With more than
60 public forums, Jim has listened to the people of District 50 and worked
on legislation that matters to them!
Jim is a member
of the following committees:
Capital Development - Vice Chair
Health and Human Services
Appropriations
House Bills
- HB 1001 BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM
Provides $5.5 million in State matching grants for the Bioscience research industry from the technology transfer departments into the marketplace. This is one of the major economic development incentives in recent years.
- HB 1038 ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE REGULATION FEE
Moves state fee setting authority of Assisted Living Residences (ALR) from the General Assembly to the Colorado State Board of Health. This gives more opportunity for ALRs to participate in the fee setting process.
- HB 1070 FPPA STATEWIDE DEFINED BENEFITS
Modifies rules for the Fire and Police Pension Fund to have more flexibility in determining the percentage rate for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) when justified.
- HB 1108 INCREASE FUNDS FOR THE OLDER COLORADANS CASH FUND
Increases funding for the Older Coloradans Cash Fund to support Area Agencies on Aging, which provide community-based, in-home, and information and access services for the growing population of elderly citizens in Colorado.
- HB 1189 PROHIBITS PERSONNEL SYSTEM EMPLOYEE STRIKES
Prohibits any employee in the state personnel system or any union/group in the state personnel system from striking, thereby preventing a disruption in state business and essential services to the citizens of Colorado.
- HB 1196 TRUTH IN MUSIC ADVERTISING
Cracks down on impostor groups trying to benefit from the fame and reputation of recording artists.
- HB 1205 INCREASE HIGHER-ED CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION EXCEPTIONS
Increases the exemption amount for capital construction projects by Colorado Higher Education Institutions before spending approval is required by the Capital Development Committee and the JBC.
- HB 1210 IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES
Continues the In-Home Support Services (IHSS) programs to allow for self-direction of in-home care providers and also saves money for the state.
- HB 1306 CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT PROMPT PAYMENT
A bill to assure that all contractors and subcontractors on a project are paid for their approved work in timely fashion. Provides legal recourse when contracts are broken.
- HB 1316 CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION FUND RESTRICTIONS
Helps the Capital Development Committee determine the appropriate priority for statewide projects.
Senate Bills
- SB 003 MEDICAID FAMILY PLANNING PILOT PROGRAM
Allows flexibility in determining eligibility for the family planning pilot program ands directs the Department to request for a federal waiver for the state program.
- SB 058 CREATION OF A COLORADO ALZHEIMER'S COORDINATING COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A STATE PLAN TO ADDRESS THE INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN THE STATE.
This bill creates the Colorado Alzheimer's coordinating council to develop a state plan for dealing with the difficulties of patients and families confronted by Alzheimer's disease.
- SB 100 CREATION OF THE "UNIFORM ADULT GUARDIANSHIP AND PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS JURISDICTION ACT".
Drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. It sets rules between jurisdictions on the cooperation and communication of different states.
- SB 129 CONCERING NUTRITION IN SCHOOLS
Makes school beverages meet standards in nutrition and health, helping to make students healthier and to combat childhood obesity.
- SB 154 CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FACILITY LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT FOR CERTAIN FACILITIES CONTIGUOUS WITH AN ACUTE TREATMENT UNIT, AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
Helps Acute Treatment Units (ATUs) comply with life safety and physical plant requirements, thereby making it safer for patients, their treatment, and staff operations.
- SB 215 CONCERNING BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, DIRECTING THE STATE'S CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER TO CREATE AN INVENTORY OF BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE AREAS AND INFORMATION SERVICE AREAS AND AUTHORIZING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A FUNDING MECHANISM TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST OF PREPARING THE INVENTORY.
Establishes a map of current broadband access in Colorado as well as areas that are lacking in development and that are currently being developed. This enables citizens in Colorado to make informed choices when choosing potential broadband service providers.
- SJR 006 CREATION OF A MONUMENT ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS HONORING ENOS MILLS.
Allows for a privately funded memorial honoring Enos Mills, Colorado pioneer and environmentalist in Lincoln Park.
Prime Sponsor of Bills Signed into Law
Seniors
- O6-1018 Increased funding of the Older Coloradans Act by $I million to support Area Agencies on Aging
- 06-057 Established a Missing Senior Citizens Alert Program
- 06-121 Permitted Surrogate Decision-makers for Health Insurance issues
- 07-1100 Increased funding of the Older Coloradans Act by $2 million to support Area Agencies on Aging
Families, Children and Health
- 05-1157 Protected children in contested divorce cases
- 05-1324 Maintained Federal Funding in school lunch programs
- 05-147 Reauthorized the Respiratory Therapy Practice Act
- 06-1267 Revisions to Child Support laws
- 06-128 Allowed for a Pilot Program for the Disabled
- 07-225 Adjustment to the Alternative Earning Income requirements in the Colorado Works Program
- 07-226 Brought Colorado into compliance with new Federal Regulations concerning the placement of children
- 07-235 Required the posting of local Self-sufficiency Standards to make elected officials and all citizens aware of the true cost of living in each area of the state
Pensions
- 06-1059 Modifications to the Fire and Police Pension Fund
- 07-1030 Modifications to the Fire and Police Pension Fund
Public Safety
- 05-1011 Modified laws relating to covered loads on the highways
- 06-1171 Crack down on drunk driver repeat offenders
- 06-1326 Made Identity Theft a crime in Colorado
- 06-091 Made phone records trading a crime in Colorado
- 06-192 Created an interagency taskforce on Drunk Driving
- 07-154 Provided more discretion to arresting officers concerning Drunk Driver BAC test election
Economic Development and Business
- 05-1203 Help small, rural phone companies increase their distribution from the Colorado High Cost Support Fund
- 06-1360 Provided Grant money to promote Bioscience Research discoveries to generate new companies with well paying jobs
- 06-1380 New laws to reduce organized retail theft
- 06-1268 Allow for local cemeteries future expansion and maintenance
- 07-1060 Provided $2.5 million in State matching grants to promote Bioscience and Biofuel Research discoveries to generate new companies with well paying jobs
Water
- 05-1156 Reduce costs and increase efficiency of the Water Courts
