Owens in action
Gov. Bill Owens on Monday vetoed a measure (House Bill 1095) that would have required government agencies to give preference to environmentally friendly products. The governor said there is no standard to determine which products or services are environmentally preferable.
Owens allowed a measure (HB 1249) to let a teenage girl seek prenatal care for herself without her parents’ permission go into law without his signature. He said he opposes erosion of parental-notification laws but believes protecting the health of a mother and her baby is paramount.
The governor signed a bill (HB 1119) to require businesses and others to notify customers when a security breach has exposed personal information.
A rainy-day debate
The House Appropriations Committee approved a rainy- day fund to be used during a revenue shortfall in the event of another economic downturn that would require a super-majority vote to tap. The measure (HB 1050) now goes to the full House for debate.
Working on water
Hoping to someday end Colorado’s in-state battles over scarce water, a House committee on Monday approved a charter for compacts between users in different river basins meant to bring together groups ranging from fishermen to farmers.
“We’re walking on ground that hasn’t been walked on before,” said Marc Catlin, a member of the Inter Basin Compact Committee that drew up the proposed charter.
In other action Monday
The House passed 45-19 a measure (Senate Bill 127) to create a pilot program to make fresh fruits and vegetables available in participating schools.
The Senate defeated a measure (Senate Concurrent Resolution 3) that would have required proposed constitutional amendments to pass by 60 percent before becoming law.
