Economic Opportunity

Colorado's enterprise zone program will be modified to permanently cap the amount of investment tax credit that may be claimed at $750,000 per year, place greater emphasis on job creation and workforce development and provide transparency in assessing the program's effectiveness, thanks to Gov. John Hickenlooper's signing of House Bill 1142 on Wednesday.

Under the new law:

The 2013 legislative session made extraordinary progress in expanding opportunities for more Coloradans.

In our January preview of the session, we described how legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle outlined broad goals and emphasized the role of public policy in expanding opportunity. During the session, they delivered. The result is one of the most productive and far-reaching sessions in memory.

The 2013 legislative session made extraordinary progress in expanding opportunities for more Coloradans. The legislature enacted several measures that the Bell and others have been working on for almost a decade.

Our end-of-session edition of The Opportunity News reviews many of those accomplishments, with a focus on the Bell's major bills.

Click here to read our end-of-session wrap-up

When Gov. John Hickenlooper signed House Bill 13-1136, the Job Protection and Civil Rights Enforcement Act, into law early this week, he took a crucial step in ensuring safer workplaces for all Coloradans.

By Daniel C. Vock
Stateline Staff Writer

States this year are passing a slew of immigrant-friendly laws, a major change from the strict enforcement measures Arizona and other states approved just a few years ago.

The November elections that put immigration back on Congress' agenda also prompted the shift at the state level. Pro-immigrant measures that had been stalled for years got new life this spring, while courts have thwarted state efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.

The Bell Policy Center strongly supports House Bill 13-1136, the "Job Protection and Civil Rights Enforcement Act," which will provide meaningful remedies for workers who are not protected by federal law and therefore can't receive damages or attorney fees even after successfully proving discrimination. Here's why we believe in this bill

Gov. John Hickenlooper, surrounded by legislative sponsors
and supporters, displays the final ceremonial pen
used to sign the ASSET bill.

By Frank Waterous, Senior Policy Analyst

Colorado Working Families Opportunity Act

Senate Bill 13-001

Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research

Testimony to the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee

April 29, 2013

Thank you for the opportunity to testify to the committee today.

Colorado Working Families Opportunity Act

Senate Bill 13-001

Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research

Testimony to the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee

April 29, 2013

Thank you for the opportunity to testify to the committee today.

Creation of a Manufacturing Career Pathway

House Bill 13-1165

Testimony to the Senate Education Committee
Frank Waterous, Senior Policy Analyst
April 25, 2013

My name is Frank Waterous, and I am a senior policy analyst with the Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a non-partisan, non-profit research and policy organization founded on progressive values and dedicated to expanding opportunity for all Coloradans.