Highlights from the Legislature on Monday:
— Attorney Daniel Kagan has become Colorado’s newest lawmaker. Kagan was sworn in by Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll. He was selected to succeed Democratic Rep. Anne McGihon as the state representative for House District 3, representing south central Denver and Cherry Hills Village.
— The House approved a measure (Senate Bill 237) that changes the state’s “zero tolerance” law on fake guns at schools, sending the measure back to the Senate. The bill was introduced in response to the suspension of a 17-year-old drill team commander who had practice rifles in her vehicle on school grounds. Under the bill, fake weapons found in a car wouldn’t be considered a violation, but administrators would still be able to decide how to punish students who display, carry or brandish a fake weapon at school. Right now, those students are automatically expelled. The bill now goes back to the Senate for consideration of amendments.
— The House approved a measure (Senate Bill 148) giving more rights and protections to bicyclists. It requires drivers to give cyclists at least a 3-foot berth when passing them. The bill also makes it a class one misdemeanor to throw something at a cyclist. The bill now goes back to the Senate for consideration of amendments.
— The House approved a measure that would require public school students to have a minimum amount of physical activity a week (Senate Bill 131). The bill now goes back to the Senate for consideration of amendments.
— The House approved and sent to the governor a bill that would require that signs warning drivers of traffic cameras be prominently displayed on the right side of the road (Senate Bill 222).
— The Senate voted 20-13 to pass a measure (Senate Bill 3) requiring that cars in more populated parts of Larimer and Weld counties pass emissions tests starting July 1, 2011. All Democrats voted for the bill and all Republicans present voted against the bill, which now goes to the House.
— The Senate gave initial backing to a measure (Senate Bill 37) that would save businesses about $10 million a year by getting rid of a surcharge they must pay on their workers’ compensation insurance to support two related state funds. Lawmakers have taken money from the funds to balance the budget following the 2001 recession and during the current one. But businesses have continued to pay the surcharge on their premiums to increase those funds to pay for future possible claims. Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Highlands Ranch, said the funds would have reached that level by now if lawmakers had not taken the money.
— The Senate voted 21-12 to back a nonbinding resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 28) honoring Colorado “cool cities” that have taken steps, such as using hybrid vehicles and “smart growth” land planning, to reduce global warming. Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, said human-caused global warming was a hoax, and all but one Republican present voted against the measure.
— The Senate unanimously backed another nonbinding resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 29) honoring Cesar Chavez, the founder of the United Farm Workers of America.
