Rep. Dianne Primavera is pushing for a bill that would help develop a long-range plan for taking care of Colorado’s older residents. (Photo by David R. Jennings/Broomfield Enterprise)
Rep. Dianne Primavera, D-Broomfield, says now is the time to plan for Baby Boomers’ golden years, with the population of Coloradans older than 65 expected to more than double over the next 25 years.
If state revenues from sales, income and property taxes decline, as expected, someone needs to be thinking of how to pay for the services the swelling ranks of older residents will need, she said.
Primavera’s bill to create a 23-member strategic planning group on the matter passed the House Public Health Care and Human Services Committee on a 10-3 vote Tuesday afternoon.
“No single other issue represents a broader challenge to Colorado than the demographic shift that will take place in the coming decades,” Primavera said in a statement. “This bill offers a smart start to the process of creating a comprehensive plan to address the positive and negative impacts the growing number of seniors will have on Colorado.”
The bill moves to the House Appropriations Committee. A legislative analysis indicates it would cost the governor’s office $357,280 in next year’s budget and $160,761 the year after. The governor’s office estimates the program would require the equivalent of two full-time employees to organize meetings, distribute information, foster public relations and coordinate between the committee, contractors, state agencies and interested parties, then compile the final report. The funding also includes about $200,000 for outside experts and contractors.
The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Jim Wilson, R-Salida, and Jeff Lebsock. D-Thornton, as well as Sen. Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa.
“Colorado families, communities, businesses, and public agencies would all benefit from more comprehensive research into the issues related to the broad challenges of aging and from the development of a long term strategic action plan and set of recommendations for addressing those challenges.” the bill states.
