.
• (not yet introduced) by Sen. John Morse & Rep. Beth McCann.  Imposes strict liability standard on owners, possessors, manufacturers and dealers of certain types of firearms, excluding handguns, bolt-action rifles and shotguns.
• (not yet introduced) by Rep. Beth McCann.  Requires mental health professionals to report patients who pose a danger of serious physical harm to themselves or others and improves method of tracking data on mental health for background check purposes.

Most of these bills are more detailed and complicated than the one sentence explanations I’ve listed above, and as with most pieces of legislation, the Devil is often in the details.  I’m particularly interested in studying Rep. McCann’s mental health bill once it is introduced.  Issues raised by this proposal are going to be tricky to navigate, as sensitive mental health information is being reported. 

As member of the Joint Budget Committee I am most interested in HB 1228 and am very supportive of this legislation to require persons buying guns to pay for their own background checks and not have this service provided at taxpayer expense.  I know gun collectors that make many purchases a year, but under current law taxpayers are subsidizing their hobby.  Those general fund tax dollars could be put to better use.

The debate on these bills is just beginning to heat up and the temperature will continue to rise.  Protest rallies for and against one side of the issue or another are happening more frequently and are likely to intensify.  Our phones are ringing and the volume of email messages from all sides of the debate is quite heavy.  In Senate District 31 I am hearing more from those wanting greater restrictions on firearms and their sales, but there are a lot of messages in support of 2nd Amendment rights as well.  And I’m getting calls and emails from people all over the state.

I am not sponsoring any gun legislation this year as I already have a full load from my role chairing the Joint Budget Committee and my continued work on Civil Unions, criminal justice reforms and other issues.  This doesn’t mean I won’t be taking part in the debate and advocating for or against the various proposals, but legislators like Rep. Beth McCann and Rep. Rhonda Fields are out in front of these issues and I appreciate the difficulty of the controversy they are taking on.

Here’s a quick list of the first 5 bills I’ll introduce this year.  I have some others up my sleeve, and this doesn’t include the dozens of JBC bills I’ll sponsor as chair of the committee.

SB 13-011:  Civil Unions.  Third time is a charm.  2013 will be the year we pass this important legislation to permit committed couples to access basic legal protections, rights and responsibilities. 

Repeal annual revenue resolution.  For many years there has been a requirement that the General Assembly annually certify the amount of revenue to the General Fund that is available for appropriation.  Two years ago this resolution got highjacked in a partisan stunt by House Republicans.  But even with this low propensity for mischief, the resolution is meaningless.  It’s not worth the paper it’s printed on.  That’s because the resolution is required to be passed in February, but our budget is written to balance to the March revenue forecast.  This resolution actually impairs the transparency of our budget process by setting forth a set of budget projections that are binding on no one and are always wrong.  I’m proposing to repeal the whole darn thing and save time and money, and avoid the confusion.  This is probably the simplest bill I’m sponsoring, but I really like bills that repeal things. 

Salary increases for state officers.  This bill is not without controversy, but I agree with Attorney General John Suthers that Colorado needs to adjust the salaries we pay elected officials.  I’d like to include the legislature, but we’re starting with just the five constitutional officers: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer and secretary of state.  Before you fire off an email, please know that the Colorado Constitution prohibits increasing (or decreasing) an elected official’s salary during their term in office.  That means there has to be an election and someone elected to a new term before the increase would take effect.  And we’re going one step further to deny the increase to any current incumbent.  That means even if John Hickenlooper were reelected governor in 2014 (which seems all but certain) he wouldn’t see a salary increase.  But because John Suthers is term-limited and can’t run again, the next attorney general would have an increased salary.   Thus, it will take up to six years to fully phase-in the increases, and it only applies to five positions.  Attorney General Suthers has been an outspoken proponent of addressing this issue.  We shouldn’t have a system where only the wealthy can afford to serve in elected office.  Nor should every member of the governor’s cabinet make a much larger salary than their boss.  I expect a hot debate, and I don’t know if the bill will pass, but I think it’s a conversation we should have.

