STATE CAPITOL UPDATE--May 28, 2008

In 2008, Kids Were the Winners

Looking back on the 2008 legislative session, I'm struck by how much we accomplished - especially how much we accomplished for Colorado's kids. The 2008 legislature will be remembered for the action we took to ensure our kids have a healthy environment, a great education, affordable health care, and the tools they will need to compete in the 21st century global economy. We also invested in job-creating industries like bioscience and renewable energy so that the jobs of the future will be located right here in northern Colorado. Keeping our eyes on the prize, we guarded against partisan politics and, instead, tackled the real issues Coloradans care about.

Focusing on the facts, we did more for children than at any other time in recent memory, including the following:

* Keeping children healthy - One out of every seven children in Colorado is uninsured. These children are more likely to go without vaccinations, to develop chronic conditions, and to use the emergency room as their primary source of care. That is why we voted to provide health care for 50,000 more kids, brought more accountability to the insurance industry, and increased reimbursement rates for health care providers so that they could continue to treat Colorado's most vulnerable children.

* Giving children a good start - Science confirms what most parents and teachers already know, early childhood education works. Children who participate in high-quality preschool and kindergarten are far less likely to lag behind their classmates, repeat a grade, or drop out. Yet too many families can't afford such programs. That is why we made 25,000 more spaces available for 4- and 5-year-olds to attend preschool and full-day kindergarten.

* Providing safe schools - Nearly 90 percent of the school districts in Colorado report a health or safety problem in at least one of their facilities, and many school buildings are literally falling down. The 2008 legislature acted to "Build Excellent Schools Today." The BEST Act will steer up to $1 billion toward school repairs - the single largest investment in school construction in state history.

* Developing skills to succeed - High-paying jobs in the 21st century will demand more than a high-school diploma. Yet, nearly a quarter of Colorado's high-school students fail to graduate. To solve this problem, we invested in teacher training and professional development. We allowed schools and school districts to pursue more innovation. We adopted a new blueprint for public education - the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids - to prepare students for post-secondary work.

* Building the 'New Energy' economy - Thanks to 2008 legislative action, Colorado is pursuing new industries, such as bio-technology, bio-science and renewable energy to ensure cutting-edge companies establish themselves here in Colorado, rather than Indiana or India, China or Chicago.

* Lowering college costs - The new energy economy will require more well-educated students, who, in turn, will require more opportunities for a college education. For this reason, we invested heavily in higher education - increasing the budget by $215 million, and dedicating an additional $50 million to the College Opportunity Fund and $10 million to work-study funding and financial aid. We hope to put college in reach of every student who wants to attend.

* Preserving our environment - With future generations in mind, we expanded an existing program to conserve our open spaces and passed new legislation to keep more water in our rivers and streams. Together, our environmental package helped maintain Colorado's most beautiful landscapes, its wildlife habitats and its burgeoning recreation economy. We also protected our drinking water supplies from radioactive pollution by requiring uranium mining companies to restore ground water aquifers to their clean, pre-mining quality.

It's been more than a decade since Gov. Roy Romer vowed to make Colorado the best place in America to raise a child. This year, we came closer than ever to meeting that goal.

STATE CAPITOL UPDATE - January 8, 2008

The start of the Second Regular Session of the 66th General Assembly of the State of Colorado is upon us. Wednesday, January 9, 2008 begins my second full year as your state representative for House District 53!

I thank you and the citizens of Fort Collins for the privilege of representing you in state government. I am honored to serve this wonderful community, and I am filled with hope and optimism for Colorado's future at the start of the new legislative session. I've been working hard during the past eight months to prepare for this day and I'm ready for what promises to be a momentous session.

Legislative Preview

Colorado faces significant challenges in making life better for its citizens and ensuring a healthy, sustainable environment. The legislature has a solemn responsibility to work collaboratively and thoughtfully toward meaningful, effective reforms that address the issues of top concern to the people. That is why you will see major emphasis on the following subjects this session:

• Fiscal reform
• Health care
• K-12 and early childhood education
• Higher education
• Energy, environmental, and climate issues

Stay tuned for more updates on the specific ideas that my colleagues and I will be offering to address these key areas.

