As of April 13, Gov. Bill Ritter has signed 76 bills and vetoed two. The following is a summary of many of the bills the governor has signed.EducationHB 1087 establishes the Wind for Schools Grant Program. The program funds wind energy projects at qualified public schools and community colleges. A qualified school has a team consisting of staff, students and people in the community who work under the guidance of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to install a wind turbine at the school. The goal is to help defray the school°¶s energy costs and provide educational opportunities to students.SB 016 lowers the minimum age of compulsory school attendance from 7 years old to 6 years old, effective July 1, 2008, and applies to children who reach the age of 6 on or before Aug. 1 of each year. Parents who educate their children through a non-public, home-based program are not required to establish the program until the child is 7 years old.SB 148 establishes the Fast College Fast Jobs Program, a pilot program to enable students enrolled in target high schools to obtain simultaneously a high school diploma and an associate degree or a career and technical education certificate in five years, beginning in the ninth grade. To participate in a pilot program, an eligible school district must enter into a contract with one or more institutions of higher education to provide a Fast College Fast Jobs education program.CivicHB 1078 authorizes any county in Colorado to establish a licensing program for building contractors. Counties can require that building contractors achieve a passing grade on an examination commonly used and accepted by the construction industry.SB 022 authorizes the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to approve special utility rates for low-income customers; °ßlow income°® is defined as a household income of 185 percent at or below the current federal poverty level. When approving rates for low-income customers, the PUC is required to take into account the potential impact on non-low-income customers.Health CareHB 1133 protects licensed, registered or certified health care workers from retaliation by their employers when a health care worker makes a good faith report about a patient°¶s quality of care.HB 1253 prohibits Colorado providers of group and individual sickness policies, accident insurance policies and service or indemnity contracts from denying coverage to an individual based on that individual°¶s membership in the uniformed services of the United States. The bill defines °ßmembership°® as active duty, National Guard or reserve duty in the uniformed services of the United States, or retirement from such services.SB 001 establishes the Colorado Cares Rx program, providing generic and non-patented prescription drugs to eligible persons at discounted rates. To be eligible, a person must be a resident of Colorado, have a family income that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level °V adjusted for family size °V and must not have health insurance or be eligible for medical assistance. The bill directs the Colorado State Department to register applicants for a fee of not more than $20. Pharmacies that participate in the program agree to provide generic or non-patented drugs for an amount negotiated with the drug°¶s manufacturer by the State Department or the pharmacy°¶s customary charge for the drug, whichever is less.MilitaryHB 1105 expands the time for the Korean War veteran special license plate so that members of the armed services from June 27, 1950, to Jan. 31, 1955, are now eligible for the plate.EnvironmentHB 1168 authorizes municipalities and counties to establish forest improvement districts for the purpose of protecting communities from wildfires and improving the condition of forests within the district. Forest improvement districts are authorized, upon voter approval, to levy and collect a sales tax.HB 1305 extends the Arkansas River Water Bank Program indefinitely by removing the section that would repeal the statute on July 1, 2007.SB 082 extends funding for the Habitat Partnership Program until 2015. The Habitat Partnership program develops partnerships between landowners, land managers, sportsmen, the public and the Division of Wildlife to resolve crop, rangeland forage and fence conflicts between big game animals and livestock on private and public lands.Child ServicesSB 064 establishes the Task Force on Foster Care and Permanence and directs the governor to appoint 23 task force members with the goal of examining child foster care and adoption systems in the state and recommend solutions. Colorado has 6,800 children in foster care or awaiting adoption.
