High Country Politics - January 18, 2023 - Government News from the American West

Colorado Gov Jared Polis delivers State of the State address to legislators | First bills filed in Colorado General Assembly | Interview w Democratic State Rep Matt Martinez, sponsor of a bill that would reduce prison sentences for nonviolent inmates who earn accredited degrees while incarcerated | Free Universal Pre-K application opens in Colorado | Arizona Gov Katie Hobbs calls for $40 Million DREAMER scholarship fund

Welcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod’s Talking Politics, every Monday.

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DENVER (AP) — In yesterday’s state of the state speech to lawmakers, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis laid out his vision to tackle the state's sky-high housing prices - including proposals to roll back building regulations, open public land to affordable housing development, and support innovations such as pre-built units.

Polis, a Democrat re-elected in November, also touched on efforts to combat climate change, lower the state income tax, measures to reduce crime, and expanded education funding.

Polis, the first openly gay governor in the U.S., starts his second term after a shooting at a Colorado Springs gay nightclub in November left five dead and has renewed calls by Democrats to enact stricter gun regulations.

Looking down from the gallery were Richard Fierro and Thomas James, two patrons who tackled the shooter inside the club, as Polis read the names of those killed, asked for a moment of silence and nodded towards concerns around “spiraling hate speech.”

Polis addressed gun violence but largely skirted Democrat proposals that included raising the minimum age to buy guns and potentially banning assault weapons.

Polis told reporters after his address. “We are happy to discuss other ideas about how we can improve gun safety in Colorado and honor our Second Amendment rights," 

Polis lauded government intervention on housing, citing a ballot measure that Coloradans passed in November that dedicates an estimated $300 million annually to affordable housing. Polis said he also plans to “aggressively” free up parcels of state-owned land for low-income units.

Polis gave his speech — which referenced everything from electric vehicle tax credits to "The Lord of the Rings” character Gandalf the Grey — after securing almost 60% of the vote in a state where Independent voters are one-third of the electorate. Polis’s appeal has stirred rumors of a future presidential run.

“Our state might be shaped like a square but the political pundits can’t put us in a box,” Polis said. “We are a state that just this year voted to once again cut income taxes, while legalizing magic mushrooms.”

Jesse Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

COLORADO NEWSLINE: Colorado legislature’s first bills 

Soon after the Colorado General Assembly convened for the 2023 legislative session on Monday, members introduced the first bills of the year, offering a hint of Democratic priorities. Democrats enjoy large majorities in both legislative chambers.

House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Democrat from Dillon, said “This session, we’ll pass legislation to protect our water and air, invest in our schools, improve public safety, and make our state more affordable. 

Our first five bills are just the beginning, and we’re excited to get to work building a Colorado where everyone can thrive,” 

In the House, the first five bills center on education investments, health care costs, mental health, language accessibility and water efficiency.

House Bill 23-1001 would expand the eligibility for financial assistance and loan forgiveness for educators to address the state’s teacher shortage. It is sponsored by Democratic Reps. Cathy Kipp of Fort Collins and Barbara McLachlan of Durango and Sen. Rachel Zenzinger of Arvada.

House Bill 23-1002 would create an EpiPen affordability program for people who do not have health insurance. It would cap the cost of a two-pack of EpiPens, often used to treat severe allergic reactions, at $60. It is sponsored by Rep. Javier Mabrey, a Denver Democrat, and Sen. Dylan Roberts, an Avon Democrat.

House Bill 23-1003 would form a mental health assessment program for Colorado youth in order to identify student mental health concerns and direct them to resources. It would be available in public schools for students in sixth through 12th grades. It is sponsored by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, an Aurora Democrat, and Sen. Lisa Cutter, a Littleton Democrat.

In the Senate, the first five bills introduced involve housing, health care costs, education and workforce development for mental health and forestry professionals. Three of them have bipartisan sponsorship.

Senate Bill 23-1 would provide $13 million to the Public-Private Partnership Office to encourage affordable workforce housing on state-owned land. The bill is sponsored by Roberts, Zenzinger, Rep. Shannon Bird, a Westminster Democrat, and Rep. Meghan Lukens, a Steamboat Springs Democrat.

