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Members List:
Links Section
Past Secretary:
Paula Sarlls
COLORADO FREEDOM MEMORIAL WOMEN MARINES ASSN GREATEST GENERATION AMERICAN MILITARY FAMILIES AMERICAN GI FORUM TROOPS TO TEACHERS MILITARY RECORDS DD-214 HOW TO OBTAIN
FINAL 2007 Legislative Report
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2007 Final Legislative
Report -
June 12, 2007
The first regular session of the 66th General
Assembly adjourned on
I. House Bills Signed into Law;
II. Senate Bills Signed into Law;
III. House and Senate Resolutions that were Adopted; and
IV. Bills that were introduced but died somewhere in the process.
Bills are listed in numerical order, and include the bill
number, the position taken by the
I.
House Bills Signed Into Law
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Title: Concerning The Display Of Flags
Sponsors: Todd, A. Kerr / Williams
This bill was introduced to clarify state law concerning the display of the
flag of the
4/9: Governor Signed
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Title: Withdrawal Of Consent To the Federal
Government For Land Acquisition in Southeast Colorado
Sponsors: McKinley / Kester
HB07-1069 withdraws consent given by the state for the federal government to
use the power of eminent domain to acquire land in southeast Colorado for the
training of military personnel. It
states that the Dept. Of Defense shall only acquire such land by means other
than the through the power of eminent domain.
5/3: Governor Signed
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Title: Eligibility Dates for Korean War License
Plates
Sponsors: Roberts / Penry
HB07-1105 corrects the dates in state law of eligibility for a veteran to be
issued a Korean War special license plate to include service during the period
of June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955 (expanded from June 25, 1950 through July
27, 1953).
4/9: Governor Signed
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Title: Absentee Voting By Military Personnel and
Other Citizens Overseas
Sponsors: Rice / Ward
This bill allows a U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older who has never been a
resident of any state, but whose parent is eligible to vote in this state, to
register and vote by absentee ballot. The bill allows county clerks and
recorders to accept an unsigned federal postcard application or letter of
application for an absentee ballot submitted on behalf of absent uniformed
services elector by an authorized officer in the unit in which the elector is
serving or from an authorized voting assistance officer if the officer submits
a signed statement that the elector: 1) Requested absentee ballot from the
officer or through the chain of command; 2) Does not have access to facilities
or equipment necessary to send an application due to military circumstances;
and 3) Provided the necessary information to officer in writing or orally. The bill states that a properly completed
federal postcard application submitted by a person who is otherwise eligible
but not registered to vote shall be treated as a voter registration form and an
absentee ballot application.
5/22: Governor
Signed
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Title: Concerning In-State Tuition Status For
Persons in the Military
Sponsors: McNulty / Kopp
Makes a member of the armed forces, or a dependent of the member, eligible for
in-state tuition status if the member is transferred to Colorado on a temporary
assignment of duty. Repeals obsolete language referring to counting members of
the armed forces as resident students. Gives members of the Colorado National
Guard who maintain residence in Colorado, and their dependents, in-state
tuition status.
5/31: Governor
Signed
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Title: Exemption From The Colorado Clean Indoor Air
Act For Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
Sponsors: M. May / Boyd
Creates an exemption from the "Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act" to
allow nursing homes and assisted living facilities to create a fully enclosed
and ventilated area for smoking by residents, to which access is restricted to
the residents or their guests, and where children under 18 years of age must be
accompanied by a parent or guardian.
4/9: Governor Signed
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Title: Creation of the United States Air Force
Special License Plate
Sponsors: Liston / Tochtrop
Creates the U.S. Air Force special license plate. HB07-1200 began as a bill to create an Air
Force Reserve plate. At the request of
the
6/4: Governor Signed
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Title: Creation of the Board Of Commissioners of
the State & Veterans Nursing Homes
Sponsors: Jahn / Tochtrop
This is one of three bills recommended by the Commission that was created
through legislation two years ago to do a comprehensive review of the
administration and quality of care of the State and Veterans Nursing
Homes. The legislation creating that
Commission sunsets on June 30, 2007.
