Highlights from the Legislature on Wednesday:
— Gov. Bill Ritter signed 14 bills, including a measure that reduces the number of cases in which DNA evidence has to be preserved. Under the measure (House Bill 1121), DNA evidence from non-sexual misdemeanor or juvenile cases no longer must be preserved. Lawmakers passed a bill last year requiring DNA evidence be preserved in all cases where a defendant is sentenced to life in prison.
— New rules for oil and gas drilling won approval from the Colorado Legislature’s rules committee, despite objections from the industry that they give too much power to homeowners and landowners. The Committee on Legal Services decided the rules (House Bill 1292) meet the guidelines set by lawmakers when they directed the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to draw them up last year. They now go to the full Senate for debate.
— The House Finance Committee approved a bill asking voters to create a rainy day fund for the state budget. Supporters said the state could have avoided some of its current budget problems if money had been set aside. The bill (House Concurrent Resolution 1002) now goes to appropriations.
— The Senate gave final approval to a measure (House Bill 1186) that allows voters to drop off mail-in ballots at any early voting location or Election Day polling place. Some counties, including Denver, already allow that. The bill now heads to the governor.
— State officials told the Senate Education Committee that Colorado will get an estimated $1 billion in school funding from the federal stimulus package as well a chance to compete for another $400 million or more to pay for school reforms. However, they said it’s not clear yet how much of the money will be spent to prevent school funding cuts this year.
— The Senate backed a bipartisan resolution Wednesday urging Washington officials to open a standalone VA hospital in Colorado after Sen. Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, told lawmakers that officials had already announced that one would be built. Cadman moved that the resolution outlining the need for the hospital be struck and replaced with two words “Thank you.” He withdrew the suggestion after other senators objected, including Sen. Suzanne Williams and Sen. Morgan Carroll, who both represent Aurora.
New Bills
— A measure that would make it a crime to post the personal information of a judge, magistrate or prosecutor on the Internet if the information would pose an imminent and serious safety threat (House Bill 1316).
— Bar the Army from selling or leasing property owned by the state land board. The measure (House Bill 1317) is an attempt to prevent the Army from expanding the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeastern Colorado.
