Wheat Ridge Transcript 5
June 12, 2014
Hickenlooper signs ride-sharing regulations Marijuana, water, Jessica’s Law addressed in final week By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com The regulation of ride-sharing services and the creation of a first of its kind marijuana banking law highlighted a busy week of deadline decisions on the part of Gov. John Hickenlooper. June 6 was the last day for bills that passed the Legislature this year to become law. Last week, Hickenlooper made decisions on dozens of bills, including the signing of legislation that allows the Public Utilities Commission to regulate ridesharing services by companies such as Uber and Lyft. The transportation network companies allow passengers to book rides through a smartphone application. However, up until the bill’s signing, those companies did not face any of the kinds of regulations that are required for other transportation services, such as taxis.
The bill would require businesses like Uber and Lyft to carry liability insurance, conduct background checks on drivers, inspect vehicles and receive permission to operate from the PUC. The bill received bipartisan sponsorship and support from both legislative chambers. “Now that Senate Bill 125 has been signed into law, the necessary safety regReport ulations will be in place and these new, innovative transportation services will have the freedom to expand in Colorado,” said Rep. Libby Szabo, R-Arvada. The governor also took action on the following pieces of legislation last week: • Hickenlooper vetoed Senate Bill 23, which sought to incentivize Western Slope owners of water rights to make water conservation improvements. The governor’s office said Hickenlooper chose to veto
Capitol
the bill “because of unresolved concerns about its potential impact to water rights.” Hickenlooper expressed concern over “a breakdown in consensus toward the end of the legislative session that divided the water community and, in our view, would make implementation of the policy more difficult.” Rep. KC Becker, D-Boulder, expressed disappointment over the veto through an emailed statement that read, “The governor repeatedly states that our water efforts need to begin with conservation. … He missed a great opportunity to incentivize water conservation by Western Slope water users.” • The governor signed into law a bill that creates a financial system for marijuana businesses. House Bill 1398 allows retail marijuana and hemp businesses to enter into a banking co-operative system that would operate similarly to credit unions. Supporters say the new law is needed to protect shop owners from crime that can occur when dealing in a cash-only business.
Because marijuana is considered an illegal drug at the federal level, federal banking rules make it more difficult for retail pot businesses to gain banking services from financial institutions. • Hickenlooper also signed into law a bill that creates stiffer penalties for those who commit child sex crimes. The governor signed House Bill 1260, Colorado’s version of “Jessica’s Law.” The law — which the majority of states have enacted some version of — is named after a 10-year-old girl in Florida who was raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender. The law creates new mandatory minimums for various felony classifications of sex crimes on children. The most severe of those punishments carry with them prison sentences of 24 years to life. For the past two years, Republicans have pursued their own version of a Jessica’s Law bill, which contained a strict, 25year minimum sentence for each felony case of child sex assault. That bill, as it did last year, failed in the Democrat-majority Legislature, in favor of the Democrats’ own version.
Board turns down proposed agreement By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Among howls and catcalling in the board room and heavy tension around the board table, the Jefferson County Board of Education moved into fact finding with the Jefferson County Education Association June 5. In a 3-2 vote by the board majority (Newkirk, Williams, Witt), the memorandum of understanding (MOU), an agreement both the JCEA and the district’s negotiating teams agreed to on May 8, was not approved, taking the process to factfinding. “The contract states that if we don’t complete the mediated agreement, we move to fact finding and that’s where we are and so we’ll proceed with fact finding,” Jeffco Board President Ken Witt said. “Well, we hope to get an agreement where we’re able to compensate the teachers, our effective teachers in the classrooms, and to substantially agree on the items that have been discussed and come up with a plan that best works for this district.” The agreement was not approved after both Witt and Board Secretary John
Newkirk cited language disagreements and the lack of performance-based pay reductions for underperforming teachers in the document. Following that decision, the board did approve an agreement with the Classified School Employees Association (CSEA) — including school office staff, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and maintenance — which incorporated step increases for those employees. Fact-finding will take the proposed teacher MOU to a third-party neutral source, where they will make findings of fact and possible recommendations to the board. During the process, both parties may delve into the contract, line by line, and present evidence to the fact-finder. According to the district’s Chief Financial Officer, Lorie Gillis, this is a lengthy process, depending upon the amount of evidence presented. A timeframe is yet to be determined. Thursday’s decision was the first time an agreement was not ratified by the board of education throughout the district’s decades-long relationship with JCEA. “Tonight’s decision marks the first time ever in the history of Jefferson County Public Schools that a Board voted to not ratify a tentative contract agreement with edu-
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WHEAT RIDGE TRAnscRIpT
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OFFICE: 110 N. Rubey Dr, Unit 150, Golden, CO 80403 | PhOnE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Wheat Ridge Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 110 N. Rubey Dr., Ste. 150, Golden, CO 80403. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Wheat Ridge Transcript, 110 N. Rubey Dr., Unit 150, Golden, CO 80403 ADVERTISInG DEADLInES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. | Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Tues. 12 p.m.