Senate Bill 23-2 would direct the state to seek federal authorization for Medicaid reimbursement for community health worker services. Community health care workers serve as a liaison between providers and community members and can often have a personal experience with a health condition and a cultural background they share with the community they serve. The bipartisan bill is sponsored by McCluskie, Sen. Kyle Mullica, a Federal Heights Democrat, Sen. Cleave Simpson, an Alamosa Republican, and Rep. Mary Bradfield, a Colorado Springs Republican.

Senate Bill 23-3 would create the Colorado Adult High School Program for adults to earn a high school diploma at no cost and enter the workforce. The program would include transportation support and child care. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Janet Buckner, an Aurora Democrat, Sen. Bob Gardner, a Colorado Springs Republican, and Rep. Mike Weissman, an Aurora Democrat.

Two bills focus on the workforce shortage in our schools and in our forests. SB-4 would authorize schools to hire mental health professionals who are not licensed by the state Department of Education but hold a Colorado license for their profession. It is sponsored by Sen. Janice Marchman, a Loveland Democrat, Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, and Michaelson Jenet.

SB-5 involves wildfire mitigation and forestry professionals. It would direct the Colorado State Forest Service to create educational materials on the industry and create a new forestry program at Colorado Mountain College, among other provisions. 

REP MATT MARTINEZ INTERVIEW

HB23-1037

Department Of Corrections Earned Time For College Program Completion

Concerning awarding earned time to nonviolent offenders who complete an accredited higher education program.

SESSION: 2023 Regular Session

SUBJECT: Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

BILL SUMMARY

Under existing law, an inmate in the custody of the department of corrections (department) may have earned time deducted from the inmate's sentence for meeting certain statutory requirements. The bill permits an inmate sentenced for a nonviolent felony offense to have earned time deducted from the inmate's sentence for each accredited degree or other credential awarded by an accredited institution of higher education to the inmate while the inmate is incarcerated, in the following amounts:

One year of earned time for receiving an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree; and

6 months of earned time for receiving a certificate or other credential.

The bill requires the general assembly to annually appropriate the savings incurred during the prior state fiscal year as a result of the release of inmates from correctional facilities because of earned time granted for completion of a higher education degree or credential, as follows:

50% of the savings to the department of corrections to facilitate inmates enrolling in and completing accredited higher education programs; and

50% of the savings to the department of higher education for allocation to institutions of higher education that offer accredited programs in correctional facilities.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Read Less

CHALKBEAT COLORADO:

Colorado’s free preschool application is open. Here’s what you need to know.

The parent application for Colorado’s new free preschool program opened yesterday— a major milestone in the march toward the program’s launch next summer. 

The program, funded in part by a voter-approved nicotine tax, will offer 10 to 15 hours a week of tuition-free preschool to 4-year-olds statewide, with some eligible for 30 hours a week. 

In addition, some 3-year-olds will be eligible for 10 hours a week early childhood education.

Families who fill out the application by Feb. 14, will find out what preschool their child matched with on March 10.

State officials expect about 30,000 children to opt into the universal preschool program in its first year. That’s about half the number that will be eligible. 

SO: Who gets free preschool and what age do they have to be?

Three groups of children qualify: all 4-year-olds, some 3-year-olds who need extra help, and a small number of 5-year-olds who are too young for kindergarten. The goal is for kids to be more prepared for kindergarten.

Some 4-year-olds will get 30 hours of free preschool a week, including those from lower-income families, kids who speak a language besides English at home, are homeless, in foster care, or have disabilities. 

The new preschool program will also cover 10 hours a week of preschool for 3-year-olds in these same groups. 

What’s involved in the application? Are there income requirements?

Many families will need about 15 minutes and not much else. The application is offered in English, Spanish, and Arabic, and parents should be able to complete the application on a cell phone or computer. 

Families that earn up to 270% of the federal poverty limit — about $81,000 a year for a family of four —will need to upload documents that prove their income.

Can I pick my child’s preschool?

Yes. Families will be asked to pick up to five preschools they’d like their child to attend and will be able to rank their choices. Options include school-based preschools, church-based preschools, preschool programs inside child care centers, and state-licensed home-based preschools. 

Children will be prioritized for a spot in a preschool if they’re already enrolled there, if a sibling is enrolled there, or if a parent works there. 

When does free preschool start in Colorado?

August or September of this fall, depending on the specific preschool. 

For more information check out upk.colorado.gov or you can also contact the state’s help desk at 303-866-5223

Do you have a question you don’t see answered here or can’t find the answer to elsewhere? Let us know at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to find an answer. 