Uranium Mining Legislation
I have received a large volume of correspondence from citizens requesting legislative action to address their concerns over possible uranium mining near Fort Collins. I want to reassure folks from northern Colorado that I am taking action to prevent the public health, environmental, and economic risks posed by uranium mining in our area. Representative John Kefalas and I are jointly sponsoring legislation with other local legislators aimed at protecting public health, safeguarding our valuable groundwater resources, and lifting the veil of secrecy that surrounds uranium prospecting. The passage of this legislation is one of my top priorities for 2008.

STATE CAPITOL UPDATE - October 6, 2007

On this beautiful autumn Saturday afternoon, October 6, 2007, I am reminded why Fort Collins has been named the best place in the nation to live. It truly is a magnificent day in Colorado. I'm also reminded that it has been a month since my last legislative update. After an enjoyable bicycle ride with my wife, Kathy, on what is forecast to be the last warm day for awhile, I write to catch you up on my activities as your state representative from House District 53.

Government at the Grocery

In order to make it easier for Fort Collins citizens to speak their minds on matters of state government, I will be taking to the grocery aisles for a series of open meetings called "Government at the Grocery." The first of these meetings will take place between 4:00 and 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 8, at the King Soopers store located at 1015 South Taft Hill Road, on the corner of Elizabeth and Taft Hill. Other "Government at the Grocery" meetings are planned at stores throughout the fall in my west Fort Collins house district. What better way for folks to contact their state legislator personally than to have a face-to-face meeting as they stop by the grocery on their way home from work? I hope you and other citizens will take advantage of my "Government at the Grocery" meetings to stop and chat about your concerns, questions, or issues about state government.

Let Your Voice Be Heard on Healthcare

On Friday, October 12, Fort Collins residents with have one final opportunity to testify before the Blue Ribbon Panel on Healthcare Reform, also known as the 208 Commission. Members of the Commission will hold a public hearing at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Street, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. I will be attending this hearing to listen to and to learn from my constituents' testimony. I encourage you to attend this final hearing and to provide either written or oral testimony. Let your voice be heard!

The Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform was created by the Colorado Legislature in 2006. The Commission is currently evaluating five major healthcare reform proposals. It is required to make final recommendations for comprehensive health care reform to the General Assembly by January 31, 2008. The meeting on Friday, October 12, is the last hearing scheduled for the Fort Collins area before the panel makes its final recommendation.

For more information about the 208 Commission please visit the Commission's website www.colorado.gov/208commission or email 208outreach@coloradofoundation.org, or phone: 303.837.8466 x130.


Are Colorado Students Prepared for Their Future?

To discuss this question, please join me and Representative John Kefalas (Fort Collins, HD-52) on Wednesday, October 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Media Center at Rocky Mountain High School, 1300 West Swallow Road, Fort Collins, for Conversation 2007: Shaping Educational Excellence in Colorado.

Conversation 2007 is part of a state-wide program in which legislators around Colorado host dialogues with their constituents about education.
Fort Collins' residents are invited to attend this discussion on education reform to build on a community forum that I hosted this past summer on June 30. These community meetings, held from June through October across the state, will allow policymakers to gather qualitative information about what Coloradans value and expect from our state education system. The effort is intended to generate information that elected officials, the Governor's P-20 Education Coordinating Council, and other stakeholders can use to shape the future of education in Colorado. For more information, visit www.conversation2007.org or contact me.


Legislative Telecast -- "COLORADO OPEN HOUSE"-- is a Go!

For the first time, Coloradans will be able to tune in and log on to their state lawmakers - on TV.

Legislative leaders voted 4-1 recently to televise the Colorado House of Representatives, beginning in January. Floor debates will be carried live through a Comcast cable channel and through the Internet; the proceedings will also be archived for viewers to search. "Our state government should be as open and as transparent as possible," said House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. "This decision will help bring the General Assembly into the 21st century. Technology can strengthen the connection between voters and their representatives."

"Thirty-four states already have similar 'C-SPANs' in place," Speaker Romanoff continued. "Today's decision brings Colorado in line with the rest of the country. This is the wave of the future, and we're catching it."

The House channel will be called "Colorado Open House." The name was picked from among more than 400 entries submitted in an on-line poll.


Contact Me

As always, please feel free to contact me with any comments, questions, concerns or ideas about Colorado state government.

