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Bills for the 2012 Legislative Session

February 16, 2012 - We are now over a month into this legislative session, and a lot is going on here at the Capitol. My bills are all in various stages of the legislative process:

1) HB 1067: Campaign Contributions - This bill, which I have run before, is intended to limit the effect money has on these types of elections, which have no campaign finance restrictions. I presented the bill to the House Committee on State, Veterans and Military Affairs, but despite compelling testimony from current school board members and others, the bill was defeated in committee on January 26.

2) HB 1151: Human Trafficking - This bill is directed toward efforts for victims of human trafficking. It will allow a civil action to be brought against a trafficker, even if he or she is not convicted criminally. It also addresses expungement laws relating to trafficking, as well as public notice in certain institutions of the illegality of trafficking. The bill was heard on February 14th in the House Judiciary committee. It passed the Committee unanimously.

3) HB 1256: Formula For Spousal Maintenance Upon Divorce - This bill aims to create a formula to determine the amount and duration of maintenance payments between divorced parties within certain income parameters. The intent is to offer a more predictable, transparent and reliable process for couples seeking a divorce. I have recently decided to withdraw this bill to do additional work with the Colorado Bar Association. Be sure to look for this bill again next year.

4) HB 1156: Foreclosure Procedures - I have received a lot of positive feedback about this bill from all sides of the issue, and look forward to presenting it to committee. The bill will help clarify the foreclosure process by requiring lenders of mortgage loans to provide clear documentation proving they own the debt in question. Currently, incomplete record keeping makes it difficult to discern who owns a debt after numerous transactions from bank to bank. This bill would require lenders to present that proof in court to show that they can legitimately foreclose on a property. I will present this bill before the Economic and Business Development Committee on February 23rd at 1:30 in House committee room 0112 in the basement of the Capitol. You are welcome to attend the hearing! Click here (CBS Denver) for more information from a recent press conference I was a part of.

5) HB 1271: Juvenile Direct File - This bill will remove some discretion from D.A.s when filing criminal cases against juveniles and require a transfer hearing in some cases.

6) HB 1204: Dialysis Certification Sunset Bill - Currently, dialysis technicians in Colorado must be certified by a national certification organization. This law is expiring and I am carrying the bill to extend the certification requirement until 2018. I think it is important that Colorado patients using dialysis centers receive the best possible care.

Please do not hesitate to contact me as the session goes on if you have any concerns or comments on legislative matters.

Beth McCann
Colorado State Representative
House District 8
beth@bethmccann.org
(303) 866-2959