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Halfway Through the Legislative Session
Last week we passed the halfway point of the 2021 legislative session. Since the last update, I've introduced new bills, debated bills in committee, and worked hard to make sure this year's legislation reflects the interest of my constituents and will benefit Coloradans across the state.
Below are important updates on the Colorado Option bill, my other legislation, the Colorado stimulus plan, and information on upcoming virtual town hall meetings you can join.
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Two Town Hall Meetings This Week!
Join me and my fellow Western Colorado legislators on Monday for an update on what his happening at the State Capitol.
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Click here to join or RSVP on Facebook
Then, on Thursday, join US Congressman Joe Neguse, State Reps. Amabile, McCluskie, and me for an update on what his happening in Washington DC and how it impacts our mountain communities.
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WATCH: Floor speech on SB12
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After passing both the Senate and the House with large bipartisan votes, SB21-12 - a bill led by Sen. Kerry Donovan in the Senate and that I led in the House was signed into law. The bill will allow inmates who fight wildland fires while incarcerated to be hired as firefighters upon their release from prison. This is a great bill for job creation, reducing recidivism, and protecting our communities from fires.
Read more: Colorado's prison firefighters have a bridge to permanent employment under new law via Denver Post.
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COLORADO OPTION BILL PASSES COMMITTEE!
On Tuesday, the Colorado Option passed the House Health & Insurance Committee with a vote of 8-5. Now, the bill head to the House floor for second reading--more debate and more voting. There is still significant work to be done, but this is a vital, encouraging step in the legislative process.
The bill passed thanks to many productive conversations and compromise that brought key industry partners to a neutral position on the legislation. We are very excited about this updated bill as it will significantly reduce health insurance prices, increase quality, and give every Coloradan a new choice. Here is what the bill does:
- 18% premium reductions over three years
- With this change, Coloradans will reap the benefits of more affordable health insurance immediately. Instead of a two phased approach that could have led to delays in much needed relief, the Colorado Option will come into effect immediately.
- Colorado Option starts ASAP
- Instead of waiting until 2025 to offer the Colorado Option, the new, standardized plan will be offered in every county in the individual and small group market starting in 2023.
- Role of insurance carriers
- Instead of being offered by a quasi-governmental entity, the Colorado Option will be offered by existing insurance carriers, who can utilize their established networks to improve the quality, scope, and effectiveness of the plan.
- Health equity
- In the new bill, carriers are required to create networks that are diverse and equitable and to provide descriptions of how they intend to reduce disparities in their network access plans.
- Other notable changes
- We also added key elements to the bill that will hold the industry accountable through Colorado's first ever health insurance Consumer Ombudsperson, ensure that there is adequate provider participation, protect rural and critical access hospitals, and set reimbursement rates that will guarantee savings without disrupting the health care sector.
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Colorado Economic Stimulus
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Over the last month, we have introduced and begun debate on pieces of legislation that will invest $700 directly into Colorado's economy to help businesses, workers, families and rural Colorado recover from the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. My own bill, HB21-1263, is a part of this stimulus.
Read more: Colorado lawmakers, governor unveil $700M state economic stimulus plan. Here's where the money will go.
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My stimulus bill: HB21-1263: Meeting and Events Incentive Program
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Check out this Denver7 News clip about the Events Incentive bill!
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HB21-1263 is a crucial component of the state’s stimulus plan and will accelerate the return of in-person events to Colorado by creating the Events and Meetings Incentive Program. The program will incentivize event planners to book in Colorado by providing them with a rebate to cover a portion of the hard costs of hosting an event:
- Eligible events can receive a 10% rebate for hard costs and a 25% rebate for COVID-19 related costs.
- To qualify, an event must generate 25 or more overnight hotel stays.
The bill has bipartisan sponsorship in both the House and the Senate and is a win-win for Coloradans in both rural and urban areas.
The program will:
- bolster the tourism economy
- support thousands of small businesses across the state
Of all the prominent industries in Colorado, the meeting and events industry was hit especially hard by COVID-19, and this program will provide much needed relief and economic stimulus. In both Eagle and Routt counties, we know the value of events, tourism, and travel economies. Many of our small business and residents rely on events for their livelihood, and this bill will help them recover from the COVID-19 recession. In previous stimulus efforts, event and meeting companies have largely been left out. This bill will fix that.
Read more: Rep. Dylan Roberts introduces bill for meeting and events incentive program via Vail Daily
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My Bills
Here is an update on the legislation I have introduced thus far this year:
HB21-1263: Meeting and Events Incentive Program
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Soper (R), Roberts (D) & Sens. Hisey (R), Rodriguez (D)
Status: PASSED House with bipartisan vote - off to the Senate!
The bill creates the Colorado Meeting and Events Incentive Program in the Colorado Tourism Office to provide support for personal events, such as weddings or family reunions, and for events such as meetings, conferences, or festivals. Eligible personal events must occur between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021; other eligible events must occur between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. To be eligible, events must generate at least 25 paid overnight stays in a hotel or vacation rental, demonstrate significant economic benefit to a host community, and meet any additional criteria established by the tourism office.
HB21-1233: Conservation Easement Tax Credit Modifications
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Will (R), Roberts (D) & Sens. Donovan (D), Winter (D)
Status: PASSED House Agriculture, Livestock, & Water Committee and House Finance Committee. Awaiting Appropriations Committee Hearing
The bill makes modifications to the conservation easement tax credit program and expands opportunities for land conservation in our state.
