Hello Friends, Family, and Neighbors-
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COVID-19 Relief Bills
We are working hard at the Capitol to get our state back on track and jumpstart our economy. Here are the bills we are working on this week before the end of the Legislative session.

We also are working on passing SB20-002 ([link removed]) titled Rural Economic Development Initiative Grant Problem which will provide grants for projects that create new jobs through a new employer or the expansion of an existing employer and for projects that create diversity and resiliency in the local economies of rural communities.
HB20-1410 ([link removed]) : Coronavirus Relief Funds for Housing Cash Assistance

This bill provides $19.65 million to the Housing Development Grant Fund in direct assistance to low- and moderate-income renters and homeowners, as well as other vulnerable populations such as homeless youth, seniors, homeless or disabled veterans, and survivors of domestic violence. In addition, the bill allocates $350,000 to the Eviction Legal Defense Fund to provide legal aid for renters at risk of eviction, for a total of $20 million in housing assistance to Coloradans impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

HB20-1412 ([link removed]) : Coronavirus Relief Funds for Utilities

This bill allocates $10 million to the Energy Outreach Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund administered by the Colorado Energy Office, which helps low-income Coloradans who are behind on their utility payments and at risk of having their service shut off even after the moratorium on utility disconnections is lifted.

HB20-1411 ([link removed]) : Coronavirus Relief Funds for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment

Behavioral health services are compounded by the challenges associated with COVID-19 and the more than half a million individuals who have filed for unemployment in Colorado. This bill allocates $15 million to critical mental health programs and substance abuse treatment within CDHS and CDPHE, including to community mental health centers, managed service organizations, and Colorado Crisis System Services.

HB20-1413 ([link removed]) : Small Business Recovery Loans

This bill establishes a small business recovery loan fund that consists of $250 million of state and private dollars for first loss capital on loans over the next two fiscal years. Participating banks will make loans of between $50,000 and $500,000 to small businesses. An appointed oversight board will oversee the program and ensure the terms of the contract are consistent with public purpose objectives identified in the bill, including the prioritization of these funds for small businesses owned by women, veterans, and people of color.

HB20-1422 ([link removed]) : Coronavirus Relief Funds for Food Pantry Assistance

This bill creates the food pantry assistance grant program within CDHS to support Colorado’s most vulnerable. It appropriates $500,000 to the program to ensure that Colorado food pantries and food banks have the financial resources to purchase more food and make it available across the state, and to help create new market opportunities for Colorado's agricultural producers.

HB20-1197 ([link removed]) : Coronavirus Relief Funds for 2-1-1 Information Hotline

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2-1-1- free information hotline has seen a sharp increase in calls. The Governor issued an executive order directing the 2-1-1 service to provide necessary human services referrals related to the pandemic, including information on COVID test sites, emergency assistance, housing support, and information related to worker protections and health care discrimination. This bill is being amended to provide $500,000 to extend these services through the end of the year.

HB20-1415 ([link removed]) : Whistleblower Protection for Public Health Emergencies

This bill protects workers who raise health and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic from retaliation and requires employers to allow their workers to wear personal protective equipment, such as masks. CDLE is charged with managing complaints.

HB20-1414 ([link removed]) : Protections Against Price Gouging

This bill establishes that a person engages in an unfair or unconscionable act or practice if they sell certain necessary goods or services at an excessive amount, and empowers the Attorney General and local District Attorneys to enforce these consumer protections.

SB20-222 ([link removed]) : Coronavirus Relief Funds for Small Business Grants

This bill will direct $20 million to the Energize Colorado Fund that OEDIT has created to provide grants to small businesses in Colorado with less than 25 employees, with a preference given to those that did not qualify for, or weren’t able to access loans through the SBA Paycheck Protection Program. Preference will also be given to businesses owned by veterans, women, and minorities.

SB20-212 ([link removed]) : Extending Accessibility of Telehealth Services

This bill protects patients’ ability to receive care via telehealth that was granted during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Telehealth has kept consumers and providers safe while allowing patients to continue their care plan with their providers, but this access may be removed when the declared emergency ends unless the state legislature acts.

SB20-207 ([link removed]) : Expanding Access to Unemployment Insurance

During a time of unprecedented unemployment, this bill expands those who qualify for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and increase the benefits workers can receive. Some of these increased benefits include the amount a worker can earn while remaining eligible for UI, as well as an expanded definition of “good cause” for a worker to quit and still receive the benefit (including lack of childcare as a result of school closures).

SB20-205 ([link removed]) : Ensuring Paid Sick Leave

Currently, 40% of Colorado’s workforce are not afforded the opportunity to earn paid sick days –– creating a “work while sick” culture that increases the deadly transmission of viruses such as COVID-19. This bill allows those who are ill to protect their coworkers, customers, and loved ones by staying home, without the fear of losing their income.

SB20-211 ([link removed]) : Strengthening Debt Protections

This bill expands the Attorney General’s oversight of extraordinary debt collection actions, like garnishment. It gives the AG the authority to freeze new extraordinary debt collection actions, establish a minimum grace period for payments to resume, and require that monthly payment amounts consider a consumer’s ability to repay.


Anyone who would like to receive my newsletter can email me at:

[email protected]
[email protected]

Our office phone number at the Capitol building is 303-866-2916

As always, feel free to reach out to me with any comments or concerns.

www.ValdezforCO.com ([link removed])

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