Best wishes,
Randy Fischer, State Representative
House District 53
3007 Moore Lane
Fort Collins, Colorado 80526-2103
970-215-7898 (Cell)
303-866-2917 (Office)

STATE CAPITOL UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 3, 2007

Labor Day Reflections

I consider it a true honor to represent west Fort Collins in the state legislature. On this Labor Day 2007, I've been reflecting back on a very busy summer dedicated to doing the people's business. My work as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives has been a labor of love for the community in which I was born and have lived my entire life. I am humbled that folks here in Fort Collins have chosen me as one of 100 state legislators and trusted me with the important work of representative government in Colorado. Having my wife, Kathy, at my side in this endeavor has made 2008 the most fulfilling year ever.

Severance Tax Interim Committee

As a freshman lawmaker, I feel doubly honored to have been appointed by House Speaker Andrew Romanoff to an interim committee on severance tax issues. So, although our legislative session ended on May 4, I have continued to work for Colorado citizens by helping to make much needed reforms to Colorado's severance tax system. Severance taxes are the payments the citizens of Colorado receive from mineral extraction companies for the depletion of our natural resources. These taxes are intended to be invested in the future economic sustainability of our state in preparation for the future when our natural mineral wealth is exhausted. Through this committee, Colorado has an unprecedented opportunity to make a significant investment in our future if we act wisely and responsibly to revamp our cumbersome and outdated severance tax laws. Work on the committee has been demanding but very interesting. We traveled to Garfield and Rio Blanco Counties on a fact-finding trip to the booming west slope oil and gas fields and took public testimony from west slope citizens. We have met as a committee twice a month since June and will meet periodically until November. Ultimately, I expect some important legislation to come out of the committee's work.

Water Matters

I recently participated in a panel discussion at the Colorado Water Congress annual meeting. The Water Congress is the state's preeminent advocacy organization for those engaged in water issues. This year's meeting was devoted to assessing the effects of climate change on Colorado's future water supplies. Speaker after speaker summarized the results of the latest research. The key message was clear. When it comes to managing Colorado's water resources, the future will not look the same as in the past. We must adapt and begin to incorporate climate change in our water planning and management strategies. After participating in the meeting, I am reassured that new forward-thinking attitudes about water appear to be taking hold in Colorado and other western states. This shift in attitudes comes none too soon and needs to be nurtured in the face of new threats to our water resources from climate change.

Uranium Mining

Representative John Kefalas (Fort Collins) and I have been working with citizens in the Wellington and Nunn areas whose land and water are potentially affected by a proposed uranium mining project. The mining project is being promoted by a Canadian company called Powertech Uranium Corporation, Inc. Representative Kefalas and I have received a large volume of mail from citizens throughout northern Colorado, including Fort Collins, concerned about the potential human health and environmental risks associated with the proposed mining. In response to these citizen concerns, we have met with staff from the Governor's office and state regulatory agencies, reviewed existing mining laws and regulations, contacted the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, met with Powertech company officials, and attended public meetings. We are working with the group called Citizens Against Resource Destruction (CARD) on plans to address these concerns. I am committed to doing what I can to help affected landowners protect their private property rights, land values, groundwater supplies, air quality, livestock and wildlife. Stay tuned for more on this subject. Meanwhile, I invite you to learn more about the issues surrounding Powertech's proposed uranium project by visiting www.nunnglow.com.

Bark Beetle Battles

Kathy and I attended the annual summer picnic of the Larimer County Tree Farmers Association this past July. The picnic was a wonderful opportunity to meet mountain land owners dedicated to sustainable forestry practices and protecting their properties from wildfire and the ravages of bark beetles. On August 1, we also attended a legislative tour of Summit County where bark beetles have impacted thousands of acres of lodge-pole pine forests. The tour was organized by the Colorado Environmental Coalition and included officials from the Colorado State Forest who gave the best, most understandable synopsis of lodge-pole forest ecology I've ever heard. I came away from both these forest tours more optimistic about the current beetle infestation than I had been. While there is little we can do to mitigate the infestation, there has been progress toward understanding and adapting to the changes occurring in our forests.

