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IN THE NEWS AND HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING IT AT THE CAPITOL
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The Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo will face new oversight in determining whether criminal defendants in Colorado jails are competent to stand trial. The Senate is working on 3 bills to address the backlog of competency restoration cases:
- One will provide more resources into the community to try and prevent individuals with serious mental illness from entering the criminal system.
- Another will help make the process to help individuals who have been charged faster and more efficient to allow for treatment in their community.
- The final will create a task force to review the backlog and enhance the process of individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial.
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This week I called on the Senate to join together to do the work the people sent us here to do. There are only 35 days left in the legislative session, and I am hopeful we will utilize them as best we can for the people of Colorado.
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An update on some of my bills:
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This legislation will increase tuition assistance for members of the National Guard, and it recently passed the Senate unanimously. As a veteran, I have great respect for our service members and will always work hard to help Coloradans in uniform achieve an education.
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This bill, which unanimously passed the Senate, will extend tuition assistance for the dependents of service members who are missing in action, prisoners of war, law enforcement officers, and first responders. We owe their families nothing less.
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In case you missed it: Senate Bill 1, my bill to expand treatment options in southern Colorado in the face of a growing opioid epidemic, passed the Senate unanimously and is now making its way through the House!
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The family that grills together, stays together! Great Open House weekend at the YWCA.
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What else has been happening in the Senate recently?
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- We passed a balanced, bipartisan budget that included an amendment to increase funding for roads and other transportation projects by $106 million. This budget is a reflection of our state’s values, and there is something in it that every part of the state can be proud of and benefit from, particularly right here in Pueblo. Special thank you to Joint Budget Committee Vice Chair Rep. Daneya Esgar for her hard work on the JBC!
- The Senate Finance Committee passed bill to help find ways to increase Colorado’s private sector workers’ retirement savings.
- The Senate voted to advance multiple bills that will protect Colorado renters from being taken advantage of by landlords.
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We always need more representation from Pueblo and southern Colorado, which is why I encourage you to consider applying to one of the hundreds of Colorado’s Boards and Commissions. Click below to get started!
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- Join me tomorrow, Saturday, March 30 at the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce's upcoming Legislative Breakfast Series at the Pueblo Convention Center at 8 AM.
- Next week our family will celebrate both Michelle’s and Jeremiah’s birthdays!
- Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram 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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