From Office of Governor Jared Polis <[email protected]>
Subject Reducing Homelessness, Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Services, Improving Our Criminal Justice System
Date June 1, 2022 9:15 PM
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BILL SIGNING TOUR - DAY 16 Yesterday I signed key legislative investments to reduce homelessness, along with other bipartisan bills. This legislative session I partnered with legislators to expand access to behavioral and mental health services, increase the supply of affordable housing, and bolster Colorado’s workforce in critical industries. The administration and state legislature are providing facilities and pushing local communities to invest and innovate. Through partnering with local governments, nonprofits, private partners, and other entities, we can significantly reduce homelessness in Colorado - the state is doing its part and we need local governments to step up. I’m excited to sign this legislation which will create a strong foundation to create transformational change. REDUCING HOMELESSNESS EXPANDING SUPPORT SERVICES, INCREASING ACCESS TO HOUSING Yesterday I signed HB22-1377, to reduce homelessness. I also signed HB22-1378, which creates an RFA for a Denver-metro area campus to support addiction recovery and HB22-1083 which expands an existing income tax credit available for those who make contributions to promote temporary, emergency, or transitional housing programs. Finally, I visited Ridge View to sign SB22-211 which repurposes the Ridge View campus into a supportive residential community for addiction recovery and mental health support. IMPROVING HEALTH & SAFETY WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS, SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME Currently special protections exist for those who raise concerns about health or safety concerns during a public health emergency, but we know that is not the only time that retaliation against workers reporting workplace health and safety violations may occur. I signed SB22-097 yesterday to expand those workplace protections to all health and safety concerns regardless of whether or not there is a public health emergency. I also signed bipartisan SB22-057 yesterday, which creates the Victims of a Violent Crime Brain Injury Task Force, which will make recommendations regarding the creation of a pilot program for identification, screening, support, and services for victims of violent crimes who have suffered a brain injury. UPDATING OUR HEMP REGULATIONS Yesterday afternoon, I signed bipartisan bill SB22-205. When Colorado first legalized hemp, we were focused on industrial, non-consumable uses, such as paper, plastics, clothes, and more. But now we are seeing hemp being used to develop new, intoxicating cannabinoids. This bill will put Colorado on the forefront of navigating these changes, and seek to sort out the challenges we as a state face with two, nearly identical plants that have very different end uses, marijuana which is regulated like alcohol and hemp which is a agricultural commodity more like wheat or corn. MAKING COLORADO ONE OF THE TEN SAFEST STATES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR PEACE OFFICERS Yesterday I signed SB22-005, which expands services for peace officers involved in job-related traumatic situations. This means that we can fund critical counseling services, trainings for police officers to identify job-related mental trauma, peer support programs, remote behavioral health counseling, and assistance to develop policies to support officers involved in shootings. REDUCE RECIDIVISM FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS I also signed SB22-099, which seals criminal records for nonviolent offenders, breaking down barriers and enabling more Coloradans to move forward with their lives after being involved in the criminal justice system and opening the door to employment and housing opportunities. WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING Yesterday I had the chance to hear from champions of SB22-211 while at the Ridge View campus. “The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is optimistic that the investments of HB1377, HB1328, and HB1083 will go a long way in providing meaningful solutions to Colorado’s homelessness crisis. We have the chance to make homelessness rare, brief, and quickly resolvable with these initiatives for the far too many families and individuals experiencing it across Colorado. It is so encouraging to see the Governor’s Office and our elected leaders engage and partner with local communities and nonprofits who have been working for decades to prevent and resolve homelessness in a very under-resourced environment,” - Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. "Realm of Caring Foundation unites with the Colorado Hemp Industry in support of Senate Bill 22-205. Fair regulation for the purpose of maintaining a standard of quality across hemp products is necessary to ensure the longevity of a safe and responsible hemp industry, which we helped to create. We look forward to continuing to protect our hemp and cannabis industry consumers through legislation that benefits a quality of life for all,” - Realm of Caring Foundation. “The Colorado Center on Law and Policy is thrilled to see senate bill 99 signed into law. In passing this legislation, Colorado has become a leader in a nationwide movement to dismantle the cycle of poverty that is so deeply intertwined with the criminal legal system – a system that unfairly targets communities of color. Colorado’s Clean Slate legislation will help Coloradans who have served their sentences and are seeking to better their lives by removing the collateral consequences associated with records, including the ability to get stable jobs and safe housing,” - Colorado Center on Law and Policy. 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]
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