The Working Poor in Larimer County

Thumbs up to Bob Moore, executive editor of the Fort Collins Coloradoan, and his staff for bringing to light the alarming increase in poverty in Larimer County. I applaud the Coloradoan for publishing its well-written and thoroughly researched series describing the challenges of low-income working people in our community. Despite the abundance some of us take for granted, these articles were powerful reminders that many in our community live one paycheck away from homelessness, hunger, or loss of health care. As a state legislator, I appreciate having this information available as a resource as I work with other state leaders on ways to end the cycles of poverty-driven social issues in Larimer County and statewide.

Stay in Touch

As always, I look forward to hearing about your ideas, concerns, and issues. Please continue to stay in touch through e-mail (click on the email link to the left) or by phone 970-215-7898.

Best wishes,

State Representative Randy Fischer

STATE CAPITOL UPDATE - MAY 7, 2007

Please Attend My End of Session Town Hall Meeting

Larimer County's Democratic state legislators are hosting their fifth collaborative town hall meeting, Saturday, May 12, from 9:30 - 11:30 AM, to wrap up the 2007 legislative session. The purpose of this bi-partisan town hall meeting is to summarize the important achievements of the 2007 session that ended on Friday, May 4. Local lawmakers will highlight specific bills that they sponsored during the session and explain how these public policies will improve people's lives and our communities. The meeting is free and open to the public and will be held at the Colorado State University, Lory Student Center, Room 228. Lory Student Center is wheelchair accessible.

The county's state delegation in attendance will include Representatives Randy Fischer (HD-53), John Kefalas (HD-52), and Senator Bob Bacon (SD-14). Invited Representatives include Don Marostica (HD-51), Kevin Lundberg (HD-49), and Senator Steve Johnson (SD-15).

Each legislator will have 10 minutes to speak, including questions and answers, followed by an informal coffee chat where individuals will be able to share coffee and conversation with the legislators on a one-on-one basis.

Fulfilling the Promises

The 66th General Assembly sprinted to the finish-line of its 2007 legislative session last Friday, May 4. I can say with pride that many of the promises made at the beginning of the session were fulfilled. I have worked hard to keep this session focused on helping working families, retirees, children, and the environment and beating back the special interests that for years have dominated the Capitol lobby.

In the past 120 days my House colleagues and I energized Colorado's economy, helped sustain our schools by making them more effective, significantly increased funding for higher education, reduced the cost of health care, and provided seniors with more resources to live full and active lives. The following describes just a few of the achievements from the 2007 session:

• We energized our economy by enacting historic policies that jump-start the development of our abundant renewable energy supplies and to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The package of renewable energy bills adopted by the legislature will move new technologies from the laboratory into commercial applications, create new jobs, and make Colorado's energy supplies more secure.
  
• We expanded early childhood programs to give more at-risk kids a better chance for a successful future, made a commitment to develop standards-based graduation requirements, adopted the student longitudinal growth model, and worked to streamline the school accountability reports to be more accurate and useful for parents.
  
• We increased funding for higher education by $52 million, including a $7.4 million boost in financial aid to ensure college remains affordable and accessible for Colorado students.
  
• We cut drug prices for seniors and the uninsured, invested in prevention, so that more Coloradans can get the care they need while holding down costs, boosted health care coverage for kids, and made a commitment to cover all kids by 2010.
  
• We worked to protect women from the most common cause of cervical cancer. We added an additional $2 million to the Older Coloradans Cash Fund so that seniors can continue to lead full and independent lives.
  

2007 School Finance Bill

As a member of the House Education Committee, I am pleased to have played a role in the passage of this year's school finance bill, also called the Fair Local Share bill. This legislation is the most important education bill to emerge from the 2007 legislative session because it speaks loudly and boldly for Colorado students as we work to make sure our state is the best place in the nation to educate kids.

The Fair Local Share bill accomplishes the following important objectives aimed at improving our student success:

• The bill gives much-needed property tax relief to property owners in 33 school districts that are currently stuck with unfairly high mill levies, including Poudre School District (PSD).
  
• Per-pupil funding will be increased substantially over the next two years. This increase in funding will directly benefit PSD and Fort Collins students.
  
• Education funding guaranteed by Referendum C dollars will allow 4,000 additional pre-schoolers to get an early start on their education in the next four years.
  
• It implements full-day kindergarten statewide as soon as possible.
  
• It reduces or freezes the school mill levies in 175 of the state's 178 districts that have voted to be exempt from TABOR restrictions.
  