Collateral consequences.  Another repeat of a bill that failed to pass last year (SB 12-105).  I’ve been working on this issue for three years now, we have a solid proposal, and people are increasingly aware of the problem.  Collateral consequences are all the barriers and disqualifications that apply to people with criminal records by operation of law.  Former offenders can’t gets jobs or housing because our laws make it virtually impossible for them to reintegrate back into society.  So instead they return to a life of crime.  I’ve written extensively about this topic – click here to read a previous blog post.

Sentencing reforms for drug offenses.  This bill also follows on a bill that I proposed last year.  It proved controversial, so it got turned into a study.  The study is complete, and a revised version of the bill won a unanimous recommendation from the Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice last fall.  This is another topic I’ve been working on for several years and have written several blog posts in the past.  Click here to learn more.

So those are my first five bills - three are repeats from last year, one is a minor bill to do away with something small and unnecessary, and one is a fresh controversy that’s already made headlines.  And I’ll end up with lots more than five.

The legislative update page on my website will be updated throughout the legislative session to include information and links for all the bills I’m sponsoring.  Check back often, and feel free to drop me a line and share your thoughts. 

On November 8, 2012, just two days after the general election, I was elected by my colleagues in the Senate to serve another two years on the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee.  The JBC began it’s annual budget process the next week and the first order of business was electing a new chair.  This position rotates each year between the House and Senate, and in the year following a general election a senator chairs the committee.  In the year preceding the election the House of Representatives gets their turn.

I am happy to report that I was unanimously elected Chair of the Joint Budget Committee on November 14, 2012.  Rep. Claire Levy of Boulder is the new Vice-Chair, and next year at this time we’ll switch titles.  It is an incredible honor to be entrusted with the responsibility to lead our budget process.  The role of JBC Chair has been called the most powerful position in the legislature, and while I consider this assertion to be somewhat debatable, it isn’t that far from the truth.  My good friend Rep. Mark Ferrandino may better resemble that remark… Congratulations Mr. Speaker!

The JBC is already hard at work, and I’m looking forward to the tasks at hand.  Five of the six JBC members from the previous legislature remain on the committee, so our working relationships are strong.  Rep. Crisanta Duran of Denver is the only new member this year and she seems eager to learn and contribute.  And of course, with an improving economy we won’t be facing as many painful decisions as was the case the past two years.  That is, unless Congress drives us over the fiscal cliff… but that’s another blog post.

For those of you following me on Twitter (find me @PatSteadman), I’ll probably be tweeting a little less during JBC hearings.  I’ve never been that prolific at tweeting, but last year I would often report significant decisions or the subject matter of various hearings.  Now that I’m chairing the committee I doubt I’ll be able to reliably tweet quite as much.  But you can always keep up with us by following Sen. Kent Lambert (find him @KentLambert), as he’s been very good at tweeting links to our JBC staff documents and where we are on our agenda.  You’ll get a different spin on the action, but you’ll still know what we’re up to. 

Throughout November and December the JBC receives briefings from staff on the departmental budget requests, and then holds hearing with state agency officials to discuss their funding and programs.  In January our focus shifts to mid-year “supplemental” appropriations that adjust spending in the current fiscal year and keep our budget in balance.  Then we spend most of February and March ”figure setting” to determine the amount of funding for each line item in the Long Bill.  If we’re on schedule, I’ll introduce the Long Bill in the Senate on Monday, March 25, 2013.  I’m going to be pretty busy for the next five months or so… wish us luck!

Thank you to everyone who voted in 2012, but especially to the voters of Senate District 31 and their decision to return me to the Capitol for a four-year term.   I must also thank the volunteers, donors and supporters that helped me campaign during a difficult time in my life – I couldn’t have done it without you.  Because of Colorado’s term limits law, this will be my final term serving as your state senator.  Thank you for the honor of allowing me to be your voice at the statehouse in Denver.

Elections are difficult processes.  A great deal of time, effort and resources go into election campaigns.  I want to congratulate everyone who ran for office in 2012, whether they won their race or not, for taking part in our democratic process.  I wish to thank Michael Carr for his first attempt at elective office and for running a clean and earnest campaign.  Not only did he give voters a choice, he also gave them plenty to think about.  I hope his candidacy will make it easier for others to run on the Republican ticket as openly LGBT candidates.

