Water allocation advances
A controversial bill restricting water allocations for white-water play parks won preliminary approval from the Senate on Thursday.
Senate Bill 37 awaits a final vote in the Senate before it can be considered in the House.
An amendment Thursday changed some parts of the bill, but it still strikes a balance among recreational, municipal and agricultural water uses, said its sponsor, Democratic Sen. Jim Isgar of Hesperus.
Because of those competing interests, the bill remains controversial, as Isgar noted upon seeing the bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, on the Senate floor just before Thursday’s vote.
“I wish her the best of luck keeping the intent of this bill together,” he said.
Backers rally for Plan B
About 50 supporters of emergency contraception rallied on the west steps of the Capitol on Thursday, chanting, “It’s about time,” and calling for the passage of House Bill 1212.
Rep. Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood, the bill’s sponsor, called the measure “a first step.”
The bill gives pharmacists the power to prescribe Plan B, also known as the “morning-after pill.” The pill prevents pregnancy when used within 72 hours of sex.
The Colorado Medical Society, which represents physicians, supports the bill.
Last year, Gov. Bill Owens vetoed a bill that required health care providers to inform rape victims about the availability of Plan B.
Schools get boost from Ref. C
The Joint Budget Committee on Thursday continued divvying up Referendum C money among programs that were cut during earlier budget pinches.
The JBC approved a $23.7 million appropriation to special-education programs. The committee also provided an extra $1.55 million to programs for gifted and talented children and approved $20 million for building and fixing schools in poor and rural districts.
State budget officials expect the state to collect about $136 million this year that it wouldn’t have collected if voters had not approved Referendum C last year.
The committee is dividing that money into thirds and spending it on public schools, health care programs and higher education.
Earlier this week, the committee restored about $10 million in funding to previously cut health care programs.