This bill builds on the work of that Commission and creates a permanent
Board of Commissioners of State and Veterans Nursing Homes in the Department of
Human Services. The bill specifies the functions and membership of the Board,
how members are appointed, and the Board’s powers and duties.
4/9: Governor Signed
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Title: Creation of Local Advisory Boards for State &
Veterans Nursing Homes
Sponsors: Jahn / Penry
This bill is a companion to HB07-1211, and creates local advisory boards for
each of the State and Veterans Nursing Homes located in Homelake, Florence,
Trinidad, Rifle, Aurora, and Walsenburg. It authorizes the Dept. of Human
Services to specify by rule the membership, purpose and functions of the local
advisory boards.
3/29: Governor Signed
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Title: Aid for School Districts With Military
Families Enrolling after October 1
Sponsors: Merrifield / Tapia
This bill was initiated by local school districts in the Fort Carson area that
experience a fluctuation in their student population, and therefore the funding
they receive from the state based on the use of October first as the only date
to count student enrollment. The bill
allows any school district to apply to the Dept. of Education for military
dependent supplemental pupil enrollment aid for the cost of educating pupils
who are enrolled in the district as of February first of the applicable budget
year, who were not enrolled in the district or in any other school district in
the state on October first of the applicable budget year, and who are the
dependents of a full-time active duty member of the US military or dependents
of a member of the US military reserve forces who has been called to active
duty. It specifies that the district shall be eligible for increased funding
only if the district's military dependent enrollment represents either an
increase of one percent or more, or an increase of at least 25 pupils.
6/4: Governor Signed
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Title: Implementation of Constitutional Property
Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans
Sponsors: Gallegos / Wiens
HB07-1251 makes the statutory changes necessary to implement the property tax
exemption for qualifying disabled veterans approved by the voters as Referendum
E in the 2006 general election
4/15: Governor Signed
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Title: Prohibition Against an Insurance Carrier
from Denying Coverage To Military Persons
Sponsors: Madden / Shaffer
Prohibits an insurance carrier from denying coverage to an individual solely
based on that individual's membership in the uniformed services of the United
States.
4/2: Governor Signed
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Title: Repeal Casino Exemption From Colorado Clean
Indoor Air Act
Sponsors: McGihon / Gordon
Repeals the casino exemption from the "Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act”
effective July 1, 2008.
6/1: Governor Signed
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Title: Authorization for the Colorado National
Guard to Receive Property Forfeited to the Federal Government
Sponsors: Rice / Penry
Permits the Colorado National Guard to receive federally forfeited property
when it participates in operations under the drug interdiction and enforcement
plan.
4/9: Governor Signed
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Title: Armed Forces License Plates Taxes and Fees,
including creation of a Special Forces plate
Sponsors: Rice / Ward
This bill was introduced to make several changes to the Armed Forces special
license plates, and included an amendment to authorize the creation of a
Special Forces special plate – one of the
5/26: Governor
Signed
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BILL HB07-1364
Support |
Title: Commissioner to Promulgate Rules Concerning
Life Insurance for Military Personnel
Sponsors: Rice / Romer
Requires the Commissioner of Insurance to promulgate rules, consistent with
federal law, to define dishonest, unfair, and deceptive military marketing and
sales practices.
6/1: Governor Signed
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BILL HB07-1371
Monitor |
Title: Increasing the Maximum Military Pay Grade
for Eligibility for Military Family Relief Fund Grants
Sponsors: M. Carroll / Morse
Eliminates the maximum pay grade that a Colorado National Guard member, a
reservist, or an active duty military member stationed in Colorado may hold in
order to be eligible or for his or her family to be eligible to receive a grant
from the Military Family Relief Fund.