• It stops the unsustainable backfilling of local school funding with state general fund dollars.

Governor Bill Ritter has made the Fair Local Share plan a new cornerstone of Colorado school finance, and he is scheduled to sign this bill on Wednesday, May 9. The concept is simple and equitable, and it makes good economic sense!

The Fair Local Share piece of the school finance bill is critically important for the state's long-term financial health. This bill effectively addresses the unintended shift in school funding from the local share to the state general fund budget. Also it begins to remedy the disparities in property tax rates among the state's 178 local school districts and protects local control.

Fort Collins residents can be assured that its legislature is working to make taxpayer fairness and student success a reality for Colorado. I would be pleased to discuss this year's school finance bill with citizens interested in this important part of our state budget.

Thanks for a Successful Session

As a freshman legislator, I have been truly humbled and honored to do the people's business. My first year as your representative has been an incredible experience. I credit the success of the 2007 legislative session to the involvement of hundreds of thoughtful people, like you, who took the time to share what was on their minds and who helped me to make well-informed decisions. I also give credit to the visionary leadership of the Governor and to the spirit of fairness and bipartisanship that prevailed in the House this year. Above all, Fort Collins citizens deserve credit for expecting solutions to their everyday concerns and holding me accountable for fulfilling my promises.

Stay in Touch!

Please stay in touch during the interim. Although I will not be in session again until January of 2008, I will want to continue to hear from you about what's on your mind. I will be actively working on several issues during the interim and will continue to send out periodic updates. As always, please feel free to contact me any time at 303-866-2917 or by clicking on the link to the left to email me!

Best wishes,
Randy Fischer
State Representative, House District 53

STATE CAPITOL UPDATE - MARCH 26, 2007

Spring Quilts Under the Dome

Spring has sprung at the Capitol! Warm breezes (some would call it hot air) and spring showers have graced the building's exterior with greening lawns and flowering trees. Inside, the Capitol is decorated with dozens of hand-made quilts on display through the month of April. In addition, the dome is once again open to the public after being closed for several years for extensive renovation. Now would be an excellent time to visit your state capitol to take in these wonderful attractions. And while you're here, don't forget to pay a visit. I'm in Office 301.

Water Quality Meeting in Fort Collins

I invite citizens concerned about water quality issues to join me for a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, March 28th, 2007, to discuss a recent public health advisory concerning the consumption of fish caught at Horsetooth Reservoir. This meeting will be held at City Hall, located at 300 West Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins. Employees from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) will present information about their plans to post health advisories warning the public of potential risks due to mercury found in some fish species in the reservoir at levels exceeding human health safety guidelines.

Investigators from CDPHE and CDOW announced several weeks ago that certain predatory fish species in Horsetooth Reservoir and other water bodies around the state were discovered to contain elevated mercury concentrations. The meeting on March 28th is a follow up to provide concerned citizens with factually accurate information regarding this discovery and actions the two state departments will take to reduce the risks to human health.

Town Hall Meeting

I want to invite you to my fourth Town Hall meeting of the session Saturday, April 7th from 9:30 to 11:00am at the Elks Lodge, 140 E. Oak Street, Fort Collins. In addition to me, the City's legislative delegation who will be in attendance includes State Representative John Kefalas and Senator Bob Bacon along with our guest, Speaker of the House, Andrew Romanoff. This meeting will provide you with an excellent opportunity to voice your opinions, concerns, or questions concerning issues of state-wide interest. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet individually with legislators following the formal Town Hall meeting to discuss community issues and personal concerns. I look forward to seeing you there.

Long Bill Has Landed

This coming Friday, March 30, will be the 80th legislative day of the session. So, this week, we will be two-thirds finished with our law making for the year.

Today, the so-called Long Bill landed on our desks with a thud. The Long Bill is the annual appropriations bill that the Joint Budget Committee has been working on since November. This bill is 4 inches thick and weighs in at a hefty 7 or 8 pounds. We in the House begin work on this budget bill on April 2 and hope to have it put to bed before the Easter holiday.

I will work hard to make this year's budget a reflection of the values that we share as Coloradans. With all the emphasis on building a new energy economy, my hope is this budget will renew our energy for fiscal responsibility and sustainability. We need to make this budget a long-term plan to spend smarter, to invest now in solving problems, not just paying for more band-aids.

