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Legislative update from Rep. Victor Mitchell

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Contributed by: State Rep. Victor Mitchell on 5/15/2007

Dear House District 45 Residents,

The end of the First Session of the Sixty-Sixth General Assembly drew to a close 11 days ago. It was a fast and furious final week as the Assembly acted on over 150 bills.

While we had fewer committee meetings in the final weeks, we spent most of the time debating 2nd and 3rd readings and Conference Committee Reports which resolved differences between how a bill passed in the House and how it passed in the Senate.

EDUCATION - From my viewpoint on the House Education Committee and on the Advisory Committee to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, I believe Colorado is facing a true dilemma - What does a high school diploma mean in Colorado?

Colorado Student Assessment Program, more popularly known as CSAPS, and other analysis systems tell us that our students statewide are not achieving as they should. Yet, what is being done has not improved the situation except in isolated instances.

This session, the Legislature refused to require more math, science and English instruction, even though the Colorado Commission on Higher Education documents that approximately 30 percent of first-time freshmen college students needed remedial courses in these areas.

And since college students are generally assumed to be some of the most successful high school graduates, what does that mean for the roughly 70 percentwho choose vocational training or go directly into the workforce? How high is the cost to our students, and eventually to our businesses and our government?

Over the summer and fall, I'll be working with many sources to find answers to these questions, and more importantly, trying to find solutions. Our greatest resource for our future are our children...we cannot afford to fail.

REQUEST FOR AUDIT APPROVED - POSSIBLE $10M TAXPAYER SAVINGS

The state Legislative Audit Committee unanimously approved my proposal to conduct an audit that has the potential to save taxpayers $10 million annually, as well as to increase Home Care Based Services (HCBS) for long-term care Medicaid patients.

Currently, there are two primary options for long-term Medicaid patients. They can be placed in a nursing home or receive in-home care through the HCBS program. The audit will study the differences that exist amongst Colorado's counties regarding long-term Medicaid patients on HCBS versus those who have been placed in nursing homes.

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) reported that Colorado had 14,299 long-term care Medicaid patients in nursing homes between 2005 and 2006. According data from the department, it is approximately $25,000 less expensive per year for each individual managed on HCBS versus a nursing home.

HB 1064 - Thanks to the active support of many of you, the House and Senate passed my bill to provide grants for technology to find lost individuals who are cognitively impaired.

As part of a traditional ceremony of good-natured freshman hazing, all members of the House first voted NO on the bill and then quickly switched their votes to YES to gales of laughter.

I can't thank my fellow House members enough for their support of this bill. The bill is now awaiting signature from the Governor. HB-1064 was one of just a few new bills that passed which had a fiscal impact.

Follow your legislation of interest from home - I know many of you have specific interest in various pieces of legislation. As always, you can contact my office for information, but you can also find the information Online.

Through the General Assembly Web site, you can find our daily calendar when we're in session and you can listen in on Floor work and Committee hearings at Audio Broadcasts of Current Proceedings. I hope you find these links helpful.

As always, it is a pleasure and honor to serve you.

With warm regards,

Vic

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Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 5/16/2007 @ 4:16:25 PM

Rated Story

Fabulous report! Good teachers start with good recruiters, good interviewers, thorough background checks, and professionals who know how to read a candidate. Good teachers likely stay due to good working conditions, adequate professional development and fair and motivating leadership. Not all teachers who get hired should be in the classroom. Part of serving the needs of our students lies in the power (and courage) on the part of school district administration to eliminate the incompetent.

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