6/4: Governor Signed
II.
Senate Bills Signed Into Law
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BILL SB07-014 Support:
2007 UVC Legislative Goal |
Title: Appropriation of Funds to the Central Fund
For the State and Veterans Nursing Homes
Sponsors: Taylor / Balmer
This is the third bill proposed by the Commission on State and Veterans Nursing
Homes, and has as its purpose to authorize and encourage the appropriation of
state general funds to the operating and capital needs of the nursing homes –
subject to the 10% limit of an “enterprise” under the provisions of TABOR. It specifies that such requests for general
fund are to come through the normal departmental and capital development budget
procedures, but does not limit the General Assembly to the amounts requested by
that process. The lobbying efforts in
support of this bill assisted in pointing out critical needs at the nursing
homes, and thereby helped to secure over $900,000 in general fund to match over
$2 million federal funds for Homelake.
5/25: Governor
Signed
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BILL SB07-027 Support:
2007 UVC Legislative Goal |
Title: Issuance of a US Coast Guard License Special
License Plate
Sponsors: Tupa / Witwer
Authorizes the creation of a U.S. Coast Guard special license plate for motor
vehicles not exceeding 16,000 lbs.
4/30: Governor
Signed
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BILL SB07-042
Monitor |
Title: Enrollment of Service Member In Motorcycle
Safety Program
Sponsors: Kopp / Hodge
Permits a member of the armed forces who meets certain qualifications to enroll
in a certified motorcycle operator safety training course for the same charge
as a resident.
5/14: Governor Signed
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BILL SB07-086 Oppose as Introduced;
Support as Finally Adopted |
Title: Concerning A Fallen Heroes Memorial
Sponsors: Kopp / Balmer
SB07-086 began as a bill to create a commission that would seek funding for the
design and construction of a memorial for those “fallen heroes” who lost their
lives in the “War on Terror.” Through
extensive discussions and negotiations with the sponsors, the UVC was able to
get the bill significantly amended so that it recognizes the sacrifice of
fallen heroes who served in all periods of conflict – including WWI, WWII,
Korea, Vietnam, and such other military conflicts at the Preservation Trust
Committee. The amended bill also linked
the commission it creates to the existing Preservation Trust Committee, and
thereby assures that whatever memorials result from the bill will support and
enhance the existing Veterans Monument in the Lincoln Park area immediately
west of the capitol. The bill was signed
at that Monument during the Veterans’ Day ceremonies.
5/26: Governor Signed
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BILL SB07-097
Monitor |
Title: The Allocation Of Tobacco Litigation Moneys
not Otherwise Allocated
Sponsors: Fitz-Gerald / Madden
Requires tobacco litigation settlement moneys that
are currently unallocated for specific health care services, but are credited
to the general fund or the tobacco litigation settlement cash fund, to be
allocated at the beginning of the 2007-08 fiscal year and each fiscal year
thereafter, to a number of health-care related programs, that - except for the
children's basic health plan - do not currently receive tobacco litigation
settlement moneys. Programs to be funded
include, but are not limited to: Children’s Basic Health Plan; Offender Mental
Health Services Fund; Alcohol and Drug Abuse Community Prevention and Treatment
Fund; State Employee Health Insurance for Low-Wage families; Local Public Health
Departments; Colorado Immunization Fund; Short-Term Innovative Health Program
Grant Fund; University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Of particular importance to bills that the
UVC supported, these funds were used in part to support SB07-146.
3/22: Governor Signed
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BILL SB07-146
Support |
Title: Creation of a Program to Provide Mental
Health Services For Families Of Recently Discharged Veterans
Sponsors: Morse / Rice
Creates a 3-year mental health services pilot program for families of
discharged veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
It authorizes the Department of Human Services to purchase mental health
services from community mental health centers in the Colorado Springs area for
families of recently discharged veterans.
Funds the pilot program from moneys made available under the provisions
of Senate Bill 07-097.