cators after their negotiations team signed off on that agreement,” JCEA President John Ford said in a press release. “Unfortunately, their decision to break with history leaves the future of our negotiations uncertain.” The MOU holds a large percentage of funds currently within the budget. While it’s unlikely fact finding will be completed before the district is required to adopt an annual budget, the board can set a placeholder for compensation. Throughout the discussion, audience members were calling out, exclaiming
`Sign it’ and shouting their disapproval of the decision. While a step in a direction she didn’t want to head, Wheat Ridge 5-8 Gifted and Talented Teacher, Lisa Lee, said she’s optimistic fact finding may be a direction that will benefit Jeffco’s teachers. “I’m very disheartened at the attitude towards teachers by the board majority, and nothing can take that away. I am heartened by the fact, that it’s facts. It’s not emotions; it’s not vitriol, or political agenda. Facts are unbiased, and the facts are in our favor.”
PLACES OF WORSHIP To list your congregation services call 303-566-4100 G/WR/L
CATHOLIC
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church Proclaiming Christ to the Mountains and Plains www.SaintJoanCatholic.org 12735 W 58th Ave · 80002 · 303-420-1232 Daily Masses: 8:30 AM, Mon-Sat Confessions: Before Mass at 8am Monday, Wednesday – Friday Saturdays 7:30-8:25 am & 4-4:45pm Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:30 AM, 5:30 PM
NON-DENOMINATIONAL
the
sanc uary Foothills
Join us for worship and discover how God is always better than you thought. See you soon! (childcare is provided)
Saturdays @ 5:30 2981 Bergen Peak Dr. • Evergreen CO Info@thesanctuarydowntown.org
Arvada Christian Church 8010 West 62nd Avenue
303-422-5412
Worship.............................9:30 am Wed. Night Bible Study/meal...6:00 pm Nursery Available
CROSSROADS
CHURCH OF DENVER
A PLACE TO DO LIFE
SERVICE TIMES Sunday: 9 aM and 10:30 aM WedneSday: 6:30 PM
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY FOR ALL AGES 9725 W. 50th • Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (303) 421-3800 Main
NON-DENOMINATIONAL
George Morrison, Senior Pastor
Please join us for our weekend and mid-week services
62nd & Ward Road
Family Worship Center Saturday ....................................................5:00 pm Sunday ..................................9:00 am & 10:45 am Wednesday ...............................................6:30 pm
4890 Carr Street
Sunday ....................................................10:30 am
PrEsbyTErIAN
Golden First Presbyterian Church
On the round-about at South Golden Rd. and West 16th Ave. Sunday Praise & Worship................. ......9:00 am Fellowship Time .....................................10:00 am Church School ................................ .......10:30 am
Pastor: Rev. Dr. Miriam M. Dixon
Nursery provided
303-279-5591
UNITArIAN UNIvErsALIsT
Jefferson Unitarian Church 14350 W. 32nd Ave.
303-279-5282 www.jeffersonunitarian.org A Religious Home for the Liberal Spirit Service Times: 9:15am / 11:00am Religious education for all ages. Nursery care provided.