Highlights from the Legislature on Thursday:
— Gov. Bill Ritter signed five bills into law, including a measure that would make it easier for minors to donate blood and another that would require communities to develop wildfire protection plans.
— The Colorado House has approved a bill that would allow workers who are locked out by employers during labor disputes to collect unemployment benefits. The bill (House Bill 1170) would take effect next year. It now goes to the Senate.
— Ritter and Treasurer Cary Kennedy announced that 11 rural school districts across Colorado will get $77 million in grants to help build new schools, roofs and fire alarms under the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Act passed last year.
New Bills
— Authorize Medicaid patients to receive prescription drugs through mail order if it is allowed by their insurance company (Senate Bill 252).
