Eye on the Legislature

May 28, 2018

   Actions by the Governor are at a slow pace this year, so today’s column will be a brief one.

House Bill 18-1319: Signed by the Governor on May 18th, HB 1319 represents legislators finally recognizing the foster care system needs to help youth between the ages of 18 and 21 years of age, and also recognizes that although existing child welfare money may enable the state to provide services to some youth, it is insufficient to address all the needs, nor is it available consistently across the state.”

HB 1319 also includes provisions for county department of human or social services to provide services to foster youth who have aged out of the foster care system if the county department develops a plan for the services. With such a plan, former foster youth may receive assistance with education, employment, financial management, housing, mental health care and substance abuse prevention.

House Bill 18-1368:  Killed on May 3rd, HB 1368 would have repealed the provisions in Colorado law that prohibit local governments from enacting minimum wage laws separate from those of the state. For the reader’s information, beginning 2021, the minimum wage in Colorado will be adjusted by the Consumer Price Index.

House Bill 18-1276: Also killed on May 3rd, HB 1276 would have added the culture contributions of Asian Americans to the required curriculum taught in Colorado schools. Current law requires the history, culture and contributions of American Indians, Hispanic Americans and African Americans be taught in Colorado schools.

The reader's comments or questions are always welcome. E-mail me at doris@dorisbeaver.com.