6/4: Governor Signed
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BILL SB07-183 Support:
2007 UVC Legislative Goal |
Title: Continuation of the Board Of Veterans
Affairs
Sponsors: Romer / Weissmann
Continues the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs until July 1, 2017, and
schedules the next sunset review to be done pursuant to the statute governing
the sunset review of advisory committees.
4/11: Governor Signed
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BILL SB07-195
Support |
Short Title: Eligibility of Resident Military Personnel
to Participate In Limited License Preference Programs
Sponsors: McElhany / Rice
Clarifies that a resident who is on active duty in the armed forces outside of
Colorado does not lose residence status for a hunting or fishing license.
Authorizes active duty residents to participate in a limited license preference
program for persons returning from service outside the United States.
4/19: Governor Signed
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BILL SB07-239 Supported Efforts to Restore Veterans Trust Fund |
Title: The “Long Bill” – State Appropriations Bill
Sponsors: Tapia / Buescher
This bill provides for the payment of expenses of the Executive, Legislative,
and Judicial departments for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007. The UVC’s main activity related to the “Long
Bill” concerned efforts to begin the restoration of $2.28 million that was
taken from the Veterans Trust Fund a few years ago (along with funds from many
other trust funds and cash funds) to balance the state’s budget during the
economic downturn. While we were
unsuccessful in adding $1 million for that restoration, we were able to raise
the visibility and support for this issue – and laid the groundwork for a
request for restoration in the budget for 2008-09.
5/2: Governor Signed, and Partially Vetoed Headnotes and Footnotes
5/4: House and Senate Vote to Override Vetoes Passed
III.
House and Senate Resolutions
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BILL HJR07-1009 Support: 2007 UVC
Legislative Goal |
Title: Building A National Cemetery In Pikes Peak
Region
Sponsors: Looper / McElhany
A resolution from the members of the General Assembly urging the U.S Dept. of
Veterans Affairs to build a national veterans' cemetery in the Pikes Peak
region.
1/24: Adopted by House and Senate
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BILL HJR07-1010 Support |
Title: Concerning The Recognition Of Military And
Veterans Appreciation Day
Sponsors: Rice / Shaffer
The annual resolution expressing heartfelt gratitude to our state's veterans,
past and present, to all military men and women currently serving in the Armed
Services, and to family members of active duty personnel and veterans; and
encouraging the citizens of Colorado to join in celebration of Colorado's
Military and Veterans Appreciation Day on January 24, 2007.
1/24: Adopted by House and Senate
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BILL HJR07-1028 Support |
Title: Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Funding for
Veterans Memorials & Monuments
Sponsors: Soper / Tochtrop
A resolution encouraging the Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund to
provide funding to outdoor veterans memorials and monuments throughout the
state.
5/2: Adopted by House and Senate
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BILL HJR07-1034 Support: 2007 UVC
Legislative Goal |
Title: Colorado
Veterans' Monument
Sponsors: Rice, Balmer / Kopp, Shaffer
A resolution urging private and public contributions to the Colorado Veterans’
Monument Preservation Trust Fund in order to assure the upkeep and preservation
of the Monument for current and future generations.
5/2: Adopted by House and Senate
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BILL SJM07-002 Monitor |
Title: Memorializing Congress and the President to
Stop the Escalation Of War In Iraq
Sponsors: Tupa, Gordon / T. Carroll
A resolution stating support for and honoring Colorado’s servicemen and
servicewomen, supporting that there be sufficient resources made available so
long as they remain in Iraq and Afghanistan, urging Congress and the President
to remain respectful of the patriotism of all Americans, including those who respectfully
express their dissent concerning the United States' current foreign policy,
stating that it is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen
or to escalate its military involvement in Iraq, and supporting measures in
Congress opposing the escalation of troops in Iraq.
