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Community schools can help address the needs of students and families in Pueblo both inside and outside the classroom, and would especially help provide services to families in poverty. The Pueblo Education Association plans to move several schools into the community school model for the coming school year.
Sen. Rachel Zenzinger is sponsoring a bill that would define community schools in state law for the first time and encourage schools to adopt the community school model. Keep an eye on Senate Bill 102 to see where this goes!
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Congrats to Ms. Alicia Duran!
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The General Assembly just passed Senate Joint Resolution 19-005, appointing Ms. Alicia Duran of Pueblo to the Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws for a two year term. The Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws works with the Uniform Law Commission to promote uniformity in our state's laws. I look forward to welcoming Alicia to the Commission!
I am proud to lead from the South, and am working hard up in Denver to ensure that southern Colorado has a seat at the table. That is why I encourage you all to consider applying to one of the hundreds of Colorado’s Boards and Commissions, which you can find at this link.
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Colorado State Penitentiary II
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Colorado State Penitentiary II (CSPII) has been closed for seven years -- a vacant waste of taxpayer dollars. We now have the opportunity to determine what we do with the empty facility. I believe we have a responsibility to taxpayers to utilize the facility they have paid for. Governor Polis has requested in his budget that CSPII be used as an emergency backstop to house offenders when the prison vacancy rate falls low.
Last year, I sat on the task force for Prison Population Projections and Capacity Needs, which held conversations on addressing jail overcrowding and prison reform. As we approach the midway point of this year’s legislative session, I will continue to work with Governor Polis and my colleagues in the General Assembly on how to best utilize CSPII and address the needs of inmates in our criminal justice system.
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Pueblo has one of the highest levels of mental health issues in Colorado. Last fall, I held a town hall on mental health, where we discussed how we could do more to address mental health in southern Colorado by working together to streamline all resources. I recently received a proposal from CSU-Pueblo to create a center for behavioral health research, education, and outreach, which I look forward to reviewing as we work to improve mental health in our community.
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Hundreds of Coloradans die every year at the hands of opioids while countless others struggle with drug abuse and addiction. Counties across southern Colorado have experienced some of the highest rates of fatal overdoses in the country, with 20 people per 100,000 residents dying from an opioid drug overdose.
At the Health and Human Services Committee meeting, witnesses shared powerful testimony about the successful results of the Medication-Assisted Treatment pilot program, and the committee voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 1. This bill will expand the pilot program to 10 additional counties to get folks battling opioid addiction the treatment they need.
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Senate Bill 65, Peer Assistance Emergency Medical Service Provider, is my bill to create a peer health assistance program for Colorado’s Emergency Medical Service providers. This bill would offer education, support, counseling, and treatment to providers who struggle with chemical dependency, mental illness, or any other personal, emotional, or psychological problems.
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Other news from the Senate:
- The Senate passed a campaign finance bill to increase election transparency.
- We also passed a bill to legalize kid-run businesses such as lemonade stands, shoveling snow, and mowing lawns.
- The Education Committee passed a bill to hold student loan companies accountable for taking advantage of students and charging excessive fees. The bill will provide assistance and education to student borrowers.
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UPDATES FROM OUR HEALTHCARE TOWN HALL
Over President's Day weekend, Rep. Daneya Esgar and I welcomed Gov. Jared Polis to Pueblo for a town hall on healthcare. We had a full house and a very productive conversation about our plans to address costs, support Colorado's aging population, and more. Thank you to all who joined us!
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- I hope to see you at the next Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce's upcoming Legislative Breakfast Series, this Saturday March 2 at the Pueblo Convention Center at 8 AM.
- Follow me on Twitter (@Leroy_Garcia) for more updates on upcoming events!
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# # #
ABOUT SEN. GARCIA:
Senator Leroy Garcia was elected in 2014 to represent Senate District 3, which covers the Cities of Pueblo, Pueblo West and part of the community in Salt Creek. He is a former State Representative who served in the Marine Corps from 2001-2007. In March 2018, Senator Garcia was elected by his colleagues to serve as Senate Minority Leader, and in January 2019 he was elected to serve as Senate President.
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