Boulder County Commissioners host state legislators

The Boulder County Commissioners met with most of the state legislators who represent parts of Boulder County over breakfast Dec. 14, and the discussion provided a hint of what we might see in the 2023 legislative session.

Those attending talked about their legislative priorities for the upcoming 2023 legislative session, as well as the difficulties of legislators being limited to introducing no more than five bills.

Marta Loachamin, Chair of the Boulder County Commissioners, welcomed the guests at the county courthouse on the Pearl Street Mall and spoke of the need to fund child protective services and public benefit programs, including funds to pay adequate staffing. The consistent message from Loachamin, Commissioner Claire Levy and outgoing Commissioner Matt Jones was the "need for adequate funding."

Levy emphasized "the services we provide at the county level." She added, "We just ask that you provide the funding. Be mindful of who's paying the cost, and who should pay the cost."

Over the years there has often been a disconnect between legislators who pass legislation and local government officials who are required to implement it, but may lack the funding to do so. Those "unfunded mandates" have caused friction in the past, and meetings such as the commissioners' breakfast are an effort to address that issue.

Jones, who did not run for re-election, was recognized for his service as a county commissioner and a former legislator. His successor, Ashley Stolzmann, was unable to attend the meeting.

State legislators attending included Representative-elect Junie Joseph, Senate President Stephen Fenberg, Senator-elect Janice Marchman, Representative Judy Amabile, Representative Tracey Bernett, Representative Karen McCormick and Representative-elect Jennifer Parenti, who arrived after photos were taken. Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis was unable to attend.

Because state legislators are each allowed to introduce up to five bills in each legislative session, each state senator and each state representative has to prioritize the importance and likely passage of each bill.

At the top of the county commissioners' list of priorities was supporting efforts to provide "access to mental health and substance use treatment." Another top priority was supporting the "long term mental, physical and emotional health of children who have suffered abuse, by increasing child welfare placement opportunities.

Levy, an attorney, said, "In Boulder County, we have the second lowest juvenile commitment rate in the state." But she also noted that funding was not adequate. She spoke of the need to "support community and juvenile justice reforms" which include support for juveniles 10-12 who are involved in the juvenile justice system.

Other priorities included air quality improvement, forest and grassland health, and wildland-urban interface, which includes wildfire mitigation. Legislation which would provide a statewide building code for new construction in the wildland-urban interface area has already been proposed to provide consistency.

The commissioners also stated that they "support efforts to increase affordable housing and home ownership opportunities in Colorado." This issue could be addressed near Niwot with a development proposal now in the early stages that would provide affordable housing near the Highway 52 and 119 intersection.

Each legislator spoke of what they hoped to accomplish in the upcoming session, and some echoed priorities listed by the commissioners. Joseph listed addressing child welfare, and Amabile spoke of providing more funding for addressing mental health issues. Marchman, who teaches middle school, mentioned giving paraprofessionals in schools more opportunities to get a degree by giving college credit for their work, and giving therapists more access to schools.

Fenberg, who is president of the Senate, wants to focus on air and water quality, public safety, and wildfire mitigation. McCormick wants to address abandoned oil and gas wells, while Parenti spoke of a Metropolitan District Reform bill, as well as housing and air quality issues.

The legislature convenes Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.