4/27: Senate Adhered to Its Position; 5/4: House Receded from Its Position
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BILL SJR07-022 Support |
Title: Expressing Support for United States Troops
In Iraq
Sponsors: Kopp / Balmer
A resolution expressing the legislators’ profound appreciation and gratitude
for the commitment, bravery, and sacrifices of all the men and women in our
armed forces and their families, and our remembrance of those who have died;
respect for the hard work and accomplishments of our troops that have led to
progress in the establishment of Iraq's representative government, economic and
education systems, physical infrastructure, and democratic civic life; concern
for and our commitment to the life and safety of each service man and woman in
Iraq; recognition of the need to focus United States military resources on
assisting the Iraqi military and government in securing their country's peace;
understanding that the completion of the mission in Iraq will be far from
simple but that the continued support of the America government and its
citizens is critical to stable and enduring results; hope that Congress chooses
to conduct debate over American policy in Iraq in a solution-oriented fashion;
and commitment to a successful and lasting conclusion to the mission in Iraq
and the safe and speedy return home of our military service members.
5/4: Adopted by Senate and House
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BILL SJR07-032 Support |
Short Title:
Honoring Coloradans Who Gave Their Lives In Iraq & Afghanistan
Sponsors: Fitz-Gerald / Hicks
A resolution honoring the memory of the Coloradans who gave their lives in
service to their country in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom, and also honoring the service, dedication, and valor of all military
personnel from Colorado who have served and currently serve in Operation Iraqi
Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The resolution includes the individual names of Coloradans who gave
their lives in these areas of conflict.
4/9: Adopted by Senate and House
IV. Bills that Did Not Become Law
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BILL HB07-1194 |
Title:
Concerning the Colorado State Defense Force
Sponsors: Sonnenberg
Would have specified the composition of the Co. State Defense Force, required
members to receive credit for time served in Colorado military forces to the
same extent as the credit received by members of the Colorado National Guard
prior to induction into federal military service, restored to the Governor the
power to appoint the commander of the CSDF, and required the period of
enlistment to be at least one year.
4/26: Postponed Indefinitely (PI’d) by the House Committee on Appropriations
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BILL SB07-030 |
Title: Program To Reimburse Colorado National Guard
For Life Insurance Premiums
Sponsors: Romer / Rice
Would have required the Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs to reimburse
Colorado National Guard members for premiums paid while serving in a combat
zone for benefits under the federal group life insurance program.
4/16: PI’d by the Senate Committee on Appropriations
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BILL SB07-072 |
Title:
Reimbursements For Higher-Education for Refunds to Those Called To Active Duty
in Iraq or Afghanistan
Sponsors: Morse / Rice
Would have permitted Colorado universities and colleges to request
reimbursement from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education for refunds made
to students who were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan during the academic year.
4/11: PI’d by Senate Committee on Appropriations
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BILL SB07-120 |
Title: Creation
of a Smoking Exemption For Veterans' Organization
Sponsors: Shaffer
Would have created an exemption from the statewide indoor smoking ban for the
regular meeting place of a local chapter, lodge, or branch of the American
Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or other veterans' organization incorporated
by authority of the U.S. congress under Title 36 of the U.S. Code. While specific member organizations of the
UVC took a position on this bill, the UVC itself was neutral. However, the UVC supported a “fair playing
field” for all businesses and organizations, so when this bill was PI’d, the
UVC supported the bill to eliminate the casino exemption from the indoor
smoking ban contained in HB07-1269.
2/7: PI’d by Senate Committee on State, Veterans & Military Affairs
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BILL SB07-135 |
Title: Creation
of a Charitable Gaming Promotion Fund for Bingo-Raffle
Sponsors: Johnson / Solano
Would have established a charitable gaming promotion fund to contract with
private entities and other governmental agencies to promote bingo-raffle
charitable gaming.
4/23: Lost on Third Reading Vote in the House
Report Prepared by Bill Hanna, UVC Legislative Liaison
June 12, 2007