Stay in Touch!

Please be reminded that on-line access of the legislature's web site is an excellent way to stay informed about legislative action here at the Capitol. The web site address is www.leg.state.co.us. My office phone is 303-866-2917 and you can email me by clicking on the link to the left!

The following report is a brief account of last week's legislative highlights that I hope you find interesting and useful.

Best wishes,
Randy Fischer
State Representative, House District 53

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LAST WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE

The following report describes the current status of some bills I've either co-sponsored or am actively supporting this session:

HB 1341 - "Public Interests to COGCC" by Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison)
This important bill expands the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to nine members from the current seven and changes the make up of the Commission to include members that have backgrounds in environmental protection, wildlife and local government representation. This bill also changes the mission of the COGCC from one of promoting the development of oil and gas to one of balanced development with emphasis on protection of public health, the environment, and surface owner rights.

STATUS: Passed House floor by 37-27-1 on final vote on March 23. Moves on to the Senate.

HB 1169 - "Net Metering" by Rep. Judy Solano (D-Thornton)
This bill allows cooperative electric association customers to install wind and solar generators to offset their utility costs through net metering, to participate in renewable energy production, and to help develop a new energy market for businesses. Net metering refers to the ability of home owners to be compensated by the electric companies for the energy they generate and put back onto the power grid thereby creating an incentive to install residential solar or wind power systems.

STATUS: Passed House floor by 42-22-1 on final vote on March 23. Moves to the Senate.

SB 097 - "Tobacco Settlement Fund Restoring Health Care" by Rep. Alice Madden (D-Boulder)

This bill restores vital health care programs by using funds from the tobacco litigation settlement. The programs, which exist statewide and focus on prevention, help support indigent care, children's basic health, treatment of drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health. The funds also support innovative research by restoring funding to the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center.

STATUS: Governor signed bill into law on March 22.

HB 1338 - "Homeowner Protection Act of 2007" by Rep. Jack Pommer (D-Boulder)

This bill preserves and strengthens basic protections for home buyers in the event they buy a home that turns out to be defective.

STATUS: Passed House Judiciary Committee 7-3 on March 23. Goes to the floor of the House next.

HB 1176 - "Doctor Choice" by Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora)

This bill allows workers who have been injured on the job to choose their physician.

STATUS: Passed House floor by 44-20-1 on final vote on March 23.

STATE CAPITOL UPDATE - MARCH 1, 2007

It's hard to believe, but yesterday was day 50 of the 2007 legislative session. I'm checking in at this milestone to let you know what has been happening down here at the Capitol.

Town Hall Meeting

First, I want to invite you to my third Town Hall meeting of the session this Saturday, March 3rd from 1:00 to 2:30pm at the Colorado State University campus in Room 228 of the Lory Student Center. The entire Larimer County delegation to the State Legislature from both sides of the aisle have been invited to participate. This meeting will provide you with an excellent opportunity to voice your opinions, concerns, or questions concerning issues of state-wide interest. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet individually with legislators following the formal Town Hall meeting to discuss community issues and personal concerns. I look forward to seeing you there.

Amendment 41 News

I have received numerous e-mails and letters with questions about Amendment 41. Here are where things stand:

*Last week House Bill 1304 was introduced to implement Amendment 41, define some of the terms, and to clarify some of the confusion surrounding it's controversial language about the legality of gifts to government employees.

*In addition, recent court rulings have been handed down clarifying that Amendment 41 does not ban scholarship awards to the children of government officials and employees.

*Finally, House Speaker Andrew Romanoff has requested that the Colorado Supreme Court further clarify the definitions contained in Amendment 41 and provide guidance related to the acceptance of awards granted to government officials and public employees or their dependents. While the Supreme Court is not obligated to weigh in on this issue, Speaker Romanoff hopes that the adoption of House Bill 1304 by the legislature will illustrate the importance of the issue and will be considered by the Supreme Court.

Stay in Touch!

Please be reminded that on-line access of the legislature's web site is an excellent way to stay informed about legislative action here at the Capitol. The web site address is www.leg.state.co.us. My office phone is 303-866-2917 and e-mail is accessible to the left.

The following report is a brief account of this week's legislative highlights that I hope you find interesting and useful.