HB21-1027: Continue Alcohol Beverage Takeout & Delivery at Restaurants
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Larson (R), Roberts (D) & Sens. Bridges (D), Priola (R)
Status: PASSED House Unanimously - off to the Senate!
My bill allowing takeout and delivery of alcohol beverages was passed as part of the COVID package in 2020 but without intervention, it is set to repeal on July 1, 2021. Because it has worked so well and proved to be a vital source of extra revenue for restaurants facing capacity restraints due to COVID, we have introduced this new bill to extend that ability until 2026.
Related article: Takeout booze extension hopes to buoy restaurants recovery from pandemic via Steamboat Pilot
HB21-1057: Preventing Extortion of Immigrants Engaging in Lawful Acts
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Roberts (D), Tipper (D) & Sens. Cooke (R), Rodriguez (D)
Status: PASSED House and Senate Unanimously - Awaiting Governor's signature.
The current definition of criminal extortion already includes the practice of threatening to disclose a person’s immigration status to law enforcement in order to force them to give up something of value. HB21-1057 expands this definition to include coercing another person to either engage in or refrain from engaging in what would otherwise be a legal act, like reporting a crime. This expanded definition would address crimes of wage theft, domestic violence, and other instances where a person’s immigration status is used to prevent them from reporting a crime.
Related article: Bipartisan Bill to Protect Immigrants from Extortion Advances Unanimously via The Colorado House Democrats
HB21-1069: Enforcement of Sexual Exploitation of A Child
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Carver (R), Roberts (D) & Sens. Fields (D), Gardner (R)
Status: PASSED House Unanimously - off to the Senate!
This bill updates the child pornography statute to reflect modern technology so we can protect more children from these heinous crimes and more effectively prosecute those who exploit children.
Related article: Colorado's child pornography laws have a major loophole and criminals are slipping through the cracks via Colorado Sun
HB21-1232: Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option
Prime Sponsors: Reps. Roberts, Jodeh & Sen. Donovan
Status: PASSED the House Health & Insurance Committee and is moving to the House floor.
The Standardized Health Benefit Plan (the Colorado Option) is a plan to bring more affordable health insurance options to Coloradans. Insurance carriers will offer the Colorado Option, a plan that is more affordable and accessible, but still delivers the same great quality of care, than the alternatives currently offered by private health insurance companies— adding competition to the market and lowering not only premiums, but out-of-pocket costs. This means cheaper insurance for families, employees, and small businesses.
The Colorado Option is a choice, not a mandate, and purchasing it will be up to the consumer.
SB21-094: Continue State Board of Pharmacy
Prime Sponsors: Sens. Ginal (D) Winter (D) & Rep. Roberts (D)
Status: PASSED Senate Unanimously - Off to the House
The bill continues the State Board of Pharmacy for nine years, until September 1, 2030. In addition, the bill adjusts the types of pharmacists that are included on the board, aligns state statute with the federal Drug Quality and Security Act, and modifies the board’s authority to inspect certain facilities. The bill also includes various changes to the scope of practice for pharmacy professionals and the regulation of certain medical facilities.
SB21-040: Driver's History Profession or Occupation Decision
Prime Sponsors: Sens. Scott (R), Gonzales (D) & Reps. Rich (R), Roberts (D)
Status: SINGED INTO LAW on 4/26
This bill limits the time that regulatory authorities in the Department of Revenue (DOR) and the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) may use a driver's history when imposing discipline on a licensee; evaluating them for professional licensure; or evaluating them for renewal, reinstatement, or reactivation of a professional license, permit, certification or registration.
SB21-060: Expand Broadband Service
Prime Sponsors: Sen. Donovan & Rep. Roberts
Status: PASSED Senate Business Committee and is moving to Committee on Appropriations.
This bill will expand grant programs for low-income and rural households to obtain broadband access and cut red-tape that is slowing down the deployment of broadband in our state.
SB21-012: Hiring Former Inmates to be Wildland Firefighters
Prime Sponsors: Sen. Donovan & Rep. Roberts
Status: SIGNED by Governor Polis! Last Thursday, this bill became a law—a huge win for Coloradans.
Gov. Polis signs SB12 into law!
SB21-012 ensures that previously incarcerated people will be considered for positions on wildland firefighting teams if they were trained and deployed as firefighters while incarcerated. In addition to adding this exception, the bill directs the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) to develop materials to increase awareness of wildland fire career opportunities for those who received training in the State Wildland Inmate Fire Team (SWIFT) program, and encourages the Division to hire SWIFT graduates.
To see all bills of which I am a sponsor or co-sponsor, CLICK HERE.
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COVID-related resources for businesses, unemployment, and vaccine information.
My staff and I continue to stand ready to help you access assistance from the state of Colorado. Please utilize the links below to get more information or reach out directly to me if I can help.
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How To Stay In Touch
Please always feel free to contact me via e-mail, phone, or text:
E-mail: Dylan.Roberts.House@state.co.us
Capitol Office: 303-866-2923
Cell: 970-846-3054
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates! |
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Thank you for the privilege to serve this great district and the State of Colorado.
My best,
Dylan
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