Legislative Update, March 2, 2010

Once again the legislative calendar is full. I have my bill concerning registration requirements for unaffiliated candidates up on the House floor on second reading today. The bill takes effect in the 2012 election cycle and would shorten the registration period for unaffiliated candidates from the current 17 month requirement to 10 months prior to the election date. The bill passed out of committee unanimously, so I am hopeful that I can get it passed on the floor today as well. It is needed to make the playing field more even for unaffiliated people that want to run for office here in Colorado.

Also on the calendar today are a number of controversial bills that I have been receiving alot of input on from constituents. I will be voting for the medical marijuana bill today on third reading (SB109), as well as a green jobs training bill (HB1333). SB109 clarifies that there must be a doctor/patient relationship prior to issuing prescriptions for medical marijuana, and I think that corresponds to the constitutional amendment adopted by the people of this state several years ago. HB1333 is needed because it provides vocational skills training. I am also supporting SB101 which allows for Colorado Mountain College to offer four-year degree programs, and that bill will hopefully be coming over from the Senate in a few days.

On Wednesday, another one of my bills, SB52 will be heard by the House Ag Committee. This bill addresses designated groundwater district boundaries on the Eastern Plains and is being proposed by the Yuma County Water Authority and the Republican River Water Conservation District, as well as the Colorado Corn Growers. If the bill passes it will move on to the House floor this week.

The budget conversations have shifted to the 2010/2011 cycle. The Joint Budget Committee is currently considering the Governor’s budget requests for each of the state’s departments, and when that is completed, the rest of the General Assembly will review those proposals. I am monitoring the higher education proposal because of my interest in Western State’s allocation as well as the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture’s budget. As soon as I know what the various proposals look like I will provide an update.