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THIS WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE

This week, the House of Representatives gave final approval to several pieces of legislation that I was pleased to co-sponsor, including the following:

• House Bill 1060 This bill funds biotechnology (including bio-fuels) research grants aimed at transferring research conducted at CSU, CU, and Colorado School of Mines to commercial and economic applications. The bill now moves to the Senate.


• House Bill 1220 This bill requires governmental entities in Colorado to purchase "environmentally preferable" products or services when certain conditions are met. The purchasing preference applies to products and services that have a reduced impact on human health or the environment compared to competing products. The bill now moves to the Senate.


• House Bill 1252 This bill addresses the split mineral/surface estate issues by requiring oil and gas operators to employ practices that minimize the intrusion on and damage to a surface owner's property while still providing reasonable access to explore for and produce oil and gas. The bill now moves to the Senate.


• House Bill 1269 This bill repeals the casino exemption from the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act, and essentially bans smoking in Colorado's gambling Casinos. The bill now moves to the Senate.


• House Bill 1281 This bill makes several statutory changes to the renewable energy initiative, Amendment 37, passed by Colorado voters in 2004. The bill raises the renewable energy portfolio standards for electricity generation for investor-owned utilities to 20 percent by 2020. The bill also establishes a totally new standard for rural electric cooperatives of 10 percent. The bill now moves to the Senate.


• House Bill 1305 This bill extends the repeal of the Arkansas River Water Bank Program. Water banks provide a mechanism by which water rights can be leased, loaned, or exchanged. The approach is intended to reduce the costs associated with such transactions and to help water right holders to realize the value of their asset without being forced to sell the right. The bill now moves to the Senate.


• Senate Bill 097 This bill reallocates 21 percent of the state's tobacco settlement money to a variety of health care programs. This bill now moves to the Governor's desk for his signature.

STATE CAPITOL UPDATE- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

As a member of the House Education Committee, I am seeking input from Fort Collins' educators, parents, and community members on issues affecting K-12 public education that we will likely be discussing during the 66th General Assembly.

I hope you will join me at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2007, in Room 228 of the CSU Lory Student Center for an opportunity to share your ideas with me about the future of education in Colorado. Education finance and reform are emerging as top priorities in Governor Ritter's and the General Assembly's policy agendas. I am making every effort to gather input from our community on education policy matters at this moment when the discussion of key issues is just beginning.

I would be pleased if you would plan to attend this meeting and help me address issues, such as school accountability and testing reform, public school finance, and various educational reform proposals that have recently been put forward. I look forward to seeing you there.

Please also be reminded that on-line access of the legislature's web site is an excellent way to stay informed about legislative action here at the Capitol. The web site address is www.leg.state.co.us. This site allows you to track bills, view the legislative calendars, and listen in on Senate and House floor sessions and committee meetings. Of course, you can always call or e-mail me with your concerns or comments, too. My office phone is 303-866-2917 and you can access my email by clicking the link to the left.

The following report is a brief account of my recent activities that I hope you find interesting and useful. I view my job here as a collaborative effort with you. Please keep in touch!

Best wishes,

Randy Fischer
State Representative, House District 53

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LAST WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE

Last week, the House of Representatives adopted several pieces of legislation that I was pleased to co-sponsor, including the following:

• House Bill 1146 requires every Colorado board of county commissioners and every municipal governing board to adopt and enforce a building energy code that meets or exceeds the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code. Buildings are the single largest consumers of energy and the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. HB-1146 will save energy and money for homeowners, renters, and commercial building occupants. The most cost-effective new source of energy available is the energy we conserve through smarter, more efficient building standards.

• House Bill 1184 is Colorado's contribution to ending the genocide in Darfur. The bill directs state public funds managers to identify companies that have business ties to Sudan, to notify these companies, and to divest our holdings in any company that fails to end business activity in Sudan. State funds invested in these companies comprise a small portion of the state's overall investment portfolio. However, divesting these funds would have a significant impact on the affected companies and would send a strong message to the government of Sudan.

• Senate Bill 60 requires hospitals to adopt protocols to inform victims of sex assaults about the availability and use of emergency contraception (EC). The bill is commonly referred to as "EC in the ER." This bill to help sexual assault victims make informed decisions about their health and treatment options passed through the House this week on a 5-9 vote. It now moves to the Governor's desk for his signature.