Although the legislative session does not begin until January, our campaigns are now over and the work of governing begins right away.  The newly elected members of the 69th General Assembly will meet later this week to select leaders for the coming year and those leaders will begin preparing for the regular session to begin on January 9, 2013.  The Joint Budget Committee begins meeting next week for briefings and hearings on the executive budget request. 

The peaceful transition of power that is the hallmark of our democracy is now underway and culminates in a new legislature being seated nine weeks from today.  Thank you for helping make this all possible.

As I reflect back on my first term in the Colorado State Senate I marvel at how quickly those first three years went by.  I also take stock of all I accomplished in those first three years.  Although the accomplishments are numerous, I’ve condensed them into a Top Ten List, grouping multiple bills under thematic headlines that highlight the issues I’ve emphasized.  But first, some statistics:

• Over the course of three legislative sessions I was the prime sponsor of 104 bills, 37 of which I introduced in the Senate and the remaining 67 were bills that originated in the House of Representatives. 
• Of those 104 bills, 77 were signed into law by the Governor and one additional bill became law without the Governor’s signature. 
• 23 of the bills I sponsored in the past two years were bills originating in the Joint Budget Committee that I carried on behalf of the Committee.

Top Ten Accomplishments of My First Term in the Senate:

10.  Balanced Budget Committee

In November 2010 my Senate colleagues elected me to serve on the Joint Budget Committee.  This bipartisan committee has the responsibility to carry out the state legislature’s single most important duty: to pass a balanced budget each year.  During my first year on the Committee we faced a $1 billion shortfall and were forced to make serious cuts and transfers.  This past year we saw revenues start to rebound, meaning fewer cuts and transfers, but we haven’t begun to restore the deep cuts to K-12 and higher education.  Both budget bills written by the JBC in my two years on the Committee won overwhelming bipartisan support. 

9.  Supporting Public Education

Thanks to my background in school finance, in my first year I found myself assigned to the Conference Committee for the School Finance Act.  In a year in which deep cuts were made to school funding, I had unsuccessfully tried to amend HB 10-1369 to ensure reductions were fairly borne by all school districts.  Although my proposal failed to pass during Senate debate of the bill, it later became the compromise position in conference.  Thus began my role enacting complex changes to the school finance formula, a role that continued as the lead JBC member on school finance and sponsor of JBC bills adjusting the formula to keep the budget in balance (SB 11-157 and HB 12-1201).  I’m especially proud of the work of the JBC this year to grow the balance in the Permanent Fund, an inter-generational trust benefiting public education in Colorado.  Earnings from state trust lands dedicated at statehood are supposed to be deposited in the Permanent Fund, but in recent years they’ve been used to partially offset some of the cuts to public education.  SB 12-145 begins the process of reversing this trend, allowing the Permanent Fund to grow by $18 million in FY 2011-12.

8.  Giving Kids a Chance

As a member of the Early Childhood & School Readiness Commission I sponsored bills to improve the quality of preschool teachers (HB 10-1030) and ensure continuity and quality in early childhood programs (HB 10-1035).  I sponsored a bill that had been recommended by the Child Welfare Action Committee to improve court procedures in dependency and neglect cases (HB 10-1359).  I worked with the Boys & Girls Club to address regulatory issues with the Department of Human Services, creating licensure for neighborhood youth organizations (HB 10-1044 and HB 12-1228).  And a bill I helped pass in 2011 (HB 11-1254) requires school districts to update their policies to do more to prevent school bullying, because every child deserves a safe and respectful learning environment.

7.  Clean Syringe Exchange

Clean syringe exchange programs are an important strategy for protecting public health. SB 10-189 allows local boards of health to approve programs to operate in their jurisdiction under an exemption from the criminal drug paraphernalia law. There is solid scientific research that demonstrates these programs, some of which have been operating in other parts of the country and around the world for over two decades, prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV and do not lead to increases in drug use or criminal activity.  Since Gov. Ritter signed SB 189 into law, two new syringe exchange programs have been implemented in Denver and a third will soon begin in Larimer County. 