Ann Schimke is a senior reporter at Chalkbeat, covering early childhood issues and early literacy. Contact Ann at [email protected].

ARIZONA MIRROR: Governor Hobbs wants a scholarship for DREAMERS.

More than 3,000 undocumented students in Arizona could see their dreams of a college degree come true under a new scholarship proposed by Gov. Katie Hobbs. 

Dubbed the Promise for Dreamers Scholarship Program, the $40 million dollar investment is  aimed at supporting undocumented students who’ve attended an Arizona high school for at least two years. Scholarships from the program help fund four years at one of the state’s three public universities

The new scholarship program debuted in Hobbs’ State of the State speech last week, where she billed it as an extension of Proposition 308 which allows DREAMERS to pay in-state tuition and access state-funded financial help. 

Reyna Montoya, who was part of the effort to pass Prop. 308 said that even though it improves access to higher education, but it doesn’t resolve the inequality undocumented students face at the federal level. To fill out the FAFSA, which determines a student’s eligibility for low-income loans and scholarships like the Pell Grant, citizenship is a requirement.

If you’re a low-income student, typically you have other supports, like the Pell Grant,” Montoya said. If you’re a Dreamer, and you’re getting ready to graduate from high school, you’re not eligible. Even paying in-state tuition is going to be a steep challenge if you’re trying to pay for school completely out of your own pocket.

“Seeing the same heartache time after time — I get the chills to think that we can have different conversations with our students looking ahead. We don’t have to tell them, ‘You’re limited to these extremelydifficult pathways if you want to obtain an education,’” she said. 

Montoya is also hopeful that the scholarship will benefit the state’s future by creating a more educated workforce and helping to mitigate labor shortages. Arizona is currently grappling with teacher vacancies and faces a projected nursing shortage by 2030. 

“This would really help us close a lot of the workforce gaps that we have in the state,” she said, adding: “It’s in our benefit to see education as an investment rather than an expense.” 

Potential future benefits are a significant argument in favor of the scholarship, said Tyler Montague, chairman of the Yes on 308 campaign. 

“It’s a big payback. Everybody that we get through college — as compared to just high school — makes $650,000 to $1 million more over their lifetime, and they’re putting that money back into the economy. And they pay, on average, $380,000 more over their lifetime in taxes, which is a massive financial return,” he said, citing national studies.

Also important to consider are the social returns that college grads provide, Montague added.  People who earn a college degree are less likely to incur social costs, and are more involved in their communities. 

Montague hopes that the Republican-majority legislature gives the scholarship fund a fair shot, and keeps in mind the support that voters gave Prop. 308 as an indicator for the consensus around aiding undocumented youth in the state. 

“I would hope that the legislature takes their cue from (308) and acts accordingly,” he said. 

The proposition passed with a narrow 51% majority, but the approval across party lines was widespread, with as many as 27% of Republicans and 54% of Independents voting yes. Still, while Arizona voters agreed to level the playing field in university tuition rates, some Republican leaders in the legislature are balking at opening up access to state-funded scholarships. 

“Gov. KATIE HOBBS in her State of State stated that she would like to invest $40 million to help pay for illegal immigrants to attend college in Arizona,” tweeted House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci. “What about LEGAL citizens of Arizona or any other state?” 

Hobbs’ budget proposal also includes an equivalent $40 million increase to the state’s existing Arizona Promise Program, which she estimated on Monday could benefit as many as 10,000 more students. Last year, 4,000 students benefited. 

While the underlying legislation of Prop. 308 found bipartisan support, and was proposed by a Republican state senator, Hobbs’ initiative may face an uphill battle in a statehouse with a more conservative bent to it. Enacting it through legislative channels isn’t her only option; she could resort to issuing an executive order or negotiate with the Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s universities. It’s unclear, however, what path the governor’s office will take; they did not respond to questions about what strategies it might consider to create the new scholarship fund.

CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK:

Billy Strings has 3 sold out shows February 2, 3, and 4 at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield.  At just 30 years old, Billy Strings is one of the most celebrated bluegrass musicians in America. He is known as an electric performer, keeping the improvisational tradition of bluegrass alive while incorporating a diverse variety of other genres into his music as well. Tickets and tour info at BillyStrings.com

Welp, that’s it for me! From Denver I’m Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today’s show comes from the Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, Chalkbeat Colorado, Indian Country Times and Denver’s Westword.

Thank you for listening! See you next time.

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