Economic Opportunity

Although unaccompanied by any public fanfare or ceremony, a bill that will help more working-age adult students enroll in college and complete their post-secondary credentials was signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper on Saturday.

House Bill 12-1271

Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research

Testimony to Senate Judiciary Committee
March 26, 2012

Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony to you today.

Re: "Leave state's juvenile justice system intact," March 14 guest commentary.

The research does not support Attorney General John Suthers' assertions on proposed reforms to Colorado's juvenile justice system (House Bill 1271).

From the beginning, there was little doubt that the minimum-coverage provision of the Affordable Care Act, also known as the individual mandate, would end up in the Supreme Court. That provision requires most American citizens and legal residents to purchase a minimum level of health insurance coverage from a private insurer or pay a tax penalty.

Senate Bill 12-022

Testimony to the House Health and Environment Committee

Melody Maitland, MSW Fellow

March 20, 2012

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. My name is Melody Maitland, and I am a master of social work student fellow at 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.

Senate Bill 12-045

Testimony to the House Education Committee

Frank Waterous, Senior Policy Analyst

March 19, 2012

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.

Individuals and families who are having their homes foreclosed upon need to know that those who are taking back property actually have the right to do so. In Colorado, though, a lender can foreclose on a home simply by submitting an attorney's signature affirming that the lender is entitled to foreclose on a property.

The Colorado General Assembly is currently considering legislation (SB12-001 and HB12-1113) to provide a preference to companies that are bidding on state contracts if 90 percent or more of their employees on the contract are Colorado residents.

The Bell Policy Center reviewed research on bid preferences to answer two questions relating to how bid preferences affect the contracting process:

House Bill 12-1271

Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research

Testimony to House Judiciary Committee
March 8, 2012

Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony to you today.

House Bill 12-1072

Testimony to the Senate Education Committee

Frank Waterous, Senior Policy Analyst

March 8, 2012

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.