6.  Investing in Colorado’s Energy Economy

One of Governor Hickenlooper’s top priorities for the 2012 session was restoring funding for the Colorado Energy Office.  My JBC colleague Rep. Jon Becker and I sponsored HB 12-1315 to continue Colorado’s investment in new energy technologies and jobs and make available new funds to promote efficient use of traditional energy sources, also an important source of jobs.  You can find more of the backstory in a recent issue of 5280 Magazine and their in-depth profile on the Governor’s first year in office.

5.  Tax & Fiscal Policy

I’ve worked to boost and stabilize state revenues, and to make our tax policy more rational and transparent.  Tax amnesty was only half the story behind SB 11-184.  While the tax amnesty program was popular and helped collect over $16 million in taxes owed to the state ($9 million of which was credited to the State Education Fund), the tax reporting provisions of the bill will benefit the state for years into the future.  SB 184 requires the compilation of information regarding tax expenditures in Colorado law, allowing us to see and quantify where exemptions, credits and other loopholes in the tax code cause revenue reductions.  Hopefully, fairer taxation will result.  In addition to SB 184, I’ve passed numerous bills on tax policy, including HB 10-1055, HB 10-1060, HB 11-1296, HB 12-1353 and HB 11-1146, which took important steps to reform agricultural designations for property tax purposes in light of serious abuses. 

4.  Promoting Arts & Creative Industries

As an art lover I enjoy the arts in all their various forms, but as a legislator I’ve been an arts booster, making sure they are included in our economic development and job creation strategies.  I was appointed to the Creative Economy Panel and sponsored one of the bills they recommended.  My involvement in SB 10-094 and the Art in Public Places Program gave me a new appreciation for public art and got me appointed to the art selection committee for the new Judicial Center.  On the JBC I helped the Council on the Arts avoid significant budget cuts.  I’m also proud of HB 10-1273, which strengthens art education programs in public schools.  Arts and creative industries are a big economic driver all across Colorado, and especially here in Denver.

3.  Jobs & Economic Development

State government has a role in creating economic opportunity and jobs for Coloradans.  The state is key customer for construction contractors, whether they are building or maintaining state facilities or paving and repairing Colorado’s highways.  Investments in infrastructure create construction jobs.  Our budget woes have curtailed some projects, but many are proceeding in communities around the state.  As a member of the JBC I’ve supported capital construction projects and made sure they fit in our budget.  I’ve passed legislation to increase funding for economic development incentive programs that bring new jobs to Colorado (HB 12-1360).  I’ve supported the bioscience industry in Colorado by extending their grant program (HB 11-1283) that brings highly skilled, good paying jobs to our state.  And as noted elsewhere in this list, I’ve championed job creation legislation in creative industries and new energy technologies.  Colorado government partners with the private sector to keep our economy moving forward.

2.  Criminal Justice Reforms

This topic has been my greatest passion during my first term in office.  I serve as a member of the Drug Policy Task Force of the Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice and have sponsored several bills drafted through this process.  I’ve championed evidence-based approaches to reducing recidivism that help drug offenders access treatment and escape lives of crime and addiction.  Drug offender sentencing and treatment reform bills have included HB 10-1352, HB 11-1064, SB 11-096, SB 12-104 and SB 12-163.  I’ve also passed smart on crime legislation that protects juveniles from sexual assaults in detention facilities (HB10-1277), corrected the application of sex offender laws to public indecency crimes (HB 10-1334), helped people with criminal records find employment after prison (HB 12-1263) and strengthened the Fourth Amendment rights of citizens during police encounters (HB10-1201).  Judicious use of the police power of the state and effective sentencing laws promote public safety, personal liberty and respect for the law.

1.  Making Civil Unions Inevitable

I have every confidence that 2013 will be the year we pass Civil Unions legislation in Colorado.  Public support for my bill grows each year.  Most people were dismayed at the extreme maneuvers that thwarted the bill in 2012 and most observers are saying that fiasco will not be repeated.  I’ve vowed to bring the bill before the legislature each year until it passes.  We’re almost there; the inevitability is palpable.  As Shakespeare wrote, “the course of true love never did run smooth,” but with persistence on our part “all shall be well.”