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House roots on mascot bill

Action intensifies as session winds down
Only about three weeks are left in the current session of the Colorado Legislature.

DENVER – Colorado lawmakers heard several bills Wednesday, emphasizing that the clock is ticking with only 21 days left in the legislative session.

Lawmakers advanced measures that would limit the use of Native American mascots by schools, implement fire-detection technology and crack down on medical marijuana abusers and repeat drunken drivers.

Other bills, however, were killed after a Republican-controlled Senate committee expressed concerns about efforts to raise the minimum wage and extend rights to transgender people. Both bills died on 3-2 party-line votes.

The minimum-wage bill would have allowed local governments to establish wages commensurate with the local cost of living.

The transgender measure would have made it easier for people to change the gender marking on their birth certificates. The current process requires sex-reassignment surgery in order to qualify. The legislation would have included hormone treatment, among other “transitional” options.

Observers were closely watching the Native American mascot bill, as a vote on it was delayed Tuesday when Democrats realized they might not have the votes to pass it. The bill ultimately squeaked through the House 33-32 on Wednesday, with Democrat Rep. Ed Vigil of Pueblo joining Republicans in opposition.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where controlling Republicans likely will kill the measure over cost concerns raised by schools. An amendment is expected, however, that would offer a longer timeout to districts in making any necessary transition.

A measure sponsored by Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, also made it through the House and would secure $600,000 for technology that can predict the intensity and direction of wildfires as much as 12 hours ahead of time. The bipartisan measure passed 41-24. It now heads to the Senate.

The House also overwhelmingly supported creating a felony offense for a fourth DUI conviction. Supporters of the measure have tried on four separate occasions to pass similar legislation, leaving observers hopeful that this is the year to get it done. The bill now heads to the Senate.

And in the Senate, lawmakers gave final approval to a measure that would crack down on medical marijuana abusers, creating a system for certain caregivers to register and verify valid patients, while requiring people who grow more than 99 plants for patients to get licenses.

pmarcus@durangoherald.com



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