BILL SIGNING TOUR - DAY 9 On Tuesday, I visited Durango to sign legislation to prepare Colorado students for success, invest in Colorado roads, and to strengthen Colorado’s Native American and Alaskan community. PREPARING COLORADO STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS MANCOS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VISIT I started the day at Mancos Elementary School to celebrate education and educators at the end of a successful school year. I’m proud that we made historic investments in K-12 education this year, increasing funding by roughly $12,000-$13,000 per classroom. I have to say, the chance to get out into communities around our state and meet directly with Coloradans - especially our young leaders - is the best part of my job. To all of our educators, thank you for continuing to step up for your students and for your communities. Your impact isn’t just in the classroom, it goes far beyond and helps to make our state a better place. INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND ROADS At Durango High School, I signed bipartisan bill HB22-1248 to invest in Colorado’s school leaders. Back in 2019, I was proud to sign HB19-1002, which established the school leadership pilot program, which puts high-quality principals around the state in mentorship and coaching roles with other principals. HB22-1248 eliminates the “pilot” phase of this program and provides the funding and ongoing infrastructure needed for CDE to continue this leadership development program for more principals every year. Next I signed SB22-070 with bipartisan support to provide educators, administrators, and other school-based personnel with an evaluation system that is more streamlined, less burdensome, and focused on providing more training for evaluators so that teachers get the support and feedback they need to grow. While at Durango High School, I signed another bipartisan bill, HB22-1154, which creates the Colorado Rotary Club specialized license plate. Rotary members can proudly display their membership through a specialized license plate, and the fees associated with these special plates will go toward improving Colorado’s roads and highways and creating the transportation that Colorado deserves. SUPPORTING COLORADO TRIBES STRENGTHENING COLORADO’S NATIVE AMERICAN AND ALASKAN COMMUNITY My next stop was at Fort Lewis College, where I signed bipartisan HB22-1327. This legislation has two major components. First, it establishes the Native American boarding school research program in History Colorado to research the events, physical and emotional abuse, and deaths that occurred at Native American boarding schools in Colorado. Second, the bill ensures that the property where the Grand Junction Regional Center was located will not be sold or transferred until after the identification and mapping of any graves of students buried at the Native American boarding school that was located on the property, and until after the department develops a plan, in consultation with Tribal governments, to acknowledge the abuse and victimization of students and families related to the operation of the school. This legislation alone will not heal the wounds of the past, but by acknowledging these sins we can create a path for us to move toward a healthier and more inclusive Colorado for all, together. Next up, I signed SB22-148, a bipartisan bill which creates the Colorado Land Based Tribe Behavioral Health Services Grant, which will provide $5 million in ARPA funding to Tribal Nations in Colorado so they may design a culturally competent program that meets the behavioral health needs of Tribal communities in the region. I also signed bipartisan SB22-104 to create a pathway for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to efficiently receive pass-through funding from the state, which further strengthens the Tribal/state relationship. This legislation also respects Tribal Sovereignty while ensuring that the Tribes have the opportunity to participate in programs that will support the needs of the Tribal Nations and their members in a way that they deem fit. FOLLOW ALONG FOR THE BILL SIGNING TOUR! I have 30 days to sign or veto all the bills the legislature passed. I will be traveling to every corner of our state during the bill signing tour to celebrate the incredible work we have done this legislative session. SUBSCRIBE TO BILL SIGNING UPDATES Office of Governor Jared Polis | Website State of Colorado - Governor's Office | 136 State Capitol , Denver, CO 80203 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]