UVC Members and Friends,
The 2011 session of the 67th General Assembly ended Wednesday, May 11th. It was a productive session for veteran's issues, with several major victories.
Victories
The continuing budget challenge in Colorado limits many opportunities to fund veteran services as needed in the state. That said, the United Veterans Committee worked to protect the current levels of support for Colorado's veteran and military community. The State Veteran Nursing Home budget did not suffer significant cuts following adjustments from the sale of the Trinidad Nursing Home.
UVC opposed and helped to defeat HB 1038, a measure that would have prevented the sale of the Trinidad home. The Trinidad home was not a qualifying veterans home, yet suffered losses totaling nearly $5 million over ten years - losses subsidized by VA funding to the 505 fund that oversees all State Veteran Nursing Homes.
Also, UVC opposed several attempts to change the Medicaid reimbursement rates that apply to the SVNH residents, measures that could have raised rates paid by veterans on fixed incomes. SB 170 and HB 1285 were defeated, and SB 125 was amended to not harm the residents.
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs also suffered cuts to their budget, but relative to other departments the impact was minimized. One of two new armories was funded and is now eligible for federal matching funds to complete. Funding for the second armory was postponed until 2012, when federal matching funds will need to be met or lost.
The UVC also supported the DMVA's measure to make processing applications for the disabled veteran property tax exemption more efficient, allowing for more timely responses. And the UVC helped defeat SB 033, a measure that would have required the flying of the Honor & Remember flag over state buildings on specific days.
Other Successes
Two measures designed to make voting easier for military members deployed overseas were passed, HB 1219 and SB 189. HB 1237 provides for a new billeting fund for the National Guard to improve training facilities and quarters. Two measures allowing military members in professions that require licensing to maintain their licenses more easily during and immediately following a deployment, HB 1013 and HB 1100. A Department of Defense child care pilot program was established ( HB 1027).
Lastly, UVC opposed a provision in SB 109 that would have given a new tax refund checkoff for education top-line priority on Colorado income tax forms. The bill was amended to drop that provision.
Losses
HB 1129 would have established a veteran preference in state contracting procedures, but was also linked to union and domestic vendor requirements that allowed for a 25% increase in contracting costs to the state. Under the current budget conditions those provisions were not supported by the majority of the House and the measure was defeated. Veteran preference may be revisited as a stand-alone measure next year as a result of this year's efforts. And lastly, HB 1321 was another voting measure to improve access to ballots by deployed military members. It was defeated in the Senate for reasons that are unclear, but seem to be unrelated to the bill itself.
Wrap Up
In short, UVC had a very successful legislative session. Thank you to everyone who took time to go to the Capitol to testify for bills or show support for veterans. Your work in your community is widely recognized by legislators. Veterans carry a loud voice when we choose to speak out on issues of public policy.
This summer we will continue to work on the veteran service budgetary needs and on issues initiated by the UVC Legislative Committee. While we avoided even deeper cuts to veteran services Colorado remains in the bottom of all states in monetary support for veterans. We must continue to reach out to legislators at the local level, in their communities during the summer and fall. Developing personal relationships as constituents is critical when it comes time to weigh in on issues that impact Colorado's veteran and military community. Your continued support and volunteer efforts on behalf of Colorado veterans makes the difference when legislators are making important decisions
The full spreadsheet of all legislation tracked and/or worked by UVC this session is attached.
Best regards,
Nate Gorman
UVC Legislative Liaison
Nate Gorman
The Gorman Group
PO Box 574
Kittredge, CO 80457
Phone: 303.221.2231
